Evil Under the Sun (1982)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The best of the Agatha Christie movies I have seen till now.Yes it follows the same formula as any other movie adapted from Christie's work. Yes we still have the detective rounding up all the suspects and explaining the plot. But it's really the cast of characters and the sharp writing that makes this the most enjoyable of the lot.Peter Ustinov is as good as he's ever been as Poirot. I have read the book and I think the book lends itself more to a cinematic style than some of her other books. It has a tight plot and a surprising ending. And the ending managed to hold the same impact as it had years ago when I read the book.Evil Under the Sun is a winner because it is able to capture the essence of her books and her style.

EVIL UNDER THE SUN marks the second of Peter Ustinov's appearances as the famous Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot and it's very similar to look and feel as his first, DEATH ON THE NILE. Once again a bunch of glamorous but ageing Hollywood stars are stranded in a remote exotic setting, where one of their number (an incredibly bitchy Diana Rigg) is murdered and Poirot has to work out who did it. I enjoyed this film slightly more than the two previous Poirot movies of the 1970s, because it has a lighter touch and more comedy, that makes it very amusing at times. The cast is very strong and has nice roles for Roddy McDowall, James Mason, and an on-form Maggie Smith, and I did get a hoot out of Colin Blakely's Yorkshireman. As ever, the only thing that took the edge of this - and it was the same with the other Poirot movies - is that it feels very drawn out, particularly in the first half. The murder takes forever to happen and too much time is spent merely wallowing in the star power instead of getting on with the plot. Still, it's a fun watch.

1982 Agatha Christie is just that. What makes this film so engaging is that everyone has an alibi in the murder of Diana Rigg, a woman you just love to hate for her apparent abusiveness and disdain for others.The film is made even better by Cole Porter's songs which are so appropriately used in the various situations. Examples of this would be I Concentrate on You, as Inspector Poirot zooms in on all the likely suspects.Sylvia Miles, a grand dame in the film is married to James Mason. With her flashy outfits and memorable Brooklyn-Bronx accent, she shows us a memorable character. Ditto for Maggie Smith with her swaggering walk from Jean Brodie.You're wondering to the last minute how Hercule will get the proof he needs on our suspecting villains. The wait is worth it.

Guy Hamilton took over directing duties on this third cinematic Hercule Poirot film, adapted from the Agatha Christie novel. Peter Ustinov does return however, investigating a case of a fake diamond for an insurance company that leads to an exotic Adriatic resort where a group of rich and famous people have gathered. When a scandalous woman(played by Diana Rigg) is murdered, there is(of course) no shortage of suspects, and Poirot must determine who did it... Ustinov improves as Poroit, though David Suchet owns the role after filming the entire canon for his TV series, Peter is helped by a fine supporting cast and beautiful location filming, giving this a nice atmosphere that is appealing.