Remember the Zac Snyder superhero movies? Remember how he managed to suck all the wonder and joy out of Christopher Reeve's Superman and turned him into a sulky emo brat? Or how he took the Dark Knight and turned him into a "Death Wish" style sadist?
I mention that because the BBC seems to think that those films were a huge success and have decided to make their Christie adaptations as relentlessly grim as they can.
Ooooh "edgy".
The thing is, it is almost comical. Everyone is miserable, obnoxious, creepy, dreary and rubbish. Really, the only way the could have improved on the air of misery would be to have all scenes of Poirot shot in the pouring rain with a random pigeon pooing on his head.
The direction follows the script. Every room is dark, with faded wallpaper and shabby furniture. Miserable urchins stalk the streets. Thank god there's no technology that can convey smell. I'm sure this film would reek of faeces and rotting cabbage.
The thing is, I wonder who the BBC thinks this will appeal to? Surely Christie fans will find it too Scandi-noir, too violent, too gritty? While non-Christie fans will be put off by those Agatha-elements which are retained?
I suspect whoever wrote this does not like Christie very much. There's a long speech in part 1, rubbishing the country house style murder mysteries. The thing is, it's not even cutting edge. BBC writer, I need to point out to you that Anthony Schaffer made the same point so much better in "Sleuth" nearly 50 years ago. And without riding on Christie's coat-tails.
So yes, another tale of misery and woe. I got 3/4 of the way through episode 1 when I realised this was the tv equivalent of sitting in a puddle of vomit and decided to watch the Suchet version instead.
And what do you know? The sun occasionally SHINES in this version. I'm sure the BBC finds that trite. They're such serious artists there, don't you know.
I mention that because the BBC seems to think that those films were a huge success and have decided to make their Christie adaptations as relentlessly grim as they can.
Ooooh "edgy".
The thing is, it is almost comical. Everyone is miserable, obnoxious, creepy, dreary and rubbish. Really, the only way the could have improved on the air of misery would be to have all scenes of Poirot shot in the pouring rain with a random pigeon pooing on his head.
The direction follows the script. Every room is dark, with faded wallpaper and shabby furniture. Miserable urchins stalk the streets. Thank god there's no technology that can convey smell. I'm sure this film would reek of faeces and rotting cabbage.
The thing is, I wonder who the BBC thinks this will appeal to? Surely Christie fans will find it too Scandi-noir, too violent, too gritty? While non-Christie fans will be put off by those Agatha-elements which are retained?
I suspect whoever wrote this does not like Christie very much. There's a long speech in part 1, rubbishing the country house style murder mysteries. The thing is, it's not even cutting edge. BBC writer, I need to point out to you that Anthony Schaffer made the same point so much better in "Sleuth" nearly 50 years ago. And without riding on Christie's coat-tails.
So yes, another tale of misery and woe. I got 3/4 of the way through episode 1 when I realised this was the tv equivalent of sitting in a puddle of vomit and decided to watch the Suchet version instead.
And what do you know? The sun occasionally SHINES in this version. I'm sure the BBC finds that trite. They're such serious artists there, don't you know.