Simply put, Total Recall is Arnold Schwarzenegger at his very best. It's an action-heavy sci-fi picture that also allows enough room for the hammy one-liners Schwarzenegger is known for. But the film also boasts a shockingly good dramatic performance from the Austrian superstar as well – one that allows him to explore a dual role. While The Terminator may end up being regarded as Schwarzenegger's best character, my pick is Douglas Quaid/Hauser.
For those living under a rock, Total Recall is an adaptation of a Phillip K. Dick short story (“We Can Remember It For You Wholesale") that follows a lowly middle-class construction worker (Schwarzenegger). Tired of the weekly grind, he decides he wants to spice up his life by going to a place where artificial memories are implanted into his mind, making him think he's been on vacation or a spy, or pretty much anything he can think of. Problem is, the second he undergoes the procedure, something goes wrong and he's hunted by everyone from his wife (played by Sharon Stone), to his friends and random enemies. Is it all part of an elaborate brain twist, or is it real?
Director Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Starship Troopers) is at his best here, balancing the film's ambitious visuals with a meaty story that's both cerebral and more twist-filled than a season of Lost (more satisfying, too). His uber-violent streak from Robocop continues as he tosses his audience a blood-soaked action romp that delivers enough replay value for decades to come.
To be frank, it seemed odd to even attempt to remake a film like Total Recall. Unless the film takes the entire story in a new direction, there really isn't much room for improvement. The visuals are dazzling. The story is joyfully complex. And the twists and turns were revolutionary for the time.
Sure, some of the effects, models, makeup and puppet effects are a little dated here and there, and Schwarzenegger plays a little cheesier than we lovingly recall, but Total Recall is a dynamite sci-fi action film that represents the pinnacle of the non-CG era of big-budget concept filmmaking.
Total Recall comes to Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. If you owned the original Blu-ray for this film, you know it was no gem. In fact, it got a mention on our Top 25 Worst Blu-rays list. Well, it would seem the remake did one good thing – it inspired a double dip of the original classic. And instead of just recycling the awful transfer, Lionsgate completely restored this presentation, bringing Total Recall fully into the realm of HD. The results of this restoration are nothing short of breathtaking.
Total Recall is presented in 1080p/AVC, mixed in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Both the transfer and audio are remarkably well done. Lately, Lionsgate catalog titles have been rather fantastic, and this restoration is no different.
The transfer is far more vibrant and lifelike than ever before without succumbing to too much DNR. Colors are bold and striking, shadows and blacks are spot-on and image details are far more defined and crisp. In short, this is a staggering remaster that breathes new life into this already great film. Awesome job!
Audio is equally terrific, with immersive surrounds, clean dialogue and hefty bass. I wasn't expecting this mix to feel as fresh and new as it does, but it practically feels like a brand-new glossy track. Again, a terrific job from Lionsgate.
Extras include a handful of new and old goodies. There's some vintage featurettes, a hilarious commentary featuring Verhoeven and Schwarzenegger (see video above), and several new retrospective goodies, not to mention a delightful look at the Blu-ray restoration. The only real gripe here are the missing goodies from the original special edition DVD – there's a few featurettes, storyboards, galleries and production notes absent from this release. Annoying, but not entirely missed.
Even if you already own Total Recall on Blu-ray, this disc is well worth the double dip. With a restored, remastered transfer, knockout audio, and a fine assortment of extras, not to mention a kickass film, there's little reason to pass this disc up.
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