Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Sanjeev Waters A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

JimHaw The first 45+ minutes have nothing to do with the book except for location and character names. It should be described as "Loosely based on the novel of the same name." In the books, there is hardly any connection between the characters. In this movie there are deep connections. I guess if you did not read the book first, it would be a good movie but my advice is to forgo this movie and read the book.

Pjtaylor-96-138044 'Evil Under The Sun (1982)' is a bit 'made-for-TV', slightly too basic in its play-like presentation and also presents pretty much each movement of its plot as a series of explanations by the portly protagonist, and yet it has a certain charm to it, a sense that the source story, however streamlined and changed it is here, is supposed to be told in a way similar to this, as opposed to the recent forced 'filmic' adaptation that was much more 'Sherlock Holmes' than 'Poirot'. Ustinov is good as the beguiling Belgian, though his somewhat dodgy accent takes a little getting used to, and the kind of stuck-up, no-good-in-a-fight feel he has is perfect for this quick-talking character, as is the rest of the eclectic cast who turn in grandiose and stage-suited performances of the innuendo-laden adaptation of Agatha Christie's source novel. It's entertaining after its slow start, even being fairly enjoyable during most of the equally slow build-up to the inevitable murder, and is at its best when the audience is trying to figure out exactly who is going to bite the dust and how they're going to do it. 6/10

JohnHowardReid If the aim of the script was to turn Agatha Christie's "Poirot" potboiler into an elegant comedy of manners (and that is a fair assumption) and almost as it were to spoof the very stuff of which her mysteries are made, Shaffer has only partly succeeded in that laudable aim. He is let down partly by his cast, partly by his director but mostly by himself. The dialogue except for one or two instances (notably Mason's delightful speech about not having an alibi) is just not sufficiently witty (though Maggie Smith has a game try at making her lines ring with the requisite offhanded venom) and even descends at the climax into the standard detective novel ploy of an extremely long, extraordinarily tedious explanatory speech (lightened though it is by flashbacks to incidents we have not previously been shown! — talk about cheating!). Blakely's bombast is also a distinct handicap and Saran Miles is far too strident. Fortunately their roles are comparatively small. Mr. Clay is a bit too insipid to inspire confidence and Ustinov's accent is as faulty as an amateur stage Frenchman's; but Jane Birkin, the ever-reliable Roddy McDowall and James Mason, Diana Rigg and Emily Hone are well worth supporting. Sets and costumes are inspired. Locations, color photography look all that escapist hearts could desire. And there's a Cole Porter score including a delightful rendition of "You're the Top" by Diana Rigg. (Available on a very good quality, but rather sparse on extras, Optimum DVD).

vincentlynch-moonoi SPOILER ALERT I guess my only real complaint here is that for the first 50 minutes of the 117 minute film are kinda slow. Yes, it's fun watching the various characters being catty toward one another, but the plot doesn't advance much. Of course, it was all setting the stage...but it could have been done a tad quicker.Aside from that, the real treat here is watching Peter Ustinov. What a gem he was. I cannot really accept any other actor as Hercule Poirot after seeing him in the part.SPOILER ALERT It must have been a let down for James Mason to have such an inconsequential role...and so little screen time. Maggie Smith does rather nicely here as the proprietor of the hotel where all the action takes place. Nicholas Clay also has a nice turn as the murderer, as does Jane Birkin as the murderess. I liked Roddy McDowall just as much here I always do...not at all. Diana Rigg was interesting, but gets murdered halfway through the flick.A nice feature of this film is using Cole Porter songs as the score! And to see -- if you catch it -- Porter's name in the hotel register.Entertaining as these flicks are, they always seem a bit too convenient when it comes time for the master to unveil the murderer, and that's no less true here. Nevertheless, this is a rather fun movie to watch, and a treat to savor Peter Ustinov.