Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Leofwine_draca EVIL UNDER THE SUN marks the second of Peter Ustinov's appearances as the famous Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot and it's very similar to look and feel as his first, DEATH ON THE NILE. Once again a bunch of glamorous but ageing Hollywood stars are stranded in a remote exotic setting, where one of their number (an incredibly bitchy Diana Rigg) is murdered and Poirot has to work out who did it. I enjoyed this film slightly more than the two previous Poirot movies of the 1970s, because it has a lighter touch and more comedy, that makes it very amusing at times. The cast is very strong and has nice roles for Roddy McDowall, James Mason, and an on-form Maggie Smith, and I did get a hoot out of Colin Blakely's Yorkshireman. As ever, the only thing that took the edge of this - and it was the same with the other Poirot movies - is that it feels very drawn out, particularly in the first half. The murder takes forever to happen and too much time is spent merely wallowing in the star power instead of getting on with the plot. Still, it's a fun watch.

JohnHowardReid If the aim of the script was to turn Agatha Christie's "Poirot" potboiler into an elegant comedy of manners (and that is a fair assumption) and almost as it were to spoof the very stuff of which her mysteries are made, Shaffer has only partly succeeded in that laudable aim. He is let down partly by his cast, partly by his director but mostly by himself. The dialogue except for one or two instances (notably Mason's delightful speech about not having an alibi) is just not sufficiently witty (though Maggie Smith has a game try at making her lines ring with the requisite offhanded venom) and even descends at the climax into the standard detective novel ploy of an extremely long, extraordinarily tedious explanatory speech (lightened though it is by flashbacks to incidents we have not previously been shown! — talk about cheating!). Blakely's bombast is also a distinct handicap and Saran Miles is far too strident. Fortunately their roles are comparatively small. Mr. Clay is a bit too insipid to inspire confidence and Ustinov's accent is as faulty as an amateur stage Frenchman's; but Jane Birkin, the ever-reliable Roddy McDowall and James Mason, Diana Rigg and Emily Hone are well worth supporting. Sets and costumes are inspired. Locations, color photography look all that escapist hearts could desire. And there's a Cole Porter score including a delightful rendition of "You're the Top" by Diana Rigg. (Available on a very good quality, but rather sparse on extras, Optimum DVD).

AaronCapenBanner Guy Hamilton took over directing duties on this third cinematic Hercule Poirot film, adapted from the Agatha Christie novel. Peter Ustinov does return however, investigating a case of a fake diamond for an insurance company that leads to an exotic Adriatic resort where a group of rich and famous people have gathered. When a scandalous woman(played by Diana Rigg) is murdered, there is(of course) no shortage of suspects, and Poirot must determine who did it... Ustinov improves as Poroit, though David Suchet owns the role after filming the entire canon for his TV series, Peter is helped by a fine supporting cast and beautiful location filming, giving this a nice atmosphere that is appealing.

jjnxn-1 Hugely enjoyable Christie. Peter Ustinov is a perfect Poirot clever, urbane, canny and sly you feel a real liking for the man but when another character refers to him as that fussy Belgian fart you can see that too. Amazing costume design, Sylvia Miles never looked this good before or since, her black and white ensembles are jaw dropping. It's all filmed on an absolutely glorious island in the Adriatics. The entire cast seems to be having fun even if there parts aren't very demanding. Best of all are the brilliant Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith who make great sparring partners with dialog dipped in venom. After "Murder on the Orient Express" the best of all Agatha Christie adaptations.