Total Recall [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Total Recall - One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's best films!

  
  By A16X61RLY1YJL7 on 2004-01-19
  "Total Recall" is, quite simply, one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's best action flicks and quite obviously, one of the ones that helped build his super star status at the time of its release. When this outstanding Sci-Fi action/thriller was released, it was right in the middle of Arnold Schwarzenegger's run of films where he could seemingly do no wrong. After watching the "Imagining Total Recall" documentary, it's even more surprising to find out that the original director wasn't Paul Verhoeven and the original Douglas Quaid wasn't to be Arny but Patrick Swayze; now that would've been an almost entirely different movie. Despite the exceptional script, I doubt Patrick Swayze would've garnered the attention that Arnold did for this memorable flick.

  One of the most interesting aspects behind the script of this film is the overall theme behind it, was it "real" or was it Douglas Quaid's Total Rekall experience? Another highly interesting aspect of this film is its supposed sequel which may have been scrapped for Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for and election as the Governor of Kalifornia! If you pull up the Cast and Crew Information under the Special Features section and click on Arnold's screen, you'll see a listing for Total Recall 2 (2002), something that obviously hasn't happened but who knows what will happen in the future!

  Credit goes to Arnold for his performance in this film, which was an exceptional display in that his acting skills were only getting better and better; granted, he's not the best actor in the industry, but for his type of movies, he was at the top when this film was released. Sharon Stone puts on a wonderful performance in this film and this film can most certainly be directly attributed to being the one that led to her super stardom and being cast for some of her bigger roles. Ronny Cox also does another superior job of being the villain in this movie, a role he has always done well in. For Star Trek Voyager fans, it's interesting to note that Robert Picardo does the voiceover for the Johnny Cab.

  "Total Recall" is just another in a long list of outstanding and somewhat gory action flicks for director Paul Verhoeven. In this genre, he can most certainly be counted among the best directors to ever take up the mantle. Phillip K. Dick, the author of the short story "We Can Remember it for You Wholesale," the story that "Total Recall" is based upon, also wrote the story that "Blade Runner" was based upon and many more; just showing what a talent this writer has been.

  The Premise:

  Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) wakes up to find himself lying next to Lori (Sharon Stone), who he believes to have been his loving wife for the last eight years. Quaid expresses that he wishes to go to Mars but Lori doesn't want anything to do with it. As Quaid is coming home from work, he sees an advertisement for Total Rekall where he can take a virtual vacation and decides to try it. Not long after his virtual vacation begins, this action flick takes off on a breathtaking wild ride that doesn't slow down until the credits start rolling...

  I highly recommend this film to any and all who're interested in seeing one of the best Sci-Fi action movies ever made. One note of caution though, this film is not for the young, faint of heart or weak of stomach as is the norm with a Paul Verhoeven film. To achieve the film he's looking for, he doesn't spare the gore at all! {ssintrepid}

  Special Features:

  -Audio Commentary with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Director Paul Verhoeven
  -"Imagining Total Recall" Documentary
  -Rekall's Virtual Vacations
  -"Visions of Mars" Featurette (This is especially interesting considering we have a rover on Mars right now)
  -Visual Storyboard Comparisons
  -Conceptual Art
  -Photo Gallery
  -Production Notes
  -Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
  -Cast and Crew Information
  
  

• Last of the big rubber effects movies.

  
  By A2OVR63TMZ8FJJ on 2001-09-25
  I have to take umbrage at the person who made rude comments about how all the martians mutants with their foam latex appliances looked fake and lowered the quality of the film. I am part of the team that made all those crummy appliances. You can find my name in the credits under Rob Bottin. Actually I agree with you and I also think the scene where everyone decompresses and their eyes pop out on stalks then pop back in again when air pressure returns was totally preposterous. Total Recall was one of the last big films where effects were still done with rubber and mechanical animatronics pulled with cables. Many people thought the fat lady head slice gag was done with computers but it was a fiberglass head enlarged many times by soaking a silicone casting of the head in kerosene. The head was sliced with a special saw and a special array of slide bearings rigged with cables were pulled to open the slices. Makeup artists spent hours between shots filling up the gaps in the slices with wax so you could not detect them until the head was pulled apart. We were very proud of that effect and got applause from the crew when they saw it for the first time. Other effects did not go so well. Johnny Cab (Bob Picardo) was supposed to be very animated. His mouth was designed to open wide and form shapes but the servos would not work properly so in the film you see him mostly just bounce his jaw up and down with some minor lip movement. The guy in charge of repairing Johnny Cab stayed up four sleepless days and when it still didn't work was yelled at and mercilessly berated by the FX supervisor and later that day almost died of a bleeding stomach. On the good side Bennie the mutant cab driver has a mutant arm that is a beautiful thing to watch unfold and easily missed if you are not paying attention. You probably won't hear these uglier stories on the supplemental disc but if you are a fan of Total Recall and like to hear interesting background stories, this is certainly the version of the disc you should buy. Paul Verhoven with his deep German accent and extreme personality combined with Arnolds thick Austrian accent and ego should make for one of the most incomprehensible commentaries in the history of DVDs. Just kidding. Both are dynamic guys and present the material in an interesting fashion.
  Total Recall is about a miner named Quaid (Arnold Schwartzennegger at the very peak of his career) who seemingly has a beautiful wife (Sharon Stone)and a nice home. He has a fascination with Mars that disturbs his wife to distraction. One day he decides to take a simulated vacation from Rekall where memories are implanted in your brain to make you feel you have been on an extended vacation. What Rekall does not know is Quaid is not who he appears to be or who he thinks he is. Something goes wrong when Rekall unknowingly plants Quaid's own real memories of being a secret agent on Mars into his brain. Quaids brain is temporarily fried and he has to quickly rediscover his true identity before a team of counteragents kill him for what he knows.
  Total Recall was originaly intended to keep the audience guessing about what was real and what was only imagined. However this was dropped with the exception of one memorable scene. From what I could observe on the set I think Paul Verhoven realized the effects had taken over the movie and there was no point in making this a psychological action thriller. So he resigned himself to play it as a straight up Arnold vehicle packed with slam bang effects and some wicked Verhoven humor. This was too bad because I think many people feel it could have been a much more of a movie than what it was. Instead this is wild mindless action, violence taken to excess and effects for pure escapism purposes . If this is your cup of tea, than Total Recall may be the thrill ride you are looking for.
  
  

• One of the all-time great science-fiction films.

  
  By A1XX5797TIZT5Q on 2004-02-12
  Total Recall is not only Arnold Schwarzenegger's best film; it is also one of the most complex cinematic statements ever made about reality, technology and totalitarianism.

  The script is cracklingly smart, with multiple setups and payoffs that require repeated viewing to fully comprehend. And the world of Total Recall is filled with little details that are now becoming closer and closer to reality: The "nature" wallpaper in Doug Quaid (Schwarzenegger)'s apartment; the "instant fingernail polish"; the "virtual space trip" that forms the core of the film's conceit; and the equation of government and corporation.

  As Doug Quaid, Schwarzenegger brings his trademark humour and one-liners. They fit the character well, making his quest for identity all that much more entertaining to watch; Sharon Stone has her breakthrough role as his insidious wife Lori; Rachel Ticotin is suitably heroic as sidekick Melina; and Ronny Cox offers up yet another terrific turn as villain Cohaagen, a much more complex and human character than his character in RoboCop, Dick Jones. Cox has a way of chewing up megalomaniacal lines yet also bringing moments of realness and vulnerability to his character, and as a result the film acquires a much richer psychological layer.

  All in all, this film's greatest power lies in its sociological concepts. "Blue sky on Mars"; "more freedom, more air"; "the walls of reality come crashing down"; "your whole life is just a dream"; "if I'm not me, who the hell am I?" Each little detail is worth days of pondering over if you're the kind of viewer who likes to analyze text, and if you're not, you can always revel in Verhoeven's effortless virtuosic filmmaking, the extremely brisk narrative, and the over-the-top action set pieces, where Verhoeven once again sets new standards for both bloodlust and kinetic energy.
  
  

• Poor transfer to blu-ray

  
  By A2UC8C387IRGMH on 2006-12-21
  This is a bad-transfer to Blu-ray. My DVD is just as good and has more extras also! Don't waste your money.
  
  

• A Limited Special Edition DVD in a novel keepcase design!

  
  By A141G1ALWDBU1X on 2001-07-10
  "Total Recall" is set in the distant future after humans have colonized Mars. Vacation packages in this alternate reality are a couch potato's paradise. Now, all one has to do to take a "vacation" is to sit on a high-tech recliner while your chosen vacation program is downloaded, installed and ready to run right into your subconscious mind. The average consumer can also purchase "implanted memories."

  The main character, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), is troubled by recurring dreams about a journey to Mars. To help figure out the meaning of his dreams, Quaid visits Rekall, Inc. where they sell implanted memories. While Quaid is undergoing the treatment he recalls a time in his life when he was a secret agent fighting against the evil Mars administrator (Rony Cox). Quaid finds himself in a nightmarish reality of a Martian mining colony controlled by a terrorizing dictator and rebellious Martians. Meanwhile, he is contacted by members from Rekall, Inc. who attempt to bring him back from an implanted program gone awry.

  Lori Quaid (Sharon Stone), his wife, is sent into the program ("The Lawnmower Man," and the more recent movie, "The Cell" come to mind) to bring him back from his coma-like state. Quaid is confronted with the difficulty in choosing which reality to accept as the true reality. Is Quaid really a secret agent or is he just imagining that he is due to the program? Which path does he choose? Does he run the course of the program until the secret agent saves everyone or does he choose to take a pill ("Matrix" style) so that Rekall, Inc. can recover him from the errors of the program?

  The first DVD release of "Total Recall" was a double-sided DVD with one side containing a 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen presentation, and the other side containing a "standard" presentation. The extras were average containing cast and crew histories, a teaser trailer, and a full trailer. This title has now been revisited with a new anamorphic widescreen presentation, plenty of special features, and packaged in a unique collectible tin "Mars" DVD case!

  Special features that appear on this new Limited Special Edition DVD include the "Imagine Total Recall" documentary that takes you behind-the-scenes with the film's stars, including a new rare interview with legendary actor Arnold Schwarzenegger! The DVD also features an audio commentary with director Paul Verhoeven and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a "Mars: Fact or Fiction" featurette, "Rekall's Virtual Vacation," and the "Visions of Mars" featurette!

  Artisan Entertainment is producing this new Limited Special Edition DVD of "Total Recall." Artisan is the same company that gave us the highly collectible "Terminator 2: Ultimate Edition" DVD! I expect similar results with this new reissue to be released on September 18, 2001!
  
  

• An intriguing premise sets this one apart
  By AURZ4YQ270W3T on 2002-02-06
  I could talk a lot about the stuff I like about "Total Recall" - the dynamite special effects, production design and action, the numerous Schwarzenegger one-liners ("Consider that a divorce" is my favorite), and the colorful supporting characters. And what's not to love about a movie that gives us midget hookers on Mars?

  But that kind of stuff is de rigeur for "Ahnuld" films; what really sets this apart is clever, mind-bending premise that director Paul Verhoeven chooses never answers: was this all "real," or just an implanted memory? Was Schwarzenenegger's character, Doug Quaid, really a secret agent, or was this just an "ego trip," an implanted memory that looks and feels real?

  There's an intriguing sequence about halfway through the movie in which Quaid is confronted by a doctor from Rekall, the company that sold Quaid his "secret agent on Mars" fantasy. The doctor, accompanied with his wife (Sharon Stone), tries to convince Quaid that his experiences aren't real at all, but part of the fantasy Rekall sold him; unless Quaid comes back to reality (by taking a pill), he'll end up a mindless zombie.

  Of course, in Quaid's fantasy (or reality?), his wife has already tried to kill him, so he's not listening too closely to what she says. But for a moment, Quaid is buying what the doctor has to say...until he sees him sweating, and shoots him in the head. The logic, of course, is that if the doctor is make-believe, he wouldn't be under enough stress to sweat. However, who's to say that's not part of the fantasy?

  A movie with less intelligence would have answered these sorts of questions, and given the audience a pat "wrap up" sequence to tie up all the loose ends. But give tons of credit to "Total Recall": in the best sci-fi tradition, it's up to the audience to figure it out what really happened.

  Along the way, we're treated to a spectacular vision of a future Mars, populated by human colonists and mutants (including a three-breasted prostitute who'd probably make a fortune in Las Vegas). There's a red-light district ("Venusville"), which is apparently to the future what Amsterdam or Bangkok are to today's tourists: a sex destination. You can get a "Mars Today" newspaper, or check into the Hilton.

  Verhoeven is a master of these movies, in which the future isn't quite "Blade Runner," but fairly well warped. Things we take for granted today, like commercials, mass transit, or vacations, still exist, even though they've morphed slightly. This is a world we can all recognize and relate to.

  Of course, all is not well on Mars, as the planet's governor, Cohagen (Ronnie Cox) is charging the good citizens of the planet too much for air, and is trying to quell a rebellion. Quaid goes to Mars thinking he might have fought alongside the rebels against Cohagen, but finds out that he might have actually been working for Cohagen all along.

  Before too long, Quaid discovers Cohagen's secret: there's a huge, alien-built machine that will melt massive underground ice deposits, and create a breathable atmosphere on Mars. If Mars has an atmosphere, Cohagen loses his power over the people - their air supply.

  How does Quaid learn all this? He encounters a mutant who pops out of a seemingly normal person's belly, reads Quaid's thoughts, and shows him the truth. Of course, this is after we meet the three-breasted prostitute, so by this point, we're not surprised.

  The wind-up, in which Quaid gives Mars its' atmosphere, is about as fanciful as you'd please - one wonders exactly how the oxygen content on the planet become sufficient in five minutes - but it ties into the whole "is it real or is it a fantasy" premise.

  After all, the name of the fantasy Quaid selects at Rekall is "Blue Sky On Mars."

  Is it for real, or is Quaid sitting in a machine imagining all this, and having his brain warped as the doctor said?

  You decide. Enjoy!
  
  

• Don't buy this version
  By A3QNQQKJTL76H0 on 2006-01-16
  Buy one of the other versions with special features. This is the older, first-generation DVD with NO features. Nothing. Plus, this is a flipper disc!
  
  A great movie worth owning.. just not this edition.
  
  
• Disappointing Transfer
  By A2JW3920780LYE on 2007-02-15
  I Love Total Recall as a movie hence the reason I've bought it for a 3rd time, after VHS and DVD. I must say I was very disappointed with this transfer, why when films can be cleaned up prior to transfer do they make us buy such a crap transfer!? I mean I bought the Rambo1 Blu Ray from Lionsgate/ Studio Canal which is now 25 years and that is a superb transfer, even the French HD of Basic Instinct is a Cracking transfer by Studio Canal, In Comparison Total Recall is a let down, and to be honest when we fork out our hard earned cash for movies we love on HD formats we expect a marked improvement, why should we make excuses that this film is old, what 1990 is old! When film companys that do spend the money get results, have you seen the Bond Remasters on DVD, some of these are over 40 years old and look better then ever (cant wait for the blu rays of them!) Overall Buy this if you must have it, but be prepared for a let down visually!
  
  
• One of the great recent SF thrillers
  By AK81WLVD5KGUX on 2003-12-29
  Paul Verhoeven took it on the chin from fans of Philip K. Dick for this film (just as he did from Heinlein fans for his odd take on _Starship Troopers_).

  But this nonstop SF action-thriller -- besides being, as its legion of fans will attest, a helluva lot of fun to watch -- is actually a fair translation to the screen of Dick's 'We Can Remember It For You Wholesale'. I won't give away any spoilers here, but watch it carefully: are you _sure_ that by the end of the movie you know what's real and what isn't?

  Readers of Dick's brilliant short story probably wouldn't have cast Arnold in the lead role, either. But all that proves is that we aren't Paul Verhoeven. The movie works.

  Arnold is in terrific form here as Douglas Quaid, a guy who wants to go to Mars so badly that the subject has become an obsession. He nips off to Rekal, Incorporated, to get a set of false memories implanted, and the rest is SF film history.

  The special effects are extremely good and the Martian landscape is pretty well realized (although some portions of the 'science' part of the science fiction are decidedly lacking). The supporting cast is magnificent, from Sharon Stone and Rachel Ticotin to Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox. As we expect from Verhoeven, the dialogue includes quite a bit of profanity and the action includes a lot of gory violence. But if you weren't okay with that, you wouldn't be looking for an Arnold movie, would you?

  I have the Special Limited Edition (the one with the Mars-shaped metal box). The 'special' features are nice; Schwarzenegger and Verhoeven provide some good commentary and the 'making-of' documentary is worth watching once.

  But the real star is the movie itself, which (despite some cliches) manages to stay fresh after numerous repeated viewings. Pop it in and crank it up.
  
  

• "See you at the party Richter."
  By A3K5IMGDCDBCNF on 2001-09-15
  Total Recall is one of those movies I can watch over and over and never get sick of. It is what every true Arnold fan wants in an Arnold flick. And aside from being one of Arnold's best films it is a very great sci-fi flick period.
  
  Arnold plays everyman Douglas Quaid, a guy living an average life on the near future earth who is obsessed with the idea of going to Mars(which is colonized). He decides to go to a futuristic company called Recall, which sells it's customers memories of vacations they did not really take. Quaid decides to do it and while the salesman is making his pitch he poses the question, "what is the same about every vaction you have ever taken?" The answer: You. So Quaid buys the secret agent package and that is when the action begins. Suddenly everyone is out to get Quaid and he can't figure it out, all he knows is he has to get his "a** to Mars." He does and the film really takes off with mutants, rebels, women, corruption, double crossing, heavy carnage, planet saving, and Arnold, smack in the middle of all of it.

  The story in summary can actually be found within the movie, which is a very unusual plot device, but it works in this film. The guy at Recall says by the time this is over you will kill the bad guys, get the girl, and save the planet. So is Total Recall a dream or a reality. This question is one of the things that makes it such an engaging movie because you don't know. Really though the best part of this film is Arnold. He is in tip top form in this film and it is certainly one of his best. The character allows him all the elements to shine, odds against him, guys always trying to fight him, lots of guns, and terrific one-liners. Paul Verhoeven(Robocop, Basic Instict) has crafted a awesome film. The set direction is great and it makes the fantastic action that much better. Sure Verhoeven may get a little carried away with violent nature of his action, but would anyone really want this film any other way? Not me.

  Total Recall is a blast. On an additional note I just picked up the DVD Collector's Edition and it is a must have for fans. The commentary with Verhoeven and Arnold is hilarious and the making of's are very well done. This is one of those films that will become a classic over time because that is what it is, CLASSIC.
  
  

• The Ride of Arnold's Life....
  By A1A87TUBBDPMF0 on 2003-07-28
  Total Recall, Paul Verhoeven's fascinating (if sometimes very violent) 1990 science fiction/thriller examined the boundaries between reality and illusion. It also established Arnold Schwarzenegger as a true force in the action adventure genre, proving that the former bodybuilder could act in a more challenging role than Conan or the Terminator.

  Inspired by Philip K. Dick's story "We Can Dream It For You Wholesale," the screenplay by Ronald Shussett, Dan O'Bannon (Alien) and Gary Goldman weaves a clever tapestry of story threads that revolve around the question of what is reality and what is a dream, especially if the mind could be manipulated artificially?

  Schwarzenegger plays Douglas Quaid, a construction worker happily married to Lori (Sharon Stone) and living in a city perhaps 100 years in the future. By this time, Earth is embroiled in a major war between the Northern and Southern Blocs, space travel is as routine as catching a bus, and Mars has been colonized. Its governor, a ruthless dictator named Cohaagen (Ronny Cox) is providing the Northern bloc with essential raw materials and suppressing a bloody insurrection led by mutants.

  Quaid is obsessed with a fantasy of Mars -- in his dreams he's there, in the company of a mysterious brunette (Rachel Ticotin), much to Lori's chagrin. Even as he claims it's just a fantasy and that Lori's the only woman in his life, he still presses the issue of Mars, going as far to suggest leaving Earth and moving to the Red Planet. Lori attempts to reason with Quaid, telling him he'd "hate it there. It's dry, it's dusty, it's boring." Reluctantly, Quaid relents and goes off to work as usual.

  But after seeing a commercial for "virtual vacations" on a subway TV monitor, Quaid decides to visit Rekall, where false memories are implanted into customers' minds "for the memory of a lifetime." With the aid of drugs and hi-tech gizmos, the perfect vacation -- a ski trip, a visit to an exotic beach, or even a trip to Mars -- can be "remembered" as if it had really happened. Even better, as a smarmy salesman tells Quaid, one can even change personalities and take the "Ego Trip" and become, for a little while, someone else. Intrigued, Quaid selects -- you guessed it -- the trip to Mars with the secret agent Ego Trip.

  Verhoeven's films are not known for their quiet subtlety; indeed, they tend to be in-your-face collages of mordant wit, wry one-liners, and -- in his science fiction films (Robocop, Starship Troopers) -- violence. Yet, when watching this movie on DVD and listening to the audio commentary by Verhoeven and Schwarznegger, I was surprised by the complexity of this film's plot. Yes, it's action packed and it's an "Ah-nuld" showcase full of droll one-liners ("Consider this a divorce!"), but it doesn't insult the audience's intelligence. The movie's eye-popping (pun intended) special effects are amazing, and Jerry Goldsmith's score is thrilling.

  The Artisan Special Edition of Total Recall is loaded with various extra features and showcases this above-average sci-fi thriller in a newly remastered widescreen version. The picture is sharp and the sound is excellently clear. Considering that Artisan is also behind the spectacular DVDs for the first two Terminator films, this is to be expected!

  I strongly recommend Total Recall to both Schwarzenegger and science fiction fans alike; its underlying storyline is intriguing, and Arnold has rarely been in better form as an actor!
  
  

• great movie, HORRIBLE dvd.
  By A2OJM4BFGUZS8A on 1999-12-23
  I'm not a big video geek, and before when I saw people complaining about a horrible dvd transfer, I chalked it up to little details I couldn't see. *This* I could see. I liked _Total Recall_ the first time I saw it, and it is still a good movie. However the film quality on this DVD is really grainy and the color was off -- like they mastered it from a five year old video that had seen wind and weather. Just get the video.
  
  
• This Blu-ray should be Totally Recalled!!!
  By A160F6VXGUC5V4 on 2008-01-31
  As someone who honestly reads and appreciates the opinions of fellow Amazon buyers I have to WARN my fellow consumers. This is the worst transfer I have ever seen. Honestly there are artifacts and what appears to be interfearence(like when you run your vacuum, if your system is not grounded properly)all over the place. It is especially bad during the beginning when Arnold is with Sharon Stone but it is awful the full way through. I love this movie, but the transfer has got to be improved!!!
  
  
• A captivating motion picture
  By on 2003-02-15
  This is a remarkable film. It has a very good story line (something you rarely see in a movie with Arnie). It's special effects are even good considering that this is an early nineties flick. You see some crazy stuff like the mutants and the three breasted woman. This flick was written very imaginatively(if thats even a word). The story line is complex but i will try and summarize it.
  

  Arnold is an ordinary man who lives on earth and he wants to move to mars. His wife doesn't want to leave because there are frequent terrorist attacks on mars by a group led by the notorious kuato. Arnie goes to this memory implantation clinic to have a vacation of mars implanted in his mind and he remembers that he was a secret agent on mars with a different name and life. After a series of events he ends up on mars and he finds out that Kuato and his group are the good guys. He is being tracked down by the government (The Agency) and he runs into the caves of mars. He finds out what the government had been hiding and he trys to find it and change it.
  

  I strongly suggest that you buy this if you love Arnie flicks or if you are just interested in a very complex movie about the future. This is a wonderful movie so rent it, buy it, watch it.
  
  

• A complete Hi-Def Rip-off!
  By A3M4MIU0HIMUT9 on 2008-04-18
  This is a Blu-ray disk, but "Total Recall" is NOT a high-definition transfer! The picture quality is at best as good as a regular DVD, but is often very grainy with faded colors and much worse that a DVD picture. This is a complete rip-off and greedy Lionsate should be ashamed of themselves for pawning off this shoddy, low-quality transfer as hi-def Blu-Ray. What a disappointment. "Total Recall" would be beautiful in hi-def, too bad Lionsgate is too CHEAP to do the job right.
  
  
• Not "extra-special" special, but special none the less
  By A3OI841P5R6FCH on 2001-09-21
  Ah� nothing like a good Paul Verhoeven-directed sci-fi/action bloodfest to get the ol� testosterone levels up! Add action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, and you�ve REALLY got �em packing it in to see this one! Bullet wounds you could steer the Titanic through and body counts that rival the casualties incurred at the battle of Gettysburg! And, being on the digital format, you get to see all the carnage and mayhem in much more vivid color and detail than you ever could on VHS! Boo-yah!

  All right, enough about the movie itself, let�s get down to the good stuff: the special features! Although not quite as extensive as what one would find on the T2 Special Edition DVD, The Special Edition disc of �Total Recall� has quite a few extra tchotchkes to keep the average action-flick maven fairly entertained after the closing credits roll. There�s the trailers and TV spots, arranged as one continuous presentation, rather than seperately. There�s a behind-the-scenes documentary, where cast & crew recall (doh!) the grind of producing this movie. From the original effort to get �TR� made that ended in bankruptcy to cast & crew getting sick from Mexico City�s hellish smog (where just about all of the movie was shot), the many grinds and pitfalls of filmmaking are laid bare in this half-our segment. There�s even a five-minute featurette about the future of exploring the surface of Mars, as well as the possibilities of a manned excursion to the red planet. Three storyboard-to-shooting sequences are shown, with storyboard stills shown side-by-side with the filmed scene to show the flick-fan how a scene evolves from concept to finished product.

  Sadly, not all of the special features passed muster in my eyes. The Rekall �virtual vacations� extra was rather stupid and unnecessary. All this feature offers are twenty-second clips of three locales- Martian desert, the Alps, and an ocean beach. To put a fine point on it, the �vacation� extras are glorified screen savers. Also, the �location shoot photo gallery� has only a dozen stills, far less than what I expected. The �concept art gallery�, however, wasn�t too shabby.

  Then there�s the extra feature I both liked and disliked at the same time: the commentary track with Arnie and director Paul Verhoeven. First, I�ll start out with what I liked about it. Aside from being entertained by their accents (Paul is Dutch; Arnold is from Austria, a German-speaking nation), I was happy that both of them stayed focused on the movie itself. I�ve experienced quite a few feature-length commentaries where the narrator(s) spent a bit too much time talking about other projects they�ve done, rather than discussing the actual movie they�ve recorded the track for. Fortunately, this wasn�t the case here- Paul & Arnie kept their talk about their other films down to a minimum.

  Then there�s the big thing I disliked about the track: Verhoeven�s revelations that a significant portion of the ultraviolent scenes were shortened a bit to avoid an X rating, similar to what he had to do to get �RoboCop� a more-demographically-acceptable R rating. I was disappointed that he didn�t consider restoring these bits to the flick for the special edition DVD, or at least put them on the side as an extra feature. After all, he saw to the restoration of the gorier cutting-room bits in a special edition DVD of �RoboCop�, as well as the return of several risque moments in the upcoming digital disc release of �Basic Instinct�. Why he didn�t do the same thing with �Total Recall� will likely be a mystery for some time to come...

  Then there�s the most unusual feature: the packaging. The disc comes in a squat metal cylinder tin, colored and textured to look like the surface of Mars. The lid even has craters and the �Martian face� embossed on it! Although it�s thicker than most DVD cases, it�s quite a bit more compact surface area-wise. It�s also a bit tougher to open than your basic snap case. But there is one upside- the disc isn�t held in place by a �push-to-release� latch, a little feature on regular DVD cases that has a tendency to not wanna let the disc go. Just be careful opening the tin up- you don�t want your DVD to suddenly do an imitation of a frisbee!

  �Late
  
  

• "Consider That a Divorce"
  By A2Z9FXHC1L66EW on 2001-09-30
  Total Recall is a milestone in Scince Fiction Cinema that helped boost the careers of actor Arnold Scwarzenegger, actress Sharon Stone, as well as director Paul Verhoeven, who first got our attention with his other Sci-Fi Masterpiece; Robocop.

  Certainly purists will pick the film apart, but as Leanord Nimoy once said in Star Trek II, "It is easier to destroy than to create". Total Recall works on two levels: a dream or a reality, but whichever way you choose to watch the movie, both levels make sense to you. That in itself is an accomplishment. Most sci-fi's these days can't even work on one level, let alone two.

  If you've been holding out for a Special Edition of Total Recall, you can finally cash in your chips because it has finally arrived, in a circular metal tin, shaped to look like Mars no less. I'm sure that some people will have mixed feelings on the special features (the "Recall's Virtual Vacations" are nothing really special) only because other releases like the T2 Special Edition have made us more picky as far as a good S.E. and a bad one. Total Recall extras are in no way bad. The 30 minute "Imagining Total Recall" documentary is well made and delivers a lot of insight. It's also a retrospective documentary, with both Arnold and Mr. Verhoeven looking back at the film 10 years after the fact. This is of course defined more closely in the audio commentary by both the star and the director. If you bought the Collector's Edition of Conan The Barbarian and enjoyed Arnold's audio commentary for that movie, you'll most assuredly enjoy this one..although there was no mention of the two working together on a sequel which has been talked about for years.

  The disappointment from many is that Total Recall, at one time, had a longer cut which made it even more excessively violent. From fear of receiving and X-rating, the film was cut down to the version we all know and love. Why hasn't Paul Verhoeven added those scenes back in now or at least given us a deleted scenes section? Considering that Robocop and Basic Instinct (his two other successful movies) have already gotten the "Director's Cut" treatment, it is indeed a wonder why Total Recall was forgotten in that aspect. Not that I'm complaining, but considering that the T2 Special Edition gave us three different versions of that movie to watch, would it have been so bad to do the same here?

  As far as the picture and sound is concerned I don't have any real complaints whatsoever. The picture is crisp, clean and clear and the sound plays great on my sound system. Perhaps one day a two disc set of Total Recall will be released. Yeah, and maybe one day Paul Verhoeven will release a Special Unrated Edition of "Showgirls", complete with commentary. Until then.

  "Get your ass to Mars" - Arnold Schwarzenegger as Hauser
  
  

• Great Sci-Fi, but Not Like the Book
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2004-02-05
  The 1990 movie version of Total Recall starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. In the movie version of the story, Douglas Quaid doesn't want a memory of being a spy on Mars. He just wants a memory of a trip to Mars. But of course when the people at Recall try to implant that, they realize he was a spy. Instead of the complex "let him believe we mistakenly implanted it - refund half his money" plotting of the story, the movie just has them dump him into a cab. Quaid goes home quite convinced he was on Mars, and the bad guys from the Mars Corporation show up to kill him, now that he's regaining his memory. He takes them out and a spy-friend of his gives him equipment to remove the head transmitter and get over to Mars.

  Once there, he tries to figure out who he was, running into Melina (Rachel Ticotin) - an underground rebel. Once again we have a very Metropolis-like setup (same as in Minority Report) where those with money have lovely homes and luxury while those without money are on death's door. Quaid gets in to see the head of the rebels, Kuato, and at this point it turns out that Quaid was actually a double agent. He had been working for the Corporation to find out who Kuato was, and ALL of this - including the memory override, his life with fake-wife Lori, etc - was part of a deliberate plot for Quaid to break the rebels.

  The "new" Quaid is a rebel-lover, though, and he breaks into the alien artifacts that the Corporation has been hiding. It turns out they are able to turn Mars into an air-rich world, so that the Corporation no longer has a power hold over all of the poor people. Quaid and Melina are happy together in a Hollywood Ending.

  My Notes -
  First, the minor changes. They turned Quail into Quaid. They turned wife Kirsten into Lori, who in the movie was lovey-dovey instead of nasty. Instead of the government benignly being after Douglas, being willing to help him out, it is now the Mars Corporation after Douglas, both trying to kill him and trying to 'egg him on' to get to Kuato so Kuato can be killed. This Corporation was risking an AWFUL lot on the sequence of events that 1) Douglas' repressed desire to go to Mars would be so strong that he'd seek an overlay, that 2) The overlay would fail in such a way that he'd get a bunch of his memories back, that 3) he wouldn't be psychotic as a result but would merrily head over to Mars to research it, 4) in his bungling state, even though he was undoubtedly a spy, he'd be brought right into Kuato's presence, 6) Kuato would indeed be killed, and 6) at the end they'd be able to sort out Quaid's brain enough to return him back to his pre-memory-messing evil state. That's all very hard to believe.

  Next, as if all of that wasn't bad enough, the point of the original story was that this Mars thing was just a PRELUDE to the real story. In the book, Quaid didn't even go to Mars. The Recall trip was enough to reveal he was a spy, at which point he pretty much shrugs his shoulders and says "OK well hopefully you can fix me so I don't remember my spy days." At which point they realize there was something even MORE important than his spy days in his brain. But in the movie version, it's all about him being a spy and saving the underclass of Mars from an air monopoly. That whole Metropolis situation wasn't in the book at all.

  Since probably 99% of the movie wasn't in the original storyline at all, it's a good thing they didn't keep the same title to try to claim it was the same story. Of course I imagine if the original title HAD been Total Recall, they might have kept it for the same reason they kept the title on the other wildly altered story-to-movie transformations of Dick's tales. I imagine the only reason they changed it in this case was that We Can Remember It For You Wholesale was too long to fit on movie posters.

  They did have aliens at the end, but instead of the aliens planning on coming to kill all Earthlings, the aliens were a kind, benevolent race that conveniently left an entire, functional air-making machine in place but not running. Why would they build it but not turn it on? If they built it millions of years in the past, what's the chances that the aliens back then knew the exact mixture of oxygen/etc. that us Earthlings would need to breathe and have a machine to make it? Why not turn on the machine back then so that a great planet would be waiting for us, instead of leaving us a nasty planet that we had to turn on ourselves?

  I did like the bit where Douglas has to decide if he really IS on Mars, talking to the Recall agent, or if this is just some sort of hallucination he's having in his brain while his body is back on Earth. To judge by a sweat bead is silly though. If he WAS psychotic, and believed he was on Mars, then he could easily have projected that sweat bead on the Recall agent as part of his psychosis. It would match the mind-state he would be in. I also have to say that people's eyes wouldn't bulge like that on Mars even if there wasn't air.

  I like the movie a lot, and have seen it many times. But as a version of a Philip K Dick story, it misses the boat. It's a great standalone sci fi story, though, with fun twists and turns, and fun 'background technology'. A personal favorite of mine is the wall-screen in their kitchen.
  
  

• Not a bad blue-ray ignore bad reviews.
  By A1SGUVDDOXW6AZ on 2008-03-19
  I noticed many 1 star reviews for this movie and I was disappointed as I already ordered it. The deal is this, people are calling it a poor transfer with lot's of grain, which is probably true...but the big problem is that they are saying in many cases that the dvd is better. I have both, I compared them side to side (although I didn't have to). Besides some grain the movie looks AWESOME. Not as good as a newer transfer like a transformers or across the universe but awesome nevertheless. You have to ask yourself if a little grain really bothers you considering that the resolution is incredible? The truth is the detail is ten times better then the dvd! There is grain, but it is not anything to worry about unless you are some sort of purist. Personally, I don't care, as many movies in the theater have serious grain (Sometimes intentionally on behalf of the director). For the price, this is totally worth it, I am also going to buy Stargate despite the bad reviews.
  
  
• PKD + Verhoeven = mediocre... what a waste!
  By A40CCH74MOWE2 on 2005-02-13
  Like Verhoeven's other movies, this one will divide viewers right down the middle. If you are addicted to blood and guts, ultra-violence, non-stop action - and if you are not bothered by blatant nonsense (or can shrug it off or savour it as "irony") - this one's for you. If, on the other hand, you are a Philip K Dick fan, you will be horrified at what has been done to "We can remember it for you wholesale". For contrast, "Bladerunner" was a good movie made from a good PKD story, and "Minority Report" was an outstanding version of another good PKD story. (Wait a moment here - I'm being redundant. All PKD stories are good, except those that are brilliant).
  
  Mind you, Arnold Schwarzenegger's undeniable "action-man" charisma goes a long way towards making the result watchable. Arnold is in his element with pulp, the less credible the better. But even he can't help looking like a freak, with his eyes bulging up like inflatable beachballs in the low pressure of Mars' atmosphere (yeah, right). Fortunately modern technology can repressurize an entire planet in 30 seconds... but that's Verhoeven's attitude to reality in a nutshell.
  
  All in all, this is quite fun to watch if you can unscrew your cerebral cortex and park it in the fridge for the duration. It's only when you think how superb a movie could have been made from PKD's material that you want to sit down and weep.
  
  
• Great movie - Terrible blu-ray disk!
  By A3IVWWEBHV4D4L on 2008-02-27
  Total Recall is a great movie, lots of action, decent story line, its a typical 90's movie, very cheesy :)
  
  BUT!
  
  The quality of the picture on the blu-ray disk is terrible, I watched it on my PS3 with HDMI cables transferring the image to a Sony Bravia HDTV and there was very visible static / snow in lots of places on the movie.
  
  If you don't own another version for $14 it may be worth the purchase, but I wish I had read the reviews prior to ordering.
  
  
• Question of Reality
  By A1ZTSOBAPOWT3 on 2002-05-29
  Pure genius! Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall" is the ultimate mind trip and it stars the greatest person alive, Arnold Schwarzenegger! He goes on 'vacation' to Mars and lives as a secret agent. But, what is real and what isn't? Douglas Quaid doesn't remember anything from his 'first visit to Mars' and he uncovers the truth in this fast-paced work of genius. The action is fast and furious with grotesque images. The plot really, is straightforward. Who can't follow this movie. Only geniuses can understand this movie and I do! Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rachel Ticotin have chemistry! So does Sharon Stone! The make-up in this masterpiece is exceptional and truly stands out from any other science fiction film. Especially when the heroes fall onto Mars dirt. Their eyes are huge and disgusting! Support Arnold forever and long live the immortalage.
  
  
• Give the People Air!
  By on 2002-07-12
  TOTAL RECALL is probably the ultimate "Aunuld" Schwarzenegger movie this side of the "Terminator" movies. An adrenalin rush of moviemaking courtesy of director Paul Verhoeven and his use of gratuitous violence, blood, gore, and special effects. Arnold as Douglas Quaid(Hauser?) finds out his whole existence is an implanted memory to conceal another existence on the planet Mars. The planet is in turmoil as mutants with all sorts of disabilities, deformaties, and special psychic abilities are fighting with the planet's ruler Cohagen (Ronny Cox) over the planets air supply. Quaid/Hauser must travel to Mars and find out his true identity and calling. In the meantime he is being chased by Cohagen's henchman Richter(Micheal Ironside) and his cohorts, torn between two women Melina (Rachel Ticotin) and his supposed wife Lori (Sharon Stone) and is in search of a master mutant in charge of the mutant rebellion, Kuato who may have the key to his lost identity and information about Mars' prehistory. Great special effects, action sequences, violent fighting situations and futuristic set designs. One of Aunuld's best movies of its time and again some classic lines in which its not the words being said, but how they are being said by Schwarzenegger (i.e. "You got what you want Cohagen,give the people 'aeah'[air]!"
  
  
• I'LL BE BACK!!
  By A3V24CZC62MICW on 2002-08-05
  Anyone who is an Arnold fan, and anyone who collects Special Editions, this is a MUST HAVE. A cool round tin keepsake, in the shape of Mars, great extra features and behind the camera stuff that I love so much!! And given that its so afordable, buy it even if you own it on video and laser disc, the industry has come so far you HAVE to get all you can on DVD. It is the future of movies. SO don't so like I did and come late to the party, convert now and little by little you will be very happy with your growing collection of treasures as am I!! The Last Action Hero is another aforable Arnold must have, on DVD of course, video is going the way of 8 track I am sorry to say.
  
  
• Terrific Sci-Fi Thriller!
  By ALR35EFI69S5R on 2002-08-06
  Following the spectacular success of the sci-fi opus "The Predator", Schwarzenegger and company began searching for another vehicle to use to advantage to continue their winning record of blockbuster films. Here they scored very well with a tightly written, well-scripted, and plot-twisting movie that left Arnold fans screaming for more. Based on an original story by famed Science fiction maven Philip Dick (of "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report" fame), the storyline revolves around the mysterious obsession of a seemingly ordinary construction worker distracted by persistent nightmares of life on Mars. Soon we discover that the worker (played, of course by big Arnie) is anything but ordinary, and that he has good reason for his continuing obsession.

  The plot rages widely, careening in bizarre but plausible twists from moment to moment, and unless one follows closely it is easy to miss all the clues that Director Paul Verhoeven leaves scattered through the movie to tantalize the viewer. The special effects used here are indeed spectacular and very well executed, and Schwarzenegger takes us on a virtual busman's tour of the world of Mars as it whirls into overdrive, out of control, in the grip of a mysterious series of inexplicable political events and intrigues. Of course, like much of science fiction, there are moral lessons to be appreciated, and a series of intriguing incidents seem more intended as commentaries on contemporary 20th century politics than as anything related to Mars. Still, the plot spins quickly enough to tie the action sequences together nicely, and the cast, which includes both Sharon ZStone as his conniving wife and Ronnie Cox as the villain, does a credible job of delivering us to the eventual climax both entertained and edified.

  This is one of the best Schwarzenegger offerings in a series of such efforts, including "Running Man', also very well made, and some less well conceived, executed, and received by the public. It is made even better by virtue of the commentaries by the actors, director, and special effects crew on the film, with their perspectives adding immeasurably to one's understanding of the plots and of various interpretations of the film. Nowadays the big guy's career seems to be on the down-turn, although the current buzz has him completing the second sequel to "The Terminator", tentatively called "T-3" for release next summer. If it is as good as the first two, it could revive his flagging film career. Don't worry folks; he'll be back, if not as an actor, than as Governor of the fine state of California! Anything Jessie Ventura can do, he can do better. Enjoy!
  
  

• Blu-ray brings a classic back to life
  By A3D2NYBUA8W3VY on 2007-06-11
  For those who complain about the quality, I don't know what kind of equipment they were watching this on, but I've seen my fair share of blu-ray movies and this one was right up there.
  
  Clear colors and nice sound - we had a blast reliving this movie from the past. I highly recommend it!
  
  
• Good movie, bad blu ray
  By A2CEJ3M53KBEL3 on 2007-12-06
  The transfer from film to digital was not done well. The sound is fine but the video was disappointing. It is grainy at times. Artifacts from the old film stock were not cleaned up very well either. This one was rushed to have something to sell...
  
  
• Transfer is awful
  By A35451LISW1FNN on 2007-12-25
  As a Blu-ray disk, this is very disappointing. Video quality is among the worst.
  
  
• My DVD version was better
  By AIDT501Y5ELO8 on 2008-01-12
  The PQ was worse than my DVD version so why bother making it at all?? I feel like bying those cheap DVD-bootlegs that were made of VHS tapes
  
  
• An excellent sci-fi thriller
  By A3QZCA4LTTVGAD on 2001-03-29
  "Total Recall," directed by Paul Verhoeven, is a stunning blend of high-concept science fiction, action, and humor. The script is based on the story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale," by legendary science fiction writer Philip K. Dick.

  In the film, an Earthman named Quaid (a good performance by Arnold Schwarzeneggar) goes to have artificial memories of an exciting vacation to Mars implanted into his brain. But the process goes horribly wrong, and Quaid ends up on Mars in the midst of conspiracy and unrest.

  "Total Recall" contains truly amazing special effects. Combined with the set design and some memorable mutant makeup designs, this is one of the most visually stunning science fiction films ever made. There is plenty of humor in the film, often in the form of snappy one-liners and weird sight gags. The performances are very good; I was especially impressed by Ronny Cox as the ruthless Martian dictator. And everything is well complemented by the big, booming orchestral score by Jerry Goldsmith.

  The intense violence may turn off some viewers. But if you have a high tolerance for cinematic brutality, give "Total Recall" a try. It's a witty, inventive, and visually impressive achievement in science fiction filmmaking.
  
  

• Terminator 2: Judgment Day [Blu-ray]
• Stargate (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]
• The Fifth Element (Remastered) [Blu-ray]
• The Terminator [Blu-ray]
• Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]