Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale & Jessica Biel
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Written by: Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Action
No spoilers here!
Well, it’s taken awhile to post my first movie discommendation. However, if you can read inbetween the lines, I suppose my previous postings on THE AVENGERS (2012) were discommendations too. When I decided to launch my blog, I pledged to myself to make sure I mentioned stuff I do not like too. I guess after listening to NPR radio for many years (which I do not any more due to political reasons), I always found it odd that they only reviewed movies or music which they liked. I never heard anything negative. Their reviews always seemed too smug, like they found the holy grail or they found a hidden gem or something way too hip for you or me. However, everything cannot be a winner. Have some stones and take a stand. Which leads me to this posting…
Against my better judgement, I rented TOTAL RECALL starring Colin Farrel. For lack of originality, I give it an A+. Not too shabby. It reminded me of a hodgepodge, a mish-mash, of many other sci-fi films since it borrowed components from other movies like BLADE RUNNER, STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES, I, ROBOT and UNDERWORLD. I quite don’t understand when directors decide to remake movies when their visions are lackluster. There is no excuse, especially when it’s based on great source material like Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.”
On a separate note, it goes to show you how Ridley Scott’s BLADE RUNNER (1982) sets the barometer on futuristic landscapes. It is the standard and in my opinion, the most influential movie on representing life in the future. It is the reference for ALL other filmmakers who decide to dive into the future. Director Len Wiseman’s version of TOTAL RECALL is proof positive.
My advice is to stick with Arnold Schwarengger’s 1990 version instead. Skip 2012. After all, it wasn’t a good year for many reasons if I recall.
