Total Recall (1990) - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Dave · 4th March 2001, 04:23 PM

Total Recall (1990) 113 minutes.

Director: Paul Verhoeven.

Based upon a short story by Philip K Dick ‘We can remember it for you Wholesale’
Written by: Gary Goldman, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill and Ronald Shusett.
Original music by: Jerry Goldsmith.
Produced by: Carolco pictures, Tristar pictures.

Starring:
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid
Ronny Cox as Vilos Cohaagen
Michael Ironside as Richter
Rachel Ticotin as Melina
Marshall Bell as George/ Kuato
Mel Jr. Johnson as Benny
Sharon Stone as Lori Quaid
Also Robert Picardo as the voice of Johnny cab.

Douglas Quaid is a construction worker who has a recurring dream about Mars. He and a brunette are walking out on the surface of Mars, he loses his footing, falls and damages his helmet, and begins to die from decompression. He wakes up in bed with his wife Lori who seems upset that he has had another dream about Mars and this other woman. At breakfast, Doug watches the news about the conflicts occurring on Mars. He seems obsessed with Mars, even asking his wife if they can move there. After seeing an advertisement for Rekall Inc. where they sell implanted memories, he thinks about buying a virtual vacation to Mars. They can implant the memories for less than the real thing costs, and you don’t lose any time. At work he asks his friend Harry about it, but Harry warns him against going. Doug goes anyway. He decides to have the whole works, including a theme with secret agents, and a brunette spy. However, something goes terribly wrong and another, previously blocked, personality surfaces. Now he remembers actually being a secret agent, fighting against the evil Mars administrator Cohaagen. His wife is really a plant to keep watch on him, while his job is false. Now his friends, his wife and several strangers want to kill him. He discovers a recording of his old self who tells him to actually go to Mars for real, and to join the underground movement, where he finally meets the brunette.
OR DOES HE? Isn’t this exactly the imaginary holiday that he asked for? The reality of the situation is constantly in question? Which personality is the real Quaid? Who is he? Who was he? Why was his memory blocked? What is the secret hidden on Mars? Who is Kuato? This film keeps you guessing all the way.

http://uk.imdb.com/Title?0100802

Manco · 4th March 2001, 04:27 PM

Although it was strange, I liked this film.
Bye

markpud · 5th March 2001, 09:39 PM

this is a good film, and another Arnie classic

But the whole alien atmosphere generator thing is a little far fetched, as is Arnie surviving for as long as he did in the virtual vaccum of the martian "outdoors".

But then again, who watches this film for the details, its an enjoyable film without being taken too serously..

Dave · 6th March 2001, 06:35 AM

When I first watched the film I thought that as well. I also didn't understand the beginning until I had watched it a few times, it's very complicated. But, as you say, it's such a Rollercoaster ride that who cares, just sit back and enjoy it!

peachy · 6th March 2001, 07:51 AM

i love most of arnie's films, and this was no exception, i liked this film, hated the bit where he had to get the thingy out of his head, via his nose, yuck...peachy

markpud · 6th March 2001, 07:12 PM

yeah that was a bit...yuck wasn't it

Some of the mutants were a bit freaky as well...

Manco · 7th March 2001, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by markpud
yeah that was a bit...yuck wasn't it
Some of the mutants were a bit freaky as well...

Definetely

Bye

Annette · 19th March 2001, 05:47 AM

Guess what? I've got this film on video and think its brill, brill, brill. Have seen it loads and loads of times. Everytime I watch it it is still as good as the first time I watched it. Saw it at the cinema, which obviously with the sound effects and fighting and stuff sounds exceptional.

Annette.:freak4: :flash: :coolyello

Dave · 30th July 2001, 07:13 AM

I've got this on video too, and have watched it loads and loads of times. I just watched it again, and do you realise that even at the end, the whole story could still just be a memory implant.

summershake · 8th November 2001, 11:53 PM

Got it on tape, too and I think I watched it 20 times...

Haven't seen it in ages though!
I loved it, it was great!
Can you remember the scenes in which he removes the bug from his head...ewww!!!

It looks like his nose would explode!

Dave · 9th November 2001, 08:55 AM

Still one of my all-time favourite films.

Quote:

Originally posted by markpud
a little far fetched, as is Arnie surviving for as long as he did in the virtual vaccum of the martian "outdoors".

Mars does have a slight atmosphere, ground pressure 7 millibars (Earth average is about 1000 millibars). I don't know if you would get the effect shown, but he certainly wouldn't immediately explode, balloon-like, the way one would in space.

The eye-popping, and bug-up-the-nose effects are horrific but well done.

There was talk of a 'Total Recall II' directed by Jonathan Frakes, starring Arnie again, but it seems to have fallen by the wayside.

It is based on a Philip K Dick short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" as is 'BladeRunner' which came from "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep". I like PKD's books. A little old-fashioned, but still have some great ideas about Androids and Simulacrums. "Ubik" and "The Man In The High Castle" are also good novels.

Annette · 9th November 2001, 11:32 AM

I love Total Recall. Will watch it again and again. It seems to be a favourite on the sci-fi channel because they seem to show it quite a few times.

annette

nicscifi · 11th December 2001, 04:11 AM

Anyone luv this film?

stripe · 11th December 2001, 08:22 AM

I really enjoyed this film ....loved the twists and turns

nicscifi · 11th December 2001, 11:56 PM

oh, ok. thats good!

Im into any of Arnie's films. *drewl*:rolly2: Luv the action.

P.S. How did you get to post a whole picture on like that? didn't know you cold do it.

6th March 2001, 07:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
peachy Daniels Beloved Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: i commute between cheyenne mountain & scotland Posts: 2,952	big arnie fan i love most of arnie's films, and this was no exception, i liked this film, hated the bit where he had to get the thingy out of his head, via his nose, yuck...peachy

11th December 2001, 04:11 AM	#13 (permalink)
nicscifi Dark Goddess Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Zealand Posts: 215	Arnie Anyone luv this film?

11th December 2001, 08:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
stripe Sovs Favorite Moderator Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 1,533	yep I really enjoyed this film ....loved the twists and turns

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

4th March 2001, 04:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,516	Total Recall (1990) 113 minutes. Director: Paul Verhoeven. Based upon a short story by Philip K Dick ‘We can remember it for you Wholesale’ Written by: Gary Goldman, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill and Ronald Shusett. Original music by: Jerry Goldsmith. Produced by: Carolco pictures, Tristar pictures. Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid Ronny Cox as Vilos Cohaagen Michael Ironside as Richter Rachel Ticotin as Melina Marshall Bell as George/ Kuato Mel Jr. Johnson as Benny Sharon Stone as Lori Quaid Also Robert Picardo as the voice of Johnny cab. Douglas Quaid is a construction worker who has a recurring dream about Mars. He and a brunette are walking out on the surface of Mars, he loses his footing, falls and damages his helmet, and begins to die from decompression. He wakes up in bed with his wife Lori who seems upset that he has had another dream about Mars and this other woman. At breakfast, Doug watches the news about the conflicts occurring on Mars. He seems obsessed with Mars, even asking his wife if they can move there. After seeing an advertisement for Rekall Inc. where they sell implanted memories, he thinks about buying a virtual vacation to Mars. They can implant the memories for less than the real thing costs, and you don’t lose any time. At work he asks his friend Harry about it, but Harry warns him against going. Doug goes anyway. He decides to have the whole works, including a theme with secret agents, and a brunette spy. However, something goes terribly wrong and another, previously blocked, personality surfaces. Now he remembers actually being a secret agent, fighting against the evil Mars administrator Cohaagen. His wife is really a plant to keep watch on him, while his job is false. Now his friends, his wife and several strangers want to kill him. He discovers a recording of his old self who tells him to actually go to Mars for real, and to join the underground movement, where he finally meets the brunette. OR DOES HE? Isn’t this exactly the imaginary holiday that he asked for? The reality of the situation is constantly in question? Which personality is the real Quaid? Who is he? Who was he? Why was his memory blocked? What is the secret hidden on Mars? Who is Kuato? This film keeps you guessing all the way. http://uk.imdb.com/Title?0100802

4th March 2001, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Manco The Man With No Name Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The Tau'ri Posts: 850	Although it was strange, I liked this film. Bye

5th March 2001, 09:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	this is a good film, and another Arnie classic But the whole alien atmosphere generator thing is a little far fetched, as is Arnie surviving for as long as he did in the virtual vaccum of the martian "outdoors". But then again, who watches this film for the details, its an enjoyable film without being taken too serously..

6th March 2001, 06:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,516	When I first watched the film I thought that as well. I also didn't understand the beginning until I had watched it a few times, it's very complicated. But, as you say, it's such a Rollercoaster ride that who cares, just sit back and enjoy it!

6th March 2001, 07:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	yeah that was a bit...yuck wasn't it Some of the mutants were a bit freaky as well...

19th March 2001, 05:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
Annette This is Star - my honey!! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: West Midlands Posts: 5,944	Guess what? I've got this film on video and think its brill, brill, brill. Have seen it loads and loads of times. Everytime I watch it it is still as good as the first time I watched it. Saw it at the cinema, which obviously with the sound effects and fighting and stuff sounds exceptional. Annette.:freak4: :flash: :coolyello

30th July 2001, 07:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,516	I've got this on video too, and have watched it loads and loads of times. I just watched it again, and do you realise that even at the end, the whole story could still just be a memory implant.

8th November 2001, 11:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
summershake Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Austria Posts: 2,829	Got it on tape, too and I think I watched it 20 times... Haven't seen it in ages though! I loved it, it was great! Can you remember the scenes in which he removes the bug from his head...ewww!!! It looks like his nose would explode!

9th November 2001, 11:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
Annette This is Star - my honey!! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: West Midlands Posts: 5,944	I love Total Recall. Will watch it again and again. It seems to be a favourite on the sci-fi channel because they seem to show it quite a few times. annette

11th December 2001, 11:56 PM	#15 (permalink)
nicscifi Dark Goddess Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Zealand Posts: 215	oh, ok. thats good! Im into any of Arnie's films. drewl:rolly2: Luv the action. P.S. How did you get to post a whole picture on like that? didn't know you cold do it.