New Mysteries

Took a while to find it. The most recent Marple : The Pale Horse, starring Julia Mckenzie. Not originally a Marple mystery, it's not one of the strongest of her stories. Enjoy! It will be a long wait for any other new mysteries. Part one here

Murder!

A very different take on Murder on the Orient Express last Sunday. Less polished, with a handheld technique that gave the experience an altogether more tense scenario. Diminishing the lustre of the famed Orient Express, it focused on Poirot's struggle with his views on justice and punishment. As a fan of the books I am curious how they will slowly arc Poirot's internal struggle of moral justice in his final bow "Curtain".

Overall? It's not a favourite unfortunately, and I do prefer the recent adaptation of Hallowe'en Party, (new online version link to part 1 of 9 here).. but I'm glad they made it.

Another new Mystery episode? One of Agatha Christie's best, The Pale Horse. The change? Adding Miss Marple into the story, perhaps a rather unnecessary addition.

Summer distractions

If you're not the type that enjoys baking in the sun, or just crave a temporary reprieve from the blazing heat... cinemas may provide less than stellar options this year.

What is there to look forward to?

I was stunned to see the record breaking scathing reviews for Avatar the Last Airbender... and other than Inception what else has generated buzz?

Lowest of the low?

I must admit, the eight percent rating has made me curious. How bad can a kid film really be?? Usually even "splat" rotten reviews are not exactly bottom of the barrel, but as I scanned through many of the top critics' full articles I was astonished to find few positive qualities highlighted. With the high ticket prices and overuse of 3D technology, Hollywood has already felt the backlash of over saturating the market with extravagant mediocre material.

Perhaps Norman Jewison was right, television will take the reigns for quality storytelling and original entertainment. With projects such as Foyle's War, Pacific, Game of Thrones, Dexter, True Blood, Borgias, Lost in Austen, Tudors, Mad Men and Mentalist... do audiences really need to leave home?

Poirot X: Murder on the Orient Express starring Eileen Atkins (Gosford Park) and Marie-Josee Croze (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) airs this July 7th!

Marple: Secret of the Chimneys here

Full Poirot: Hallowe'en Party up and ready! Part 1 here.. links on right to other sections

Cracking...

For non-American viewers.. here's the latest online copy of Masterpiece Mystery! The Mirror Crack'd from side to side.

It's not the best, many prefer the Joan Hickson version ... see for yourself!

Watch here.

This Sunday will air Marple: Secret Chimneys.

July 11 (Sunday) Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express. Still hunting for Hallowe'en Party however... will post when I find it!

mirrors

Coming soon online... or on PBS Masterpiece theatre until June 6th

Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from side to side

clip here

Marple wave

The Canadian release of Miss Marple: They Do it with Mirrors is set to air in Canada March 7, 2010... sooooooon. Starring Julia McKenzie and Joan Collins.

Others to come!

Marple: The secret of Chimneys

Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from side to side (A remake of the one with Liz Taylor)

Marple: The Blue Geranium

Marple: The Pale Horse

Haven't seen any? Here are a few old ones to watch...

The Body in the Library(2004) link here

4.50 From Paddington (2004) link here

Sleeping Murder(2006) link here

The first two have already been completed... must say though, The Pale Horse must be the best one. JJ Feild and Amy Manson to play the roles of Paul and Ginger.

Poirot is soooooo slow to air, and even worse... not likely to air in North America until 4+ months later. Don't they know what the digital age means?! Murder on the Orient Express promises to be quite a big production with Eileen Atkins (Robin Hood, Gosford Park, Cranford), Joely Richardson, and many more but one has to patient.

Poirot & me

New Updates!

I have found ANOTHER link to 2009 Poirot Three Act Tragedy which has been reposted, I can't promise how long it will stay up. Part 1 here

ITV had a special where they interviewed David Suchet of his experience playing Poirot through the years. I would agree with his selections of some of the strongest performances he has encountered. Elizabeth Dermot Walsh (Elinor Carlisle) in Sad Cypress (a favourite!), and the entire cast on Death on the Nile are among the very best.

Poirot & Me part 1 watch here (link will go to part 2 etc...)

Julia McKenzie interview here

Oddly enough I've stumbled on a strange version of both Poirot and Marple characters in Japanese Anime (here's a taste). It's definitely not my taste, but it is interesting.

Marple played by Geraldine McEwan

2006 Sleeping Murder part 1 here

2005 A Murder is Announced part 1 here

2004 The Body in the Library part 1 here

2006 Ordeal by Innocence part 1 here

Marple played by Julia McKenzie

2008 Why Didn't they ask Evans part 1 here (Natalie Dormer, Tudors... this link may not last long)

Tiger year

Rather mucky weather out there, a good time to curl up with a good book and apple cider.

Not sure when the air date of the next Marple will be release... here is a fantastic online source for Marple: Ordeal by Innocence starring Geraldine McEwan, Richard Armitage, Juliet Stevenson and Jane Seymour in 10 parts.

Click here for part 1

Oh by the way. Happy Chinese New Year and Hallmark Valentine's Day.. Year of the Tiger.

Mystery collection pt. 2

Poirot, Marple, Foyle's War. Exactly how in a North American is suppose to get their hands on these shows without waiting a year, I have no idea. I recently bought another set and was irritated to find that it was sold in the old television format... 4:3 ratio. What is that?? Bleh. Normally I'm not a snob, but it's 2010 and two black bars on each side on the tube is a travesty. All my other recent Poirot purchases have been 1.66:1 so why why why??!!! By the way the set was labelled "The New Mysteries collection" (season 9), as a warning.

I'll have to await a full set release of Season 11, which includes Cat Among the Pigeons, Third Girl, Mrs. McGinty's Dead, and Appointment with Death, since I stubbornly refuse to purchase an overpriced half set.

A good launching point?

Poirot, Marple and Foyle's war have featured a few U.K. upstarts who are slowly emerging into the Hollywood circuit. Death on the Nile's talented Emily Blunt has made fantastic headway, squeezing into the very exclusive club of Winona Ryder clones (a la Natalie Portman & Keira Knightley) that have become the "it" crowd. After the funeral's Michael Fassbender, Foyle's War (The German Woman) James McAvoy and hopefully Mystery on the Blue Train's James D'Arcy will continue to shake up the boorish Hollywood club that has a fetish for 20-30 somethings that look like children.

Link to Poirot: Cards on the Table Part 1 here

Mystery updates

Happy news! Zoë Wanamaker will be reprising her role for the upcoming Agatha Christie Poirot novel, Hallowe'en Party as the novelist Ariadne Oliver. Murder on the Orient Express, Three Act Tragedy and The Clocks are also already mid-way through production, Three Act Tragedy the first to air on New Year's Eve according to imdb.

I'm guessing "Clocks" will be aired shortly after, with "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Hallowe'en Party" released during the new year, January/February 2010.

As for Miss Marple, two more productions are expected this year, with Julia McKenzie reprising her role as the charismatic Miss Marple. The Secret of Chimneys and The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side.

Still need more? Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, Prince of Persia) is set to direct a remake of CLUE, based on the murder mystery board game for Hasbro and Universal. Get ready for larger than life characters and hopefully a fun cast of actors who don't take themselves too seriously. If you can't wait that long, try out the 1985 original starring Tim Curry.