Close to the book but not close enough

Rating: 7/10 (7 November 2017)

How many remakes of this will there be?
This is a lavish star studded presentation of a timeless tale. The attention to 1930's detail is excellent, the scenery superb, the camera angles are all excellent. Brannagh holds the Belgian accent well. Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer steal the film with Depp being remarkably understated.
So why only a 7 out of 10 ? The first scenes are all totally unnecessary and not even in the book! The "prostitute in the kitchen" aside .... (where did that thread come from ? ) ... I was unsure of the purpose other than Brannagh's bombastic monologues. The ending... oh my ! ... was definitely not in the book. And the ending paves the way for another film. But knowing the book in question, I am unsure how they will work that one. Brannagh is rather too bombastic and sharp to be an excellent Poirot but he works it well. Not all the characters on the train are the same as in the book.
I enjoyed the film well enough. There are plenty positives.