Total Recall

Why? Could anyone explain to me why anyone needs to do this? Why do actors have to get involved in such a film, why do they have to invest money in it at all and why do people have to go to the cinema to see it? Why does this movie have so many reviews on this site? I know, it’s a lot of questions for one movie that I absolutely did not want to see. But then the opportunity arose and I couldn’t resist. I must say that by today’s standards, it is a decent job. It buries the original film completely, but that’s a standard procedure in our CGI times. The whole thing is a bit simpler than the original film with Arnold, but probably so that today’s undemanding viewer would understand everything. But as I was saying. This film completely buries the idea behind the original movie, which was the last blockbuster without CGI, instead using manually prepared tricks, and which contained not only a message but had the balls to do something new and unique. The remake is just a cash-cow, where everything is made in a completely standard way. The creators might have gotten some money out of it, but for me it’s something that will be forgotten forever. What won’t be forgotten, however, is the fact that the 21st century Hollywood is afraid of making original movies, instead investing too much money into a brand that promises to return this investment, because they’ll always find some new fans who haven’t seen the original. Disgusting. I’m giving this three stars only because the film-making craft is objectively good. The rest, however… (08/03/2013)

The original doesn't suit me by anything, so the reconciliatory three stars are a small victory for the new Total Recall. It's pleasing that they omitted Mars and put more emphasis on the versatile wife, but unnecessary logical errors and slightly excessive runtime are annoying. Wiseman saves a lot of things with action (led by the premature climax of the movie in the form of a chase in elevators) and the reborn Kate Beckinsale helps him the most. However, the courage of the producers to pour so many dollars into this particular vision remains inexplicable. (09/12/2012)

Why?! I'm not saying that this remake of Verhoeven's famous sci-fi movie is completely bad, but it’s completely unnecessary and purely commercial with regards to the twenty-two year old original. What made the old Total Recall special, i.e. the great make-up effects, the atmosphere of an alien planet and the director's sense of the right level of brutality, is reduced here to shootouts and chases in the middle of a future city. And while it works in the first half and the viewer can't even breathe under the flood of action, in the final part everything slowly fizzles out and the repetitive pattern becomes unpleasantly and profusely boring. Farrell tries hard, but, with all due respect, he’s no match for Arnie's stony gaze and swollen biceps, so the only positive additions are the beauties Jessica Biel and especially Kate Beckinsale, who apparently refuses to age and whose lithe body deserves its own star on the Walk of Fame. Wiseman once again proves that he can handle action, but, compared to Verhoeven, he’s a terribly unimaginative and routine director. (01/27/2013)

A passable remake, adapted to today’s hurried times. Perfect craftsmanship, Wiseman lays action scene upon action scene on the viewer and the shots of his wife (Kate Beckinsale) are filmed with such care that it’s a pleasure to watch. Also, she’s a thoroughbred terminator, but with a smile to fall in love with your dying breath. Poor old Colin Farrell doesn’t have much acting to do, but he tries hard. Bryan Cranston is fine too. The visual side of the movie is superb. A combination of Blade Runner and Minority Report, with a pinch of Star Wars. It’s over the top and gets away with it. It’s fantasy, after all, isn’t it? ;) If I’m not me, then who the hell am I? (08/16/2012)

A terribly simplistic and almost painfully naive dystopian sci-fi flick, but when you stop asking questions like “how” and “why”, it sort of works. Visually and technically, it’s very good, but the script is so stupid. With other films, I wouldn’t get over it, but here yes, if only because of the dynamic and original action scenes. Wiseman might not be genius, but if he ever gets a good script, I wouldn’t ignore him. (12/14/2012)