Yeah, there's something about the Julia McKenzie era of Marple (and the Poirot episodes with crossover cast-members [here we have Paul Rhys from Mrs McGinty and Patrick Baladi from Taken at the Flood]) where the writing just got sloppy and the TV company seemed to be banking on Christie adaptation + famous faces = audience
Dunno. I really liked their version of Pale Horse. Marple didn't feel crammed in there. Also Endless Night (but that maybe because it's essentially a novel-length version of a Marple short story already).
Julia McKenzie's Miss Marple is uninspired, and the writing is dull and lacks gravitas. I turned it off after 30 minutes and watched one of the early Poirot/Suchet mysteries. What a contrast!
Tbh Mckenzie's my favourite Miss Marple. Geraldine McEwan was the most faithful to the book version (I'm not saying that her adaptations were, but the way she acts is) but McKenzie had some really good adaptations, such as this one (yes, I do like it) or "They do it with mirrors" (which is my favorite Marple book)
Happy New Years Miles! Hope you had a good holiday. Glad to have your videos back (just realized I missed an episode from last week! it looks like the John Malkovich Poirot so that's going to be an interesting watch lol).
Good video! I remember liking this movie but agree that the seven sins weren't very well executed. But there was potential. Hopefully somebody can make something with it later.
I have to ask Miles, so we know where we stand. Is this STRICTLY a Christie channel, or is this a detective novel adaptation channel? Because of you're willing to try the latter, I have a suggestion. My mother was the Christie fan. My father however, was a huge fan of one Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe. As such, I'd like to suggest the 2002 adaptation of "The Silent Speaker" starting Timothy Hutton and Maury Chauyken. If this is channel strictly for Christie adaptations, then I have made my suggestions. But I will repeat them. While I would love to see you do the godawful Orient Express video game, if you're going to do a bad Orient Express adaptation the dragon that must be slain is the 2001 TV movie starring Alfred Molina. A CAR FIRE of a movie with some of the dumbest decisions I've ever seen in a Christie adaptation.
Thank you for the suggestions! I have a vague memory of trying Nero Wolfe back in high school. I am focusing on Agatha Christie for now, but I'll make a note of this title. Not to worry, your Orient Express recommendations are well-taken. You'll see something by the end of the year. I was planning to focus on Suchet and Branagh, but I'll give the Molina another look as it's been about 15 years since I've seen it.
I never forgave the series for wasting The Herb of Death the way they did. That and The Affair at the Bungalow were quite unique and I'd have been pleased to see them properly attempted.
The "lengthened" short story adaptations rarely work. They were never intended to be deep and meaningful; just an intro, a crime and a "gotcha" moment where the clue is revealed and the culprit unmasked. Perfect for a 20-minute commute on the Underground. It would be much better to adapt them properly as short stories, in say 15-20 minutes screen time, and then package two or three together in one showing.
I actually think that some of the short stories from "The Thirteen Problems" could work well as a full length (1 hour+) adapations. Especially those first 6 stories
so happy I found this. I was watching The Blue Geranium version the narrator described and kept nodding off.
The short story that really needs an adaption is "The idol house of astarte". My fav short story with Miss Marple :)
Yeah, there's something about the Julia McKenzie era of Marple (and the Poirot episodes with crossover cast-members [here we have Paul Rhys from Mrs McGinty and Patrick Baladi from Taken at the Flood]) where the writing just got sloppy and the TV company seemed to be banking on Christie adaptation + famous faces = audience
Even worse were the conversions of other Christie stories into Miss Marple stories.
Dunno. I really liked their version of Pale Horse. Marple didn't feel crammed in there. Also Endless Night (but that maybe because it's essentially a novel-length version of a Marple short story already).
Plus overusing taboo additions as plot twists. “But actually they were gay lovers” “Secret Incest. WooooOooo” “MORE ADULTERY. Can’t have enough”
Julia McKenzie's Miss Marple is uninspired, and the writing is dull and lacks gravitas. I turned it off after 30 minutes and watched one of the early Poirot/Suchet mysteries. What a contrast!
Tbh Mckenzie's my favourite Miss Marple. Geraldine McEwan was the most faithful to the book version (I'm not saying that her adaptations were, but the way she acts is) but McKenzie had some really good adaptations, such as this one (yes, I do like it) or "They do it with mirrors" (which is my favorite Marple book)
I loved the 13 problems.
Happy New Years Miles! Hope you had a good holiday. Glad to have your videos back (just realized I missed an episode from last week! it looks like the John Malkovich Poirot so that's going to be an interesting watch lol).
Good video! I remember liking this movie but agree that the seven sins weren't very well executed. But there was potential. Hopefully somebody can make something with it later.
Always happy to see another review from you.
I have to ask Miles, so we know where we stand. Is this STRICTLY a Christie channel, or is this a detective novel adaptation channel? Because of you're willing to try the latter, I have a suggestion.
My mother was the Christie fan. My father however, was a huge fan of one Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe. As such, I'd like to suggest the 2002 adaptation of "The Silent Speaker" starting Timothy Hutton and Maury Chauyken.
If this is channel strictly for Christie adaptations, then I have made my suggestions. But I will repeat them. While I would love to see you do the godawful Orient Express video game, if you're going to do a bad Orient Express adaptation the dragon that must be slain is the 2001 TV movie starring Alfred Molina. A CAR FIRE of a movie with some of the dumbest decisions I've ever seen in a Christie adaptation.
Thank you for the suggestions! I have a vague memory of trying Nero Wolfe back in high school. I am focusing on Agatha Christie for now, but I'll make a note of this title.
Not to worry, your Orient Express recommendations are well-taken. You'll see something by the end of the year. I was planning to focus on Suchet and Branagh, but I'll give the Molina another look as it's been about 15 years since I've seen it.
Finally, another Miss Marple episode!
I never forgave the series for wasting The Herb of Death the way they did. That and The Affair at the Bungalow were quite unique and I'd have been pleased to see them properly attempted.
The "lengthened" short story adaptations rarely work. They were never intended to be deep and meaningful; just an intro, a crime and a "gotcha" moment where the clue is revealed and the culprit unmasked. Perfect for a 20-minute commute on the Underground. It would be much better to adapt them properly as short stories, in say 15-20 minutes screen time, and then package two or three together in one showing.
I actually think that some of the short stories from "The Thirteen Problems" could work well as a full length (1 hour+) adapations. Especially those first 6 stories
woke disney the activistainment (?) propaganda company.. come and get your wokeburghger get your uncomfortable feelings here!