Review by Matthew Schuchman
Between 1987 and 1990, Paul Verhoeven helmed two milestones of sci-fi action cinema, that are still tough to rival. The remake of 87′s Robocop is still being finished, but the Total Recall redo is here and fighting for your love. As hard as I try not to compare any new versions of a film to its sources (The 1990 film or the Philip K. Dick short story, We Can Remember it for You Wholesale, the films are based on), it’s proving to be difficult here. The original film did so many things right, where this new glossy version is an atrocity of epic proportions.
The script feels like it was written by a child who understood the idea of the story, but none of subtle intricacies of it. There’s almost no reason to even talk about this film. It creates a ball of anger and pain in the pit of my stomach. A mangled mess of poorly explained situations and hastily thought out scenarios, the new Total Recall is totally pointless, misguided, sloppy, and pathetic. If I could, I’d visit Rekall and have the experience of seeing this movie erased from my memory.
Read full review here.
Total Recall (2012)
Rated: R
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Written by: Mark Bomback, Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon, Jon Povill, Kurt Wimmer and Philip K. Dick (short story)
Featuring: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine and Bryan Cranston
Plot: A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.
Trailer:
Completely agree with the review. Too easy compared to the original. The original kept you guessing for a long time. As a movie, if it wasn't a remake, I would not have been impressed at all. The best part of the movie for me was the eye candy Colin Farrell provided for me.
So true. Was really looking forward to something great, instead I left the theater quite underwhelmed. Lot of flash, but no substance. The only saving grace for me was Collin Farrell, I can watch that sexy man candy in anything. I also love Kate kicking butt.