Murder on the Orient Express 2017

     Based on the classic novel by Agatha Christie.  The year is 1934 and the Orient Express will be leaving from Istanbul precisely on time.  Hercule Poirot is the best detective in the world and he decides to take this winter train journey.  Later, a small snow avalanche causes the engine and several cars in the front of the train to derail.  The passengers will have to wait for the arrival of a crew from the closest station.  Hercule discovers a murder has committed and a passenger on the train must be the perpetrator.  In order to lesson the danger to his fellow passengers, Hercule will need a solution before the trains begins renews its journey.

    The main focus of this film is Hercule Poirot and the case is based on a real case in the United States that occurred on March 1, 1932.  In this film, only minor details of their backgrounds are given for most of the supporting characters.  The train stops on a dangerous trestle but there doesn’t seem to be any worries from the passengers or the crew members?  At least no comments are made about the train falling down the mountainside?  I thought the scenery was very beautiful, especially in the snow scenes.  I could see why this would be a journey for the wealthy and an interesting experience.  Possibly a once in a lifetime journey.  Very luxurious even for 1934!!  In 2018 the lowest price is 1,592 Euros and the highest price is 10,656 Euros.  The conversion rate is 0.85 Euro to one dollar.  1,592 Euros would be $1,864.59 and 10,656 Euros would be $12,481.38.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)  

114 min, Crime directed by Kenneth Branagh with Elliot Levey, David Annen, Kenneth Branagh, Joseph Long, Johnny Depp, Andy Apollo, Hadley Fraser, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Ziad Abaza, Nari Blair-Mangat, Luke Brady.

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10, 57% critic 54% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2*, Metacritic 52 out of 100 with 46 critics 6.4 out of 10 with 313 reviews, Common Sense Media 3* positive messages, 2* role models, 3* violence, 2* sex, 1* language 2* drinking, drugs, smoking, Rolling Stone 3 ½* out of 4* Peter Travers, Amazon 4.1, 556 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Istanbul, Turkey; Valletta, Malta; Vale D’Aosta, Italy; Sursee, Kanton Luzern, Switzerland; New Zealand; France; London and Longcross Studios, Chobham Lane, Longcross, Surrey, England, UK.  The original Orient Express route starting in October 4, 1883 was from Paris, Gare de l'Est to Giurgiu, Romania via Munich and Vienna.  Passengers were ferried across the Danube to Ruse, Bulgaria to pick up another train to Varna.  The Classic Orient Express ran between Paris and Istanbul via Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest.  The train in this film is the Simplon Orient Express from Milan, Venice, Belgrade and Sofia.  Many of the cast and extra are made up of Kenneth Branagh’s closest friends and acquaintances.  Many have been directed by Branagh, co-starred or have been a member of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.  After seeing the trailer, many Agatha Christie fans complained about Branagh’s interpretation of Poirot’s iconic moustache.  Big screens with animations of moving landscapes were installed on the set to create the visual effect of a moving train.  Josh Gad experienced some motion sickness because of this visual.  Branagh is the fifteenth actor to portray Herucle Poirot on screen in works by Christie.  There is another film with the same title and subject from 1994.