Murder On The Orient Express (12a) 

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Pfeiffer

Running time: 114 minutes

8/10

Murder On The Orient Express is a good old-fashioned whodunnit that is a fun, entertaining and exciting ride.

Kenneth Brannagh is obviously having a great time with this production and his interpretation of the infamous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.

The opening gambit at the site of the Wailing Wall, has Poirot solving an impossible crime, second-guessing the villain, and capturing the culprit, all in the opening few minutes.

His need for a holiday leads him onboard the Orient Express, but of course, trouble and murder are close behind.

The ensemble cast is wonderful, and you will probably spend most of the first reel playing spot the celeb.

Everyone here is having a good time - From Dame Judi Dench to Michelle Pfeifer, all the characters are sketched out admirably, and the more Poirot learns about their past, the more we see of the dirty deed at hand.

The scenes on, and off the train are lovely.

There are some smashing shots of the speeding locomotive driving through snow-drenched terrain, reminiscent of The Polar Express, and the sets, costumes and props are all great to look at.

The only downside to the large cast, is that they all have so little screen time.

The 1974 version starring Albert Finney as Poirot was nominated for six Academy Awards, with legendary Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman winning for her small, but significant performance.