Total Recall (1990)

This movie is a masterpiece of science fiction. If you suspend your disbelief, you will be in for an action lover's treat.

Director Paul Verhoeven apparently did what few others could: get Arnold Schwarzenegger to act! Actually, that is said tongue in cheek as I believe Arnie has done a fine job in quite a few movies, "Red Heat", and "Terminator", to name two.

Anyway, the premise is that Arnold (Doug Quaid) is a regular construction worker type-of-guy in the year 2084. He is married to dynamite Sharon Stone, but he has recurring dreams of Mars and a dark-haired woman. He decides to take a "mind-trip" to Mars, at "Recall", the company that specializes in drug-induced vacations. He even agrees to take a vacation from himself, choosing the program called "secret agent". While the procedure is in progress, Quaid goes berserk, killing and maiming some of the staff before he can be sedated. Not wanting to risk a lawsuit, they put Quaid in an automated "Johnny Cab", and dump him near the train station. He happens to meet one of his construction worker friends who attacks him with a gang of hitmen. From that moment it is uncertain whether Quaid is who he thinks he is, or the secret agent, or somebody else. Quaid kills the hit squad with a combination of karate and weapons he takes from them. When he gets home, his wife attacks him and another thug, played by Michael Ironside gets on his trail.

An unknown person who gives him a suitcase befriends Quaid. The final instruction is to go to Mars.

It turns out that Mars is in the throes of civil war, dominated by a warlord "Cohaagan", who controls the artificial air supply. He allows just enough air to keep the rebels alive, but not enough that they can be frisky. The rebels rely on a leader "Quato", who is revealed in a surprising plot twist. Quato shows Quaid how Cohaagan is controlling the planet's atmosphere.

In the end, Quaid is able to start the generator that was built ages ago to create oxygen for Mars.

"Total Recall" is full of dazzling special effects and good performances from the supporting cast, particularly Ironside and Rachel Ticotin, as Quaid's long lost Martian love.

Viewers who like science fiction will also want to see "Escape from New York" and "Bladerunner".






Recommended: Yes