On a rare day to myself I decided to watch both versions: Hickson and McEwan. While McEwan is good, Hickson is the definitive Miss Marple. While most of this comes down to just being what I envisioned long before these films were made, part of it is also due to the scripts and overall productions. While I agree with others about the Hickson version being overly long, (remember though it had to fill a certain time slot I'm sure), the McEwan version is too short to allow her to present the character with the same depth. The McEwan script has a rushed feel to it. The Hickson version presents a nice slow peek into village life from its opening sequence to people staring out their windows to see what juicy tidbits are happening outside. My biggest beef with the Hickson version is the dreadful ending. No flashbacks, just a rushed explanation. Like they ran out of production time! I mean, there were other flashback sequences yet they couldn't be bothered with the most important one!? And they're all sitting there laughing despite the fact that Miss Marple has just explained the plot behind the death of two young people! So callous.
As for the others, it's a good thing for Trudie Styler that she's married to Sting because I can't imagine her actually earning a living by acting. She is absolutely dreadful. No force of personality whatsoever. The actress in the McEwan version was much more charismatic. This character is supposed to be a take charge kind of person. Styler speaks in an annoying whisper most of the time and I could barely hear her.
Slack, Melchett, Clithering all great. No need really for the additional detective. Lake was it?
Addie as a flirt was not what I recall from the book. I suppose it was just meant to reinforce her sudden awakening after declaring her widowhood over.
Blake and Dinah were ok, not nearly as feisty and fun as they were in the McEwan version. This Dolly Bantry was so much better than the campy, ridiculously over the top Joanna Lumley of the newer version.
I give this version a B+ and the McEwan version a C.
It's 2023 so it's fun to read the reviews stretching back nearly 20 years!
As for the others, it's a good thing for Trudie Styler that she's married to Sting because I can't imagine her actually earning a living by acting. She is absolutely dreadful. No force of personality whatsoever. The actress in the McEwan version was much more charismatic. This character is supposed to be a take charge kind of person. Styler speaks in an annoying whisper most of the time and I could barely hear her.
Slack, Melchett, Clithering all great. No need really for the additional detective. Lake was it?
Addie as a flirt was not what I recall from the book. I suppose it was just meant to reinforce her sudden awakening after declaring her widowhood over.
Blake and Dinah were ok, not nearly as feisty and fun as they were in the McEwan version. This Dolly Bantry was so much better than the campy, ridiculously over the top Joanna Lumley of the newer version.
I give this version a B+ and the McEwan version a C.
It's 2023 so it's fun to read the reviews stretching back nearly 20 years!