Silly and poor remake

Rating: 2/10 (6 April 2018)

The original movie of 1974 was a classic, with Albert Finney a near perfect Poirot as created by Agatha Christie and arresting performances from all. This is a disaster.
Kenneth Branagh is a director who has never quite bridged the gap between stage and screen. His movies are awkwardly theatrical and never feel comfortable. He's a stage thespian who tries to mimic the same style on screen and it never really works. His Poirot cannot hold a candle to Finney's.
The plot is almost the same with a few cosmetic changes. The support cast are either miscast or too wooden in their performances. Compare the performances of the normally good Judie Densch vs 1974's Wendy Hiller in playing Princess Dragomiroff to see what I mean.
If comparisons are seen to be unfair between the 2017 and 1974 versions, let me add that even as a standalone movie this falls short for the same reasons. And cannot Hollywood make a period piece without CGI nowadays?
A filmmaking failure this. Way off the mark. But a surprise return at the box office. Strange world.