Total Recall: Review By Bawnian©-Dexeus

Total Recall is a 1990 sci-fi action movie.

Directed by: Paul Verhoven.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside.

Yep. This is my first review where Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the cast. I saw this movie when I was very young. Amazing how this movie was ok for me to stumble upon whereas Thomas Crown Affair, Basic Instinct and Blade were off limits. The logic of my life is as much understandable as kids today with their "swag". Though Arnie never showed Oscar worthy performances, we never really saw his movies for it anyways. He is the man. While Bruce Willis and Stallone are still kicking it, and with Arnie making a comeback, he will always be the last great Action Hero.

We follow Douglas Quaid, your average construction worker in a dystopian future, where technology has gone far enough that living in Mars is now a possibility. In fact, technology is so advanced, there is this popular and expensive center called Recall, where they implant in your brain a memory type vacation to whatever and with whomever wherever for your credits. Now, from a vantage point, why would you want to escape when you have the physique of a God and Sharon Stone for a wife back in her prime? When all said and done, a secret identity is unlocked and the excrement hits the oxygen fan.

Whatever happened to those R-rated action films that were considered an art form and not just a cheap execution of fancy fight scenes? They are entertaining, but not on the level of the late era with Arnie, Willis and Stallone. I haven't enjoyed listening to those crisp gunshots that left unbelievably unrealistic blood wounds into people. Remember those bags of fake blood? Classic really. Now it's all toned down and more gory than usual. I'm not complaining, but the standards were set back in the day. I'm 21 and I'm using terms like "back in the day" (IKR?)

The sinister matter behind Douglas Quaid is that his true identity is Hauser working for a big corporation that supplies minerals from Mars to earth making him wealthy beyond power, thus being the same minerals that stands between an alien machine built to release oxygen into the atmosphere and unite the people of Earth. Quaid was created to infiltrate the resistance on Mars who want to release the oxygen. Quid was the perfect sleeper. While I don't like writing curse words on my reviews, I will say this, it is one of the top mindf*ck movies out there. After discovering the events and his purpose, Quaid prefers to remain as Quaid and destroy Hauser for good. There is a sense of humanity and you actually feel for the character How would you feel if everything you knew was a lie; a dream, and you realize that your true self is nothing but the devil?

Total Recall has a team of fabulous veteran actos. Sharon Stone plays the cutthroat bitch Lori with looks that kill slowly and painfully. Even when she puts the puppy love face, you can't help but say "Screw it, I'm gonna die anyways". Ronny Cox plays the corporate tycoon as Vilos Cohaagen. It was sort of funny watching him be the bastard villain. It felt like watching him migrate from Robocop and relocated in Mars. FOr the second time, he gets the boot. But this is what happens when you play the villain so well. Another favorite is Michael Ironside as Richter. Whens the last time he made a good movie or appeared as a memorable actor? I still remember him from Free Willy and he was as much of a bastard back then as he was here. His last movie appearance was like a cameo and that was in Terminator Salvation. The man may not be relevant anymore, but he could seriously get better roles. He should audition for Expendables 3.

The action remains vintage, the sets are not quite advanced, but back in the 90's all of you expected we'd be flying by the year 2000. The close to that is having your car parallel park. The bloody shooting scenes are still a favorite and let's face it, no one did it better than back in the good old days. Alas, when will we ever go back to Mars? Did I forget to mention the midget prostitute that looked like an Olsen twin?

Overall, Total Recall is one of Arnie's best. Good ratings and strong box office numbers for its 22 year age. The critics have already annihilated the reboot, so here's hoping it's decent. But we all know nothing beats the original.

Written by: Bawnian©-Dexeus.