DVD
REVIEW: TOTAL RECALL
12/15/12
OVERVIEW:
From Len Wiseman, director of the Underworld saga, and Neal H. Moritz, the producer of The Fast and the Furious series, comes the visionary, new action thriller TOTAL RECALL, available December 18th as a 3-Disc Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack, 2-Disc Blu-ray, and DVD, all with UltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Colin Farrell (Horrible Bosses), Kate Beckinsale
(Underworld series) and Jessica Biel (The A-Team) star in this action-packed thrill ride. The film co-stars three-time Emmy Award® winner Bryan Cranston (TV’s “Breaking Bad”) and Golden Globe® winner
Bill Nighy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1), and is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, whose work inspired sci-fi classics such as Blade Runner and Minority Report.
SYNOPSIS:
Prepare for non-stop excitement and pulse-pounding thrills in this “smart, sexy and action-packed” (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood) action thriller. Colin Farrell stars as Douglas Quaid, a factory worker
who visits Rekall, a revolutionary company that can turn his superspy fantasies into real memories. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, the line between fantasy and reality blurs as Quaid becomes a man on
the run and the fate of his world hangs in the balance. Costarring Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel and Bryan Cranston, Total Recall is bursting with mind-blowing action sequences and spectacular visual effects, the ultimate high-energy thrill-ride!
FILM REVIEW:
Doug
Quaid: If I'm not me, then who the hell am I?
I do RECALL the original version starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
You had to know I was going to do that. Anyway, I have only fond
memories of watching that movie. It was an interesting concept
starring a literally larger than life actor. It was great fun.
Needless to say that when I heard of a remake being done, I was
immediately intrigued. But Colin Farrell taking the lead role
gave me initial skepticism. Having Kate Beckinsale and Jessica
Biel in supporting roles totally relieved my doubt. Not that
Colin is incapable, it’s just that those are difficult shoes
to fill. The truth of the matter is, he did okay. Jessica did
pretty good too. The most surprising performance comes from Kate
in an antagonist role. Believe it or not, she was quite menacing
and evil, something we are not accustomed to from her and she
pulled it off nicely. She was really kicking ass. All three of
these stars are no strangers to action films so they fit right
in beautifully. And really what this movie boils down to is
action, sci-fi, and special effects. The action is non-stop, the
sci-fi is futuristic and beyond high-tech, and the special
effects are super. The imagination visible throughout the film
is mind boggling. It is visually stunning with some incredible
sets. It will remind you a lot of Blade Runner combined with
Fifth Element.
For those of you that remember the original well, this one has a
different story but with a similar plot. Obviously this one is a
more modern take on an interesting concept and less corny too. I
mean if you see the original today, it might seem a little
corny. But throughout this version, you will see signs of how it
remains true to the original and I for one can appreciate that.
Where it deviates story wise, however, actually weakens it. This
story might be more believable while the original is more
exciting. Exciting can beat out believable in this genre any
day. For example, the climax in the original is more thrilling
than this one. This one is almost anti-climactic and a little
convoluted. I am a fan of Len Wiseman’s work. The work he did
with the Underworld franchise is pretty darn good and he did an
excellent job directing Live Free or Die Hard. This is not his
best work but it falls nicely and appropriately in his
repertoire. It does do the original some justice but it could
have been better. It is an enjoyable action flick but you need
to take it at face value.
Review
By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
DVD: The film is
presented in widescreen in a 2.40:1 aspect ration
preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just
flawless. Not only the picture looks great in
this release, also the sound it is good, a 5.1 Dolby Digital
in English and French(PAR) that provides a
good complement to the picture. It also includes
English and Spanish subtitles.
VIDEO:
2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
AUDIO:
English
and French 5.1
Dolby
Digital Surround
Subtitles - English Spanish
French Optional
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Total Recall Insight Mode
Gag reel
Science Fiction vs. Science Fact featurette
Designing the Fall featurette
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