MovieChat Forums > Evil Under the Sun (1982) Discussion > The WORST

The WORST

posted 13 years ago by liamforeman
16 replies | jump to latest

If you have half a brain, this film was a disaster.

I suppose I should post SPOILERS so beware.

Uggh, I'm prepared to write a diatribe on the *beep* that this film is, but I'm too tired. It's utterly predictable. The clues conveniently fit in for the final hurrah, but it makes no sense.

I have a degree in Latin. I've consulted all my texts, and Felix Rubor does not EVER translate to Redfern. WTF is that about? Are we just supposed to accept it? Happy Red. But no in this film it translates to 'Felix Rubor' as Redfern. Yarrite.

I was sitting with friends carefully taking in each detail, and pausing when I had something to say. Obviously the 'Joe Green' comment was important, but I wasn't sure (I speak three languages, so I guess I was ahead of the curve).

God, I could write for an hour an all the *beep* this film is. I called just about everything, except for the crazy stupid unreaistic plot holes.

I hope the next AC film is better. This was the worst.

Jezebel! Flauntin' your flesh in temptation's raiment! You will burn. Oh, you will burn!

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] largeys 13 years ago

Correct.
Aspidium Felix (or Aspidium Felix-mas) is a male shade fern, found in all areas of Europe, temperate Asia, North India, North and South Africa, the temperate areas of the United States and the South American Andes.

[–] ekmyers 13 years ago

I was sitting with friends carefully taking in each detail, and pausing when I had something to say.

Well, don't you just sound like the life of the party? I'm sure your friends were anxiously awaiting every one of your brilliant insights.

ekm
Writer/Director -- ROULETTE
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294794/combined

[–] perorewen 13 years ago

Did you hate this film because of the translation of a name?

*******
They blew up Congress!

My blog(Norwegian):
http://jennukka.wordpress.com

[–] Mahoney164 12 years ago

My goodness! It must be difficult for you to be the smartest guy in the room, having to put up with the rest of us with less than "half a brain".

This is a wonderful film. Everything from the sets, to the music, to the acting, to the STORY!

Perhaps you just didn't get it.

[–] mizhu 10 years ago

I was also immediately aware of the 'Joe Green' comment, because dialogue like that is rarely put in a mystery unless it means something (especially Agatha Christie stories).

Alas, I only speak two languages.

That was also how I figured out what was going on in Murder on the Orient Express about 10 minutes in. A 'throw away' line of dialogue that, to me, was anything but.

[–] venusboys3 10 years ago

AGREED!
The film looks great and the characters are fun... but it's an empty headed bauble because the core mystery is just such a load of twaddle... very exemplary of Raymond Chandler's complaints about such parlor mysteries. The crime is entirely dependent on coincidences... way too many variables... yet made out to be this master plan... only to set up a bunch of absurd 'clues'.
I find most of Christie's mysteries are the same... a ridiculous crime of Rube Goldberg complexity leaving obscure bits of plot device scattered around... whipped up in a froth of cliches to make it seem 'clever'.

[–] kenny-164 10 years ago

Agreed about the Christie part of the film, meaning the clues and "mystery". I nonetheless gave it a 7 for the cast and the dialogue. Imo the acting was less even than I expected, with the great James Mason a bit listless. But Maggie Smith, Jane Birkin and especially Diana Rigg were all great, for a female heavy list of best performances (not that there's anything wrong with that, just saying). Birkin in particular is a revelation here, acting not being her life's work (Birkin of coures was more a widely influential model and later a singer, with imo mixed results, along with lover Serge Gainsbourg). She absolutely nails the two sides of her character, and it was inspired casting getting her to play goofy and insecure and then show up at the end as the flashiest presence in the film.

Having said that, I love Diana Rigg, so she was worth the 7 all by herself.

[–] bedrock1960 10 years ago

The OP shows us that even trolls can be well educated.

[–] mariusar 10 years ago

Correction. Allegedly well-educated.

The internet - where ANYONE can be a [self-proclaimed] genius.

--
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

[–] dizexpat 8 years ago

Just watched this for the first time in a long time.

Love the acting, dialog and music.

The resolution of the murder is absurdly convoluted. Setting someone's watch ahead 20 minutes when they're not looking and then setting it back again! Or is it the other way around? As if anyone is ever going to figure that one out!

But I like the film for what it has that is good. Including Nicholas Clay in speedos.

Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

I think it is a pretty good film. it changes a lot from the book, but not as much as some of the recent David suchet episodes, which have been dire.

[–] avenger-16 8 years ago

I think this film is delightful. Anybody who enjoys opera knows that Giuseppe Verdi's name translates to 'Joe Green' and the Felix Ruber thing isn't all that important. What this film delivers is some very good acting and an immense amount of wit and charm. A beautiful setting and a very good script delivered by a top cast brings the whole thing together. Cole Porter's music is lovely too, and the opening titles with their art work are excellent.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Stratego 8 years ago

Ruber means red, filix means fern. But Filix Ruber would not be a very good alias.