Total Recall: A Debatable Remake.

9th January, 2013

Hmmm …

You know, the magic of Hollywood is a wonderful thing.

Or, at least, the magic of the film industry.

Seriously.

Let’s be honest, anything that get’s people passionately arguing about a film — without actually thumping each other — is a sort of magic.

No, really.

And I think I’ve got a very good example for you, actually.

The film I managed to catch, last night: the 2012 remake that is Total Recall.

There’s possibly a bit of explaining to do, there … !

~~~~~

The 2012 version of Total Recall follows Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell): a factory worker whose job building synthetic — robot — policemen and marriage to Lori (Kate Beckinsale) has left him deeply unsatisfied.  Until one day he decides he visit Rekal to have some memories implanted of life as a super spy.

The memory implantation gets interrupted.

By a squad of heavily armed policemen.

Which is where the fun only starts … !

~~~~~

Now … 

I mentioned passionately arguing.

Yes, I did, didn’t I?

You say, I did manage to have a natter, by text, with Kevin D: and had to admit that — while I don’t think the remake is perfect —I’d thoroughly enjoyed it.

Whilst it’s not a completely original take on the material — in the same sense that Prometheus is — Total Recall bounces along at a nice rate of knots, the cast do their job well, and the design work, although obviously copying Bladerunner in the look and feel of the background universe, is beautifully designed.

Kevin on the other hand … ?

Kevin didn’t exactly take to it: and said so rather eloquently.

Personally … ?

Personally I’m giving Total Recall a 2.   I’ll let you make your mind up about it being a stinker or not.

Total Recall

★★☆☆

*        Itself based on the Phillip K. Dick short story, We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.