Review: Murder on the Orient Express (Movie)

If you’ve been near a television lately you might have seen some commercials for a new suspense movie that recently came out called Murder on the Orient Express. In case you haven’t seen it yet, take a quick look at the trailer:

My first assumption from the trailer was that this movie was going to be a type of Clue-remake where we discover that it was the woman with the candle stick in the engine car type of thing. I was only partially correct. The movie does hinge on the question “Who done it?” but that is not the only thing this movie has going for it.

Our main character is Hercule Poirot, pronounces Her-cue (he clarifies this starting that he hasn’t killed any lions like the famous Hercules although some may miss the quick joke). A private detective with a particular eye for balance, Poirot boards the Orient Express hoping to get some rest in between cases. As we Writers already know, this is a movie, and if the protagonist wants something they should not get it, at least not easily. Indeed, an avalanche, a flirtatious woman, a scoundrel, unequal eggs, and a murder later, Poirot is feeling the completely opposite of rest! Although an extremely bright detective, this case alludes him for most of the movie. However, as the puzzle comes together, the answer seems more baffling than the journey. Poirot claims, “There is right. There is wrong. Then there is you.” After all, it’s all about finding the balance between good and evil, between right and wrong.

As this movie is still in theaters I have no desire to spoil it for anyone and so I will keep certain details to myself. Although, for anyone who has watched it I would love to have a conversation concerning the ending in the comment section. (please be aware that the comment section is a spoil alert zone so scroll at your own risk). Oh, did I mention that Daisy Ridley (best know for her portrayal of Rey in Star Wars) is also in this movie? It drove me crazy the entire time because I couldn’t place her face until the credits There are some interesting things going on concerning justice, revenge, race, and morality.

Before I end this review though, I would like to point out something that I did not know going into this movie. It is a remake, but not of Clue. It’s a remake of the 1974 movie which is an adaptation of the 1934 book written by Agatha Christie which is a fictional narrative concerning the true story of The Lindbergh Baby. Do the research at your own risk as it will spoil this movie for you.

Overall, the movie was paced well. The dry, yet quirky humor throughout was a nice break from the continued suspense of the movie. The ending was… different. Good, but different. About in hour in, I did make a prediction that was halfway correct, but only halfway. Be sure to keep your ears open or you’ll miss some important clues!

I would definitely watch this movie again and I suggest that you do too if “who-done-it” is your kind of film! Also, Kenneth Branagh who played Hercule Poirot did an excellent job both in acting and directing!

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (Movie)

Warning: There are major spoilers for those who have not watched this movie.

After watching and loving the first Guardians of the Galaxy (rating it 5 out of 5), I decided to watch the second movie which I would have to rate as a 3.5 out of 5. Definitely worth the watch, but did not quite live up to the original (most sequels do not).

Baby Groot was most definitely the highlight of the movie.

A Brief Synopsis

The story line of this movie was ALL about family relationships. We have our main protagonist Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) who finally gets to meet his long lost father (aptly named EGO [Kurt Russel]) who is actually a planet (celestial-type of consciousness) which has been able to generate a type of physical appearance. Confused yet?

In all fairness, it does make more sense as we move along. We also have Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who reconnects with her psychopathic, cyborg sister Nebula (Karen Gillan). There’s also an interesting father/son relationship happening between Peter Quill and his kidnapper/adoptive father Yondu (Michael Rooker).

Plus, we have some identity crises happening with both Yondu and Rocket (Bradley Cooper). With all these relational dramas, there’s already enough going on, but for some extra fighting scenes, there is also a planet filled with “Sovereigns” (golden, genetically-engineered people who think they are better than everyone else) who are constantly attempting to kill the Guardians because Rocket stole some of their special batteries.

The Climax

The true climax of this movie hits while on the planet Ego. Gamora and Nebula discover a catacomb underneath the surface brimming with the skeletons of Ego’s children. You see, Ego has been traveling the universe, ahem, procreating with as many females as possible (including Peter’s mom) in order to find a child who would share his powers so that he could use their power in order consume the universe (ALL of the universe), but none of his children had enough power and so he killed them. To make Ego even more evil, he tells Peter that he is the one who put a brain tumor in Peter’s mom which ended up killing her.

As the Guardians attempt to stop Ego from destroying the world and the Sovereign attempt to destroy the Guardians, all Hell breaks loose. Of course, the Guardians succeed; however, not without causalities. In order to save Peter, who successfully kills Ego, Yandu sacrifices his own life. This scene is perhaps the most touching of the entire series; although, it is sometimes hard to reconcile this image of a lovely father with the same man who kidnapped and abused Peter through fear.

Apart from some great moments, the movie was a bit too cheesy (even for its genre). While it was entertaining, and I would watch it if it were on TV, I’m not sure I would buy it.

What did you guys think???

The Mythological Connection

I think the most interesting part of this movie to me was the father/son complications between Ego and Peter (ESPECIALLY because of all the god connotations floating around).

Greek mythology is overflowing with the fear of sons surpassing their fathers. Consider the beginning of Greek mythology in which Gai (mother earth) gives birth to Uranus who then grows and rapes her (yea, sorry, that’s Greek mythology). Gai then gives birth to the Titans. Among these Titans is the most famous one named Kronus (the father of the gods). Kronus or Cronus, wanting to be more powerful than his father, castrates Uranus and throws his genitals into the sea.

Cronus too has children of his own who he fears will surpass him and so, he decides to avoid the problem by consuming them.

However, this proves useless as Zeus eventually defeats his father and rescues his siblings who had been growing inside of Cronus’s body. Later on, the gods too begin to fear that the demi-gods will conquer them. It is a repeating cycle of sons surpassing their fathers in often violent ways.

Perhaps it is because I just recently finished a Mythology course that I could not help but to see this connection in this movie. While Ego considers himself to be a god, his son, the demi-god, Peter ultimately surpasses him by killing him with Groot’s help of course.

What did you guys think? Did you enjoy the movie? Did you think it was as good as the first?

 

Finally

Here’s a baby Groot to make you smile 😀