Rent Total Recall (1990)

30 years old but still worth a watch. - Total Recall review by CP Customer

Like all science fiction it makes some assumptions and then explores what these would mean. The assumption here is that memories and identities can be implanted in a human. Some people may think this is just round the corner, they probably thought so too when the film was first made. The fact that it is still a long way off, if it ever is possible, means this film still works as science fiction. Add to that the fact that they have colonised Mars and we haven't managed the moon yet, and it looks as though it has plenty of life.

Of course it has Arnie in the lead role so if you're not an Arnie fan it may not be for you. There is plenty of action and some twists so it is entertaining enough. After the film you can ponder the questions the film asks. What makes personal identity? Does an implant change a person or just the way he behaves. It comes from an original P.K. Dick story, not as good as Blade Runner but entertaining enough. One interesting point was that their autonomous taxis had dummy taxi drivers, whereas we seem to be able to manage driverless vehicles without a panic attack.

Oldie but goodie - Total Recall review by RD

As the other review said, this film is 30 years old, but if you're a science fiction fan (or an Arnie fan), it's an enjoyable romp.

This has to take the title for the best cheesy Arnie one-liners ever :D

The next time I click 'Contact Us' on a website and get a bot saying 'I'm sorry, I did not understand your query', I will be asking it if it is Johnny-Cab.

I'm not sure the 4K version adds anything tho

It's Bonkers But Very Interesting Vision Of The Future - Total Recall review by GI

This is the second of three science fiction films that Dutch director Paul Verhoeven made in Hollywood starting with Robocop (1987) and culminating with Starship Troopers (1997). Taken together some style and thematic similarities leap out. The most obvious is their over-the-top violence, almost cartoonish in presentation which adds to the subtle humour that Verhoeven injects into these films. Another is the sheer weirdness of his vision for mankind's future, where some humans have increased psychic abilities and in Total Recall the appearance of extreme mutations. Loosely adapted from a Philip K. Dick novel this is set in the late 21st Century and follows humble construction worker Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who is married to the beautiful Lori (Sharon Stone) but is plagued by repeated dreams involving Mars, now colonised, and a brunette woman. On a whim he decides to buy a memory implant that will recreate an adventure in his mind as if it really happened and he chooses an adventure as a secret agent on Mars. But it all goes wrong when it appears he has a hidden past that the implant reignites in his memory and soon he finds he's being hunted by assassins. This is a full on action film, very bloody shoot outs litter the film and the story has some neat effects (for it's time they were v advanced) and it twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing. It's been much debated as to what is actually going on as the story is based around memory and dreams but there are plenty of clues for the attentive viewer, not least the visit by Dr Edgemar (Roy Brocksmith) who basically reveals the final third of the film and Quaid's visit to ReKall for the implant has some big reveals too. Although the film is essentially studio bound it's still an enthralling vision of Mars and the future and it has a strong cast that includes Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside. It's certainly weird at times bordering on the perverse but that's what you expect from Verhoeven. It remains hugely entertaining so well worth a revisit and definitely one to see if you've never done so.