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Total Recall

Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Screenplay by: Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback
Based on the short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick

     You may or may not remember that this is a remake of Total Recall (1990).
     Rekall, a company that provides visitors with any memory they desire to have.  Want to experience something you'd never do in real life?  Go to Rekall and they'll remember it for you.
     After visiting Rekall, factory worker Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), starts thinking he's a spy.  But he knows that he's just a factory worker.  Or does he?  He is now forced to wonder whether the life he lives is real or not.
     The story involves a fascinating concept.  I'm a huge fan of films that keep you thinking throughout the whole story.  I like that there isn't any real distinguishing factor between what is real and what is not.  All we know is that Quaid's life changes from dream to reality, or from reality to dream.  While it is clear when the switch takes place, it is unclear in which direction this switch goes.  This lack of clarity about the situation is a big positive for the film.  There are clues throughout the film that point us to answers, but then there are other clues that lead us away from those answers.  Essentially, it feels like the film is playing a game of tug-of-war with your mind.  It's awesome how the film does that.
      Now since I'm a guy, it's hard not to enjoy a film with Kate Beckinsale.  She plays the ass-kicking woman that we see in other films like Underworld: Awakening from earlier this year.  And as always, she delivers a formidable performance playing the character you definitely wouldn't want to mess with.
      Colin Farrell delivers a less seasoned performance.  His character is one who is supposed to be the tough guy, but at the same time, weakened by this extreme dilemma he is facing.  This is not even close to his best performance.  I think he is good, but not best fit for the role.  I think this would have been a better role for someone like Jason Statham or Mark Wahlberg.
      I'm a big fan of special effects and background design.  This is a film that does both of those quite well.  The story takes place in the future in a very different world than we live in today.  The effects help develop this world in a clear way that won't leave you with questions about it.  It's a fully developed world that looks very cool so long as you don't have to live in it.
       Overall, I think this film has an excellent concept and base for a story, but it's not put together quite as well as I would have hoped.  There are many things that this film could improve on, but it's not time for another remake yet.  That can wait for like thirty years or so.
       I give Total Recall a C+.

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