Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Film»Murder On The Orient Express Review
    Film

    Murder On The Orient Express Review

    Jack HollinsheadBy Jack HollinsheadNovember 14, 2017No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Now, I will start this article by saying that I haven’t read the Agatha Christie novel this film is based on. I’ll own up to that right off the bat. However, the beauty of not reading a book that a movie may be depicted from is that I don’t go in with any preconceived ideas about how the characters or settings should look; I’ll now only have that problem reading the book. The debate of ‘the book is better than the film’ or vice versa is perhaps better discussed  in a future issue. So, this will purely be a review of the film, not a comparison with the novel.

    The motion picture tells the tale of Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), the world’s greatest detective who is travelling on the famous Orient Express train. With a variety of high profile professionals also on board, a murder occurs, pushing his intellectual and deciphering skills to the limit. This film is very good. From start to finish, its intensity and pace is consistent. Kenneth Branagh did a fantastic job of balancing his directorial obligations with his acting duties. Firstly, his performance as Poirot is crisp and calculated. This makes him an instant attraction, keeping a sharpness in a Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock type manner, not to mention his outrageous mustache that must have had its own trailer on set.

    Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad – left) with his boss Edward Ratchett (Johnny Depp – right).

    Branagh’s vision as director is mesmerizing, as the cinematography, headed by Haris Zambarloukos, who partnered with Branagh on Thor, and the production design is beyond belief. Sweeping over the train, aerial takes and POV shots all add to the spectacle, giving the film a great look and feel. Of course, the reality with this production could have been to use a lot of green screen to create the ambiance of the Orient Express. But thankfully, they took a practical approach for the majority and you can sense the realness of the train to no end. The delicate decor and finesse makes you want to take a ride in luxury.

    The rest of the cast is star-studded to say the least; with multiple academy award winners and nominees that include Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz and William Defoe, as well as Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad and Olivia Coleman. They play their parts well, having great chemistry, which can become a problem with so many leading men and women involved. However, they are ultimately overshadowed by the set they’re performing in. Despite this, Branagh does an excellent job of giving his array of characters a snippet origin, allowing to understand where the characters come from, which can be difficult when dealing with so many. The detective film is a good recommendation if you’re thinking of popping down to the cinema or picking up a DVD in the future. You won’t feel like you’ve wasted your money; I certainly didn’t.

    Murder On The Orient Express is in cinemas everywhere and will be coming to Pontio Cinema, running from Friday 17th November till Thursday 23rd November.

    Cinema film Johnny Depp Kenneth Branagh Murder On The Orient Express
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Jack Hollinshead

    Deputy Editor 2018-19 Film Editor 2017-18 Sport Editor 2016-17

    Related Posts

    Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?

    October 29, 2022

    Stacks of Choice in Main Arts Library

    October 29, 2022

    Don’t Worry Darling

    October 28, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.