Death on the Nile

So this viewing was by chance - and from the get go was one of the most enyoyable films to see, ever! No problems with the pacing, as some have expressed. That's Poirot, and this case is a doozy. The ending really is a shocker, the Shakesperean conclusion happens so fast and is so inscrutable, and only makes sense if you are riveted to the dialog for the motive. Also of note - 15,000 people were involved in this production, we learn from the credits at the end. It is a work of passion and love, beauty and tragedy. Also, a great movie score sets the mood in Egypt and the clubs in 1930's London. I've followed Branaugh's career and this is his finest work.

Wanted to enjoy it...All Star Cast, Ancient Egypt...but over acted, predictable, cheesy writing at times and disappointing that I stopped it half way and closed the movie. What a shame, definitely had potential at being great....but too many Ego's in the room overshadowed the feeling of the movie.

Las peliculas de Hércules Poirot son un debilidad para mi, no importa que mantengan casi una estructura exacta. Me entretienen bastante.

Death on the Mississippi. They got their rivers mixed up, this was like a bad CGI trip down the Mississippi.

This overly lavish production does make you appreciate the workman like efficiency of the 1978 film adaptation. Also I am befuddled as to why this case now has to be "personal" for Poirot.

Before I actually review the movie, I have to brag on myself a bit and admit that I correctly guessed the outcome before Monsieur Poirot gathered all the suspects together and shared his findings. That never happens. As for the movie itself, I share a lot of the same feelings here that I had a couple years ago when Branagh made his first Agatha Christie adaptation, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. It isn't exactly great movie making, but it's a lot of fun, the locations are gorgeous, and the all-star cast is fun to watch, although a bit less so here than ORIENT. If I were to zero in on my main objection about the film, it's that the person killed doesn't come across as particularly unlikable so, whether that is the fault of the writing or the acting or both, it takes a way a bit of the fun. The cast is also a bit of a mixed bag - Gadot is obviously beautiful to watch but doesn't come across with a lot of personality in her performance, Hammer unabashedly chews the scenery and Annette Bening feels wasted. But I think Branagh is a marvelous Hercules Poirot and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as his predecessors Albert Finney and Peter Ustinov. And Emma Mackey is best in show here as a jilted lover. A subplot involving Poirot's past feels unnecessary and makes the film feel a bit long. But a murder mystery movie has to be pretty bad for me to not at least enjoy it a bit - and while not as good as THE GLASS ONION also from this year, I had a good time.

A bit better than the orient express but you surely want to watch all of the 3 movies.

Stunning to watch. Well acted and crafted. Good old fashioned production.

Engaging, clever, well acted family movie enjoyed by all of us. Refreshingly "old fashioned" whodunnit, that goes far beyond just some other mediocre remake. Well done, good job!

I'm a huge fan of Kenneth Branagh - I consider him one of the best actors of our generation. But as a director? Meh. I was interested to see the various actors: I know Annette Bening to be a pretty good actress, so when I see a fairly wooden performance I have to ask: Writing? Directing? And I land on #2; the problem seemed to be endemic throughout the movie and its performances. Some seriously criminal over-acting here (looking at you, Arnie Hammer and the death scene. Two killings, really: the victim AND the plot). Gal Godot I leave out of this - I don't think she could inject anything believable into ANY part, by ANY writer, with ANY director. Somehow she seems to have a genius for channeling Keanu Reeves. Maybe she should be like him - just do movies where the killings exceed the actual words of dialogue. Perhaps not so ironically, the best performance was by Mr. Branagh. Because he wasn't directing himself?