Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 01/08/2008 Run time: 21 minutes Rating: R
This science fiction blockbuster from 1990 began its production life as a very different movie than the one that was released. An adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," Total Recall was originally conceived of with Richard Dreyfuss starring as a Walter Mitty-like character who experiences a variety of artificially induced fantasies. The movie we know is a mega-budget action epic set on Mars. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a normal working man who discovers that his entire reality has been invented to conceal a plot of planetary domination. Oscar-winning special effects and violent action propel the twisting plot, in which Arnold manipulates his manipulators in a world of dazzling high technology. Director Paul Verhoeven (Robocop) indulges his usual penchant for gratuitous bloodshed, but the movie has enough cleverness to rise above its excesses. --Jeff Shannon
This science fiction blockbuster from 1990 began its production life as a very different movie than the one that was released. An adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," Total Recall was originally conceived of with Richard Dreyfuss starring as a Walter Mitty-like character who experiences a variety of artificially induced fantasies. The movie we know is a mega-budget action epic set on Mars. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a normal working man who discovers that his entire reality has been invented to conceal a plot of planetary domination. Oscar-winning special effects and violent action propel the twisting plot, in which Arnold manipulates his manipulators in a world of dazzling high technology. Director Paul Verhoeven (Robocop) indulges his usual penchant for gratuitous bloodshed, but the movie has enough cleverness to rise above its excesses. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Sub Par Blu-Ray transfer-fun 80's action movie:
I wish Amazon would add sub scales for PQ, AQ, overall movie and other criteria, so that, with the advent of Blu-Ray, technical as well as cinematic aspects would be rated separately. What if you love a film, but hate the transfer? I had never seen all of Total Recall, and as a fan of older Sci-Fi and action films, I thought the effects were fun and advanced for the time period. Despite Arnold's mediocre acting skills, I am still a fan of his films, because they're so "over the top" and action packed.... more info
WRONG COVER PHOTO!!!:
Issue: Cover Images don't match UPC codes for this DVD. ASIN: B0000640RW
UPC: 012236124740
Total Recall
This version of the film has a special edition silver border around the cover image. ASIN: B00070FX5U
UPC: 012236170488
Total Recall
This version of the film doesn't have the silver border or photo of Mars on the cover. Amazon has switched the images so be aware of this when ordering. I would suggest emailing the seller to make sure you are getting the... more info
NOT HD!!!!!:
Great movie, but if you own the DVD the blue ray is a waste of money. It's not high definition at all. I have the DVD and blu-ray playing at the same time. I see no difference switching between them. I'm using a 62" tv and it should show any improvement. (Buy the Blade Runner Blu-Ray disk instead. The picture quality will blow your mind :-)
Works in Europe:
Blue Ray Quality decent, can be compared to an upscaled DVD. Film itself is a classic!