Recent Reviews for Total Recall
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MCT:June 22, 2008Total Recall (1990)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside«Douglas Quaid: I don't remember you.
Melina: What are you talking about?
Douglas Quaid: I don't remember you. I don't remember us. I don't even remember me.»The story is set in the year 2084. Douglas Quaid is a construction worker who has been experiencing dreams about exploring the planet Mars with a sexy brunette. After seeing an ad from Rekall, a company that sells imaginary adventures by implanting memories, he decides to buy a "vacation" on Mars from them, one in which he will take a vacation from himself by becoming a spy. Rekall calls it an "ego trip." Before buying the vacation, Quaid is cautioned by a co-worker that Rekall are "lobotomizing people", in reference to failed memory implants which caused the recipients to suffer permanent brain damage. Quaid hesitates, but disregards this warning.Total Recall is a nice action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid/Hauser the main protagonist of this film. He plays typical action hero, he know how to kill people effectively, he can shoot like a real soldier, he can even drive a car; he can do all that but the big problem is: he doesn't really know anything about himself. The whole storyline looks simple at first, but it's far more complicated than you can even think of. It twists and turns and by doing so, it leads us to an ultimate twist towards near the end of the movie. It is a typical Arnold Schwarzenegger movie but it is certainly a good thing because it makes the whole difference here. We know that Paul Verhoeven can create a really good action movie and once again he proved that by making this movie.
The acting was great: Arnold was as good as ever: he did lots of shooting and lots of fighting and he said some really bad ass lines that won't disappear from your head for a while. Sharon Stone played Quaid's wife - Lori Quaid. She was ok, even though it wasn't the best performance of her career but it was still not bad at all. The rest of actors did well too; Rachel Ticotin was good as Quaid's fiancé; Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside both playing bad guys and they look good in their roles.
Special effects were great too. The shooting scenes, the fighting scenes, car chasing: it was all well made and it was a pleasure to watch. The amount of blood and violence is really high but that is what makes this a true action movie.
Overall, Total Recall is a great film to watch, sometimes maybe it is hard to understand what's going on but you can still enjoy the movie. If you are a big fan of action movies and you enjoy watching Arnold Schwarzenegger doing what he is really good at (by that I mean acting), then this film is definitely for you.
Review Date: 2nd of May, 2008.
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MCT:June 18, 2008This is a flick that had escaped me back when it came out. Watching it now for the first time, i wonder why this was such a hit and people saying it was one of Arnie's very best. Sadly its not even close. This is not in the same league as TERMINATOR, COMMANDO, RAW DEAL, TRUE LIES, etc. But in the end, it is still quite watchable. Just don't expect much like i did.
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MCT:June 6, 2008
Watching it again recently, it doesn't pass the test of time all too gracefully. But I stand by my initial four star rating for how it was back in the 80's.
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MCT:May 25, 2008
I like the chick with three tits and how their heads puff up when exposed to the Martian atmosphere.
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MCT:May 19, 2008I know that I saw this movie. It was in Glenn Adam and Elliot's basement during my junior high school days. I'm sure Steven was there too. I can't remember a darn thing about it. I was no doubt watching it against my will. I give it two stars.
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MCT:April 30, 2008
Reportedly the most expensive film ever made at the time, Total Recall is a mind-bending, bone-crunching action thriller set in some vague future, with a great script by Dan O'Bannon and producer Ronald Shusett. One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movie.
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MCT:April 30, 2008
This is Arnold's best movie that isn't a James Cameron movie. It's also one of the best sci-fi movies ever made despite the huge ammount of violence.
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MCT:April 30, 2008
A nineties action classic, they don't seem to make these silly yet awesome blockbusters anymore, apart from Terminator 1+2 this is Arnies best work. Arnie is Doug Quaid a construction worker on Earth who really wants to go and live on Mars, so he goes to a holiday implant place but it turns out he's a secret agent who's had his memory erased and he has to go to Mars to get to the truth about the bloke who supplies the oxygen to the people but the plots not important just the mindless, over the top, extreme violence.
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MCT:April 27, 2008
Hauser: Howdy, stranger! This is Hauser. If things have gone wrong, I'm talking to myself, and you've probably got a wet towel wrapped around your head.
[Which Quaid, sure enough, has got]
Hauser: So whatever your name is, get ready for a big surprise: YOU are not YOU, You are ME.
Douglas Quaid: No shit.
A twisty story with a lot of ways to interpret it...oh and it's a big budget Schwarzenegger action movie with plenty of blood and one-liners to keep it moving.
Schwarzenegger stars as Douglas Quaid, a mild manner worker in 2084 earth, with an obsession for Mars. He decides to go to this place Rekall, where you can have a virtual vacation. There he is told he can participate in an action adventure story where he plays a spy, gets to go to Mars, fight the bad guys, get the girl, and save the planet.
However, problems arise, when he leaves Rekall due to technical difficulties, but does happen to have his life twirled when it turns out he actually is a spy who has had his memory erased. So now he does in fact have to go to Mars and find out the truth...or does he.
Much of the joy from repeated viewings of this film comes from the way the story, originally created by Philip K. Dick, works. It works in two ways, whether Quaid is dreaming or if everything is really happening.
Douglas Quaid: Cohaagen, you got what you wanted; you must give those people air!
It also helps that exploitation master director Paul Verhoven of Robocop and Starship Troopers fame takes every opportunity to make this a hard core R rated Sci Fi action flick.
It's a lot of fun, quick paced, and cool.
Douglas Quaid: [to a group of Agency officers] Catch!
[he throws the Fat Lady mask, and one of the officers catches it]
Fat Lady: [smiling] Get ready for a surprise!
[the mask explodes] -
MCT:April 20, 2008
Great Sci-Fi with Arnold. Not much more to say, a true must see for Arnold/sci-fi lovers and a good movie for the rest of the world.
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MCT:April 19, 2008
A bit of a bizare film. Am not really a Schwarzenegger fan.
Read the Dick story after ("We Can Remember It For You Wholsale") and I prefer that. -
MCT:April 18, 2008masterpiece in screen play.if u r gonna watch it now u will understand how it has influenced its younger brothers.for example the matrix trilogy and terminators are affected by this script.visual effects are some kind of funny now but that is just a matter of time.the script is immortal.
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MCT:April 16, 2008
I think the worst movie from Arnie Insane story insane effects a very bad clone for Starwars movies
even for me Sharon stone , seeming as a femme fatale , looks the reverse -
MCT:April 15, 2008Something goes wrong when our favorite action hero gets a vacation implant to Mars! Is it real or just a memory? Good sci-fi/action hit.
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MCT:April 15, 2008
Kick-butt Sci-fi actioner from Paul Verhoeven delivers all the goods from sexy Sharon Stone, gore, action and spectacular visual effects.
One of my all time faves. -
MCT:April 5, 2008
one of the best sci-fi/action films of the 90s and one of arnie's best,I will never get bored of watching this even if I know all the dialogue by now
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MCT:March 29, 2008
Based on the novel "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by science-fiction author Phillip K. Dick.
Set in the not too distant future, Total Recall stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a man who goes for a virtual vacation featuring memories of the planet Mars. An unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real, or does he?
Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox and Sharon Stone also star in this Paul Verhoven directed movie. -
MCT:March 27, 2008
I really enjoyed this movie. It's one of those sit back and think films.
Will 2084 be like this?
:O
lol -
MCT:March 22, 2008
amazing!!!!!!!!! Verhoeven for life!!!!!!!! i god damn love this movie, and the action is good, the plot, the comedy, the acting, the directing, the ideas, the satire, the setting, the art direction, the set, the costumes, and the cast all is amazing in this golden film
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MCT:March 17, 2008
I had no idea what this movie was about when I started watching it and it wasn't what I expected at all! The story line was really good and I didn't even get confused :D I recommend Matrix fans see this.
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MCT:March 16, 2008
I really loved this. Especially after watching how unentertaining sci-fi movies can get (Doomsday). This has everything I want in sci-fi. Cool future technology display and a somewhat believable future story. It's a bit stupid at times, and the acting is mediocre at best, but I expected that and it reminded me of True Lies a bit in that way. There was definitely some comedy that made me laugh in this, mostly from Arnold. In sum, this was a whole lot of fun to watch, even though I can't call it a masterpiece.
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MCT:February 28, 2008
Hadn't seen this one in quite a long time and it actually turned out way better than I remembered. The story wasn't as confusing as I thought it might be, the violence was joyfully over-the-top, and I completely forgot how amazing Rob Bottin's makeup effects were! Most of it looks better than half the stuff you see today. I wish Paul Verhoeven still made kick ass, ultra-violent action films like these today. Between this and Robocop, Verhoeven really put his stamp on the "thinking man's" action film. The story is quite unique and really keeps you guessing until the very end. Aside from the tight script, amazing visuals and fast paced direction, the main reason the movie works is, of course, Arnold. The guy takes a lot of flack for not being able to act, but he's actually really damn good in this movie. And we get to watch him beat the crap out of Sharon Stone, now what could be better than that? If you haven't seen this one in a while, give it another watch, it definitely stands the test of time. Now give the people air, Cohaagen!
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MCT:February 27, 2008
Admittedly, I've got a strange fascination with Schwarzenegger action films, and there are certainly better adaptations of Phillip K. Dick's stories out there (this film is from "I Can Remember It For You Wholesale," a great short story), so take my review with a grain of salt. While this movie is really cheesy (especially its so-called "acting"), and is so scientifically incorrect it's laughable, I still kind of like it. Call me incorrigible.
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MCT:February 27, 2008
In space, no one can hear you mutate!
I like the idea of a company like Total Recall, I just don't like the idea of being lobotomized. Watching this today, one has to get past the fact that the graphics aren't as cutting edge, but the concept at least is. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't really believable as an average Joe, but that lends credibility to the theory that he is an agent with a supressed memory, a memory that is triggered when he visits total recall to experience a 'mars vacation' without the visit.
There are two theories on this movie: That Arnie was already an agent, or that the total movie is his implanted memory from total recall.
I am in the camp that thinks he was a secret agent, already (mostly because he was already having dreams of the situations before he went to the company) but too each his own.
I think the real question regarding this movie is would it really take 10+ minutes for one to die in an oxygenless atmosphere? And would it be so slowly graphic? One may never know. -
MCT:February 27, 2008
I had not seen this movie for about 15 years but i enjoyed it as much as the first time i had seen it.
