alv790

The first thing you need to do if you have read the books is forget about them and try to experience the show as it's own thing... Although, is that really something that makes sense? If they want to tell a story that has little to do with Foundation, why not tell a original story?

Anyway, while the original was cool because it showed how individuals were less important than the forces of history, this show is all about far-fetched action scenes where super-special chosen ones miraculously save the galaxy. The plot is really dumbed down. Things happen that don't make much sense, just whatever it's convenient for the plot.

On the other hand, the stuff with the clone emperors (also stuff that has nothing to do with the books) was kind of cool.

All in all, a good example of the current state of Hollywood. It's in the line of Marvel TV shows rather than a ideas-focused science fiction classic.

What is it with Branagh and Poirot? Why does he feel the need to modernize Agatha Christie's work so? If he has no respect for the original, or no faith that it can succeed with modern audiences, why not adapt instead a modern novel? Because this adaptation is thoroughly fake.

Poirot feels the need to be running around after suspects and waving (even shooting) guns. Instead of grey cells, Branagh gives him plenty of emotions, a tragic love story, even a motivation for his moustache. He sure is not Poirot. And why? Just adapt a modern detective story, with their traumatized detectives.

The strength to this story, apart from the clever trick the killer used and the setting, is in the characters. And what do we have? Instead of 1930s characters, we get a collection of 21st century identity politics talking points, lecturing about racism, sexism and lesbophobia. Seriously, if that's what you want, why not adapt a modern story instead of one written and set in the early 20th century? Are they unable to do a period piece now?

The CGI-fest cinematography looks expensive but also fake. Not as fake as the previous Poirot movie by Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express), but still fake.

All in all a missed opportunity. Watchable, but try to forget that it's supposed to be a Poirot story, and when it is supposed to be set.

Kind of disappointing adaptation of a novel that has known better adaptations in the past. Why did Kenneth Branagh do this, when we already have such a superior Poirot in David Suchet? I suppose it's a way to give younger generations a way to approach Agatha Christie, but... what is it with Hollywood and period pieces? At times it reminded me of Robert Downey Jr's awful Sherlock Holmes movies. We get Poirot running after suspects, fighting, absurd chases, just for the sake of inserting action scenes where they don't belong... This is not what an Agatha Christie story is like. It's never credible or convincing as a period piece. No subtlety, no wit, just the usual Hollywood tics.

The movie looks pretty, expect for the CGI, as excessive as unnecessary, which does not look real. It doesn't find a way to really profit from the large and talented cast. It's mostly Branagh's show. It would have done better with more real exterior shots and less blue screens.

The investigation is perfunctory: a few quick conversations and Poirot has all the facts out of thin air. It's a difficult story to adapt as a movie, true, with the novel being a long series of suspect interviews that would not work on the screen. But still, it can be done better.

I liked the ending, though, showcasing Poirot's moral dilemma in an emotional way.