Thriller & Mystery > H Thriller & Mystery > 30 GBP and more

Evil under the Sun

Advantages: cast, direction, cinematography, soundtrack
Disadvantages: some might be bothered by the differences between book and film

...film adaptation of the 1941 Agatha Christie murder mystery. Cast Sir Peter Ustinov as Mr Hercule Poirot - 4/5 After his outstanding portrayal of the finicky Belgian detective in Death on the Nile Ustinov's performance here is a bit disappointing. Although his acting is strong, energetic and certainly entertaining, his interpretation of the grouchy, imperious detective lacks exactly that - he is just too kind and affable. Jane Birkin ...
...this film adaptation of the Agatha Christie murder mystery: - in the book the whole story is set on Burgh Island and not, like in the film, on a Mediterranean island (Sa Dragonera, an island off Mallorca's shore, whose scenery, however, was only used for visual shots) - many negligible characters have been taken out - the author Rex Brewster in Agatha Christie's novel actually is a woman (Emily Brewster) - in the book Mrs Gardener's first name ...

SarahJennifer 02.09.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Agatha Christie's Evil Under The Sun (DVD)

Whatever happened to Saskia Wagter?

Advantages: Utterly compelling, great performances
Disadvantages: None for me

...her, to no avail, and the police aren't really that interested in helping him. Then Rex starts to receive a series of letters from the kidnapper, asking to meet up with him. Each time Rex goes to the meeting place, however, the kidnapper doesn't show up. Unable to move on, despite getting together with a new girlfriend, Rex is beginning to think he will never find out what happened to Saskia. Then the kidnapper shows himself. Will he reveal what ...
...and is really amazing in the role. Clearly in love with Saskia, he is truly devastated at her disappearance - watching him chase around the service station looking for her is really moving. The story then skips three years, and Rex is a much harder man, but has never given up the hope that one day, he will find what happened to Saskia. Occasionally, he comes close to madness. This is a deeply convincing performance by the actor and he is a real pleasure ...

sunmeilan 13.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Vanishing (Subtitled) (DVD)

Do you really believe in the perfect murder?

Advantages: Excellent Direction, Brilliant performance by lead characters, superb story line.
Disadvantages: None really.

...MY PERSONAL THOUGHT Dial M for Murder is one of the finest and entertaining thriller movies directed by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. The story of this movie is really unique and interesting. The viewers get to know about the criminal and his evil plans from the very beginning of the movie. So the question is, will he be able to carry out the plan and murder his wife without any doubt. I really enjoyed the way Mr. Hitchcock unfolds each ...
...revolves around five characters. He gives equal importance to the each character of this movie and gives a brief introduction about them. So the viewers can get familiar with the characters and get to know about their likes, dislikes and thoughts. But Mr. Hitchcock makes it very concise and point to point on the screen. As soon as you get to know about the central characters of this movie, the storyline moves rapidly with great consistency. There ...

Gladiator007 11.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Dial M for Murder (DVD)

The Seven Deadly Sins..........Fincher style!

Advantages: Powerful, acting, direction, cinematography
Disadvantages: Will be too brutal for some

...killer, who is using the seven deadly sins as a pattern for the killings. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman play the two detectives, and what starts out as a pair of hard nosed cops chasing another deranged psycho killer, soon turns into a psychological game of cat and mouse. Pitt is excellent as the frenetic and volatile young Mills, a doggedly determined detective who lets nothing stand in his way. He is contrasted by the ever serene Morgan Freeman ...
...The murders follow the Biblical seven deadly sins, and as each murder is committed, we are given an often graphic viewpoint of how each murder has resulted. Naturally, Mills and Somerset are aiming to prevent all seven murders from taking place, and the scenes featuring how they do their detective work are anxious and frantic all the time. There are many periods of silence, where closeups on their faces make for dramatic effect, and these are counterbalanced ...

pmcds 11.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Seven (DVD)

Up The Rebels!

Advantages: Excellent script, direction and acting, sombre, original, wonderful orchestral score.
Disadvantages: None.

...Liam O' Flaherty's novel of the same name, The Informer (1935) stars Victor McLaglen as one Gypo Nolan, an absolute bear of a man of generally very good moral standing who, during the Irish War of Independence, informs on his best friend, Frankie McPhillip (played by Wallace Ford) in order to gain a £20 reward, in the hope of sailing to America with his prostitute girlfriend, whom he cares for deeply. The Informer follows Gypo's exploits, right from ...
...his eventual throwing himself upon the mercy of the Black and Tans. The movie takes place over the course of twelve hours, set mostly in fog-choked streets of torrential rain, which staunchly highlights the emotional torture which Gypo suffers immediately after acting upon what is seen by him (and potentially by everyone he comes into contact with) as such a desperate, cowardly whim. His fierce, folorn guilt swiftly and in fact unexpectedly becomes ...

Mutalisk 09.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Informer (DVD)