Total Recall

In a nutshell, Total Recall is a great movie. I'd even go so far as to say that after Blade Runner, it's the best film adaptation of a Dick novel, this time with a superb performance by the brilliantly perverse Paul Verhoeven. His direction is dynamic and his relish in lots of blood and violence that is typical of him is irresistible in a way. The story is properly Dick-esque, dark with an ambiguous ending and that's how it should be. The visual effects are fantastic for their time and were deservedly rewarded with an Oscar. And I must not forget to highlight Jerry Goldsmith's imaginative soundtrack, which is impossible not to listen to and which is one of the best that the Master has composed. A sci-fi gem for the connoisseurs. (28/09/2003)

Paul Verhoeven keeps playing the same song and it’s not out of tune even for the umpteenth time, though the basic melody is starting to become a bit tired and boring. Total Recall is a fine wild ride with lots of blood, a brilliantly clumsy main protagonist (his facial expressions in some close-up shots are adorable) and a two-digit number when it comes to the body count. But the similarly styled music and distinctive visual signature (which doesn't always mean high quality) didn't really touch my heart in any special way. The Martian setting is overly exhibitionistic, just like the rebel leader, the woman with three breasts, the mutants, the face explosions, and similar things. The director is too over-the-top sometimes, and it's not always my cup of tea. Nevertheless, the well-executed action scenes are cool. (13/04/2007)

Sometimes, all a successful sci-fi movie needs is to set up the scenery and intensify the music. Verhoeven takes a somewhat questionable approach, unleashing his twisted taste and giving Arnie the feeling that he is playing a cleverly packaged game against all the evil members of society. No, this is not the way. Blood fits in Robocop, and dealing with an unconventional marital crisis fits in a more open satire. (02/07/2005)

Originally, I had four stars in mind when I reminisced about the film's premiere in movie theaters years ago. Now I watched it again and I have moved on somewhat, and the overt B-movie popcorn simplicity bothers me now. The film reminds me of cheap mainstream adventure comics with sci-fi themes, which still lie in my library and shaped my taste at a certain time, but nowadays I read and watch different things. The classic sci-fi theme of Philip K. Dick's version has little in common with Paul Verhoeven's version, but it is appropriately action-packed, filled with chases, shooting, and bloody fights, so for a viewer who is not compelled to think, it is a joyride. Verhoeven traditionally does not shy away from brutal scenes, so fans can enjoy severed hands and blasted human bodies and protruding entrails. Nevertheless, it is one of the few better films where Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in the lead role. Though his performance here is not outstanding, he also does not descend into silliness. Overall impression: 55%. The film's strong point is the set design, which even years later does not feel outdated and was top-notch at the time of the film's release. A colorful sci-fi spectacle for teenagers. (09/12/2007)

The 1990s brought a lot of good things (like me :-D), but this sci-fi is not one of them, at least for me. Terrible sets (even sci-fi from previous years had a much better idea of the future), a story that really scrapes, music that likely didn't even make it to my ears. The only plus is Arnold's accent... Unfortunately, this cult didn't enchant me and left me cold. But definitely check it out – if there’s at least two of you – it will bring a little education. :-) (05/09/2010)