| Year: | 2012 |
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi |
| Starring: | Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, Bryan Cranston |
| Director: | Len Wiseman |
 |  |
| Language: Eng Runtime: 118 min Subtitles: English Resolution: 720x480 Frame Rate: 25 fps Video Bitrate: 5228 Kb/sec Audio Bitrate: 320 kbps |
Review: Fond memories of Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall kept coming back to see this remake. Arnold Schwarzenegger's screen presence was also an added advantage in 1990 movies, as well as one-liners, Mars and of course heaps of bloody violence. If you've seen the original, so you know how it goes.Len Wiseman's remake of the same name will replace Arnold with Colin Farrell in his first starring role in days, remove Mars as on the background action and replace it with an overpopulated Earth where transport from one corner to another happens, literally, right through the center of the Earth. Durable underground labyrinths red planet replaced dizzying skyscrapers and lots of sleek, flying cars, not unlike Philip K. Dick's own Blade Runner and Minority Report.Farrell can act, and certainly the undisputed leader of action, and it shows here that the beautiful ladies Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel showing off muscles and beauty over here. Alas, everything is taken too seriously in this version. I have fonder memories of the version Verhoeven / Arnold the one-liners coming post-Arnie murder. Gone. Some characters are truncated or even cut completely original. Brian Cranston's Cohaagen makes me miss more Ronny Cox, and wire resistance Bill Nighys stand out in comparison to the 1990 film. The best part is that the authors have done is to combine Sharon Stone and Michael Ironsides characters from the movie in 1990 alone, and as portrayed by Kate Beckinsale, she kicks ass here.The scenario is almost complete rehash of the original, with the exception of the installation and the final act of the film. The scene where Bokeem Woodbines character tries to convince Quaid (Farrell), where he is still in a dream, of course, an excellent scene that was very well done. Alas, the majority of the film laced with sensational action sequences and special effects (seriously, this CGI porn) to get this film was nominated for best visual effects this year. No kidding. While the rapid editing and cinematography smooth (with a little too much glare ala JJ Abrams), score and Harry Gregson-Williams was kind of bland in my opinion. It was just doing his job, and I did not care. Marco Beltrami Wheres;? Or even for that matter, his legendary mentor, the late, great Jerry Goldsmith when you need them Wiseman Director has a knack for action sequences (Underworld, Die Hard 4), and it shows in abundance here. Unfortunately, the script couldve been much better, but again, if they put it on Mars it wouldve been shot remake-in-frame with the best character, but still I wouldve like to see action on the red planet again. PG-13 rating is justified and there is actually a small tribute to the original, but overall it's not a remake of that other, as fast-paced, popcorn to munch a good waste of time, with some really good CGI chew on. HOWEVER, Id rather see again old. Arnie has a much stronger presence on screen than Farrell, and it is far more ambitious and has more heart than this sleeker, newer assessment one.Overall: 53%
