I'd buy that for 300 credits! (Total Recall (DVD))

Member Name: TJ-Mackey

Product:	Total Recall (DVD)
Date:	06/11/01 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great idea, a neat screenplay, and a thought-provoking story

Disadvantages: A few plot holes and maybe too much violence if that bothers you

In the film 'Dark City', memory is something that can be switched around, or exchanged, just like an everyday commodity. However, when something as defining as our own memories are changed, how would it effect our day-to-day routine; our life; even our existence? In 'Memento', the protagonist observes how unreliable memory can be, and how his actions still have meaning, even if he can't remember them. The question of whether they have meaning for him, though, is not so clear.

As well as the two already mentioned, there have been several other movies in the last few years that are concerned with the notion of memory and perception, and the extreme importance they hold for us. As a precursor to these films though, Total Recall perhaps gets forgotten because of its action-movie orientation; but appearances, like memory, can often be deceptive.

Based on a short story ('We Can Remember It For You Wholesale') by acclaimed science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick, Total Recall examines how alterations to our memory can change our actions and personalities in the most unpredictable of ways.

In the future, construction worker Douglas Quaid dreams every night of visiting Mars. Of course, he could never afford to go there, but his dreams begin to plague him to the extent that the next viable alternative seems more and more attractive. Rather than actually visit the planet, he could instead buy the memory of a vacation to Mars, through a company called Rekall Incorporated. Against the advice of his wife, Quaid takes a trip to Rekall, but as so often happens in these movies, something goes wrong.

Choosing a 'secret agent' fantasy as part of his memory implant, the process forces another, hidden personality to surface, and it soon transpires that Quaid really is a secret agent, and he really has visited Mars in the past. Or has he? When he is pursued by assassins, travels to Mars and becomes involved with an un
derground resistance movement, you have to ask if everything we see is really happening, or whether it's all part of Quaid's implanted memory. Disappointingly, this entire subtext was seemingly ignored by most of the cinema-going public, just as much of the satire in Verhoeven's 'Robocop' was similarly overlooked.

But then, Verhoeven isn't exactly renowned for his subtlety. Just like his aforementioned previous movie, there's plenty of gratuitous violence in Total Recall... perhaps too much. When released, it had the highest body count of any other movie, and this virtual disregard for human life is perhaps where Verhoeven gains most of his critics. Here though, the quite brilliant premise and interesting story save him. The opening 45 minutes are exhilarating, as the confused and desperate Quaid, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, struggles to come to terms with who he is, and what to believe. After all, if you can't trust your own memories, what can you trust?

Schwarzenegger isn't generally known for his acting ability, and more often than not is only chosen for a film because of his physical presence. Here, he at least goes some way towards dispelling that image, although to be fair, with this being a Paul Verhoeven movie, he's quite well suited to the role. Other performances of note come from Michael Ironside as Richter, who is constantly on Quaid's tail, and Sharon Stone as Quaid's wife – caring and affectionate one minute, kicking ass the next. Ronny Cox also makes an appearance as Cohaagen, the corrupt governor of Mars - a similar character to the one he played so effectively in 'Robocop'.

The usual Verhoeven elements are all present, especially the glossy, corporate set designs that are present in the first half of the film, along with the kind of television advertisements seen in 'Robocop' and 'Starship Troopers' – Rekall's marketing certainly m
akes the experience sound appealing! Once Quaid arrives on Mars though, a completely different vision of the future is seen, with seedy bars and highly dubious characters around every corner.

On the whole, the direction is very good, especially for the action sequences, and the use of special effects was (at the time) extremely impressive. As Verhoeven points out on the audio commentary, Total Recall was one of the last films to be made before digital effects became commonplace, so the majority of the effects are achieved with the use of models. Imagine making 'Hollow Man' in this way...

All in all, this film is highly enjoyable. Verhoeven keeps up a fast pace throughout, and while the screenplay is undoubtedly intelligent, there are also the usual action-movie ingredients to keep Arnie fans happy. He even uses the type of corny one-liners that he delivered so well in 'Predator' and 'Commando', and although it's all very contrived, it's also a lot of fun too.

Wait a moment though, what if all this is just a dream? You'd better rate and leave a comment quick, before you wake up...

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