7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Construction worker Douglas Quaid discovers a memory chip in his brain during a virtual-reality trip. He also finds that his past has been invented to conceal a plot of planetary domination. Soon, he’s off to Mars to find out who he is and who planted the chip.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael IronsideAction | 100% |
Thriller | 87% |
Sci-Fi | 72% |
Adventure | 23% |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD HR 6.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (640 kbps)
English, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 2.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Your whole life is just a dream.
What do you get when you combine director Paul Verhoeven's (Starship Troopers, RoboCop) unmatched
eye for directing ultra-violent, futuristic Science Fiction with the stature and action movie
credentials of Arnold Schwarzenegger (End of Days)? The
answer, of course, is
Total
Recall, one of the finest, most thought-provoking, violent, fascinating, and well-paced
Sci-Fi/Action films of the 1990s. Where have movies
like this gone? Arnold now finds himself too busy with politics (and maybe too old) for movies of
this style. The once-great Verhoeven still finds himself behind the camera, but with a legacy
tarnished with the likes of Showgirls and Hollow Man now
haunting his resumé. Sadly, at this time there doesn't seem to be a director or action star willing
to return us to the glory days of Paul Verhoven's violence-laden Science Fiction films that
arguably stretched the
limits of taste but provided his brand of social commentary alongside the blood and guts.
Hauser or Quaid, Quaid or Hauser? Only Ronny Cox knows for sure (or does he?).
Lionsgate implants Total Recall onto Blu-ray disc, and this 1080p, 1.85:1 transfer is a disappointment. The picture is quite grainy and generally lacks fine detail and clarity. An absence of vibrancy and depth is noted immediately after Quaid's nightmare in several shots in both his bedroom and kitchen. In fact, I had to forego posting a screenshot of Quaid and Lori in bed after his nightmare because the picture lacked even basic definition, and you could hardly tell who the actors were. Some scenes show excessive dirt and debris, especially during special effects-heavy shots, and the presence of such meddlesome nuisances is apparent in many scenes, but in a decidedly less-than-intrusive amount compared to the few shots where their presence is undeniably distracting. The random hair and line also pops up on occasion on this print. Many green screen effects are plainly obvious on the disc as there is sometimes a glow around the actors as a result. As mentioned above, detail is fairly unimpressive, although I did note some background objects I'd failed to see before, but that might just be because I'm viewing the film on a substantially larger television set than ever before. Still, background details are hazy, as are some foreground details. Black levels are solid but exhibit a slight bit of crushing. Colors are mostly uninteresting. The red exterior of Mars is predictably weak, but the various interiors of Mars, like the inside of the club where Quaid meets Melina is fairly bright and vibrant with a few neon signs, good lighting, and decent reproduction of the various colors of clothing worn by the cast. A fine layer of grain is present over the image, spiking in a few shots but maintaining a rather consistent, unobtrusive level throughout. Flesh tones never seemed too out-of-whack to bother noting. While Total Recall could look worse, it certainly pales in comparison to most other Blu-ray discs I've reviewed, but then again, it's never been a glamorous, beautiful movie to begin with.
Total Recall's plot involves a tale of two personalities vying over one body, so it is fitting that the soundtrack offers decidedly differing listening experiences between the film's two halves. With no lossless or uncompressed option, Lionsgate brings Total Recall to Blu-ray with both a DTS-HD ES 6.1 track and a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX mix. The first half of the movie, which takes place on Earth, lacks dynamic range and punch, noted immediately in Jerry Goldsmith's score as it plays over the opening title sequence. Punches and kicks in fight sequences also lack an oomph. Effects fail to deliver any impact in the films first 45 minutes, so that scene after scene feels somewhat lessened as a result. Despite the extra channel on the DTS track, rarely do the surrounds make more than a cursory appearance. The entire first half of the track is decidedly front-heavy, and the left and right speakers take it upon themselves to handle many of the lows as well, leaving the subwoofer relaxed and barely noticed, although some of the gunshots and explosions do manage to reverberate just a bit, while others are unsubstantial and tiny. It's not until nearly 45 minutes into the movie that we finally hear and feel deep bass and a palpable, consistent surround presence when Quaid finally arrives on Mars. From there on, Total Recall, lossless or not, becomes an action lover's sonic delight. Gun shots pick up in intensity, explosions and other deep, rumbling moments rattle the subwoofer, and the action and story benefit from the added impact of the soundtrack. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout both of the movie's halves. While the soundtrack is a solid one for the latter half of the film, its inconsistency and lack of a lossless option definitely hurt this disc's overall audio score, but the quality of the movie makes looking over such anomalies a bit easier.
Unfortunately, this disc's supplemental section is almost as barren as the surface of Mars itself. Aside from a 1080p Lionsgate Blu-ray promotional montage, Vision of Mars (480p, 5:28) is the only extra. This feature has nothing to do with the film itself; it is simply a short look at the history of the study of the planet Mars and the then-current state of exploration and scientific knowledge of the Red Planet.
To give you an idea of how much I like Total Recall, I bought the disc in the first days of DVD back in 1997 -- and owned it for about a month before I bought a player. Back then the movie was distributed by LIVE Entertainment (eventually acquired by Lionsgate), and I was impressed with the DVD (once I purchased a player) on my old 27" CRT 4:3 television (probably connected via RCA cables, too, how times have changed!). Sadly, I cannot recommend the Blu-ray disc universally. Although the movie is fantastic, one that fans of Arnold, Science Fiction, Action, and violence will love, the haphazard quality of the disc keeps it from being worthy of adding to every Blu-ray collection. This disc still trumps the two DVD editions I've owned (the original release and the Mars-shaped tin) but not so much as to make the purchase of this disc a no-brainer, especially considering the lack of a lossless audio option. There are virtually no supplements here, either, and therefore unless you're still holding onto a worn VHS copy, I suggest waiting for a better edition to come out (and I have no doubt it will), even considering the current "nice price" of $13.95 that Amazon.com currently offers.
Mind-Bending Edition
1990
Mind-Bending Edition
1990
1990
Retro VHS Collection
1990
1990
1990
3 Disc Edition
2012
+BD with the 3 versions
1991
2009
40th Anniversary Edition
1984
1987
2000
2005
2008
Unrated Extended Edition
2005
2015
2008
2015
20th Anniversary Edition
1997
1080i
2003
Director's Cut
2009
2013
15th Anniversary Edition
2005
Limited Edition
2004
PG-13 Theatrical Cut
2006
2011