I am totally recalling something similar to this

[Bruce Wayne]

http://techland.com/2010/10/21/colin-farrell-to-head-total-recall-remake/

 

[Undertow]

http://techland.com/2010/10/21/colin-farrell-to-head-total-recall-remake/

Hmmm, I'm wary...I like the actor, but remaking Total Recall? Is that movie already so old?

 

[The Good]

I feel like it's way too early for most of these '80s and '90s remakes... I clicked the link, and sure enough, there's a comment like this:

Oh. My. God. Are there really no more original ideas left out there!?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/bryan-cranston-total-recall-172866

 

[fnoprx]

Paul Verhoeven's original is still one of my favourite movies. One thing that will be hard for anyone to top is Verhoeven's mean streak. One thing is the violence (which will definitely not be as extreme in the remake, I think) - the other is the way he directs his actors: Verhoeven is a master in getting real aggression in his performances. Watch Michael Ironside when Arnold gets away on the train. You can almost taste the anger!

Will go see it - but right now i just want to read some more Philip K. Dick and watch the original again...

 

[AntonAAK]

I think it's a good idea. I always thought that story needed an actor in the lead.

 

[Atomic Age]

I feel like it's way too early for most of these '80s and '90s remakes... I clicked the link, and sure enough, there's a comment like this:

The Maltese Falcon was remade twice in a period of 10 years. Its never too early for a remake! LOL

Doug

 

[Doctor Strange]

Yeah, but The Maltese Falcon was remade in an era when (maybe) you saw a movie once in its original run, and then never saw it again. And there was a huge turnover in the make-up of theater audiences in ten years. Not to mention that there were no Wiki articles or fan sites - when a movie was done playing, it was GONE.

Totall Recall may be an old flick, but it seems to be on several basic cable channels about once a week - it's impossible for modern audiences to "forget" it. There's no need for a remake... except for the gutless it-made-money-once-let's-try-again thinking that's endemic to the media conglomerates that run the studios these days.

 

[Lady Day]

As long as people have the, "Ugh, another remake? Well, its only a $13 movie ticket, I guess Ill see it to see how bad it sucks." mentality, of course they will keep rehashing!

LD

 

[JakeHolman]

I think it's ripe for a remake actually, IMO is hasn't aged too well and looks and feels very 80s. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it but because of the fact i've seen it countless times on repeats then i'd be interested in seeing a different interpretation.

 

[John in Covina]

Was the Arnold version of Total Recall a form of modern Film Noir?

It's has the detective story aspects, the nightmarish amnesia aspects of trying to figure out a former life, drug induced hallucinations like Murder My Sweet, femme fatales, twists, double dealings, corruption and a touch of the resistance aspects of Key Lago and Casablanca thrown in.

The original Total Recall was a really fine action adventure with some sci-fi thrown in. It was neat because they were able to create a feel for the future time and the communities that felt plausible. It also had a near relentless drive to it where the "slow" parts just gave enough time to give you some information to put together more of the jigsaw puzzle. Also it has one of the best soundtrack / film scores I have heard.

As to a remake, what can they come up with to answer the question why? Total Recall had me wanting more at the end which is a good thing but what to do and where to take it. It might be possible to do a somewhat unrelated prequel or sequel but that would take some writing skills and imagination to put together anything that would be viable.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

[video=youtube;Exegs2yUgSc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Exegs2yUgSc[/video]

 

[Edward]

I think it's a good idea. I always thought that story needed an actor in the lead.

Somebody call the burns unit!

Yeah, Arnie was never that great an actor, though actually I think he handled this one quite well.

I think it's ripe for a remake actually, IMO is hasn't aged too well and looks and feels very 80s. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it but because of the fact i've seen it countless times on repeats then i'd be interested in seeing a different interpretation.

That's pretty much where I'm at with it too. I've herd it rumoured somewhere that this could lead to The Running Man also being remade, which I'd like to see. The original of that was fun, but I'd love to see something much closer to the book. Hell, I'd love to see all the "Richard Bachman" novels made. I know the rights have been optioned for a low-budget indie take on The Long Walk - if any of this brings that closer, I'm behind it.

I have no real objection to a film being remade if there is something new, fun and creative to be done with it. There are far too many pointless remakes, but then there are an equal proportion of 'new' films that are derivative, boring and uncreative.

Was the Arnold version of Total Recall a form of modern Film Noir?

I think you're right, yes. I'd call it a post-Blade Runner sci-fi noir. I gather the original story left the ending ambiguous as to whether what we saw happened or whether the entire thing is still in the mind of Quaid in the recall booth. I suppose they might have worried that was too Blade Runner, but I'd like to see them do that sort of thing with this one.