Shot on 16mm, these classic episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot used to look like, well, they came straight from late ‘80s/early ‘90s British television when they were first issued on DVD. Frankly, when the news that they were coming to Blu-ray surfaced, I was a bit skeptical about the whole matter. Thankfully, Acorn Media has gone beyond expectations here, presenting Series 1 and 2 in stunning transfers that are truly marvelous. From the wax on Poirot’s moustache to Captain Hastings always-fashionable threads, the amount of detail here is superb, and the transfers are so clear, crisp, and colorful, you’d almost think they were shot far more recently than they were. There are a few moments of grain in some of the darker scenes, but for the most part, the presentations here are near-pristine.
Audio-wise, each series gets a Dolby Digital mono track that is split into 2.0. I imagine there wasn’t much in the way of restoration that could be done here, and I have to say what we have here sounds wonderful. Optional English (SHD) subtitles are included.
The only real drawback to both sets are the lack of any special features. Apart from a few promos for other (non-related) Acorn Media releases, neither Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 1 or Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 2 sports anything new or exciting to view apart from the episodes themselves. However, when you consider the fact that these are some of the best adaptations of Christie’s immortal character ever, you really can’t start nitpicking, can you?
Highly recommended.
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