Though the Summer Movie Season is slowing
down, no one can deny that August has quite a few high-profile releases to keep
audiences tantalized, but none had more of a tentative question mark
surrounding it than Total Recall. I was skeptical when it was first announced
that Colin Farrell would be assuming a role made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger,
but I had to acknowledge that there were a number of factors working in this
newest sci-fi/action offering’s favor.
Granted, I may have never seen the 1990 original, but after twenty
years, no one can argue that this remake came down the pipe too soon; add to
that the steady cinematic track record of Farrell and the high-octane
filmography of director Len Wiseman (Underworld,
Live Free or Die Hard), and Total Recall seemed primed to be an
enjoyable summer flick. The trailers
featured impressive special effects and action, and if that promise didn’t
tantalize the 18-25 male demographic, who could resist the prospect of Kate
Beckinsale and Jessica Biel appearing together as sexy femme fatales? While Total
Recall certainly had potential, I was still careful to keep my expectations
in-check.
Imaginative, visually stunning, filled with adrenaline,
and featuring fully-engaging characters, Total
Recall stands as one of the best pure science fiction films that I have
seen in recent memory, and the top contender for the biggest surprise of the
summer. The dystopian world of the
narrative is brought to life with stunning visual effects and impressive
production design, so much so that even the most skeptical of sci-fi-purists
will have to acknowledge the scale of creativity. As for the action sequences, though it does
take some time for the bullets to start flying, once all hell breaks loose, the
energy levels just do not subside. Colin
Farrell and Jessica Biel are capable protagonists, but the real standouts are
the villains, whether that involves Bryan Cranston as the tyrannical sociopath
or Kate Beckinsale as the psychopathic pursuer, one who is as deadly as she is
drop-dead gorgeous. While a few elements
of the narrative could have benefited from further refining, and it was
disappointing to see blatantly-borrowed elements from other famous films, Total Recall is still ridiculously
entertaining and should not be missed.
Overall Recommendation: High
