The first two of Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie adaptations weren’t great, but they were serviceable. This is definitely the best of the three. It takes a story that’s not universally recognizable and it allows them to have more freedom and fun. Moving it to Venice was an excellent choice. The first few minutes of just random shots of the iconic city made it a character that immediately makes you uneasy and full of dread.
After loading the first two movies…
It was fine. The last hour could have easily been cut or shrunk way way down. They should have focused on the actual repercussions of the atomic bombing of Japan and what that unleashed versus the random political drama. Maybe they should have shown some pictures or video of what happened so his panic attack visions actually carried some weight.
I’m not a Nolan fan. I usually hate most of his movies. They’re flashy, but then start to fall apart…
It’s a breezy popcorn flick, which is what most people want. There are setups and payoffs that everyone can see coming, but they work in a movie like this. Not everything needs to be a sprawling puzzle that makes you think. It’s Dungeons and Dragons, for crying out loud. Are there dungeons? Yes. Are there dragons? Yes. Are there jokes D&D players will get that go over everyone else’s head? Yes. It’s just a good time at the movies that most people will enjoy. The cast looks like they had fun and I hope they agree to make a sequel.
