6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Whilst on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress.
Starring: Tom Bateman (III), Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Russell Brand, Ali FazalDrama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
German: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Italian: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It's been a longstanding cliché for movies about superheroes to offer so-called "origin stories", and in that regard it may be salient to note that when Kenneth Branagh was on one of his press junkets promoting the release of his version of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, he overtly mentioned that he felt Hercule Poirot's mustache was a kind of "superpower". That may help to explain the kind of bizarre opening vignette in Branagh's new if arguably not considerably improved version of another venerable Christie tale featuring the hirsute (at least facially) Belgian detective, where a longish black and white sequence documents a World War I calamity involving Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) which results in some pretty significant facial deformities and which supposedly results in the now famous set of whiskers adorning Poirot's face. For those who consider themselves at least relatively astute fans of Agatha Christie and who have sometimes chafed at the changes kind of slathered on to the great Dame's mysteries for contemporary entertainment purposes, it may not especially surprise them to find out that this version of Death on the Nile also utilizes an "update" given to an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple, where that legendary sleuth was given a tragic love affair set in World War I, which this opening scene at least hints at (with a few more "clues" dropped along the way). The "origin story" for Poirot's mustache is just one of several additions and/or emendations that screenwriter Michael Green (who also adapted Murder on the Orient Express) has brought to the elegantly appointed and hopefully symmetrically presented table.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc.
Death on the Nile is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista and 20th Century Studios with a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. Shot
on good old fashioned (Kodak) film and finished at 4K, this is a really ravishing looking presentation for the most part, though while it appears (at least
according to the IMDb) that there were location shoots (maybe second unit?) offering actual Egyptian sites, a lot of the background material
in several scenes has a noticeably soft, almost effulgent, "green screen" appearance which I found to look even more artificial in the 4K UHD version
than the 1080 version (and it wasn't especially "realistic" looking in the 1080 version, just to be clear). That's one perceived deficit here, but for the
most part, the rest of the presentation is aces from both detail levels and especially a really gorgeously suffused palette. Fine detail is definitely
improved, albeit subtly at times, across a range of things like the patterns and textures on costumes, as well as more "mundane" items like facial
features. HDR adds some interesting
highlights in a number of scenes, notably some of the yellow tinged scenes of the Nile and the outdoor material in particular, and I'd even add the stark,
almost high contrast, black and white footage at the beginning of the film.
The 4K UHD version of Death on the Nile adds a Dolby Atmos track to the mix (no pun intended), as opposed to the 1080 version's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, but I have to say aside from a few noticeable instances, I didn't really hear a ton of difference between the two. One of the noticeable moments, though, occurs at the outset of the film, before imagery ever really even has begun, where the Atmos track is clearly more vertical in terms of some of the overhead wafting of what I'm assuming are supposed to be the distant sounds of battle. Later, the huge set piece featuring a bit of tumbling rock also has good overhead activity. Otherwise, this track provides the same excellent immersion that the "standard" 7.1 track does, with appealing bursts of LFE, and excellent use of the side and rear channels for a glut of ambient environmental effects, especially in the many outdoor scenes. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout, and optional subtitles in several languages are available.
The 4K UHD disc has no supplemental content, and the score above reflects that fact. The supplements listed in our Death on the Nile Blu-ray review are of course included on the 1080 disc that is also part of this package. Additionally, a digital copy is included and packaging features a slipcover.
If you have neither read the original Agatha Christie novel nor seen either (or both) of the previous adaptations, chances are you'll find a great deal to enjoy here. Unfortunately, my hunch is those who have read the source novel and/or seen the prior versions, the specter of "should have" or even "why?" may crop up on occasion. The casting has a lot to recommend it, and while some changes have definitely been made, Green and Branagh had the good sense to hew to at least the broadest outlines of Christie's memorable tale. Technical merits are secure, with the 4K presentation enjoying upticks in both video and audio quality from already impressive levels on the 1080 version, for those who may be considering making a purchase.
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