Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 1 (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I watched the new Miss Marple series, excited to see what Geraldine McEwan would do with the role. Unfortunately, I don't like what they've done with this latest batch of Christie's. Mrs. McEwan is a fine actress and she brings a "fluffiness" to the role that is missing from the Hickson version. Still, there is too much tampering with the plotlines to suit me. There are significant changes made in a couple of the stories, most notably in "The Body in the Library" so let the buyer beware. This isn't a minor change either as it involves the resolution of the case. They also add an odd, on-going storyline involving Miss Marple's own past love life that is simply not part of the books and isn't even close to being in keeping with the character of Miss Marple. As Agatha Christie is arguably the most acclaimed and accomplished mystery writer that ever lived, these changes were pretty outrageous. Her books stand the test of time and need no updating simply to satisfy 21st century ideas. I was surprised at this as the British are usually the ones who can be depended upon to leave good stories alone. So, if you just want a few hours of light entertainment, have at it, but if you're an Agatha Christie purist, you won't like this dvd so save your money.

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She's back! Proper, demure, and sharp as a tack, Agatha Christie's beloved Miss Marple returns to the limelight in sparkling new adaptations of four classic Christie novels. Geraldine McEwan (The Magdalene Sisters, Mapp & Lucia) is the ladylike sleuth, a wispy senior citizen who blows the police professionals out of the water with her keen insight and shrewdly analytical nature. Fearless and uncommonly wise to the worst in human nature, Marple has lived a long time-and she's paid attention. As seen on the PBS Mystery! series, these lavish 21st-century productions are rich in post-WWII period atmosphere and delicious Christie wit, with star-studded casts that include Joanna Lumley, Derek Jacobi, Tara Fitzgerald, Ian Richardson, Janet McTeer, Zok Wanamaker, Simon Callow, James Fox, John Hannah, and Celia Imrie. The Mysteries: Murder at the Vicarage The Body in the Library A Murder Is Announced 4:50 From Paddington DVD special features include an hour-long behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews, a history of Miss Marple adaptations, a photo gallery and more.

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Mystery: Inspector Lewis (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I watched this episode eagerly, yet somewhat appreshensively--but was delighted with the way Lewis had gained in his professional insights, while retaining his personality from the earlier Morse series. Morse having been the academic foil from whom Lewis learned (and who learned from Lewis), the introduction of a young academic as Lewis' suborindate was a brilliant stroke---as well as that of giving the younger man a theological background, even as Lewis struggles with his own loss of faith. (Indeed, a point of fine-tuned accuracy: the assistant is from Cambridge University, Oxford's rival and historically somewhat more sympathetic to traditional Christian theology).
I must agree with the reviewer who thought this episode rather more rushed than those that starred John Thaw. A few things did seem thrown in at the last moment. But how wonderful to see all the old Oxford sites, including (I believe) the Trout Inn at the end of the episode. Having once applied for doctoral studies there (Oxford, not the Trout, though I'm sure the two would become intertwined), I must confess that it was fantasatic to see the "city of dreaming spires" again! I sincerely hope there are many more episodes to come! (I would gladly volunteer as an "extra" on the set if they need a pseudo-academic with mild cerebral palsy!)

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MYSTERY! presents a gripping detective drama featuring echoes of the past, as Kevin Whately returns as Robbie Lewis, former sidekick to the legendary Inspector Morse. Inspector Lewis is an intelligent contemporary crime story set once again against the beautiful backdrop of Oxford, England.Following a family tragedy, Inspector Robert Lewis has been on a two-year assignment in the British Virgin Islands. Now he's back in the familiar territory of the English university city - five years after the death of his long-time police partner Morse.Teamed up with the much younger Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox; Gosford Park, Island At War), Lewis doesn't even make it home from the airport before he is pulled onto a murder scene. As Lewis and Hathaway join forces to investigate the death of American college student Regan Peverill (Sophie Winkleman), they are led to another student, Danny Griffon (Charlie Cox; Casanova), a man with a family secret whose previous brush with the law was investigated by a certain Inspector Morse.

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