Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Total Recall Blu-ray Movie Review

For the memory of a lifetime...1990 or 2012?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 13, 2012

An illusion, no matter how convincing, is just an illusion.

Fret, or fret not, 2012's take on the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger Sci-Fi favorite Total Recall does indeed show a three-breasted woman in all of her bare-chested glory. And that's a big part of the film's problem. Whereas in the original film it was contextually understood that the girl was a mutant -- the plot revolved around disfigured humans-turned-Martians fighting for their basic freedoms from power-hungry suits -- her presence makes no sense in the slicked-up 2012 edition. She appears just for the sake of tying back to the original, and apparently things like context and themes were lost on the filmmakers of this one, filmmakers who felt it was more important to recycle more than just the general idea of a "secret agent" who doesn't know he's a secret agent until he tries to have a "secret agent" identity falsely implanted in his mind which in turn revives his skills as said secret agent. Or something. The story's always been beautifully complex, and it's not really dumbed down in Director Len Wiseman's (Underworld) take. Nevertheless, the movie on the whole does feel rather superfluous, though still quite a bit of fun. It tries to tell the same story in a different way without really letting go of some of the pieces that made the original work in its own way and on its own terms. 2012's Total Recall relies more on smooth action and less on characterization and mind-bending plot complexities. There's nothing wrong with that, but be advised that this Total Recall will play much better by forgetting the old Total Recall, advice the filmmakers would have been smart to take to heart. Had they ditched the three-breasted girl, not to mention a whole lot of the other recycled dialogue and elements that serve only to remind viewers of the superiority of the original, chances are audiences new to the world of Phillip K. Dick's story and longtime fans of the original film both could have more easily enjoyed Wiseman's vision had they not been constantly bombarded by remnants of a superior experience.

I feel like...I've seen this movie before...sort of.

It's the end of the 21st century. Chemical warfare has decimated the globe and the Earth's most precious commodity is suddenly livable space. Only two territories capable of sustaining life remain: The United Federation of Britain (what is today Western Europe) and The Colony (present-day Australia). Colony workers travel to the UFB via "The Fall," a high-speed inner-planetary transit system. There, they assemble synthetic police robots that assist human law enforcement in the implementation of a high-tech police state. One worker from The Colony is Douglas Quaid (Collin Ferrell, Phone Booth), an everyman married to a sexy emergency worker named Lori (Kate Beckinsale, Whiteout). He awakens every morning with the same recurring dream fresh in his mind, one that sees him paired with a mystery woman, fighting desperately to escape those who would do them harm. Quaid chooses to spice up his rather dull life by visiting Rekall, a little high-tech parlor in which memories are chemically implanted into the subject. The catch: the artificial memory cannot replicate a real memory, or there will most certainly be hell to pay. When Quaid is injected with the formula for a "super agent" memory, it's revealed that he is, in fact, a super agent. He singlehandedly kills twenty well-armed law enforcement officers who come to capture him. He goes on the run, only to learn that his life is a lie and that even his wife isn't who he believes her to be. Now, he finds himself with no one to trust save for a Colony rebel named Melina (Jessica Biel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), daughter of resistance leader Matthias (Bill Nighy, Love Actually). Suddenly, Quaid is a central figure in a bloody revolt for freedom against the UFB and its leader, Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad), with both sides trying to gain his allegiance through stories of a past he cannot fully recall.

Total Recall undoubtedly delivers some of the finest in slick Action movie goods, and it's one of the most purely entertaining Sci-Fi dystopian-inspired flicks in some time. Put aside memories of the original and it's easy to see the appeal of this implant. Len Wiseman's film generally works very well in most every regard: action, acting, production design, story, and pacing. It's a prototypical modern-day Hollywood production through and through, dazzling with the latest in seamless cutting-edge visual effects, faultlessly staged action, and pretty faces adorning the main characters. But is all the good stuff on the surface? Total Recall isn't just skin-deep, but neither is it waist-deep in the complex, thought-provoking twists and turns that made the other film so special in its ability to blend hardcore action, humor, a well-defined idea, and an alien world with mind-blowing plot and character complexity. 2012's Total Recall does blend in some deep and interesting discussions on both the science and the philosophy of the memory implant procedure, and there's a beautiful scene midway through the movie in which Quaid must decide the veracity of the story that he's living an internal fantasy of his mind's own making and not existing in the flesh-and-blood world with real consequences, pains, sufferings, and questionable outcomes. However, deeper themes on the discarding of life experiences and tracks in favor of the artificial aren't explored beyond their place as a plot device to set in motion various shoot-em-up action scenes. Total Recall proves breathtakingly absorbing and highly frustrating both at once. It shows signs of an epic remake/re-imiagining and at the same time falls disappointingly short on the more important end of the Total Recall experience by failing to create a more thought-provoking atmosphere beyond a few scenes that only bridge the gap between action extravaganzas which, while very well-made, ultimately feel a bit hollow and play without much in the way of true action novelty.

All that said, and for as entertaining as the film can be, it's rather off-putting to watch a Total Recall film and hear only a cursory mention of Mars. The Red Planet plays virtually no role in this film, giving way to warring territories that are generically at odds in a large-scale master-slave relationship in which, interestingly, the people from "The Colony" manufacture the police state synthetics which help to control their lives. It's a fascinating dynamic that's also grossly under-explored -- even in a movie that runs over two hours -- in favor of big action scenes. Perhaps the movie would have worked better were it played as a parallel story in the Total Recall universe. Change up the names -- ditch "Quaid," "Lori," "Melina," and "Cohaagen" -- and, given some of the other broad changes, it might have worked better. Again, it's a case of a good movie with a fine and exciting story to tell that's wrongly more concerned about cashing in on an established and respected name brand rather than risk making a name for itself and treading new ground, even if it's just in a universe "inspired by" or "parallel to" another. There's also quite a bit of cinema familiarity away from the core story, continuing this film's journey of identity uncertainty. Its future-set police state dystopia intermixes high technology amidst slum-like structures that produces the look of Blade Runner, a world populated by something resembling Star Wars' clone troopers. Adding to the visual complexities is Director Len Wiseman subscription to the JJ Abrams lens flare theory of filmmaking; when audiences aren't dazzled by bullets and bodies, they're subjected to a steady diet of red and blue and other colored globs forming across the screen.

Total Recall's cast does as well as can be expected in a movie that simply cannot find its own identity. Colin Farrell fits himself surprisingly well into the role. The film doesn't miss Arnold's overpowering presence -- which did help the other film quite a bit considering its more muscular, less precise approach to action -- and instead benefits from Farrell's more streamlined size that compliments the faster, more organic action quite well. Farrell also handles the more intimate and personal aspects of the part with admirable clarity, even in his character's most confused moments. Though the script doesn't offer him much of a chance to stretch his mind as much as it asks him to stretch his legs, he proves himself more than capable of finding an emotional balance within the chaos of his physical escapades. Unfortunately, neither of the film's female leads match Ferrell's excellence. Kate Beckinsale does her best to channel her inner hot-headed, ultra-determined bad girl but comes across as a little bit too singleminded and aggressive both in look and style. Jessica Biel's performance is a bit more even -- as her character demands -- but she falls into a sort of comfort zone in which she brings nothing to the character that another actress could not have provided, save for a somewhat plot-necessary dead-ringer-for-Beckinsale-look. Bokeem Woodbine might be the most impressive of the leads, playing a part that blends two of the original film's characters into one: Quaid's work buddy (Robert Costanzo in the original) and the man sent in to talk him into believing he's living a nightmare rather than reality (Roy Brocksmith in the original). Woodbine handles his double-duty quite well and turns in the film's most balanced, approachable, and mysterious performance. Bryan Cranston plays the part of a somewhat watered-down Cohaagen nicely enough. Cranston -- nearly unrecognizable here without the Breaking Bad bald head -- gives the part a suitably evil edge but, due in large part to the disappointingly scripted character, he cannot match the screen presence and intensity Ronny Cox brought to the 1990 film.

Total Recall Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Imperfect though the movie may be, Total Recall's high definition video presentation is perfect. This is a striking 1080p image, exactly what viewers would expect of a brand new, digitally crafted 2012 Action flick from a major studio. Sony's latest transfer dazzles from the very open and never ceases. Fine detail is superb. Facial textures are as complex as the medium would seem capable of allowing. The image faultlessly blends the real and the artificial so well that it's difficult to ascertain what's digital and what's not. The transfer's clarity and razor-sharpness both aid a great deal in that regard. From distant futuristic cityscape details to close-up shots of robotic law enforcement drones, the transfer's accuracy, clarity, and naturalism never fail to impress, whether on real or digital elements. Total Recall isn't a particularly vivid film, however. Its color palette is limited, largely, to various cold, dreary shades of gray. Nevertheless, it handles the dystopian landscape quite well, bringing every nuanced shade and even the slightest inconsequential color transition to life with seemingly no effort. Brighter splashes -- often in the form of neon signage -- blend perfectly into the rainy, bleak backdrop. Black levels are spot-on, and flesh tones don't give any trouble. There's no sign of noise, unwanted banding, or other imperfections. Total Recall is modern cinema and Blu-ray imagery at its best.

Total Recall Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As expected, Sony's Blu-ray release of Total Recall delivers a dynamic surround sound experience that effortlessly pulls the listener into the film's haunting, dark future world environment. The track makes easy use of the entire stage, delivering a full, aggressive, and nuanced sound presentation that's as sonically dramatic and polished as most any out there. Sound elements -- from music to heavy sound effects, gunfire to light ambience -- are worked into the track with precision engineering, getting placement, balance, volume, and clarity all exactly right. Shootouts are handled beautifully; gunfire erupts from all corners and plays heavily but with fine clarity and attention to detail the whole way through, from trigger pull to bullet impact. The general din of a bustling future city plays convincingly in every shot, creating a very much lived-in world defined by subtle sound effects and strong, positive, balanced bass when necessary. From the din of The Fall's a busy transport hub to rain-soaked exteriors, the track paints of vivid sonic picture of all of its unique environments. Music is naturally smooth and spacious, very clear throughout the entire range and perfectly balanced from speaker to speaker. Dialogue plays firmly and naturally, hovering above surrounding din during busier scenes and always focused and clear as it streams through the center channel. In short, this is a dynamic, exciting sound presentation that does everything as well as can be expected. The movie benefits a great deal from its expert soundtrack, and it has been reproduced onto Blu-ray with great care.

Total Recall Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sony's three-disc release of Total Recall contains a number of special features spread across two Blu-ray discs. Disc one contains two cuts of the film: the theatrical release (1:58:18 runtime) and the extended director's cut (2:10:16). Also included in this set is a DVD copy of the film as well as a UV Digital Copy download voucher.

Disc One:

• Audio Commentary: Director Len Wiseman shares his thoughts on the extended director's cut of Total Recall. He opens with a discussion of his pleasure with both the theatrical cut as well as Sony's cooperation with releasing an extended cut. He also speaks on the reasons for cutting films down for purposes of "clarity" and "pacing." He speaks on specific cuts and edits, layered themes throughout the film, basic production anecdotes, production budget, working with the cast, visual effects, plot specifics, challenges with realizing the story's complexities from script to screen, shooting locales, and plenty more. Wiseman does a great job of filling in the gaps and selling his vision for the film. Chances are a lot of viewers who felt similarly wishy-washy about Total Recall will find a bit more value in the film after listening to Wiseman's recount. Available with optional English and Spanish subtitles.
• Total Recall: Insight Mode (HD, 2:17:07): From the disc: "Insight mode delivers scene specific behind the scenes video throughout the movie." This supplement shows a wealth of behind-the-scenes materials both in split-screen windows that play side-by-side with the film as well as full-screen cutaways that offer more focused supplementary recounts of the film's construction. Topics include the photographic equipment used in the shoot, the score, costumes, full-screen behind-the-scenes making-of features, previsualization art sketches, set design, visual effects construction, and much more. The supplement also offers pop-up trivia text. Available for the theatrical cut only.
• Previews: Seven Psychopaths, Resident Evil: Retribution, Men in Black 3, Premium Rush, and Parker.

Disc Two (includes optional English, Portuguese, and Spanish subtitle options):

• Gag Reel (HD, 8:00).
• Science Fiction vs. Science Fact (HD, 9:28): Michio Kaku, Professor of Theoretical Physics and Author of Physics of the Future, looks to the past before exploring the possibilities of the future, including human memory, robotics, holograms, flying cars, and the science of "The Fall."
• Designing The Fall (HD, 2:55): A disappointingly brief feature that looks at the design of one of the film's signature visuals and set pieces.
• Total Action (HD): A seven-part feature that briefly examines various aspects of the film. Included are Colin Farrell (3:33), a piece featuring the actor at work on the film; The Tripping Den (3:18), a look at the making of one of the film's key action sequences; Destroying Rekall (2:24), a piece that expands on the making of the previous scene; Kate Beckinsale (3:15), a look at the actress' work in the film and the character she plays; Lobby Escape (1:22), a brief supplement examining the making of an explosive action shot; Jessica Biel (3:38), a piece highlighting the actress' work in the film; and Quaid vs. Cohaagen (3:05), a look at the making of the film's climax.
• Stepping Into Recall: Pre-Visualization Sequences (HD): A collection of various scenes in their computerized "motion storyboard" animated states. Includes Apartment Waterfront Chase (1:57), The Fall Fight (11:13), Flight and Tripping Den (4:46), Elevator Chase (4:34), and Car Chase (3:27).
• Video Game Demo: God of War: Ascension for the PlayStation 3.

Total Recall Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Total Recall, 2012's most frustrating movie, gets so much right but doesn't ever fully come together under its own power. It's a film in the midst of a terrible identity crisis, a remake largely in name only that tries to be so different from its predecessor but at the same time take advantage of every opportunity to remind viewers of the other, superior production. This Total Recall would work wonders were it slightly reworked to exist in the same universe as its predecessor rather than try to fit in that film's own pair of shoes which prove too big to fill. This 2012 film is exciting and breathtakingly put together, a real stunner of an Action movie, but there's just not a good balance between "new" and "old" and there are too many poor choices in what basic ideas and themes to carry over and what to leave behind, what specific scenes and elements to recreate and which to abandon altogether. The entire film's problems are embodied in that three-breasted woman: the movie, like her, is a beautiful curiosity that just doesn't always fit amidst its surroundings. Replace her with "story," "emotion," "thoughtfulness," or "characters" and see this Total Recall as a good-looking but rather empty take on a superior product. Still, it's well worth watching -- and enjoying -- if viewers can separate the two films and soak this one up on its own merits, which is admittedly very hard to do, at times. Sony's Blu-ray release of Total Recall delivers striking video and audio as well as plenty of extra content. Cautiously recommended.