Agatha Christie's Poirot - The Complete Series 1-12

SUCHET IS THE MAN! Oh yes, he appears to be an actor, but is he really? He is far more than that! During my long investigation, mon ami, I discovered that he is also a Producer and a Director. How do I know? Well, this is a fact contained in this tiny marvel that is the "Agatha Christie's Poirot" Full Collection. They should have named it "David Suchet's Poirot", since he is the only true and so far, the most elaborate Poirot ever brought to the screen. David Suchet is a master actor, not just your everyday actor. He studied the character from scratch, since Agatha Christie never really gave him life. She just used him in her Novels as one of her characters, and except for giving him some general physical traits, she never went deeper than that. Hence "David Suchet's Poirot". And what a Poirot it is! It shines like a wonderful diamond, carefully cut and displayed. The Boxed collection is divided in Six booklets of 4 DVDs each and includes all the episodes and TV movies aired from 1989 to January 2006. Yes, my friend, 2006. Considering that it is still being produced as I am writing this, the next two being "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" and "Dead Man's Folly", this does not represent as yet the definitive collection, but rather what has been filmed and produced to this day. This alone is enough reason to buy it. It is a masterpiece! A Jewel in the Crown of British film-making. The only other collection that I know which is as good as this one, in the Agatha Christie's selection is Margaret Rutherford's "Miss Marple". Despite the fact that Margaret Rutherford was not at all as described by Agatha Christie, she managed nevertheless to make the role hers and hers alone. Alas, she died before she could film more wonderful translations in the series. Who knows, if she had lived another decade, if there had been other incarnations of Miss Marple? In any case David Suchet is alive and kicking and I am glad he still continues to incarnate the Belgian Sleuth. What an eclectic thespian he is, and what a master of disguise. All episodes are flamboyant and highly entertaining. Filled with Poirot's mannerisms and idiosyncracies they are never dull or boring, but rather gripping and at times, even funny. Image quality on these DVDs is as sharp as technology permits nowadays and the sound, at least for all the episodes filmed prior to 2002, is in Digital Mono, but crystal clear and even rounded a bit up for ambiance. All the episodes and TV movies after 2002 are in 1:78 anamorphic ratio and sport an outstanding Stereo Sound. I seem to have even spotted a hint of 5.1 channeling in the last two TV movies, but perhaps it was due to my hearing playing tricks on me. All in all this is a most recommendable Collection and don't let yourself been thrown off by the price. It is cheaper than you may think, for such a masterpiece. Included with the latest episodes are also a few extras. Mind you, nothing mind blowing, but not too bad. There are some interviews with the cast and a few crew members, as well as a very insightful "reveleation" by David Suchet himself. I can only recommend it, mon ami. Bon, et maintenant I must go and study my next case, because writing reviews is not, as you British might say, my cup of tea, and to me this is intolerable idleness. So, vite, vite, allez, buy this collection. Poirot is waiting for you in here and cannot come to you, mon ami, and if you want to know how he proceeds to solve his cases, you must make an effort and decide by yourself what is right for you. In any case, don't miss out just because you are shy, my friend.

Brilliant DVD series! Arrived promptly and in perfect condition

This is not a review of the show as even those who think Poirot isn't as good as it was will probably find it cheaper to buy this collection than individual box sets. The box set was delivered by yodel, I know some people have had trouble with them but I did not. The box set is a nice, compact size, about the width of 9 single DVDs. The set could have been made more compact if the producers of the DVDs didn't have the habit of putting a feature length episode on its own disc. If they're happy to put 4 shorter episodes on a disc surely 2 features on a disc would be more sensible and fewer DVDs would have to be made. There are also more extras on the DVD than the advertised Orient Express ones, mostly making ofs & interviews adding up to over 2 hours worth of extras, which is very impressive, Granada's Sherlock Holmes box had none (bar the annoying anti-piracy ads!). Subtitles are English hard of hearing. The booklet is nicely done but it numbers the discs from 1 - 32, when the actual discs are labelled by collection e.g Collection 4; disc 2, which makes finding individual episodes a little harder, but that is only a minor complaint.

It is a sad reminder of how superb Poirot was between 1989 & 2002 and how it has gone to pot since 2003 . By following the Arthur Conan Doyle stucture of having a brilliant sleuth ( Poirot ) , his lovable sidekick ( Hastings ) , a baffled Police Inspector ( Japp ) and a forceful woman who works for the sleuth ( Miss Lemon ) ITV produced a hit . In the novels Evil Under The Sun , The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Hercule Poirot's Christmas there was no Japp - but replacing the inspector with Japp was a stroke of genius . They could have made Sad Cypress , The Hollow , Blue Train Mystery , Taken At The Flood , Five Little Pigs and After The Funeral far darker but still used Japp instead of the inspector potrayed in the novel . Philip Jackson is an excellent actor & the fans would not have minded the darker nature of the more recent Poirot TV shows ( and Hastings & Miss Lemon being absent ) if Japp had been included in a limited role for a few scenes with Poirot . It would have stopped the recent episodes being very dull with Poirot being in th background and romantic dialogue boring the auidience . Dubious sexual behaviour , simulated sex , seeing people being hanged and a lack of humour have made the more recent Poirot TV shows rather depressing . There is no real chemistry between David Suchet & the cast chosen because they are well known rather than because they are right for the role . Hugh Fraser is perfect - he is as Hastings is in the novels while when I read a novel featuring Miss Lemon Pauline Moran's voice in my mind is saying Miss Lemon's lines . They used Miss Lemon & Captain Hastings in TV shows even when they were not in the book in question and the TV ratings were fine . They only use characters in the novels now & the series is poorer for it . So the first four packs of DVD's are lovely - pity it tales off after that . ITV are not listening to the fans & that is a foolish arrogance , Captain Hastings was not in the novel Murder In Mesopotamia but he was in the TV show and its ratings were a success !

David Suchet excels as Poirot. He simply IS Poirot - such is the supreme quality of his acting. The various interviews that come with this set of DVDs are also very good; in one of them Suchet explains how he developed the character of Poirot e.g. the voice, the dress etc. Very insightful. The support cast in the earlier episodes is also brilliant: Hugh Fraser as Capt Hastings is a loveable duffer. I recently read how one of the better-known scriptwriters for some episodes in the series, Anthony Horowitz, mischievously made Hastings exclaim 'Good Lord!' or 'My word!' in as many episodes as possible. I now laugh every time I hear Hastings blurt out these exclamations. Philip Jackson as James Japp captures the dourness of the Chief Inspector and it's lovely to see the warm friendship that develops between him and Poirot over the course of the series. And, finally, Pauline Moran excels as the pedantic, librarian-like, Miss Lemon. The cameraderie that develops between the four characters (Poiriot, Hastings, Miss Lemon & Japp) is a joy to watch. My only complaint about the series is that from around season 9 onwards it becomes darker and lacks the light humour of the earlier episodes. I think this is mainly because the characters of Hastings, Japp & Miss Lemon no longer make an appearance - instead, Poirot takes on an elderly butler and deals with a succession of chief inspectors. But such is the quality of this ITV production that I can no longer watch other actors portraying Poirot. For example, Peter Ustinov played Poirot in a film adaptation of 'Death on the Nile' in the late 70s. This film was screened on TV a few months ago in the UK, but I had to switch it off after 20 mins as Ustinov jarred as Poirot. He just isn't a patch on Suchet's Poirot. Ultimately, you realise just how good Suchet is after watching another actor in Poirot's polished, patent leather shoes. If you want to be entertained with quality TV then it doesn't get much better than Poirot. Buy the DVD set for those cold, grim winter nights that are fast approaching. You won't regret it. In fact, I've just seen that seasons 11 & 12 are now available on DVD via Amazon and have bought them too!

one DVD is not perfecr therefore it does not always play well (but fine on the PC), otherwise great series, excellent acting and most ploys are very good. If you like Poirot and want them all this is the best priced product

David Suchet joins Jeremy Brett at the pinnacle of actors portraying classic detectives. Suchet IS the definitive Poirot, but the character is deep enough for the warmer and more humorous portrayal by Peter Ustinov to remain a wonderful alternative. Poirot detects with surgical precision in the bright elegance of the upper class 1930s. Add an unending series of fine supporting performances, and of course Hugh Fraser as the faithful Hastings and Philip Mason as Inspector Jap struggling to keep up with Poirot. The carefully chosen 1930s properties, each capturing the period style perfectly, mean they appear numerous times in different episodes, but from various angles to prevent dejavue setting in. Also the continuous procession of classic cars from the period, each immaculately clean and preserved is another visual treat, the unreal cleanliness of these treasured vehicles only adds to the elegance of the productions. The progression through the series is most interesting. It is only when we leave Series 1 and move onto the first episode of Series 2 “Peril at End House” that we realise the vast amount of detailed work that has taken place on the characterisations and screen plays, the small details and extra added dimensions to the plots that transform the series from the very good to the totally exceptional. When you have finished viewing this 20 DVD set look forward to Volume 6 being released in April 2006, then according to my calculations there are a further twenty seven stories to be adapted, so the future is bright for Poirot fans.

I first bought the Classic Collection available in the States which only had the 36 one-hour episodes - all of which I LOVED, but when I saw this set that contaained those PLUS the feature length eps up to 2004's The Hollow, I knew I'd have to get my Poirot fix from across the pond. This is an excellent set and I'm very happy I decided to sell my region 1 version and get the UK edition. For those curious, the set contains: Poirot - DVD Collection One The Adventure Of The Clapham Cook Murder In The Mews The Adventure Of Johnnie Waverly Four And Twenty Blackbirds Third Floor Flat Triangle At Rhodes Problem At Sea The Incredible Theft The King Of Clubs The Dream Peril At End House The Veiled Lady The Last Mine Poirot - DVD Collection Two The Cornish Mystery The Disappearance Of Mr Davenham Double Sin The Adventure Of The Cheap Flat The Kidnapped Prime Minister The Adventure Of The Western Star The Mysterious Affair At Styles How Does Your Garden Grow The Million Dollar Bond Robbery Affair at The Victory Ball Wasp's Nest Tragedy At Marsden Manor The Double Clue Poirot - DVD Collection Three The Mystery Of The Spanish Chest The Theft Of The Royal Ruby The Plymouth Express The Mystery Of Hunter's Lodge The ABC Murders Death In The Clouds One, Two Buckle My Shoe Poirot - DVD Collection Four The Adventure Of The Egyptian Tomb The Underdog The Yellow Iris The Case Of The Missing Will The Adventure Of The Italian Nobleman The Chocolate Box Dead Man's Mirror Jewel Robbery At The Grand Metropolitan Poirot's Christmas Hickory Dickory Dock Murder On The Links Dumb Witness Poirot - DVD Collection Five The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd Lord Edgware Dies Evil Under The Sun Murder In Mesopotamia Five Little Pigs Sad Cypress Death On The Nile The Hollow I am absolutely buying set 6 on April 10. My little grey cells just cannot get enough!