TOTAL RECALL (2012)

Directed By: Len Wiseman 
 Written By: Kurt Wimmer & Mark Bomback 
Screen Story By: Ron Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill & Len Wiseman 
Based on The TOTALL RECALL Screenplay By: Ron Shusett, Dan O’Bannon & Gary Goldman Based on the Screen Story By: Ron Shusett &Dan O’Bannon & Jon Povill 
Cinematography By: Paul Cameron 
Editor: Christian Wagner 

 Cast: Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine, Bill Nighy, John Cho

A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.

This film is totally not necessary as the original still holds up. Watching this film he audience who have seen the original are reminded of how good it was, especially when watching scenes hay are remade from the original. While watching the remade scenes can be fun they don't have the same power.

This film shows you the difference of the power of a talented Director versus I don't want to say hack as Len Wiseman has a good visual eye and could leave him titled as a visual stylist. I will just say a for hire studio lackey .

This film just feels uninspired and contained by certain boundaries.

The one shot fight scene was performed by Colin Farrell himself and was shot 22 times before Farrell did it perfectly

Actor Colin Farrell actually spent a night on the set because he wanted "to see what it would be like to wake up in the future".

For the budget why not just make an original sci-fi film? Not to mention for a film that costs $125 million, the film doesn't look that expensive as it seems mostly filmed on sets that look grubby and cheap or green screened. So It's hard to be engaged by it at all.

The technology isn't even that interesting and looks like stuff that would have impressed us in the 80's as children. This is what the vision of the future was when we were kids. Where as in the original film it get modern, futuristic yet new and epic.

Here there are no mutants. The henchmen look like updated storm troopers from star wars. While some seem human and some robotic. So that you can't tell. The three berated hooker is here, but the ultra violence is gone and the action sequences are in more supply but seem more acrobatic then thrilling and engaging. More like filler than anything else.

Kate Beckinsale plays the Sharon Stone role of the original plus the Michael Ironside right hand man role. Combined into one character here. He is good in the film a bit over the top at least she makes her scenes fun and come alive. As that seems to be what the film needs. Her hand to hand fighting scenes with Colin Farrell are vicious bit provide the only excitement this film seems to offer. I would have rather seen a spin-off movie with her character or do the film from her perspective. At least it would be a different take. Showing her going through all of this out of loyalty to the government only to lose in the end. She is both sexy an sadistic in this film.

Jessica Biel as always does what the role requires of her. She gives a serviceable performance while adding nothing special or any type of charisma to her character and role.

Colin Farrell is ok. but needs to stop starring in these remakes of films. He always seems to make 4 ok to bad studio films. Then come out of nowhere and give a good and interesting performance in a film that comes out of nowhere and usually independent that leaves me to still have faith in him. I only wish it was the other way around be in more outlandish films and maybe 1 to 2 studio films. He seems to be the cheaper version of brad Pitt. Whose career seems to follow the same Trajectory only in more grand fashion.

I can't say i was Shocked going into this film. I wondered why this film needed to be made and after watching it I still feel the same way. The film isn't horrible, but if you have seen the superior version. This one moves faster and is more streamlined, but isn't very memorable it is downright disposable but thankfully moves quickly. The film Is obviously Expensive.

I don't even see the you get generation even appreciating the film more, though seem a more appropriate and video game like version to show the kids.

Like a commenter said on the CineFiles Facebook group why not instead of spending all this money remaking films. Spend less money and Re-release the originals. It also inspired more film appreciation while Saving the studio money. Less of a gamble plus let's face it the films have their own history and built in audience who know the quality. Might have just been born too late to appreciate the films on the big screen with their generation. Spends much of the major scenes as a call back to the original film. The film feels empty it's a strange comparison. The 90's version is so hardcore and full of ideas, you would think it would be more of a modern retelling. While this one is so empty and soulless that you would think it is more a 90's version that would be a special effects extravaganza that need updating to explore the themes and possibilities as the remake plays more typical all it has is more advanced technology and special effects which feel too glossy.

Ethan Hawke was announced as a part of the cast in an undisclosed role but his role ended up being cut. He played Cole Hauser, Colin Farrell's character in a flashback, a scene which has been restored in the director's cut.

That is another thing that this film lacks while Len Wiseman has good action sequences and does them well. They are so grand yet glossy that they have no weight. So while visually impressive. It never feels real or worrisome. It just feels like it's going through emotions.

While the original was like a crude and kinky childhood sci-fi fantasy spy novel. This film feels like a typical science fiction action film heavy on the action.

Wait for television

Grade: D+