Total Recall

The visually arresting first half will tickle the heart of any sci-fi fan. And it doesn't matter that the Asian architecture, the perpetual rain and parakeets are a rip-off of Blade Runner, and the chases with hoverboards are a rip-off of Minority Report. But then, as the minutes tick by, the film makes it clear that the script was written by the infamous Kurt Wimmer, a man with no talent and no creative intelligence, so the mounting annoying clichés and situations like those from the most subpar B-movies quickly cool down the initial enthusiasm. Where the old Total Recall clearly wiped its ass with clichéd Hollywood and was engaging in its ambiguous answer to what is truth and what is a dream, Wiseman's film is dull and woefully predictable. It's like Kate Beckinsale's "terminator" character: visually appealing and energetic, but bluntly direct. (18.08.2012)

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. (14.12.2012)

I had forgotten Wimmer's name in the screenwriter column and went into it with no greater ambitions, but also without any fear. So as long as Wiseman reminisces about his childhood spent at arcades, it goes pretty well, although Colin doesn't really enjoy it and Jessica definitely doesn't. The entire film is carried by Paul Cameron's circling camera and Kate Beckinsale enjoying her unacknowledged role as the Terminator. However, it gets worse with each new dialogue that you just can't get out, even if you had half a kilo of coke shoved into your head in Recall, so I found myself smiling at times, even though the creators didn't intend for that to be the case. For a hundred and twenty-five million, it’s a pretty decent ride, but it should have taken at least half an hour less. (31.03.2013)

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… (03.08.2013)

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. (12.09.2012)

Hallo Kumpel, wohin gehst du so spät am Abend? Und wie sieht's aus? - Ach, ich komme gerade aus dem Kino. - Ach so, und was hast du gesehen? Etwas Tschechisches? - Nein, überhaupt nicht, den neuen Total Rektal. - Warte mal, dieser Sci-Fi-Film mit Šváňa? Der ist doch genauso alt wie ich! - Nein, das ist eine neue Version, weißt du? - Ach so, und ist er gut? - überhaupt nicht. Das Visuelle ist zwar schön und die beiden Damen auch, aber als dort ständig etwas explodierte und geschossen wurde, fand ich es ziemlich nervig. - Also ist es einfach peinlich, oder? - Hmmm... - Hör mal, hast du Lust auf ein Bier zu gehen? Das hebt deine Stimmung! - Nein, heute nicht mehr, ich gehe nach Hause, esse etwas Speck und schaue mir etwas Porno an, das hebt meine Stimmung auch. - Hehe, das stimmt! Also gut Freund, mach's gut und ich komme am Wochenende bei dir vorbei, okay? - Gut, wir schauen uns den neuen Kinorip von Prometheus an. Das könnte wirklich super sein. - Okay, dann tschüss. (16.08.2012)

Len Wiseman seemingly had all the trump cards in his hands - a well-known and successful book, stars with a wide acting range, a big budget, and new film technology. Despite all of this, he not only failed to surpass Verhoeven's version but didn't even come close to it. And to be honest, I was never even particularly intrigued by the old version; Verhoeven turned an interesting story about hidden identity and complex conspiracy into a pop spectacle that avoids any deeper thoughts. However, it must be admitted that the Dutch director was successful in what he tried to do. Apart from The Terminator, it is the only film where Arnold's acting is somewhat worth mentioning as Verhoeven managed to extract the best from the physical specimen. His trashy aesthetics were interesting, and he consistently came up with catchy scenes and elements and it was never boring. Wiseman attempted to make an action blockbuster but blatantly parasites his predecessor, clinging too much to proven genre formulas, and in a flood of unrealistic action and bombastic spectacle, he fails to surprise or impress. He can't even properly sell his characters. In the end, another typical film came out of his workshop with grand ambitions that it couldn't fulfill. Overall impression: 25%. (21.04.2018)

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? (16.08.2012)

I was expecting a much bigger disaster. In many aspects, I liked the new Total Recall more than the original. I'm not counting the “inflation difference” of the years, meaning that now, you can get much more sophisticated visual effects than before with high budgets. Overall, the film is surprisingly watchable. In terms of action scenes, Len Wiseman is getting better, more inventive, and more gripping with every film. There are moments in Total Recall where I couldn't even breathe, and that hasn't happened to me in a long time. Kate Beckinsale is excellent as a terminator, Colin Farrell is good, and the production design is fantastic. Some say it’s a rip-off of Minority Report and Blade Runner, but there aren't many other options for depicting the future realistically, or at least somewhat believable. Occasional inspiration, in my opinion, doesn't hurt, and if the audience picked on every little thing like this, soon every movie would be a disaster just because it starts, as I've seen the beginning of a movie many times, etc. With proper sound and good visuals, this film is worth seeing multiple times – even the slightly flawed screenplay encourages it. Just never have a steel tunnel through the Earth's core again, please. (19.08.2012)

Ich habe eine neue Version von Dicks Erzählung erwartet und eine unerträglich langweilige Coverversion eines tollen Films bekommen. Wenn ich jetzt die gelungenen visuellen Effekte und die Idee mit der "guten alten“ Aussiedelung der unbequemen britischen Einwohner nach Australien beiseitelasse, fand ich den neuen Total Recall gar nicht interessant. Der Film hat eine blöde Geschichte voller unlogischer Dinge und Klischees. Es fällt ihr nichts Besseres ein, als das Original zu zitieren. Mit Verhoevens blutiger Science-Fiction-Anekdote kann sich dieser Film auf gar keinen Fall messen. Colin Farrel ist peinlich, Bill Nighy ist nicht richtig zur Geltung gekommen und die weiblichen Figuren sind überflüssig. Genauso wie der ganze Film. Er hat nur in einer Hinsicht gut funktioniert – im Laufe des Films habe ich Lust bekommen, mir all die viel besseren Filme, aus denen er etwas geklaut hat, noch einmal anzuschauen. (30.12.2012)

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. (27.01.2013)

Der Film ist recht actiongeladen, es gibt ein paar Pros und ein paar Contras, aber insgesamt war das Ganze nicht so recht was für mich. An den ersten Film kann ich mich um nichts in der Welt erinnern, ich kann mich wohl nicht an eine Szene erinnern, also werde ich auch nicht vergleichen. Ich stimme den Kommentaren zu, die die Leistung von Kate Beckinsale hervorheben. Sie war von allen Beteiligten absolut die Beste, die Zusammenarbeit mit ihrem Mann bekommt ihr einfach. (11.09.2012)

I was tempted to watch the new take on Total Recall mainly because of Colin Farrell, who is very pleasing to look at here, but unfortunately his acting potential remains sorely untapped. But that is not the only complaint I have with the filmmakers. Somewhere lost in the flurry of action scenes and visual effects was the central idea of Dick's short story. "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale". All things considered, this movie’s a waste of money. Because the original picture from 1990 is definitely better. (50%) (19.02.2023)