Kind of a Review—Death on the Nile

I don't know if I can recommend Death on the Nile. It's a sumptuous movie with beautiful people wearing beautiful clothing in beautiful locations. They were able to film at the location portrayed on the cover of the book by Agatha Christie, Abu Simbel. (But when they show the characters walking between the sculptures or climbing behind them, it may be clever digital compositing.)

 

Gal Gadot looks fantastic in any movie she's in, and there is a standout scene of her as Linnet Doyle walking much of the length of the Karnak, obviously recorded by a drone just outside the ship and keeping pace with her. (The director, Kenneth Branagh, definitely knows how to play around with drones.) There is a similar scene with Branagh as Poirot pacing around on the deck towards the end of the movie, probably also done with a drone. And there are unusual closeups of the pyramids, also probably by drone. 

 

Having said all that, the movie is strikingly different from the book. (I haven't read the book, but I saw the 2004 version with David Suchet, which is supposed to be very accurate.) This new version made significant changes to the plot and the characters, even changing one of the murder victims! 

 

If you really love the book or the 2004 version, you may be puzzled or even disappointed. If you do not care about that, you might enjoy it. However, you will have to click below for my note of caution.

 

I normally wouldn't mention such a thing, but there is a dance move towards the beginning which is a simulated sex act, and the same position done in back of the Egyptian sculptures. This is a fair warning.