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Orient Express Murdered . . .

108.81.116.219
Posted on November 11, 2017 at 15:28:05
Billy Wonka
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  Since: October 15, 2013
 Branagh needs to keep it on the stage or set in Scandanavia. When he gets involved things spin like a wobbly top. I could no more except him as Poirot as I could as Reinhard Heydrich. He has given us not a retelling but reimagined Agatha Christie tale that is rich with color, drone cinematagrophy, racial diversity, and political correctness. I lost count of the references to "race" in the script that somehow Branagh and the writer thought Christie would have included if she had just finished the book this year.

Lots of nice cinematograpy and glorious CGI serve as a backdrop for his less than inspired cast to play their parts. So many of the ensemble walked periously close to the phone booth and Depp's character was truly despicable. Maybe too despicable. I have trouble remembering who was the standout but Daisy Ridley was clearly intended to be in the spotlight.

I guess my bowels are in an uproar over Branagh himself and the unnecessary social engineering heaped into the script. Let's just tell a story as it was written without reordering it to fit the social landscape.

Many will want to see a nice, lush, clean film as the holidays start. That audience will get clean language, a few bits of high brow humor, and pretty art direction. Those faithful to Ms Christie may be disappointed.

Flip a coin between walking in and waiting for cable. And Kenny, reconsider acting and directing simultaneoulsy.

 

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I agree, also, why even try to remake the 1974 classic? ho hum..., posted on November 12, 2017 at 09:48:23
PhilJ
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Posts: 2826
Joined: January 20, 2002
 ...

 

I agree, also, why even try to remake the 1974 classic? ho hum..., posted on November 12, 2017 at 11:26:09
mkuller
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Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...guess they wanted to give all those high powered Hollywood stars something to do.

Reviews have been brutal - "Trainwreck!"

 

I was once talking to a concert pianist, posted on November 12, 2017 at 12:07:01
Victor Khomenko
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Posts: 55316
Joined: April 5, 2000
 When he wanted to record the Rachmaninov's 2nd concert he was asked similar question: there are already almost 200 recordings.

My problem is not the remakes per se, it is their quality.

In some cases it is higher, than the original's.


 

in my mind the 1974 version was darn near perfect, but I suppose Branagh wants to make money :), posted on November 12, 2017 at 14:35:38
PhilJ
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Joined: January 20, 2002
 his Poirot is awful though...

 

It's Hollywood. They LIVE for remakes these days..., posted on November 12, 2017 at 15:14:42
musetap
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Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
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  Since: January 28, 2004
 Much easier than trying to come up with something original.

Can't wait for remakes of Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Deer Hunter, Sophie's Choice, It's a Wonderful World, Apocalypse Now and To Kill a Mokingbird!


Give it time, give it time.



"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE:Agree, the 1984 verson of Bounty was the best of three, posted on November 12, 2017 at 17:23:18
Eldragon

Just watched it again after 25 years - and this time, I am more sympathetic to the Captain Bligh than Fletcher. Hopkins performance was masterful!

 

RE: I was once talking to a concert pianist, posted on November 13, 2017 at 06:21:44
Bill the K
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Posts: 8383
Joined: June 3, 2006
When are they going to make a 'modern' Anna Karenina, Jane Eyre, Rebecca ,Miss Marple et al.

Bill

 

David Suchet IS Poirot, and did MOTOE in the , posted on November 13, 2017 at 06:40:46
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10581
Joined: April 12, 2002
 final episodes of the Series, 2 hour episodes.

 

But none were HIS Rach 2. nt, posted on November 13, 2017 at 06:42:16
oldmkvi
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Posts: 10581
Joined: April 12, 2002
 /

 

Now there IS one, posted on November 13, 2017 at 08:08:26
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55316
Joined: April 5, 2000
 .


 

Would a remake of M be called N? nt, posted on November 13, 2017 at 08:09:58
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55316
Joined: April 5, 2000
 .


 

RE: Orient Express Murdered . . . , posted on November 13, 2017 at 14:20:28
fantja
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Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Man, you guys are harsh...laughing...

 

Mel Gibson as Atticus Finch? (nt), posted on November 14, 2017 at 02:46:23
Dr Phibes
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Posts: 195
Location: Brooklyn
Joined: September 7, 2008
 (nt)

 

Have any Bogart films been remade? Any likely to be?, posted on November 14, 2017 at 09:34:29
free.ranger
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  Since: January 7, 2005
 Thinking of Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, Big Sleep, African Queen, Sierra Madre, etc and any. I don't recall any that made it into the remake hopper.

 

RE: The Big Sleep 1978 with Robert Mitchum...and, posted on November 14, 2017 at 13:14:07
user510
 ...and that's it....I think. It was a 'Phillip Marlow' novel written by Raymond Chandler. A popular writer of detective novels.

Mitchum starred in another movie based on a Chandler novel; Farewell My Lovely. 1975.

IIRC I enjoyed both of the Mitchum films noted. The screen play on The Big Sleep differs quite a lot from the earlier Bogart/Bacall version.

fwiw Mitchum did another detective film, this time based in Japan, called "The Yakuza". 1974. A Harry Kilmer novel. I'm not sure this movie holds up well but at the time I found it to be an exciting glimpse into Japanese gangster culture. Directed by Sydney Pollack. That movie was/is wicked and sobering in a dismembering sort of way. ;^)

Good stuff.

-Steve


 

I'm on board with Peter Ustinov as my favorite Belgie . . ., posted on November 16, 2017 at 20:13:31
Billy Wonka
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Posts: 3760
Joined: April 25, 2013
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  Since: October 15, 2013
 I believe he made three Poirot features and the early eighties and did a fussy and overly dignified man of detection. IMDb has an excellent bio of Ustinov which reminds one of how much of a Renaissance dewd he really was.

 

I keep hearing complaint about 'social justice' stuff being shoe-horned into this movie, posted on November 17, 2017 at 15:52:53
mbnx01
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Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 But no examples. Am having a hard time figuring out what it could be - is Poirot a tranny in this version?




'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

All the best writers are doing cable and broadcast drama . . ., posted on November 19, 2017 at 09:25:09
Billy Wonka
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Posts: 3760
Joined: April 25, 2013
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  Since: October 15, 2013
 or, at least that's what I think.

 

Just saw it., posted on November 19, 2017 at 18:32:06
Ross
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Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 We were intrigued by the cast, and Mr. Branaugh's involvement. Saw in the credits that Ridley Scott is a Producer.

Beautifully photographed, with a reasonable budget to ensure that visual details were not overlooked. The movie was not well edited. Lots of purely gratuitous scenes that only served to further establish setting. By my estimate about 10-15min could have been trimmed, leaving a leaner better paced film.

The first portion reminded me of an Indiana Jones movie. The rest of an English Drawing Room drama, or a live action adaptation of the game "Clue".

Many of the characters were caricatures, with some of the actors shredding footage. Not a lot of emotion, but Europeans are supposed to be "restrained" compared to us vulgar Americans. Who knew everyone in the 30's was a racist, and very quick to assign malevolent intent to the lower ethnic classes? Oh wait...are we supposed to think not much has changed ????

Hint of a sequel at the end.

Could have been an adult respite from all of the kiddy and testosterone films of the season. And it may succeed because of its contrast to the competition.

I was left with the feeling that it could have been better. Not a waste of money- but not a must see.

 

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