Reviews

The disastrous death of the debutante would never have occurred on Poirot's watch, particularly since it seemed he had planned the trap. If he had used an amateur woman for bait, she would have been well-protected. By two or even three undercover detectives. It's too easy to take down one. Nor would the door knock signal have been demonstrated in a crowd when Poirot was surely well known to the target but the target was unknown to Poirot. The mother/sister (sisters) con women arrived with Poirot. The violent husband was supposed to be already there. It's inconceivable that Poirot hadn't spoken to enough members of staff to ascertain that the room had been empty before the "wife" arrived. Plus, the con was very clumsy. A man might be attracted to a woman he met on a funicular but he would hardly fall in love - especially not enough to volunteer to hang for her based on a couple of kisses. He also would have insisted on alerting the police to the death. People who grow up in countries with generally honest police departments don't distrust the police in another civilized country so easily and she had a clear defense because the "husband" was supposedly trying to kill the man who'd interrupted his beating on his wife.

It was poorly written all around. The only one who was a legitimate red herring was the real cop.

Eleanor Wilkinson is a very good actor but I suspected her early on. It's now well-known that people who study serial killers, particularly when they're always asking about the progress of the police investigation are often the killers themselves. I'm sure that it wasn't known in Poirot's time but it seemed like the kind of thing he would have known instinctively.

The featured review "Just Lovely" covers much of what I loved about this movie. I'm near Ms. Plowright's age and I have an equally distant family. However, those that I had a close relationship with have passed away and the others don't even feel a "duty" toward me which is fine. We have nothing in common.

I've said, since I was in my 50s, that I want to die on the dance floor of a very classy cruise ship, dancing with a young, handsome man, having spent my last nickel that day. If I could be as active and with it as Joan Plowright is in this film and the young man could be as charming as Rupert Friend's character, I'd go out very happy.

It's truly a lovely movie.

I can't remember the last time I saw an English tv production that was less satisfying. The woman agonist is a sadist and the protagonist, her husband, is a masochist. She marries him when she pregnant, likely with another man's child then she leaves him to live with another man for eight years. He lies for her, telling his society friends that she's staying with her sick mother in Germany. Sylvia asks if she can come home and he allows it. She remains unsatisfied with her husband because he hasn't screamed at her or hit her so she spends years flirting with other men in front of him, telling vicious lies about him to everyone they know - who surprisingly, believe her. He protects his nasty wife while allowing the nice woman he loves to be accused of baring him an illegitimate child even though they've seen each other only four times and never even kissed.

There's honor and then there's weakness of character. Cumberbatch's character is 90% idiotic and weak and 10% honorable.

The only reason I watched it all was because the alternative was doing my income taxes.

Who was in charge of ruining one of my favorite series? The new DI is so annoying I can barely watch his scenes. The other three DIs had exceptional deductive skills and appealing personalities. Even Ben Miller, in his silly black suits, was endearing, especially once his character developed romantic feelings for Camille. Ralf Little's character is whiny even when he's working on solving the mystery out loud.

The secondary lead replacements have all had less personality than those they replaced. Danny John-Jules's exit was a particular loss. Shyko Amos brought a bit of humor back to the show but she was sacked at the end of last season. The Catherine character always provided warmth and mature sensuality but she actress seems to have fewer scenes and boring lines. Finally, Little's character has no chemistry with the commissioner. He's even turned Harry into just a lizard - although that's probably the director's fault.

Little is so boring that I just finished watching this episode and I can't remember his character's name.

The writing is terrible The direction is terrible. The casting of Little is terrible. Bakare is a mediocre actor. The new teen conman/police trainee is a stock character.

If it doesn't improve, I'm going to watch the earlier seasons instead. I'm going to warn that there's a spoiler even though it's obvious almost from the beginning.

I gave the episode two stars only because the scenery is still gorgeous.

John Wayne, at forty-five, is looks far too old for the role in a movie that has much to recommend it - including gorgeous scenery, fine direction, and marvelous portrayals by the supporting cast. What it is not is a romance.

I've watched this film a number of times. Even before Turner Classic Movies and various streaming platforms, it showed up on television every St. Patrick's Day. I love the stars, Wayne, O'Hara, and McLaglen in other roles but Wayne is so physically abusive toward O'Hara and dismissive of her that it made me uncomfortable even when I was a child. No doubt that type of behavior wasn't that uncommon in the time and place in which the film is set (1920's rural Ireland) but I cringe when the "hero" drags the heroine off the train and through the fields, stopping to kick her in the rear, before shoving her at McLaglen's feet.

I don't even enjoy the fight scene as much as I used to and I remember thinking it was hilarious.