Rating: 
Summary: No sense in renting, you'll want to watch it too often!!
Review: This could be one of the "Wizard of Oz"'s of science fiction; after watching it an initial 10 times, it's good to view again once a year. It's not that complex or so you think until you relize you've watched it a number of times and still keep seeing something new. If you're into sci-fi and haven't seen it, you're not into sci-fi and if you're not into sci-fi, watch it 'cuz they'll be calling it a classic in a few years.
Rating:
Summary: Recalling Total Recall
Review: Love this film!!! I had this originally on VHS, and watched it to the point that the tape went bad. Arnold, Sharon do incredible jobs in this movie. In fact Arnold is better here than nearly everything else he's done! When the movie ends, you'll wonder whether it was really real, or whether it was an implant. Great flick! Good fun for everyone... er... maybe not 6 year olds, but definitely cool for everyone else.
Rating: 
Summary: Despite Flaws, Recall Is Total As A Fun Sci-Fi Story
Review: Paul Verhoeven has become among Hollywood's better known directors. His most recent work, Starship Troopers, did well at the box office thanks to its outstanding special effects, interesting premise, and surprisingly good cast. Verhoeven first earned widespread movie fame with Robocop, but it was 1990's Total Recall that stands as his best work. Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a genuinely great performance as Douglas Quaid, a construction worker in the late 21st Century who, out of an unconquerable fascination with Mars - now a colony run by vicious corporate dictator Vilhos Cohaagen - goes to Rekall, Inc., a company that implants "memories" of experiences in those willing to pay. But when Rekall implants a memory of a trip to Mars, it "pops a memory cap" in Quaid, who turns out not to be who he thinks he is. When his wife Lori (the overrated Sharon Stone in the only performance of hers that is truly worth watching) tries to kill him, Quaid forces! her to tell him that a supersecret Agency under the direction of Cohaagen erased his memory and implanted a new one. Quaid dodges the guns of the murderous Richter (a delightfully insane performance by Michael Ironside) and gets help from a former buddy of his on Mars. He then travels to the Red Planet and gets mixed up in a bloody civil war between Cohaagen's goons and rebel followers of a being called Kuato. But seemingly nothing is as it appears to Quaid, until he learns from Kuato just what the secret is that Cohaagen wants. It is fairly easy to point out what is wrong with this film - it is excessively violent and gory, and includes some action scenes - like a bloody bar brawl - that are unnecesary. The pivotal scene - when Quaid is strapped in an implant chair to have his memory erased again, but he rips free and slaughters the scientists performing the procedure - is effective, but ruined because it allows Quaid to pull off an absurd flexing of muscle - he rips ! a heavy arm restraint out, anchor and all, and rips it thro! ugh the throat of one Cohaagen scientist thug. There is also the usual absurdity of action films - the wholesale slaughter of enemy soldiers without so much as a scratch on the one or two good guys. There is also a PREPOSTEROUS speech by Cohaagen during the final act that is a glaring example of the cliche of the villian who has the hero cornered, but spends so much time talking it gives the hero an opportunity. Nonetheless, it is a superior script, with many twists and a fascinating climax. END
Rating:
Summary: Action with a an actual rare gem..a good story!!!
Review: This is one awesome movie. From the start to finish, I was hooked. First of all. Arnold actually did decent acting, which was a surprise. Sharon Stone is superp and the cast and characters is wide and entertaining. Not one character seemed out of place. Now, as for the movie it self..it rtocks!! The way the director filmed humanity, dark and depressed in a decaying world both on Earth and Mars is very well done and amazingly realistic to human nature. The story is entertaining with the main character, who is really not himself, is entwined in a series of events that uncover a great plot. END
Rating:
Summary: An excellent sci-fi thriller
Review: "Total Recall," directed by Paul Verhoeven, is a stunning blend of high-concept science fiction, action, and humor. The script is based on the story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale," by legendary science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. In the film, an Earthman named Quaid (a good performance by Arnold Schwarzeneggar) goes to have artificial memories of an exciting vacation to Mars implanted into his brain. But the process goes horribly wrong, and Quaid ends up on Mars in the midst of conspiracy and unrest. "Total Recall" contains truly amazing special effects. Combined with the set design and some memorable mutant makeup designs, this is one of the most visually stunning science fiction films ever made. There is plenty of humor in the film, often in the form of snappy one-liners and weird sight gags. The performances are very good; I was especially impressed by Ronny Cox as the ruthless Martian dictator. And everything is well complemented by the big, booming orchestral score by Jerry Goldsmith. The intense violence may turn off some viewers. But if you have a high tolerance for cinematic brutality, give "Total Recall" a try. It's a witty, inventive, and visually impressive achievement in science fiction filmmaking.
Rating: 
Summary: Verhooven to subtle for his own good...
Review: I used to hate this film. Which is odd, because I like Philip Dick, I like Verhooven and, then, I liked Schwatzenegger. The film was actually good up to the end. I just thought the end was too soapy and stuid even by Hollywood standards. Then I read the book "Dead Air" by Iain Banks. There the film is explained, and suddenly it all made sense to me. Verhooven's films are full of action and gore, which tend to overshadow that they also tend to have a quite strong message. That's why Total Recall always bothered me: where is the message? But it is there, quite obvious really: it all takes place in Schwartzenegger's head; he is still in the reality simulator! That would explain why things start happening shortly after his visit there. It would explain why the girl on Mars looks exactly like the girl he chooses for the reality simulation. The whole ending with them close to dying in the low pressure on Mars is a total replay of what he experiences in the beginning, when we know he is in the reality simulator. Finally, it explains how ridicilously fast the Martian atmosphere is replenished by the melting glacier. Suddenly the film becomes really good, and truly follows the spirit of Dick. I think I must watch it again.
Rating:
Summary: ETMR - Total Recall
Review: 1. Humanity: What problems do you see in the Mars colony in the film? Is the colony a feasible idea for today? 2. Implications: The movie is centered around the question of what is reality, and how to discern truth from fiction. What dangers does the film speak of for today, in terms of distinguishing reality from a created world? 3. Evolution: It could be said that the technology expressed in the film is very basic, compared to technological innovation today. Concepts like terraforming using a combustion of air, planetary colonies with glass windows, and cheap, robotic androids are all scientific anomolies in that they seem to belong to a past age. How has the technology in the movie changed in our world? 4. Realism: Philip K. Dick's stories are heralded because of their closeness to what an actual future will be like. Do you think the story in Total Recall is an accurate prophecy for the future? 5. Stageplay: Verhoeven, the director, is known for his elaborate and overblown stories told with a comedic satire, using colorful special effects. But aside from the eye candy, do the actors convince you?
Rating:
Summary: PKD + Verhoeven = mediocre... what a waste!
Review: Like Verhoeven's other movies, this one will divide viewers right down the middle. If you are addicted to blood and guts, ultra-violence, non-stop action - and if you are not bothered by blatant nonsense (or can shrug it off or savour it as "irony") - this one's for you. If, on the other hand, you are a Philip K Dick fan, you will be horrified at what has been done to "We can remember it for you wholesale". For contrast, "Bladerunner" was a good movie made from a good PKD story, and "Minority Report" was an outstanding version of another good PKD story. (Wait a moment here - I'm being redundant. All PKD stories are good, except those that are brilliant).
Mind you, Arnold Schwarzenegger's undeniable "action-man" charisma goes a long way towards making the result watchable. Arnold is in his element with pulp, the less credible the better. But even he can't help looking like a freak, with his eyes bulging up like inflatable beachballs in the low pressure of Mars' atmosphere (yeah, right). Fortunately modern technology can repressurize an entire planet in 30 seconds... but that's Verhoeven's attitude to reality in a nutshell.
All in all, this is quite fun to watch if you can unscrew your cerebral cortex and park it in the fridge for the duration. It's only when you think how superb a movie could have been made from PKD's material that you want to sit down and weep.
Rating:
Summary: If this is my delusion, who invited you?
Review: "They stole his mind, now he wants it back."
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? This is the one million dollar question, though if you watch the commentary section, Verhoeven (director) states what he intended the movie to be. So watch the movie first, then watch the commentary section, ONLY, if you really want to know.
Paul Verhoeven (Hollow Man, Starship Troopers, Basic Instinct, and Showgirls) directs this masterpiece. There was a lot of groundbreaking material in the film. Verhoeven did a fantastic job of creating the futuristic atmosphere. I loved the "Johnny Cab," the metal detector, and the implementation of memories. Verhoeven did a fantastic job.
In terms of being a Schwarzenegger movie, it is probably top five all time. I would still place it behind both Conan movies and Predator, and along the same lines as True Lies. His acting in this movie was fun and entertaining, and his one-liners were classic. "You have some nerve showing your face around here."
"Looks whose talking."
Total Recall is a great action movie. I would place it in a similar category to "The Fifth Element." I do believe this is a must have in your DVD collection, and one of the top 15-20 action movies of all time (probably closer to the 20 range). Nevertheless, it is a must own, and fun to watch every time it's one.
Grade: A
Rating:
Summary: "Adios Amigo
Review: And thanks for not getting yourself killed."
Ah, watching this again for the first time in 9 years brung back so much memories, including the ending phrase above to one of the biggest plot twists ion the movie.
This movie is about Douglas Quaid(Arnold Schwarzenegger), maried to Lori(Sharon Stone) who is making a serious disecion about going to Recal to go to Mars. His friend tells him don't, but he goes anyway, and when it gowes wrong, the recall people put him in a cab, thus starting the story.
Quaid is confused why people are trying to pop caps in him, left and right; even his pal at work turned out to be another killer in his way. It's all confusing, you can't help but wonder, why are all of these pople trying to kill him?! Excessive gore(I'm talking pretty gory here[This movie was almost rated X]) without reason. But if you keep on watching, you'll find a serious reson to why people want him dead(I'm taliking domination/savior reason)
The blood in this movie is someting most action movies don't have anymore(The're all weak compered to this). If you were offended by kill bill, well this is worse because it's realisticly gory. Not to mention what happened to people when they were exposed to Mars' atmospere(If you have a full-stomach and are weak then for the love of God refrain from watching those sceenes!)
The story behind this is a powerhouse. About 2/3 through the film you find the reason behind the killing.(Plot twists hit you left, right, up, down, verticly, horizontaly, dianaly, eh, you get the picture. It's rare to see story in bigtime action flicks like this, ex. Kill Bill, Bad Boys 2, Raw Deal, don't have plots for anything.
This movie is a gory work of art, with plot and Violence to keep suspence and action fans happy. If you're a Schwarzenegger fan, this must be in you collection. If you love the Terminator series(with the exception of 3) Then this is another great Sci-Fi film to get your hands on. If you hate excessive gore, you might wanna stay clear! This movie also left me with a cliffhanger thought: Is it reality, is it a dream, or is what the doctor that went in Quaid's room really saying was ture? A Cliffganger to a sequal never to come.
Peace
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