ROSEMARY’S BABY 1968 9/10 vs 2014 8.5/10

1968

I saw the original Rosemary’s baby when it came out in 1968 and again in May of 2014, a couple of days after the new Rosemary’s Baby mini series ended.  The original starring Mia Farrow, was in the movies but the remake, starring Zoe Saldana as Rosemary Woodhouse, was on TV (NBC) as a 2 part mini series.  I am happy to see a modernize version of this classic tale of evil remade.  However, because it was remade for TV, Rosemary’s Baby was swarming with commercials.  The original was dark, mysterious and scary.  The remake definitely  lacked some of the mystery although most of the elements were there.  The scary and mysterious aura were not.  In all fairness, this could also be because I already knew what to expect.  I found a few small problems with the remake.  I think it should have been produced for and aired on a premium channel like HBO, Showtime or Starz.  The

2014

commercials were a huge turnoff.  Another really tiny thing that annoyed me was  Zoi’s long straight hair wig.  It looked artificial.  Over all, Rosemary’s Baby was excellently done the first time (a 9/10).   I would give the remake a 8.5/10 because of the obvious updates and how they fit it all in the story without compromising the plot.  In the original, Rosemary didn’t have the luxury of a cell phone or internet so she relied on using pay phones as well as books from the library.    I liked the way Rosemary and her husband interacted with one another.  They definitely seemed closer in the remake.  Now that the mini series has aired, I suspect you can catch it ON DEMAND then after a while on Netflix.  I think Roman Polanski did a very good job on the original and  Agnieszka Holland did equally as well on the remake.  The story was slightly changed to accommodate modern times without compromising the film.  I loved Patrick J. Adams (Suites) as Guy Woodhouse.   BTW:  I really am not into Devil movies but this one was an eye opener in it’s hay day.  You can learn a thing or two and keep your eyes open, you never know what so folks are up to.  Overall, check this one out especially if you’ve never seen the original.  I don’t think it will scare you as much as intrigue you.

SUITS – My Rating: 10/10

Surprisingly, there are now many excellent shows for your viewing pleasure on the USA network.  Out of about a dozen series, Suits is my favorite.  It’s fast moving, slick and very clever.  It’s overall theme is about Mike Ross, a brilliant kid who never attended Harvard but has been hired as a lawyer in a firm of all Harvard graduates.  The star of Suits, Harvey Spector, played by Gabriel Macht, is so impressed by this kid’s intelligence and ability to memorize anything he reads, hires him anyway but has to keep the whole Harvard thing a secret from his boss, Jessica, played by Gina Torres.

To liven things up, the character of Lewis Litt, played by Rick Hoffman, is a brilliant lawyer with characteristics that makes for some awesome viewing.  I look forward to his appearance each week as he introduces his arsenal of brilliant shenanigans.

From Harvey to Jessica to Harvey’s assistant/secretary Donna Paulsen, you’re in for some fantastic dialogue and situations.  Mike, who didn’t take the bar, proves himself to be quite worthy of the position but is paranoid about his secret getting out.  Lewis, who was skipped over for junior partner, will do anything to rule.  Harvey, the genius who hired Mike is self centered but honest.  Jessica Pearson, a brilliant black woman who runs the whole firm is cunning, conniving and smart.  Did I mention she’s also quite stunning?

Suits is refreshing and a very smartly told story about clawing your way to the top, then staying there.  I haven’t seen a show about lawyers, done this well since Boston Legal.  Suits is fun to watch and is a pick-me-up when I need one.