Murder on the Orient Express - 東方快車謀殺案

Murder on the Orient Express (東方快車謀殺案) is an 2017 film. The movie is directed and starred by Kenneth Branagh as Agatha Christie's most famous detective, Hercule Poirot. The supporting cast include Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley.

The story begins with Hercule's solving a crime. He gets on a train to retire back in Europe only to be entangled with a murder on the Orient Express. At this point, everyone is a suspect and the adventure begins with finding out who it is. A game of Clue on the big screen starts. Will Hercule's be able to solve the crime before they end their ride?

This movie was well made with a very experience cast. All the folks involved with this film would be considered for every drama oriented movies before and after this one. Which makes the movie very slick and polished. BUT the story was very hard to follow and I don't really know Hercule's much. The film makers assume you're at least familiar with his legendary status. Because no matter how much they sit him up as the detective of extraordinary talent, it doesn't really fly. For me, I was entertained while I watched, but wouldn't watch again or recommend to my friends.

Skyfall - 007 空降危機

Skyfall (007 空降危機) is an 2012 film. The movie stars Daniel Craig. The supporting cast include Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, and Albert Finney. The movie is based on James Bond by Ian Fleming. This is the 23rd installment of the film franchise. The film was an joint UK/US production.

Daniel Craig plays James Bond for the third time. The movie starts in Istanbul where Bond is in pursuit of hard drive of all MI6 agents. The chase leads to the top of an train. When the supporting MI6 agent has to take a shot. That agent misses the terrorist and hits Bond. Bond falls into the river and is presumed to be dead. Fast forward ahead a few months ahead, we see that Bond has survived and has picked up some nasty vices. While watching the TV, Bond sees that the MI6 headquarters have been bomb and the list he falled to secure is now slowly being released via the internet. The exposed agents start to show up executed. Bond decides it time to head back to MI6 and catch the person behead this. When he comes back, MI6 has gone through some scrutiny and Bond fails the agent "test". M however still puts Bond back on duty. Bond now pursues there only lead, the terrorist that first obtained the list. From their, the bad guy, played by Javier Bardem, rears its ugly head. Let the fun begin!

The movie was pretty long, clocking in at over 2 hours and 20 minutes. But I barely noticed the length. The movie was non stop in the beginning and from the middle on. Sam Mendes does a good job of keeping the essential elements of Bond, but for an audience based in 2012/2013. Movies continue to evolve and the bond series shows you very much how the trends have been for the last 50 years. The long Bond marathons on Spike show me how movies of the 1960s are so different than the decades proceed it. All the way to Skyfall.

From the box office side, Skyfall is most successful film of the franchise and it has truly captured the worldwide market as well. I have to say that I like this film just slightly more than Casino Royale.