Last night saw the world premiere of the Agatha Christie adaptation take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The film’s stars were greeted by their fans as film critics took their seats to watch Murder on the Orient Express.
The classic mystery has been adapted a number of times for film and TV, but just what did the first reviews make of it?
So far the movie has 67% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with a mixture of reactions.
Daily Express – READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE
Murder On The Orient Express contains one of Christie’s cleverest plots and Branagh transforms it into lavish, razzle-dazzle escapism.
Empire
Branagh adheres to Christie’s ideal with his performance but remains in the shadow of TV’s David Suchet.
Total Film
Shooting in 65mm, Branagh delivers all of the eye-saucering exteriors you’d expect, as mountaintops soar, sunlight glints at the end of tunnels and stations snuggle under a duvet of blue snow.
Hollywood Reporter
Given the confined nature of the material as well as its period-specific aspects, this is a yarn that does not exactly invite radical reinterpretation. As such, its appeal is confined to the traditional niceties of being a clever tale well told.
Variety
Kenneth Branagh’s take on Agatha Christie’s eccentric detective is one for the age.
Metro
Where Murder On The Orient Express succeeds is in Branagh’s fast pacing and the suspense he maintains throughout; each suspect is given screen time, and each has a plausible reason for murder, but none of them are lingered on for too long.
Daily Mirror
Although never moving at full tilt the movie gains momentum, powered by the anxious energy of many high class show-offs jostling for screen time.
The Sun
Branagh, who also directs, wisely focuses on the detective and his moral dilemmas rather than the murder mystery.
However not all the critics were so kind to Murder on the Orient Express.
Daily Mail
Does this movie pump exciting new life into Christie’s story? Not really. Its main fresh twist is to Poirot’s moustache, which practically becomes a character in its own right.
Financial Times
The cast is overdressed and underworked
The Guardian
This film never gets up a head of steam.
The Times
The film… lurches wildly between respectful adaptation and clueless remake.
Murder on the Orient Express is out now.