I couldn’t disagree more. I just watched The Haunting in Venice. What a disappointment. The film had great sets, atmosphere and cinematography but the plot was ridiculous and totally lacking in character development. The first rate cast are wasted and the plot has really nothing to do with the Agatha Christie novel The Halloween Party with the exception of destroying the character of Ariadne Oliver which I suppose they thought was clever. Branagh isn’t a very good director and his three versions of Christie’s novels have all been failures. Definitely not recommended. The TV version, although not fully true to the book, was infinitely better!
That's fair enough, I didn't like Branagh's other two adaptations and I don't rate him as Poirot but I enjoyed A Haunting, maybe because I went in with low expectations based on the other two
And in another bit of Christie crossover in Halloween Party, Paola Dionisotti, who played Mrs Goodbody, also played Miss Hinchcliffe in the 80’s Miss Marple adaptation of A Murder is Announced!
I see little to compare. Except for Poirot, and a few nods to Christie’s Halloween, haunting was a totally different story. Both plots were interesting, but in general, l prefer Suchet’s version of Poirot because the visuals are so appealing and such a pleasure to watch. The lighting in the haunting was so poor that it often obscured the set design. I started wondering if they had budget constraints.
Yeah they were very different, but that's why I wanted to compare them, to see what big and small similarities they had between them. If I'd have watched the Suchet one first I don't think I would have enjoyed A Haunting but because in this rare case I watched that one first, I actually really liked it, but yes, they could have turned on a light or two, that would have helped lol
Yay! Welcome :) I used to watch Midsomer Murders as a kid, although I always thought the motives were kinda silly, and I've seen a bit of Morse back in the day but never got into it. I was considering adding CSI into the rotation but won't be this year if I do do it. I think I'll have to do a test script on that one, some shows just don't translate into review form very well.
Have not seen the new one jet, but always like that Poirot Story. For me one of the better later Christies. Not all is super plausible, but there ist this strange melancholic mood the realy transfers well to an aging David Suchet, the Setting and especialy that garden. I Think the book hits harder, it´s even less... flashy but I like the actors they picked for Michael an Miranda
I don't think I saw later Suchet episodes when I watched the show when I was younger, so I didn't see this one until I watched it for the review, and I watched it after I saw A Haunting in Venice. Very different stories and tones, but still a good story, a massive body count which I wasn't expecting, some great performances, definitely Michael's actor will now creep me out if I see him in anything else, and I still can't get over them killing a kid. That shocked me.
@@janetalksmurder Poirot was one of the few series I always watched as soo as I could get my hands on them - I´m from Germany and everthing after Death on the Nile was never released on TV here - so I got the UK DVDs as soon as they were out 😅 Had read must of the Books yeas ago, so I was familiar with the plots . Christie had same pretty dark storys for someone that is always labled as cozy crime - she killed more than one Child over the Time of her books. But bevore you think, I´m a total pursit plot wise - I don´t mind if they change stuff for an adaption - as long as it makes sense in the end. I actually like some of these pretty wired french adaption too
Why do you compare Halloween Party with Haunting in Venice? Halloween Party is more accurate to the novel than Haunting in Venice. As a stand alone movie Haunting in Venice is probably entertaining but it’s definitely not a good Agatha Christie adaptation.
I compared it because it's based on the same source material and I wasn't familiar with the story prior to watching A Haunting. Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express I know very well, and aside from some tweaks, they were pretty faithful. A Haunting however was very different. I hadn't seen Hallowe'en Party prior to watching A Haunting, so I really enjoyed it without being in the mindset that it wasn't a faithful adaptation because I wasn't familiar with the original story. That's the intrigue of it. Then when I watched Hallowe'en Party, I was interested in the big similarities like the name of the victim and the killer being the same, as well as the small similarities like the initials of certain characters being the same and themes that overlapped. I grew up on Suchet's Poirot and no one else will fit the role for me, but as far as the story goes, I found A Haunting tighter and more interesting than it's counterpart. Plus if I didn't compare them, I'd get comments asking why I didn't lol
Anyone who prefers A Haunting in Venice never read the book. A Halloween Party is in my top 3 A.C. books so I was very disappointed in the movie. The TV adaptation seems pretty good.
Yep, never read the book, it's one of the few Poirot stories I haven't read, that's why I went to see A Haunting and enjoyed it because I had no point of reference to compare it to. I do like the mental killing spree Rowena went on and her motive in Hallowe'en Party. Both have their merits
Thanks for this analytical (but entertaining) approach to this “comparison” which really can’t be a comparison - as you say, they’re completely different stories. Surprised how much pushback you’re getting on your assessment as imho the Suchet episode was one of the weaker ones in the series (haven’t read the book). Technically, imho Haunting was difficult to follow not only due to the underlit interiors (probably resulting from the fact that it was ilmed on a set put together in England somewhere) but it was also hard to understand the dialogue what with the five or six motley versions of spoken English (British, American, Italian, “Hungarian”, “Belgian” etc) - although Branagh and Fey were perfectly clear. Soundtrack added to the blurriness and blunted narrative coherence. It’s obviously a lot of work to analyze and script these videos, but I do hope you’ll continue with the focus on Christie.
I'm having to do less videos this year unfortunately, but I'm hoping next year to do some more comparison videos like this one next year when I have more time. I'd love to compare different versions and perhaps the books too and try different kinds of videos, but for now there's going to be some regular videos sprinkled throughout this year.
I totally agree with @Kugelweg I am a Suchet fan and I was going to blurt out in the comment right now that his is best without even watching A Haunting in Venice . Sorry about that I will now comment only after watching A Haunting in Venice. I hope I get to watch it my country!
I hope you get to watch it too, it's very good. Suchet will always be the best Poirot, he lived and breathed the character and his version would have been better if it had been the same story, but they're completely different, so while Suchet's portrayal of the character is better, I prefer the story of A Haunting in Venice :)
I much prefer A Haunting in Venice to the Suchet version of Hallowe'n Party. I was AMAZED at how watchable and enjoyable AHIV was compared to the t.v. version of the "same tale". There are many Suchet fans who disagree with me, on Facebook, because they assume Suchet did everything right and his adaptations were exactly what Christie wrote. It's kind of weird really. But anyway, your review is amazing, as always. Thank you.
Agreed! I really really liked A Haunting in Venice, it felt more cinematic while still retaining the essence of Poirot. I much prefer David Suchet's portrayal of the character, and I always will, because his version is the one I grew up with, but while Hallowe'en Party was closer to the original novel, I found it slower paced and more drawn out compared to A Haunting in Venice.
A bit hypocritical of you don’t you think 🤔 because you keep going on about how David Suchet’s portrayal of Poirot isn’t ‘book accurate’ and yet you prefer a KB film which has very little to do with Agatha Christie’s Halloween novel 😏
@@suzie_lovescats Hmm, I've very confused by this comment 🤔 I don't go on about how David Suchet's Poirot isn't book accurate. I will point out changes from the books if I know of them, not as a criticism, just being thorough. The David Suchet version is what I have grown up on and will always be the definitive version of the character but A Haunting in Venice felt very fresh to me, I really enjoyed it. Accuracy to the books isn't that important to me unless it was something huge from a classic book like Death on the Nile or Murder on the Orient Express, but even then, it's fine to try something different
@@janetalksmurderI was talking to Kugelweg. He/she keeps saying David Suchet’s Poirot isn’t accurate and yet prefers a very inaccurate adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Halloween 🎃 That comment wasn’t directed at you.
I couldn’t disagree more. I just watched The Haunting in Venice. What a disappointment. The film had great sets, atmosphere and cinematography but the plot was ridiculous and totally lacking in character development. The first rate cast are wasted and the plot has really nothing to do with the Agatha Christie novel The Halloween Party with the exception of destroying the character of Ariadne Oliver which I suppose they thought was clever. Branagh isn’t a very good director and his three versions of Christie’s novels have all been failures. Definitely not recommended. The TV version, although not fully true to the book, was infinitely better!
That's fair enough, I didn't like Branagh's other two adaptations and I don't rate him as Poirot but I enjoyed A Haunting, maybe because I went in with low expectations based on the other two
@@janetalksmurder sir David number 1 imho
Just seen the Branagh version and I agree, it was too melodramatic and almost laughable at some points. Suchet version best as always!
The actress Fenella Woolgar, who played Miss Whittaker in Halloween Party, also played Agatha Christie herself in Doctor Who: Unicorn and the Wasp
Thought I recognized her!
And in another bit of Christie crossover in Halloween Party, Paola Dionisotti, who played Mrs Goodbody, also played Miss Hinchcliffe in the 80’s Miss Marple adaptation of A Murder is Announced!
Not seen Doctor Who, but that's such a cool crossover kind of thing. Now I'm intrigued as to why Agatha Christie appeared in Doctor Who haha
I see little to compare. Except for Poirot, and a few nods to Christie’s Halloween, haunting was a totally different story. Both plots were interesting, but in general, l prefer Suchet’s version of Poirot because the visuals are so appealing and such a pleasure to watch. The lighting in the haunting was so poor that it often obscured the set design. I started wondering if they had budget constraints.
Yeah they were very different, but that's why I wanted to compare them, to see what big and small similarities they had between them. If I'd have watched the Suchet one first I don't think I would have enjoyed A Haunting but because in this rare case I watched that one first, I actually really liked it, but yes, they could have turned on a light or two, that would have helped lol
New fan of you and your channel! Do you watch any others like Unforgotten, Ms Scarlett, Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise , Morse or Endeavour?
Yay! Welcome :) I used to watch Midsomer Murders as a kid, although I always thought the motives were kinda silly, and I've seen a bit of Morse back in the day but never got into it. I was considering adding CSI into the rotation but won't be this year if I do do it. I think I'll have to do a test script on that one, some shows just don't translate into review form very well.
Have not seen the new one jet, but always like that Poirot Story. For me one of the better later Christies. Not all is super plausible, but there ist this strange melancholic mood the realy transfers well to an aging David Suchet, the Setting and especialy that garden. I Think the book hits harder, it´s even less... flashy but I like the actors they picked for Michael an Miranda
I don't think I saw later Suchet episodes when I watched the show when I was younger, so I didn't see this one until I watched it for the review, and I watched it after I saw A Haunting in Venice. Very different stories and tones, but still a good story, a massive body count which I wasn't expecting, some great performances, definitely Michael's actor will now creep me out if I see him in anything else, and I still can't get over them killing a kid. That shocked me.
@@janetalksmurder Poirot was one of the few series I always watched as soo as I could get my hands on them - I´m from Germany and everthing after Death on the Nile was never released on TV here - so I got the UK DVDs as soon as they were out 😅 Had read must of the Books yeas ago, so I was familiar with the plots . Christie had same pretty dark storys for someone that is always labled as cozy crime - she killed more than one Child over the Time of her books. But bevore you think, I´m a total pursit plot wise - I don´t mind if they change stuff for an adaption - as long as it makes sense in the end. I actually like some of these pretty wired french adaption too
you've lost me at the part when you said that you enjoyed a haunting in venice😭
Haha each to their own
I liked this. Thanks for the comparison, I was curious. Subbed.
Aww thanks lovely. Welcome to my channel :)
Why do you compare Halloween Party with Haunting in Venice? Halloween Party is more accurate to the novel than Haunting in Venice. As a stand alone movie Haunting in Venice is probably entertaining but it’s definitely not a good Agatha Christie adaptation.
I compared it because it's based on the same source material and I wasn't familiar with the story prior to watching A Haunting. Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express I know very well, and aside from some tweaks, they were pretty faithful. A Haunting however was very different. I hadn't seen Hallowe'en Party prior to watching A Haunting, so I really enjoyed it without being in the mindset that it wasn't a faithful adaptation because I wasn't familiar with the original story. That's the intrigue of it. Then when I watched Hallowe'en Party, I was interested in the big similarities like the name of the victim and the killer being the same, as well as the small similarities like the initials of certain characters being the same and themes that overlapped. I grew up on Suchet's Poirot and no one else will fit the role for me, but as far as the story goes, I found A Haunting tighter and more interesting than it's counterpart. Plus if I didn't compare them, I'd get comments asking why I didn't lol
“Dude, she’s twelve!”
“Not only that, she’s his daughter, that’s called incest!” 😰
Yep, that's true, but I write the script as I watch the episode so I didn't know that at that point. By the end it's like ugh dude
Anyone who prefers A Haunting in Venice never read the book. A Halloween Party is in my top 3 A.C. books so I was very disappointed in the movie. The TV adaptation seems pretty good.
Yep, never read the book, it's one of the few Poirot stories I haven't read, that's why I went to see A Haunting and enjoyed it because I had no point of reference to compare it to. I do like the mental killing spree Rowena went on and her motive in Hallowe'en Party. Both have their merits
Thanks for this analytical (but entertaining) approach to this “comparison” which really can’t be a comparison - as you say, they’re completely different stories. Surprised how much pushback you’re getting on your assessment as imho the Suchet episode was one of the weaker ones in the series (haven’t read the book).
Technically, imho Haunting was difficult to follow not only due to the underlit interiors (probably resulting from the fact that it was ilmed on a set put together in England somewhere) but it was also hard to understand the dialogue what with the five or six motley versions of spoken English (British, American, Italian, “Hungarian”, “Belgian” etc) - although Branagh and Fey were perfectly clear. Soundtrack added to the blurriness and blunted narrative coherence.
It’s obviously a lot of work to analyze and script these videos, but I do hope you’ll continue with the focus on Christie.
I'm having to do less videos this year unfortunately, but I'm hoping next year to do some more comparison videos like this one next year when I have more time. I'd love to compare different versions and perhaps the books too and try different kinds of videos, but for now there's going to be some regular videos sprinkled throughout this year.
I totally agree with @Kugelweg I am a Suchet fan and I was going to blurt out in the comment right now that his is best without even watching A Haunting in Venice . Sorry about that I will now comment only after watching A Haunting in Venice. I hope I get to watch it my country!
I hope you get to watch it too, it's very good. Suchet will always be the best Poirot, he lived and breathed the character and his version would have been better if it had been the same story, but they're completely different, so while Suchet's portrayal of the character is better, I prefer the story of A Haunting in Venice :)
I much prefer A Haunting in Venice to the Suchet version of Hallowe'n Party. I was AMAZED at how watchable and enjoyable AHIV was compared to the t.v. version of the "same tale". There are many Suchet fans who disagree with me, on Facebook, because they assume Suchet did everything right and his adaptations were exactly what Christie wrote. It's kind of weird really.
But anyway, your review is amazing, as always. Thank you.
Agreed! I really really liked A Haunting in Venice, it felt more cinematic while still retaining the essence of Poirot. I much prefer David Suchet's portrayal of the character, and I always will, because his version is the one I grew up with, but while Hallowe'en Party was closer to the original novel, I found it slower paced and more drawn out compared to A Haunting in Venice.
A bit hypocritical of you don’t you think 🤔 because you keep going on about how David Suchet’s portrayal of Poirot isn’t ‘book accurate’ and yet you prefer a KB film which has very little to do with Agatha Christie’s Halloween novel 😏
@@suzie_lovescats Hmm, I've very confused by this comment 🤔 I don't go on about how David Suchet's Poirot isn't book accurate. I will point out changes from the books if I know of them, not as a criticism, just being thorough. The David Suchet version is what I have grown up on and will always be the definitive version of the character but A Haunting in Venice felt very fresh to me, I really enjoyed it. Accuracy to the books isn't that important to me unless it was something huge from a classic book like Death on the Nile or Murder on the Orient Express, but even then, it's fine to try something different
@@janetalksmurderI was talking to Kugelweg. He/she keeps saying David Suchet’s Poirot isn’t accurate and yet prefers a very inaccurate adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Halloween 🎃 That comment wasn’t directed at you.
@@suzie_lovescats Ohhhhhhh! I just noticed the comment was a reply, not a standalone comment, I was so confused haha. That makes more sense now lol