Rating: 
Summary: Ugly
Review: Peter Ustinov's second performance as Hercule Poirot, producers John Brabourne and Richard Goodwin's third adaptation of a Christie novel, "Evil Under the Sun" is way too knowing for its own good. Instead of playing it straight, as in "Murder on the Orient Express" or, to a lesser extent "Death on the Nile," here all concerned seem to be more interested in proving their superiority to the material than in making it into a decent film. Many of the people involved are genuinely talented, but none of them should feel comfortable with this level of condescension.Once again we're in an enclosed situation (this time a luxury hotel on a small island) amongst the rich and famous as a murder occurs. Once again a group of well-known actors have fun doing little impersonations. Once again we follow Poirot as he sorts through the contradictory evidence to arrive at a solution to the crime. Unfortunately, instead of making the mystery interesting, the filmmakers keep winking at us and nudging us in the ribs with way too loud orchestrations of Cole Porter tunes and heavy handed double-takes from the actors. The film is so smugly certain of its cleverness, it never really gets around to proving it. There are a few pleasures. The Majorca locations are stunning and several of the performances are amusing in themselves. James Mason is always good, and he succeeds here partly by underplaying against the harpies screaming around him. One of them is played by Diana Rigg in a rare movie appearance. Her cat fights with Maggie Smith should make everyone run for cover. More than the scenery is left in tatters after they withdraw their claws, however. Their shenanigans help to turn Christie's novel into a festival for drag queens. Brittle, too self-conscious, "Evil Under the Sun" is moderately diverting, but increasingly tedious. The very last scene, in which the rich raise a glass of champagne in an ironic toast to the guilty, is downright ugly. It's as if the murderer's real crime is daring to mix with his social "betters." When immensely wealthy and successful filmmakers get this smug, it's time to call the police.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad way to leisurely spend an afternoon
Review: So, it's not "Murder on the Orient Express", or, for that matter, one of the classic 60's Margaret Rutherford "Miss Marple" flicks. "Evil" is still a satisfying romp into "murders of the filthy rich" or, in this case, the "wannabes". A picture-perfect setting and a cast of pros enliven a rather routine whodunit. The costuming alone deserves a nod or two. And Jane Birken's "transformation" near the movie's conclusion is just breathtaking. Talk about your "special effects"!!! WOW!
Rating:
Summary: "A little chorus lie ..........."
Review: So, she kept her Sunny Side up and just see where it got her! Dun in - that's what someone [or they] did to 'er.
Diana Rigg, lovely leggy Dame Diana Rigg was never more venomous than here, however to cut to the chase - she's vacationing at this "resort" run by an old Chorus-girl chum [maybe not] Maggie Smith, There are suspects a-plenty, and the cast reads like a "who's who". Silken and still seductive - James Mason, hunky - perhaps too hunky [those bathing trunks!] Nicholas Clay ["Excalibur" and "Night Digger" fame], Sylvia Miles [another great dame], Roddy McDowall - even Jane Birkin. Then there's "The Belgie" Poirot, flawlessly played by Peter Ustinov [previously teamed with Miss Smith in another great but unrelated fun caper "Hot Millions"]. Lots of great red herrings [on and off the menu], add superb art direction, period costumes and a glorious setting, and this one's just the thing for a quiet Saturday afternoon when the kids are away. Dialogue is priceless [might make Coward blush though] - Maggie Smith's comment about Rigg's off-state attributes [something to do with 'high kicks'] and that great aside Sylvia Miles hurls at Roddy McDowall - straight from the hip! You don't need sunblock for this one - just a few Mad Englishmen and perhaps a small pet or two!
Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS!
Review: The best Christie adaptation I have ever seen! Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg are wicked and the humor is scathing! Very well written, beautifully filmed and excellently cast. And the music CD is now available, and definitely worth a listen!
Rating:
Summary: POIROT SAVES THE PLOT!
Review: The first Agatha movie i saw was Death on the Nile with Ustinov.For me who never liked Agatha's work that movie was a challenge,the end a total surprise and it had me seeing it again and again.I tried to saw another Poirot in the Orient Express but i could not.Now about Evil under the sun,i do not know if it is the plot or the direction that spoils the excellence.The music and location are marvelous so is the cast and Ustinov as Poirot,but there is something small lucking the top level as i said.I guess you should see to judge,i believe you should once at least to judge on your own!
Rating: 
Summary: A Terrific Movie - Archetype of the Genre
Review: The setting; languid and exotic. The guests; appropriately and splendidly leisurely. The detective; Hercule Poirot, resourceful and intuitive. The era; a time of graceful living. The crime; murder. The dilema; an unsolvable mystery, except...
For pure entertainment, this is a delightful whodunit - an archetype of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: "Evil" and Fun in the sun
Review: This Agatha Christie Jig-saw puzzle is really great fun! There is a wonderful, escapist holiday atmosphere, great acting ensemble, and Cole Porter's music is the icing on the cake. Taking place on a beautiful island, it is a classic "things aren't what they seem" who-dunnit. Yes, the plot relies on actions by innocent guests that could never have been planned for, making it almost impossible to guess what actually happened, but the ingenuity is still a delight. As any Agatha Christie mystery fan knows, don't try to read any deep social significance into it - that is not the film's intention.
Rating:
Summary: Campy Christie Fun
Review: This all-star adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Evil Under the Sun" adds an archness, cattiness, and camp that wasn't in the original novel, but no matter. It's still great fun with the delightful Peter Ustinov in another outing as the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, and a delicious cast of characters played to the hilt by pros.
An industrialist from a London insurance company calls Poirot in to solve the murder of a woman murdered in the English countryside and also to retrieve an original diamond taken by stage actress Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg). Poirot follows Marshall to a beautiful Mediterranean island where she is vacationing with her husband and step-daughter at a resort run by an old rival (Maggie Smith). After observing the shenanigans of flirtatious, glamorous, catty Arlena at the resort, it's clear to Poirot that she is not well liked among the guests. When she winds up dead, he has plenty of suspects, but they all have alibis.
The film was shot in Majorca, so it's scenically beautiful, giving a feeling of escapism, and the 30's costumes are colorful and fun. The cast is all superb. Rigg is marvelous as Marshall and looks stunning in the period attire, particularly the gold lame evening gown and red and white polka dots. The rest of the fun cast include Roddy McDowall as a gay columnist; James Mason and Sylvia Mile as crass (and very funny) producers of plays; an Irish playboy (Nicholas Clay) and his wan, mousy wife (Jane Birkin). The mystery is resolved deliciously as Poirot sorts out a bottle thrown from the cliff; the noon day gun; and other anomalies that puzzle his "little gray cells."
Witty, colorful fun with a crackerjack ending and super cast and characters.
Rating:
Summary: Evil Under the Sun Review
Review: This film was a great adaption of the novel by Agatha Christie with only a few character alterations. However, the movie told a great story of a murder by,potentially anyone with a good motive. It was set in the 1930's and captured the period and people very well through their dialogue and characterizations,as well as beautiful scenery and locale. I felt that the mystery was well-acted and deserved all the praise of any film from the 1980's. I would like to see more films made this way.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Ustinov Series
Review: This is a great movie from Poirot.It has a cast of familiar faces such as Peter Ustinov,Maggie Smith, Jane Birkin,Diana Rigg,Sylvia Miles,Denis Quiley, Colin Blakely,Roddy McDowall,and James Mason.This is a fun movie.It has humor and is the best of the series.Buy this movie.You won't regret it.You will enjoy it.
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