A part of me has such mixed feelings about all these remakes of various classic movies that now have Black starring characters. Not because I am against seeing diversity, but because I'd rather see money put into original media than rehashes of old media. Especially when, in films like Rosemary's Baby, all that seems to change is the skin tone. There is no cultural adaptation, or even a recognition that something has changed in comparison to the original, it is just a darker face which once was played by a white person. For more on the film, look below.Characters & StoryIf you've seen the original, not much has changed structure wise. A young woman and her husband find themselves moving into a building with strange owners; the wife is unemployed, but not without things to do; and as her husband finds himself rising both economically and socially, she finds him changing in ways which makes him not seem like the man she fell in love with. And while, at first, she has a decent relationship with her neighbors, her landlords in this film, as time wears on they become odder and odder, and while she slightly questions things, she never pursues running away from the situation fully. This is despite multiple warnings, horrible nightmares, and coincidental murders which would be red flags for normal people. But with things going well, until nearly the end, there is the question of how ignorant is Rosemary and why was this film remade?PraiseA part of me feels like Zoe Saldana should be applauded for becoming the new Halle Berry. Someone who looks "exotic," has the ability to come off vulnerable or strong, and can bring that to any role. Something which helps ease the boredom which comes with watching Rosemary's Baby, especially if you've seen the original.CriticismHowever, like with the many remakes that decide to put a physical racial spin on things, you are sort of left wondering what was the point? For while the Whitney Houston and Brandy starring Cinderella, Dorothy Dandrige in Carmen Jones, and maybe this year's Annie maybe an exception, generally it just seems like the money put into these remakes could have gone to better places. Take for example: rather than do a remake of a well-known movie, and use the name of the movie and a few recognizable actors as the basis of why people should watch, why not make something original or inspired? What was really keeping Rosemary's Baby from taking place in Louisiana and adapting things to which perhaps Hollywood's perception of Voodoo could have been used in lieu of Satanism? I mean, while there are some remakes which many have fallen in love with, and would argue are on par, or better, than the original, when movies are simply new faces in old roles; a modern retelling; or even race swaps which either don't seem culturally influenced, or are done for some shallow type of diversity, it makes me wonder who is the person so willing to throw money away on media like this?Overall: Skip ItAs said in the overview, just watch the original. For while Saldana certainly isn't horrible as Rosemary, at the same time you can see she is more so channeling Mia Farrow than making this her role and trying to make you feel any of this is original. I guess, like the Psycho remake of the 90s, this film wanted to cash in on a known brand with new actors. Something which it doesn't succeed in doing in any sense since the film tries to change things to create some sense of originality, but in the end it feels like no one really wanted to put their own spin on things and only changed things just enough so no one could say this was a modernized shot for shot remake to add onto its deserved criticism.

John form Texan: I know you live in American and race its a big issue over there, but you need to educate yourself and see people for who they are, and not for the color of their skin. What has Obama been president of America have to do with the casting of Zoe in Rosemary's baby.As for the TV series, Rosemary's baby could have been classy. This version was no where near the original but not so bad either. The ending ruined the movie and the unnecessary use of blood and severed body parts. If you have the time watch it. If you don't you didn't miss anything either.

Whoever did the casting, must have hated Roman Polanski, and must have been determined to ruin this movie. Well, they did a grand job, and Zoe was the right choice to make this movie a real pain to watch. She is just so counter-everything that might have made the otherwise interesting twists work and turn the new interpretation into a real 21st century makeover!! Come on, did it have to be politically correct and star a world-wide unknown non-white actress as its bargain chip?! She was horrible, really ruined it all for me. I am sorry to say, this is a flop. Just a big flop. I sincerely and wholeheartedly recommend you to give this one a miss. Hopefully, now the review has enough lines, so that I don't have to write more horrible (deservedly so!) things on Zoe's performance!

After suffering a miscarriage, Rosemary (Zoe Saldana) and Guy Woodhouse (Patrick J. Adams) move to Paris. They have one friend there, Julie (Christina Cole). Guy is a struggling writer who is completely blocked. Soon they befriend Margaux (Carole Bouquet) and Roman Castevet (Jason Isaacs). They take in the couple to their beautiful exclusive apartment building.I love the Paris location but this is an unnecessary remake. The running time is way too long. The 1968 original is already long. I can accept that since the movie was so well made and also that's the style of that era. This one is even longer, and it's not better for it.The cast is just as impressive as the original. Zoe Saldana doesn't have the fragility of Mia Farrow but she does frantic very well. I like Patrick Adams as the husband more than John Cassavetes. He's a puppy-face pretty boy. The switch for his character is harsher and more heart breaking. Jason Isaacs is a compelling villain and it's nice to see french beauty Carole Bouquet again. Although I miss Ruth Gordon. There is something about an old creepy witch. It matches.The last group scene is also not an improvement. The old scene from the original is claustrophobic. It used to be interior and closed off. It is creepier, scarier, and ultimately much more effective. Like many changes from the original, it is neither effective nor an improvement.