something goes wrong. He learns that his Quaid identity was a memory implant and he really _is_ a secret agent. Now that he has his real memory back, he's on the run and he escapes to Mars. But why is everyone after him? Total Recall, based on "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale", a short story from 1974 by Philip K. Dick and novelized in conjunction with the film production by Piers Anthony , had a laborious history getting to the silver screen. Tens of drafts were written. Production companies were attached then went out of business. Many directors and stars were attached who either changed their minds or who were dropped. Luckily, Arnold Schwarzenegger talked Carolco into picking up the project for him, with Paul Verhoeven--who'd already proved his mettle on the similarly toned RoboCop 1987 --on board as director, because this is an excellent film.While Total Recall certainly has influences, including "The Martian Chronicles" 1980 , Dune 1984 and the first major film based on a Philip K. Dick work, Blade Runner 1982 , it's more notable for the films that it has influenced in subsequent years, including The Fifth Element 1997 and many of the "rubber reality" films such as Abre los ojos 1997 /Vanilla Sky 2001 and The Thirteenth Floor 1999 . It's also yet another film on the very long list that have had various elements "adapted" into part of The Matrix 1999 --most explicitly here, the "bug" that Quaid has to remove from his body with a high-tech machine and the possibility of "waking up" from a particular reality by taking "the red pill".Although it's easy to interpret Total Recall in a very straightforward manner, so that the bulk of what we're seeing at any particular moment and the bulk of the dialogue are the literal reality, very convincing arguments can be made that the majority of the film is a depiction of Quaid's memory implant while in the "patient's chair" at Rekall. And those certainly aren't the only two interpretations possible.What matters more than thinking one has a "right answer", though, is the deeply captivating story that provokes our interpretations and the amount of fun we have getting there. Verhoeven and the scriptwriting team, which included Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, the writing team behind the Alien films beginning with Alien, 1979 , never let us go very long without another plot twist, most of which force a reinterpretation of the material that went before. The twists occur about once per every ten minutes, if not more frequently.The film is notable for its special effects by Rob Bottin, which were far ahead of their time, and its fantastic production and art design, which manage to make us feel both that we're experiencing a vicarious trip to a "future grunge" Mars and an almost "Doctor Who" 1963 -ish absurdly artificial reality, complete with supersaturated red skies, ala Frank R. Paul's illustrated covers for the Amazing Stories fiction magazine.Some locations in Mexico were used for the film, including some subway shots on Mars, and actual commercial sign age was incorporated into the film. There's a lot of fun to be had noticing all of the cultural differences and similarities that the future era of the film will bring. Verhoeven delights in subtle glimpses of various symbols and accoutrement's. His view of the future is one full of corruption, commercialism and decadence. He doesn't have much confidence in a "bright new world" as humans spread out to new territory.Verhoeven is basically extending the way things are now to the future; it's as if he sees our state as indicative of human nature, so that as long as we're humans, people are going to be taking advantage of one another, trying to control one another, engaging in behavior that's a conflict between desires and societal mores, but also helping out each other when the going gets tough. In these respects, Total Recall has culture-satirical similarities to later films such as Starship Troopers 1997 , which isn't surprising given that Verhoeven directed both films. It's notable that Total Recall's future is not quite as bleak as Starship Trooper's.But the film is hardly less violent. Verhoeven's initial cut was given an X by the MPAA for violence. A number of scenes had to have small edits, most of which have thankfully been restored on at least one special edition DVD. The violence here is a lot more small scale and personal than Starship Troopers. In terms of the visceral, Total Recall often rides a gray area somewhere between action and horror. While the action isn't as explosive as many Schwarzenegger films, the suspense never resolves until the end. This is an amazing thrill ride of a film.

becomes aggressive, and the process is interrupted. While returning home, the life of Douglas turns upside down, and he travels to the red planet trying to disclose who he is.Today I have watched "Total Recall" at least for the tenth time, now on DVD. Again, I found it an excellent sci-fi film with non-stop action. The story has many twists, and the screenplay has no flaws, being very attractive. This was the first movie that the beauty of the unknown Sharon Stone in 1990 called my attention. Arnold Schwarzenegger is great performing a dubious hero, and Michael Ironside is the perfect villain. My vote is ten.Title Brazil : "O Vingador do Futuro" "The Avenger of the Future"

wish we could have Johnny Cabs. Instead we have Jumbalia Cabs where the cab driver smells like curry and his prices are higher than Christopher Lloyd's character from "Taxi". Sorry Bob!

memory implant, of course! Using the latest technology, memories can be implanted in your brain in a matter of moments. You choose the destination, identity spy, civilian, etc. and Total Rekall yes, Total Rekall will install it for you.Warned by his friends not to get the implant, Quaid does so anyway. But something goes terribly wrong. Soon, his wife, friends and co-workers are all trying to kill him.but why? The answer may kill him.Arnold Schwarzenegger is perfect for the role of Quaid. People can argue all they want about how bad an actor he is, but you can't say that after seeing this movie. He pulls the film's acting and stunts off with ease, all the while spitting out his catchy one-liners 'Consider this a divorce!' .Sharon Stone is probably at her best here, seeing that her career went mainly down-the-drain from here on okay, she won - or was nominated - for an Oscar for 'Casino.' This movie made her .Paul Verhoven directs this film, and there are no arguments that this is his finest work - by far. He was the director who went on to make such 'critically acclaimed' *guffaw* films such as 'Showgirls' and 'Hollow Man.' His only other film that was remotely good was 'Basic Instinct,' but this is still ten times better Sharon Stone would not have starred in that film if not for 'Total Recall' - Verhoven said so himself. .The special effects in this movie are excellent; supposedly, they spent millions and millions on the fake Mars sets, and I bet they're glad it paid off.I recently bought the 'Total Recall' Limited Edition DVD with a newly remastered digital makeover, Dolby Digital 5.1, behind-the-scenes documentary s , a commentary by Verhoven and Schwarzenegger, and much, much more. If you can find one now it was limited edition so it might be off the market, now I would recommend picking a copy up. It was fourteen dollars, and it definitely packed a punch for that much no, I'm not a salesman! 'Total Recall' stands as Arnold's most 'thought-provoking' film and best conspiracy-type thriller. In fact, it is one of the best sci-fi/futuristic thrillers ever.Many people do not realize that 'Minority Report' with Tom Cruise is actually a sequel to this film, and Verhoven and Schwarzenegger had talked about making it for a long time, but now, it looks like the deal is off. There is still a sequel in talks, however, not based on a story by Dick. Supposedly, the company Miramax, was it? wants Arnold, Stone and Verhoven back. Oh well. I, for one, am looking forward to it though I don't understand how Stone is coming back.prequel? Anyway, I'm getting off the subject. 'Total Recall' is a good movie, and a darn good one at that. It provides everything we want - and more - in a movie.4.5/5 stars - maybe I'm overrating it. However, I feel it deserves that many stars.

love every minute of this movie. Amazing.

trip to the planet, but then he ignores warnings from co-workers and visits Rekall. The company uses memory implants to send people on a vacation to wherever they want, and in Doug's case he also chooses the option to go under a different identity, he chooses to be a secret agent, and he also selects the option of the beautiful woman he will meet on the trip, it happens to be the woman from the dream. Before any implant can be made he reacts violently, but he is sedated and they erase his memory of visiting the company, and the next things he finds his co-workers are attacking him, he kills them, and then Lori turns on him as well. She explains that their marriage and Doug's entire life as a construction worker is fake, and he is now running to escape being caught or killed by thugs led by Richter Michael Ironside , and contacted by an unknown man on the picture phone he finds out he is being tracked. After the unknown man leaves Quaid a suitcase full of gadgets, fake IDs and cash he also finds a video of the man he apparently used to be, Hauser, who through a recorded message tells him he used to work for ruthless governor of Mars, Vilos Cohaagen Ronny Cox , he tells him how to remove the bug in his head, and that he has to go to Mars. On the red planet Quaid again escapes the thugs, and he follows the clues to a hotel and then to Venusville, the red light district populated by mutated people affected by the radiation poorly shielded, there is the Last Resort strip club, Mary the three-breasted prostitute Lycia Naff , Thumbelina the dwarf prostitute Debbie Lee Carrington and of course Melina Rachel Ticotin . She is Hauser's former lover, even as a rebel she refuses to help him thinking he still works for Cohaagen, and returning to his hotel room Quaid meets Dr. Edgemar Roy Brocksmith , President of Rekall, who tries to convince him that he is currently living the fantasy he created with the memory implant, and Lori is there also trying to persuade him to take a pill to end the dream. Melina comes to the rescue after Quaid kills Edgemar, and in a fight he also kill Lori, who was Richter's lover, and they escape getting a ride from taxi driver Benny Mel Johnson Jr. , and while they go through the tunnels behind the bar Cohaagen shuts down the ventilation in Venusville to suffocate the people. Quaid is led to the resistance, and on the chest of George Twins' Marshall Bell appears their leader, mutant Kuato, who reads his mind and determines that the artifact he has hidden within his mind is that there is a reactor that when activated can create a breathable atmosphere for Mars. Kuato is killed and Quaid and Melina are taken, but they manage to escape, they have a confrontation with Benny who is killed in the fight, and they manage to locate the mines where the reactor is, using a hologram device to fool the bad men, and Quaid and Richter have a final fight before the villain is killed, and Cohaagen appears to stop him, claiming that the alien device will kill everyone. In the end, after creating a vacuum, Cohaagen is sucked out and dies from choking and decompression, the reactor is activated, and just in time to stop Quaid and Melina dying from the same way in the vacuum of space, Mars becomes a habitable planet with blue skies, Quaid takes a moment to wonder is he still dreaming, so Melina tells him to kiss her before he wakes up. Also starring Ray Baker as Bob McClane, Dean Norris as Tony, Robert 'Bobby' Costanzo as Harry, Priscilla Allen as Fat Lady and Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Picardo as Voice of Johnnycab. Schwarzenegger gives a great performance as the ordinary apart from the muscles man turned action hero trying to find out his true identity, Cox is good as the mad power crazed villain, Ironside is terrific as the henchman obsessed with killing the hero, and Stone who was climbing the Hollywood ladder is a fantastic find, and of course the following year went onto Basic Instinct. I admit that I used to find this find this film a little confusing with the story involving reality, identity and the subconscious, but eventually I got the hang of it and could enjoy all of, the characters are all great, it has entertaining chases, fights and action, the violence is part of the fun, it is just a perfect science- fiction thriller. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound and a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects , and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects. Arnold Schwarzenegger was number 54 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, and he was number 20 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons. Very good!

people would educate themselves to the work of directors before they criticize . Paul Verhoeven had previously made FLESH AND BLOOD and ROBOCOP so a futuristic adventure by Verhoeven that was awarded an 18 certificate isn't going to be confused with an episode of the teletubbiesWhat I liked from Verhoeven's directing is that he's made everything so recognizable , nothing is ridiculously futuristic looking and we see the characters wearing clothes that wouldn't look out of place in the 1980s . Verhoeven also brings little satirical stabs to the proceedings as he did with ROBOCOP and it's a great shame we see less and less of this European director working for Hollywood Verhoeven even gets a good performance from Big Arnie , okay this body builder was never in danger of winning an Oscar but Arnie doesn't send himself up and nor do his wise cracks like in his other blockbusters but he does make for an affable - Though violent - hero . Michael Ironside gives the most memorable performance which considering he spends most of the movie running around with a gun is no small achievement . One interesting thing I noticed about TOTAL RECALL after seeing it again last night is that it's unapologetic on being on the side of the rebels who are waging a war against the greedy Mars company . Anyone believe that if it was made today the rebels/terrorists would be the bad guys ? Anyway this is along with the original TERMINATOR the best movie starring Arnie though most of the credit for this movie belongs to the screenwriters and director and it's a great pity Hollywood is reluctant to mix a high concept SF plot with a crowd pleasing action adventure

Schwarzenegger than it being a full-on thought-provoking work of science fiction on film. But this does rank up high with the other works of the star, as he is in a complex situation in the film- his mind is scrambled, at first, and everything he thought was right as dickens is not. So he's told by 'himself' on a screen he happened to save for himself that he has to get to mars to find out the truth.There is plenty of good action sequences, but it is more about Verhoven's knack at getting this popularized view of Mars just a little subverted, a little stranger. Some of my favorite scenes involved Scwarzenegger's mishaps and turns of fate as the story and his character took turns. For example, in the scene when Arnold's character wants to get his memory wiped off to Mars and then he flips out in the chair, this is a very entertaining scene in being very ridiculous try to listen to what he says, or don't as its near unintelligible as well as following a darker trek in the story. In fact, much of the film works on the strengths of both director and star by having it not too over the top to have some belief in what is going on, but that expectations aren't limited to what might happen as Arnold's character in on Mars uncovering the conspiracy around his messed-up memory.Featuring a sultry Sharon Stone in a great supporting role another memorable scene comes with her demise, as usual quotable to the bone , as well as a memorable climax involving the arid Mars air and a certain outrageous reaction to it, I recommend Total Recall for genre fans and even those who might be wary of it being a 'Hollywood' take on Dick. It's not great, and per usual PKD fans might scoff at the faithfulness to the source, but it's better than some of the lesser adaptations of the author. Just go in for a good time and it stands up over time err, 16 years .

who brought Verhoeven into the picture. The idea for the film had been kicking around for years, a number of director's came and went, David Cronenberg famously worked on a screenplay for a year only to have it jettisoned for being too close to the P. K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale". The makers wanted a high energy sci-fi blockbuster, a star vehicle for Schwarzenegger, and Verhoeven was only too happy to oblige.Total Recall is a fascinating concept as we find ourselves wondering what in fact is reality? Quaid himself is never quite sure as the film takes a delicious twist at the midpoint to further compound the confusion, but in true Verhoeven style, it all comes crashing together in a giant ball of bangs, crashes and explosions. It should be noted that the film is far removed from the cerebral essence of Dick's story, and really when one saw that Schwarzenegger was to star in a Verhoeven directed adaptation, one really should be prepared for the high octane brain dumb down that Total Recall is. Something which was beyond some highbrow critics who are still baffled by the gargantuan financial success of the film it made over $260 million worldwide .Fleshing out the cast are a stoic reliable bunch. Rachael Ticotin, Ronny Cox, Sharon Stone & Michael Ironside deliver the expected tongue in cheek professionalism. While the effects prove to be a mixture of the poor and the decent - though it's nice to see the often lost art of model work being of a pretty high standard. All of which leaves me personally with a film that I find to be a hugely enjoyable piece of uber violent popcorn fodder. 8/10