When the original Total Recall debuted in June of 1990, it
was generally well-received by critics and made a sizable profit. Directed by
Paul Verhoeven, with a script originally penned by Dan O'Bannon, Total Recall
was a big budget sci-fi film with a satirical edge. Total Recall was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
return to science fiction after dabbling in comedy with Red Heat and Twins and
it demonstrated that he could still carry a big science fiction action-drama.
Being a fan of Schwarzenegger’s (and in the 80’s and 90's who wasn’t?) I enjoyed Total
Recall for what it was, but felt that as a science fiction film it fell short of
its premise’s potential. The ending of the film always bothered me in its
unrealistic portrayal of a body exposed to a near-vacuum and the speed at which Mars’ atmosphere is replenished.
Twenty-two years later, a “remake” of Total Recall is being
released. This film is scripted by Kurt Wimmer , Mark Bomback and James
Vanderbilt did a "polish" on the script. This version is directed by Len Wiseman, who
is best known for writing and directing Underworld (2003) and Underworld:
Evolution (2006), as well as directing Live Free or Die Hard (2007). Colin Farrell stars
as Douglas Quaid; with Jessica Biel playing Melina a Resistance member and Kate
Beckinsale playing Lori, Quaid's "wife". With a reported budget of
$200 million, this film looks like a big-budget sci-fi film, but I’m also
hoping that it has a bit more science fictional ideas in it as well. Being a
fan of Wiseman’s previous films, I have no doubt I’ll enjoy the look and style
of this new Total Recall. I’m not a huge fan of Colin Farrell’s total body of
work, but I did enjoy his turn as the vampire in the recent remake of Fright
Night (2011), so hopefully some of the energy that he brought to that role will
translate well to his portrayal of the put-upon factory worker Douglas Quaid. The
bigger of the two female roles falls to Jessica Biel, who’s work I’ve admired
in such diverse films as Blade: Trinity (2004), The Illusionist (2006) and Next
(2007). Also, any film with Kate Beckinsale in it is always worth watching!
If the film is as good as this trailer looks, than I’m more
than ready for this remake! Total Recall opens August 3, 2012.
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