Has anyone read the book?
Just curious. If anyone here has read it, is the book closer to the original movie or the remake?
"The ice is gonna break!" (Johnny--The Dead Zone)
I read the book years ago but the original film is basically a complete and faithful adaptation of it. Even down to some of the descriptions of the building, characters, etc. Polanski was unaware at the time he was adapting Levin's book that one could update or change certain things in novel-to-screen translation, so as a result he lifted straight passages from the book into the film. This is one of the reasons why the film is held to such high regard. The material was so good that changing it just looked unwarranted by the end of it all.
Surprise, Sidney
I read the book years ago but yes, the 1968 movie is very close to the book. This tv adaption just changed so much of it, and not for the better.
shareThanks for the info. I'm glad to hear it. Moviemakers rarely stick very closely to the book much of the time. They also often ruin a good story. It's good to see when they do stick to it. Makes me want to read it now.
"The ice is gonna break!" (Johnny--The Dead Zone)
You know what this remake does do? It finally proves how if all the people who had ever criticized the original got their way what a travesty it would be.
"The ice is gonna break!" (Johnny--The Dead Zone)
I've read the book and then watch the film, The 1968 movie is extremely close even having the same dialogue, it was like they didn't need a script, the original actors could of used the book as a script. The book did have some extra stuff like Rosemary imagining she was gonna kill her baby by throwing it out the window.
What ever you do, DON'T FALL ASLEEP.-Nancy Thompson RIP
That's funny because the first time I watched this movie, when she takes a look at the baby, I really thought she was gonna throw it out the window.
"The ice is gonna break!" (Johnny--The Dead Zone)
I just finished the book and saw the Polanski film again for the first time in years. I can't believe how faithful the film was...which I didn't mind. I did however like a few of the changes made in the mini-series. The ending was better for sure.
shareI agree with most of what you have written. I too read the book back in the 1960s before I saw the 1968 film on TV. Usually I don't like remakes for classics especially if done right on the heels of the original though 46 years have elapsed so why not make a new modern version and add new twists and turns if you have double the time of the original and you have access to an excellent cast? I think the remake has succeeded. I would advise those who have never read the novel or seen the orignal 1968 move to watch this new version first.
share^ This exactly.
The characters not only say line for line dialogue, they also wear the same clothing as described in the novel. The Polanski version is one of the most faithful book-to-movie adaptations I've ever seen. You can literally watch the movie and read along to novel at the same time.