Review of Total Recall (2012) by Quincytheodore — 08 Aug 2012

Yet another remake from Hollywood, and of Arnold's movie, no less, but don't the stigma hampers your view of Total Recall. It's a visually enchanting, albeit flawed gem, which ironically will be more enjoyable if you have no knowledge of the original. With detailed environment, striking action sequences, it's definitely eye-pleasing, but unfortunately lacking in plot and script department. Since it's based on a mind game movie, the allure is less if you're familiar with the original and it just creates an anticipation of what would they do differently like a game of Spot-the-Difference. That on itself might distract you from the fast pace of this movie.

It has style, luxurious in its dytopian oriental vistas and drab white of conformity. The selection of gadgets is a blast to see, the glass phones or magnetic cars are sci-fi delights. There are so much attentive details across the settings, they subtly give off a futuristic presence but thankfully in more realistic slum-like portrayal. The actions which take place in those surroundings are gratifyingly fast and still able to pertain its focus despite moving at such hectic pace. It's a precise analogy of cinematic video game, identical to Deus Ex, and it's a treat to see them developed in less preposterous way.

Colin Farrell as Douglas Quaid is fine on his performance, although he's too stiff at some points. Sadly he doesn't exhibit the urgency one might have when their mind is being played with, and acts almost in predictable manners. Jessica Biel as Melina has the love interest role, and she does it relatively well. I think she didn't get the best of the script, as she boften pouts some profanities or snarky remarks which could be seen as provoked attempts at securing alpha female crown from Kate Beckinsale, who is relentlessly phenomenal here.

As a planted wife, Kate Beckinsale has much longer role than the original. She exudes fierceness and vigor as she chase her soon-to-be ex-husband. In what may be the most pleasant surprise of all, her character proves imposing and threatening, more than most villains on-screen. It's one of her best roles so far. In trivial matter, when Bill Nighy appears, briefly, I thought they were going to sword fight just to please, or shock, the audience. The least entertaining choice for villain in the movie is Bryan Cranston as Cohaagen, who the movie hypes so much on being a grim politician. As the action pushes forward and Colin actually stands in a duel against him, it's almost hard to watch, almost like Thor getting in a bar fight against Loki.

If a movie focused on action, the plot is almost bound to suffer, not to mention this is also a remake. It holds itself well only to fall at latter parts, when the movie turns into a generic lone crusader versus an army. The script falters bits by bits, traversing in between ludicrous and gritty. It a shame since the use of gadgets and its implementation work quite well at first, but eventually it suffers as it approaches the ending. I want to give more praise for this movie since it's arguably exciting, but the flaws are apparent.