For every 'newbie' Agatha Christie enthusiast, this episode of the David Suchet Poirot series certainly is a great experience; a most intricate murder case set on a small island off the coast of Devon, the series' well-known protagonists Poirot, Hastings, Miss Lemon and Chief Inspector Japp in their very best shape, a very competent supporting cast, and, as always throughout the series a carefully and beautifully reconstructed 1930s' atmosphere. Those who have read the novel will find certain alterations, but none that would spoil either the plot or the atmosphere.
But it's us 'lifetime' Agatha Christie fans, who of course will know the 1982 movie starring Peter Ustinov, who will find it very difficult to answer the question: which is the better version?? Of course, the 1982 version 'transported' the whole goings-on into the Adriatic, with not only a stylish Mediterranean flair, but also a great all-star cast; the atmosphere of the 30s was being captured equally well, and there even were some elements from the novel that were changed in the 2001 version. BUT: fact is that Agatha Christie had never meant the ADRIATIC sun when she wrote that famous book with that famous title...
So I believe we must admit, that, although regarding their artistic value we could call it a tie between the two versions, there is one VITAL element here that had been eliminated in the 1982 version: the VERY British surroundings of Devon (which are captured in some magnificent landscape shots), which give us back the GENUINE atmosphere of the novel.
Besides, as mentioned before, David Suchet is simply THE 'Poirot', not only concerning his appearance, but also every little detail of his demeanor, his speech, and even his movements. The fact that the roles of Hastings, Miss Lemon and Inspector Japp are much bigger here than in the novel is probably due to their popularity with the audience, and they certainly are quite useful for the purpose of adding humor to the case; and so, in my opinion, this is one of the very best episodes of the whole series - and a rare case where an episode of a TV serial equals and in some points even surpasses a great, elaborate and hugely successful movie...
But it's us 'lifetime' Agatha Christie fans, who of course will know the 1982 movie starring Peter Ustinov, who will find it very difficult to answer the question: which is the better version?? Of course, the 1982 version 'transported' the whole goings-on into the Adriatic, with not only a stylish Mediterranean flair, but also a great all-star cast; the atmosphere of the 30s was being captured equally well, and there even were some elements from the novel that were changed in the 2001 version. BUT: fact is that Agatha Christie had never meant the ADRIATIC sun when she wrote that famous book with that famous title...
So I believe we must admit, that, although regarding their artistic value we could call it a tie between the two versions, there is one VITAL element here that had been eliminated in the 1982 version: the VERY British surroundings of Devon (which are captured in some magnificent landscape shots), which give us back the GENUINE atmosphere of the novel.
Besides, as mentioned before, David Suchet is simply THE 'Poirot', not only concerning his appearance, but also every little detail of his demeanor, his speech, and even his movements. The fact that the roles of Hastings, Miss Lemon and Inspector Japp are much bigger here than in the novel is probably due to their popularity with the audience, and they certainly are quite useful for the purpose of adding humor to the case; and so, in my opinion, this is one of the very best episodes of the whole series - and a rare case where an episode of a TV serial equals and in some points even surpasses a great, elaborate and hugely successful movie...