Total Recall Reviews

Initial Thought: I don't know why I've taken so long to see this one. It's very much a classic and one of Arnie's best. I have seen the remake already. Well I better get a move on and catch up with everyone.

Characters/Acting: Arnold Schwarzenegger at the top of his game. Michael Ironside at his finest playing the villain which he is always good at. Also Sharon Stone when she was still quite relevant and gorgeous. I didn't know the three breasted chick had so much screen time here. Her part here was much better than the remake. I didn't realize it with all the makeup, but Dean Norris is the mutant who works with George. I really enjoyed all the characters here. The mutants were especially interesting.

Story: Well if you've seen the remake then you should know this one too. If not then well it's all about memory altercation and maybe everything not being as it seems. Well we are off to an interesting and strange start. It's so interesting trying to figure out what is the fake and what is real. Could his life before be what is fake? Could everything after Recall be fake? It keeps you guessing from start to finish. The plots between the remake and this are pretty different besides the main story point and a few of the main characters. The ending was much better here than the remake. This really makes you think back and forth. Do you really know what you think you know? Anyways as a whole the story was quite entertaining. There are some great twists and turns throughout. Of course there is some over the top violence, but it wouldn't be a 90s Arnie movie if it was any less.

Directing/Writing: Paul Verhoeven is quite a prominent director. He has made some major sci-fi classics like Robocop and Starship Troopers. He has also done some movies he didn't get much praise for such as Hollow Man and Showgirls, but we can't always be winners. Philip K. Dick has written many books that have been made into films. The surprising thing is most of the bigger ones were short stories. He has caused the creation of Blade Runner, The Adjustment Bureau, and Minory Report. I find it weird that there are four people involved in the screenwriting process here. Ronald Shusett has been involved in everything related to the Alien Saga (which also include Prometheus) as well as the two versus Predator films. The same goes for Dan O'Bannon who also has Heavy Metal and The Return of the Living Dead under his belt. Jon Povill's only other writing credit is with the remake of this. Gary Goldman also has the remake of this on his repertoire as well as Next (which was another adaptation of one of Philip K. Dick's stories).

Final Thought: That was much better than the remake. Yeah it's pretty cheesy, but hey that's the 90s for you. I can't believe I waited so long to see this. If you haven't seen this either you should definitely jump on the bandwagon asap. It's fun and even though it's older you will still be guessing what's going on.

As a kid, I really loved this flick and I'm planning to see this one soon with Nick, my step-son. I remember, back then, I thought it was a fascinating story and I had to watch it a couple of times before understanding it properly (give me a break... I was 10-12 years old!). The best thing about this movie is that it works on so many levels. It is entertaining, it takes place on Mars, there are tons of nice special effects, some sexual tension and a rather thoughtful and intriguing plot. By now, I have watched all the movies directed by Paul Verhoeven (even the old Dutch ones) and this one is one of his best. I just love the story, the actions scenes and the competent special effects. I have seen also most of Schwarzenegger's work and it is my favorite movie he has done (Ok the first 2 Terminator flicks are just behind). A few weeks back, I have seen the remake starring Colin Farrell and even though Farrell is a better actor, Schwarzenegger was actually more convincing. It worked better also because Paul Verhoeven didn't spend all his time with some action scenes but also gave us some time to get know Doug Quaid and root for the guy. Anyway, to conclude, I really loved it and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

"If I am not me, then who the hell am I?"

What do you get when you merge Paul Verhoeven's proclivity for ultraviolent cinema with the characteristics of an Arnold Schwarzenegger action vehicle? The answer is 1990's Total Recall, an exciting, thought-provoking, violent and delightfully entertaining science fiction action classic. With a screenplay credited to Ronald Shusett (Dead & Buried), Dan O'Bannon (Alien), and Gary Goldman (Big Trouble in Little China), Total Recall is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1966 short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, and the project's decades-long journey from page to screen was arduous and uncertain. After falling through the hands of David Cronenberg, Bruce Beresford, Russell Mulcahy, Walt Disney, and a bankrupt Dino De Laurentiis, Schwarzenegger convinced Carolco Pictures to purchase the rights and make the movie with him in the lead role. Additionally, after Verhoeven's work on 1987's RoboCop (for which Schwarzenegger was considered in the lead role), the filmmaker was Arnie's top pick to helm the project. Fortunately, Total Recall successfully came to fruition in this form, and the resulting movie is a thrilling futuristic action blockbuster with imaginative production design and philosophical underpinnings to supplement the spectacle.

A mild-mannered construction worker, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) experiences recurring dreams about another life on Mars with a mysterious woman, much to the chagrin of his wife, Lori (Sharon Stone). Against the advice of his colleagues, Quaid visits Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories of perfect holidays tailored to each client's desires. Intrigued, Quaid chooses a holiday package set on Mars, where he is a secret agent. However, Quaid wakes up during the procedure and lashes out, believing he truly is a secret agent. Upon leaving Rekall, Quaid learns that his life is a false memory implanted by the "Agency," and Mars' tyrannical ruler, Vilos Cohaagen (Ronny Cox), fears that his visit to Rekall will unlock his old memories. Seeking to reach Mars to help stop Cohaagen and find the mysterious woman of his dreams (Rachel Ticotin), Quaid is relentlessly pursued by armed government agents led by Richter (Michael Ironside).

There are twists and turns throughout Total Recall, with the story's scope consistently expanding as the action shifts to Mars and introduces a team of freedom fighters working to bring down Cohaagen. Luckily, Verhoeven smoothly guides the narrative with maximum coherency despite the political machinations, and the movie is scarcely boring. Total Recall is an extraordinary action movie with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour (Arnie's one-liners are neverending), but there is surprising depth and thoughtfulness to the picture's construction. The satirical script lampoons everything from commercialism to the perils of excessive government control, and Verhoeven plays shrewd mental games, challenging our perception of reality. Are the events actually happening, or are they part of an elaborate fantasy concocted by Rekall? Verhoeven is unwilling to answer this question definitively, but there is enough evidence to make a strong case for either scenario, and you could potentially draw a different conclusion with every rewatch. This aspect elevates the movie above the ordinary, making it more than just a brainless action fiesta. Total Recall set the benchmark for contemporary sci-fi action movies with a touch of ambiguity, though the picture remains unequalled over thirty years later.

Total Recall is one of the last big-budget action spectacles to feature classical special effects methods: miniatures, location shooting, make-up, puppetry and elaborately constructed sets. Although movie-goers accustomed to crisp, modern CGI-laden films may perceive Total Recall as dated, the elaborate effects here are arguably more convincing than digital imagery, as they carry a tangible aesthetic. The prosthetics and puppets are especially impressive, with the story featuring eccentric mutants that Cronenberg originally conceived during his time on the project. Additionally, Verhoeven is renowned for the explicit content of his movies, be it nudity or violence, and Total Recall is no different, even gaining notoriety for its record-setting body count at the time. Much like RoboCop, many cuts were made at the MPAA's behest to avoid an X rating. The deaths are gruesome, with over-the-top bloodshed, but the humorous tone prevents the movie from feeling sadistic or mean-spirited. Also beneficial is Jerry Goldsmith's note-perfect original score, embodied by the main theme played during the opening credits. Every note of Goldsmith's work exudes outer space, sci-fi and action, amplifying the movie's sense of danger, suspense and intergalactic adventure. One of Goldsmith's best scores, the soundtrack deserves to stand alongside other seminal cinematic scores, such as John Williams' Star Wars music and James Horner's work on Aliens.

Another of Total Recall's biggest assets is Schwarzenegger. Sure, the Austrian Oak is not an accomplished actor, but Arnie's commanding screen presence is why he is such a fantastic action star. The muscular behemoth is right at home cracking one-liners, shooting guns, running, grunting, making love, and shooting more guns - and, luckily, this role plays to those strengths. Additionally, Arnie ably conveys Quaid's anger, confusion and frustration throughout the story with each new plot development, showing that he can actually act. In the supporting cast, the badass Ironside (Extreme Prejudice, Top Gun) is a fantastic villain, exuding authority and giving Richter a chilling edge. Sticking with Verhoeven after RoboCop, Cox shows once again he can play shady corporate types with ease, and he is terrific as Cohaagen, bringing much-needed gravitas to the production. Sharon Stone also submits a fun performance here, playing into the picture's goofy tone. It's interesting to note that Stone has played a love interest for both Arnie and Sylvester Stallone during her career, as she was Sly's love interest in 1994's The Specialist.

With the budget ballooning to $80 million during shooting, Total Recall is a proficient and visually intriguing production that mostly stands the test of time, especially with its intelligence and clever plotting. Although it is sometimes slightly cheesy, this only contributes to the picture's goofy late-'80s charm. There is something exhilarating about revisiting a film like Total Recall in an era of toned-down violence and rampant political correctness. With Verhoeven at the helm, the film is enjoyably over-the-top in every aspect, from the violence to the sparkling one-liners and the garish special effects. Additionally, with tight editing by the Oscar-nominated Frank J. Urioste (Die Hard), it moves forward with sensational momentum. Much like the director's other action films (RoboCop, Starship Troopers), Verhoeven packs Total Recall with more awesome than most people can handle in two hours, including memorable deaths and devilish ultraviolence. Regrettably, the film was remade in 2012, but the remake is an abomination and does not merit further discussion.

10/10

''If I am not me, then who the hell am I?''

When a man goes for virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real, or does he?

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Douglas Quaid / Hauser

Total Recall, based on We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, a short story from 1974 by Philip K. Dick (and novelized in conjunction with the film production by Piers Anthony), had a laborious history getting to the silver screen. Tens of drafts were written. Production companies were attached then went out of business. Many directors and stars were attached who either changed their minds or who were dropped. Luckily, Arnold Schwarzenegger talked Carolco into picking up the project for him with Paul Verhoeven, who subsequently already proved his dazzling directorial talents on the similarly toned RoboCop(1987).

While Total Recall certainly has influences, including The Martian Chronicles(1980),Dune(1984) and the first major movie project based on a Philip K. Dick work, Blade Runner(1982), it's more notable for the films that it has influenced in subsequent years, including The Fifth Element(1997) and many of the "rubber reality" films such as Abre los ojos(1997),Vanilla Sky(2001) and The Thirteenth Floor(1999). It's also yet another film on the very long list that have had various elements "adapted" into part of The Matrix(1999), most explicitly here, the bug that Quaid has to remove from his body with a high-tech machine and the possibility of waking up from a particular reality by taking a red pill.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 20 years then you probably know that with Director Paul Verhoeven (Black Book), nothing is not doable and he loves to show violence and sex to the extreme. This film is no exception, as the carnage is wonderfully graphic and oddly satisfying similar to Robocop, in terms of violent proceedings. We see people get their arms blown off and their necks snapped in delightful ways. Pleasingly, CGI isn't used to enhance the violence but rather to alternate with make up and prosthetics to achieve the gore factor. Uncertain on this, but I am under the impression, this was the last movie made before CGI overtook the industry, so everything we see in the movie is eclectically real. From the train stations on mars, the three breasted woman, and the mutant living inside a man was all done on set in the camera without any effect wizardry. It really draws you into the story and gives you this sense that this place has been around for an age, and we're just being given a rare insight into this world. The production designer deserves huge credit for the realistic look that attributes to the film in everyway.

''I'll be back!''

Most of the locations used, were successfully created, with the usage of expertly created miniatures and they look fantastical considering when Total Recall was created. It's not as impressive as the work that Alex Funke did on LOTR but it's still pretty successful, in the sense it still manages to hold it's own in todays film making world. The actors all are just perfectly cast in this movie, and while Schwarzenegger may be touted as the star in the movie, the real star is Michael Ironside. This is essentially Ironside doing what he does best which is playing the bad guy so brilliantly and also avoiding all the usual bad guy cliches like speaking with some accent or smoking in every scene. Sharon Stone essentially has a less dazzling role than the other players, but the little she does give every scene she partakes in, is greatly acted and fun to watch. Rachel Ticotin plays the other woman in Schwarzenegger's life and she does an amazing job of playing the woman that Schwarzenegger dreams of. She is smart, cute, and can kick your ass if she has to. Then there's Schwarzenegger who basically does what he does, in every movie which is to run, shoot, make a joke, then run and shoot some more. But you know what, that cliche formula works...So why change a good thing right?

A movie no matter how good or well written will be nothing without the support of great music and in this case, the late great Jerry Goldsmith provides a fantastic score that is just pleasing to the ears. Really adore the score he plays in the first 2 mins. of the picture alone, when we see Schwarzenegger walking around on mars. It's these weird dreamlike tones that makes you feel the same way that Schwarzenegger does, it helps us connect with what the character is feeling. The great piece he plays for when Quato tells Quaid to open his mind is without a question an epiphany of grandeur in the score. Usually action music consists of loud brass and strong drums but Goldsmith narrowly avoids that tired cliché and provides a smart intelligent score that enhances the movie at every turn. The great Howard Shore has been the only composer that I know so far that has written a decent action music for a movie and that was the amazing score he did for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The two composers seem to have a lot in common when it comes to music so someday I hope that Shore will reach that level of respect and admiration that Goldsmith has achieved.

This is NOT a family friendly sci-fi flick in the vein of Star Wars, it's rated 18 for a very good reason, so parents can hide the little ones and enjoy. If you want an adult sci-fi movie that doesn't require CGI or confusing dialog, then you'll be in heaven with this Philip K Dick adaptation.

''You are what you do. A man is defined by his actions, not his memory.''