Total Recall DVD

Advantages: Arnie, concept
Disadvantages: Scenes on Mars

A brain implant for Arnie? Now there's an interesting thought ... a man who comes across as all brawn and no brains, although he's reputed in real life to be a diamond geezer, witty and quite intelligent ... but here it's to give him another life, not to bring his intelligent quotient up to a decent level. It also sees him looking very demure in a lovely twisted tea towel. Very cool, my friend... Mr Schwarzenegger shares top billing here with Sharon ...
...just having a sweaty cameo role as the surrogate, make believe wife in Arnie's invented new life. She's not very good in the bits she's in, although it's always nice seeing a woman get hot and she does that in a high kicking tussle to (miles away from) the finish. Arnie's the master of this sort of all action role and he does it so much more intelligently and wittily than old dough head Stallone. This film isn't really very witty and comes over ... Read review

Advantages: Sharon stone, well put together story
Disadvantages: was abit short !

One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's (hope I dont have to spell that again!!) early renditions still packs a punch even in today's filming industry. Double identities, mind assassination, chases, Mars, Aliens this film has it all! Douglas Quaid, Houser who is Arnold Schwarzenegger? Is he Douglas the construction worker with a beautiful wife Lori (Sharon stone)? No! His future must be in Mar as he dreams about it every night! Douglas soon finds himself ...
...Mars. Why is this making people edgy? It seems like somebody has been messing with Quaids head literally. Who is Lori, is she his wife? Why does it seem like she wants him dead! Quaid is told by himself or should I say Houser (and yes you heard me I did say by himself) that he was once a bad guy but has had a change of heart because of a woman, who is this woman? Is he lying? It must be the woman in Quaids dreams is her name Melina? Has Houser really ... Read review

Advantages: Good effects, original story, entertaining
Disadvantages: Has dated

...a Phillip K Dick story, Total Recall is a movie that really stands up as one of Arnie's best. Sure it has all the usual 80's non-pc violence and language but underneath there is some great sci-fi themes being played out. The story is highly original and interesting throughout. A director like Paul Verhoven was ideal to handle the themes of the movie as he previously displayed in Robocop and here he shows himself as the thinking mans gratuitous action ...
...actor in the world but there are few people who can deliver one-liners like he can. There are some moments in the film that are pure arnie and will raise an ironic smile and sometimes a real laugh. Of course a better actor could have made this far more amazing but this a film that reflects the time in cinema when people paid to see big guys with power taking on the bad guys. There are some amazing ideas and visuals that depict Mars as an interesting ... Read review

Advantages: Sci-Fi/Action, very engaging and memorable film
Disadvantages: If you dislike Arnie at the best of times, you won't enjoy this

Set in the near future, Total Recall is about a man called Dennis Quaid, living a normal life, when suddenly a "memory cap" in his brain is made to malfunction and he starts to remember who he really does, or does he? This fast paced sci-fi action thriller has many plot twists and turns, and the heart stopping special effects were wonderful for a film made over 10 years ago, if you like hi-tech gadgetry, this film has it all:- motion trackers, wall-tv, ...
...and colonies there too. Arnie is well supported by a young looking Sharon Stone and even younger looking Rachel Ticotin, and the fact paced screenplay is ably directed by Paul Verhoven, who you may recall directed "Starship Troopers" more recently. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys tricky plot twists, action/sci-fi/adventure, or any die hard Michael Ironside (at his baddest here!) or Arnie (not at his best) fans. ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent Concept - Big explostions + tongue in cheek?
Disadvantages: it’s eerie accuracy of life in the future

...I’d write a little about Total Recall because I can remember sneaking into the cinema to watch it. I’ve watched it twice since and amount of potential this film has to be good is staggering. I won’t tell you how good the film is but I will say that I haven’t watched the film for at least 5 years, So what makes me think I can review it? Let me explain what happens in the film and based on the amount I can remember it must have made an impression. ...
...very clever. This has nothing to do with Arnie taking on a major change in the type of roles he played during his action-man days. But for this scary prediction into our future we can thank Philip K Dick. This is film is no where near the bleakness of Blade Runner where the earth it basically rotting away and people are trying to escape but you will be glad to hear that in the future we will all be wearing the same as we were in 1987. The foremost ... Read review

Advantages: superb all the way through near faultless for a film of its time
Disadvantages: Arnie trying to act lol just kidding

...and erased some memories. to make matters worse once the clinic dump him and wipe there hands clean of him his so called work mates try to kill him all because he wants mars. on top of his work colleagues trying to kill him his wife jumps on the wagon for offing him to and suddenly a squad of hitman are after him to. as quaid tries to survive he must uncover why people want him dead and the connection with mars before its to late. no review can give this film justice its just a great original sci fi film. arnie is at his best when he just gets down to being the action man and his acting aint bad either. mars seems really well set up and the big boss tyrant all seems to fit into place superb. add the extra features of: making total recall imagining total recall audio commentary from arnie and director Paul Verhoeven vision of mars feature photo... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Groundbreaking FX, great direction and acting
Disadvantages: Over the top violence

...In 1990, Total Recall was released to the public, giving us a vision of the future with an exceptional plot and wonderful direction and performances all round. The sci-fi film is set in 2084, and is a masterpiece of a twisting tale, which will make you think and watch it over and over. It is an Academy Award winning film, and for good reasons. The Plot Rekall is a company selling false memories by way of an implant in the brain. Douglas Quaid, dreaming of spending time on Mars with a sexy brunette, buys an implant, and launches himself into a world of paranoia, where the government is out to get him and he is a secret agent, forcing him to actually travel to Mars for real. His only question is: what is real and what is not? Is he a regualr guy, or is he really a secret agent? Which came first, and how can he find out the truth... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Total Recall
Disadvantages: Red Sonja

...This is a nice little addition to the Schwarzenegger fan's collection but is perhaps a poor man's compilation of Arnie's films. The pack is presented in a nice silver card box with individual dvd boxes for each of the films. The individual dvds are commented on in summary below (refer to my individual reviews for a more detailed look). Total Recall This is the real gem of the compilation it terms of both the movie and the features on the dvd. Its a high budget sci-fi where Arnie is Doug Quaid- a lowly construction worker whoi dreams of going to mars. His wife wont let him so he goes for the new fangled memory implant on offer for a company called RECALL. Big mistake- Arnie is an undercover operative who has had his identity changed by 'the agency' and is briefed to infiltrate rebel forces on Mars. Doug Quaid, has different ideas... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful