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Now that we're at MovieChat, let's get some fresh discussion going!

posted 8 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8859)
17 replies | jump to latest

Having recently learned of Kenneth Branagh's new big screen adaptation of MOTOE, Christie and Poirot have been on my mind!

I have only seen a handful of episodes of Poirot, but I've enjoyed it thoroughly and intend on continuing my march through the series.

Just to get some discussion going, here are a few questions:

1. How did you learn about Poirot and what is it about the show that you like so much?

2. How do you think the Suchet series stacks up against the various films that have come out over the years?

3. Have you read many (or any) of Christie's books? If so, which ones?

To answer my own questions:

1. I first learned about Poirot through a friend, who recommended it to me. The first episode I watched was Third Girl, when it originally aired on PBS. I regret that I found the series so late.

2. I think the 1974 film is fantastic and I also enjoyed the '78 adaptation of Death on the Nile. I haven't seen any of the others though. I think Suchet is the definitive Poirot, but those are both great films that are equally as good as anything he's done with the series.

3. I've read Cards on the Table (loved it) and The Mysterious Affair at Styles (didn't love it). And while it's not Poirot, I also read And Then There Were None and enjoyed it. Soon I'm going to read MOTOE in preparation for the new film.

[–] Isthisyourhomework (283) 8 years ago

I don't think I've ever watched one of these before today when I watched the Murder on the Orient Express episode. I'm impressed that they made 70 of these with Suchet. I know they're TV eps, but they're feature length, so that's 70 Poirot movies, which blows my mind. David Suchet basically became the character. He had some big shoes to fill taking up where Peter Ustinov left off, no doubt. Most of the Christie films I have seen as an adult are the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple ones from the 60s. I like those just because I like her so much; it's not the character, it's her persona. I saw the Ustinov ones on HBO when my mother watched them in the 80s, but other than knowing they probably got me started on a lifetime spent watching British mysteries, I don't remember enough to discuss.

On the Orient Express episode in particular. I noticed that a lot of people who have discussed it online in the past have had a big problem with the honor killing incident at the beginning, thinking it was a "ripped from the headlines" unnecessary addition. I think it was hard to watch, but at the end of the story it (and the subsequent confrontation with Jessica Chastain's character) definitely had an influence on Poirot's ultimate decision regarding how the investigation of the later murder on the train was handled. The incident at the beginning needed to happen for the story to be interpreted the way that screenwriter wanted to tell it. It wasn't just a random pandering to today's news, IMO, but a catalyst for Poirot's character to evolve.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 8 years ago

Oh, interesting. The impression that I got from the other thread was that you were a seasoned fan of the Poirot series.

I have seen a decent handful of them, but certainly nothing close to the entire series. I believe the earlier seasons may have been only an hour per episode, and then they expanded to feature-length later on.

What I can tell you is that the earlier seasons had a more light-hearted, playful tone. There was more comedy. The later seasons are darker in tone and Poirot is a more serious character. This tonal shift is probably the most common complaint that I've seen, though I really enjoy the later seasons' more modern production values. At some point I would like to start at the beginning and work my way through the entire series.

Regarding Murder on the Orient Express, it sounds like you enjoyed it! I'm glad to hear that. I would really need to watch it again to make a comment on the honor killing/Jessica Chastain/ending connection, but those sound like logical thoughts. I am reading through the book right now and intend to rewatch this episode when I'm done. I will keep your thoughts in mind when I do.

[–] Isthisyourhomework (283) 8 years ago

Oh crap, no, didn't mean to imply I knew a lot about Poirot. I just like mysteries in general. I also read a lot of complaints about the tone being wrong. I will definitely start back at the beginning then to see the playful Poirot. I'm glad to have found something else to binge on Acorn, since I mostly use it just to watch Lovejoy!

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 8 years ago

Awesome! Well feel free to come back and add more life to the Poirot board as you make your way through the show.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 7 years ago

Out of curiosity, did you go any further with the series?

[–] Isthisyourhomework (283) 7 years ago

Hell yeah I did! I pretty much got obsessed with it! I even have my ringtone set to the Poirot theme. I keep rewatching the first six seasons, but I'm slowly working through the later ones. I'm up to the one with Tim Curry now, Appointment With Death. I'm going to finish the series but I noticed I have to get season 13 on Acorn through Amazon instead of Acorn's standalone site. It's so weird how they have them all broken up on different sites.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 7 years ago

Ha ha, cool! Well glad you are enjoying the show. I think it's great.

That's interesting that you keep rewatching the earlier seasons. I know a lot of people enjoy the earlier seasons, with their lighter tone, more than they do the more somber later seasons.

I actually just watched The ABC Murders for the first time last night.

Not sure if you're aware, but there's a LOT of new Agatha Christie stuff in the works right now. The Christie estate decided they wanted to try to introduce her work to a new generation and so the production wheels have been turning on new (mostly non-Poirot) adaptations for a few years now.

In 2015 the BBC adapted And Then There Were None. In 2016 they adapted The Witness for the Prosecution (which I actually just watched last night as well, in a double-feature with The ABC Murders).

Right now, in the middle of airing as we speak on BBC One, is Ordeal by Innocence. And from what I've read, they are planning on producing six other adaptations over the next few years.

Of course there was the recent big-screen adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express with Kenneth Branagh. There was also another theatrical adaptation last year, Crooked House. It's currently streaming on Amazon. Here's a trailer for that one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLpwich4AE

Kenneth Branagh's follow-up to MOTOE, Death on the Nile, is also in the works. And I've heard that Hollywood adaptations of And Then There Were None and Witness for the Prosecution are also on the way.

In short, it's a great time to be a Christie fan!

[–] Stratego (31078) 8 years ago

1. I saw reruns of the earliers seasons as a teen in the mid/late 90s. I love murder mysteries and also the period the show's set in. I just love the Art Deco style.

2. MOTOE is enjoyable up to a point, but I dislike Finney's portrayal of Poirot. I enjoyed Ustinov's DOTN better, but every subsequent movie became worse. The 90s episodes of Suchet's Poirot are much better, but I don't like the later seasons at all. I think that even the worst of those theatrical movies are better. Suchet is the ultimate Poirot, though.

3. I've read the novels from The Mysterious Affair at Styles all the way through to Five Little Pigs.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 8 years ago

Thanks for your feedback!

I wish I had discovered this show in the mid-90s and had had the privilege of following it all the way to its conclusion. It was just not to be, though. As I said, I didn't even know it existed until 2010 or so, with the first episode I ever watched being Third Girl when it premiered on PBS. It would've been a lot of fun to be able to find the series earlier and stick with it through all those years.

Why exactly do you dislike the later seasons so much? I never have fully understood why so many fans are so critical of them. Maybe it's because I actually STARTED with the later seasons, but it's actually the earlier seasons that I have a hard time watching. The lack of modern cinematic production values is just off-putting to me.

[–] Stratego (31078) 8 years ago

Like many others, I think they're too dark and depressing, too modernized with too many changes and I actually think the newer episodes look pretty cheap, like just putting a filter over it automatically gives it a good look. The earlier episodes may look a bit grainy for today's standards, but they're much more atmospheric with a great Art Deco look, even in the details. That clean, slick look is what I dislike about a lot of today's shows. I also prefer Hastings and Miss Lemon as side characters. And I'm not sure if it's the acting, writing, editing or perhaps all three, but I also think the newer episodes are boring.

[–] [deleted] 8 years ago

I loved this series from the beginning and guess what ?? Netflix Canada has 9 seasons and I have been binging all winter. My fav episode is Hercule Poirot's Christmas.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 8 years ago

Out of curiosity, have you read any of Christie's books?

[–] [deleted] 8 years ago

No I haven't read the books.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 8 years ago

Hmm, well regarding the newer ones being boring, I'd say, in my opinion at least, they're hit and miss. Some I enjoyed, some I found dull.

Cards on the Table and The Clocks, for instance, I didn't enjoy too much, but I thought that Third Girl, MOTOE, Death on the Nile and Hallowe'en Party were all quite good.

[–] sarav2009 (33) 8 years ago

I had read a few Agatha Christie books when I was a kid and recently I decided to read all her books in their release order. I am at 'Sad Cypress' now.

I am wondering if the entire Poirot TV series is worth ordering. (I believe it would, at the least, be better than the new Sherlock Holmes series)

"Haven't used IMDB since 19th Feb 2017"

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 8 years ago

Interesting. As I mentioned above, I am currently in the middle of reading Murder on the Orient Express. But when I finish that one I may go back and read them in release order, just hopping over the few that I've already read when I get to them. The good thing about Christie is that, provided you're not a speed reader and provided that you also are spending time reading other authors, she wrote enough books to keep you entertained for decades if not a lifetime.

Regarding the Poirot series, have you seen any of the episodes? If not, what I can tell is that the series changed a lot over the years. You have to remember that it was on the air for nearly 25 years.

The earlier episodes have a different look and feel from the later ones. A lot of people like the earlier ones more, because they are lighter in tone and there's more comedy. But some people prefer the later ones, for the seriousness and modern production values.

I'm not sure if it still is, but I know the whole series used to be on Netflix. I believe you can also watch it on acorn.tv.

If you check it out, please do come and post some thoughts.

[–] sarav2009 (33) 8 years ago

Will do
...And have a good day