Total Recall (12/18/2012)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, some sexual content, brief nudity, and language.

Starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bill Nighy and Bokeem Woodbine

Directed by Len Wiseman (Escape From New York, Live Free or Die Hard and Underworld)

I know this is a remake and I also know that nothing new is under the sun, but come on Len Wiseman, a little creativity would have been nice.

Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he’s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life – real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

The original Total Recall wasn’t high art, but it was a fun movie with mega action-movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger. I can still vividly replay scenes in my mind…Life on Mars, the woman’s fake head exploding and of course pulling the beacon out of his nose.

Two decades later, Underworld creator Len Wiseman directs Colin Farrell through a similar story that is far less memorable. I mean visually the production is superb; the problem is it looks like half a dozen other sci-fi films. The machine-cops look exactly like the machines from I, Robot; the “train” called the Fall is right out of The Core and the world looks like an updated Blade Runner or The Fifth Element.

So what is new? Well Mars is replaced with “the colony” (Australia) because the world has been destroyed by chemical weapons that amazingly never spill over into the inhabited zone. Oh and throughout the film, it rains non-stop in Australia and the sun is always shining in England; how’s that for science fiction?

The premise of Total Recall (in case you missed the first one) is actually really cool. Imagine a machine that could implant memories directly into your brain…vacations are cheaper, dream jobs are a possibility and the most dangerous adventures are completely safe. But everything goes crazy and the action ensues. And action fans will love the chase sequences; whether its hovercars or running and jumping through the colony. But even these seem all too familiar and I was actually bored about half way through it.

Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel look good onscreen, but they needed more to make this a great movie. If this wasn’t a remake, it would be a “Coaster.” But because of nostalgia, I’ll say it’s worth watching…but “only if it’s free.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is a brief scene where a woman opens her jacket and we see 3 breasts. As far as violence there are wall-to-wall martial arts and gunfights but very few bloody or disturbing images.

There is one F-word and many S-words. There are plenty of other milder profanities.

Conversation Starter

1. Throughout the movie, Doug struggles with the “Who am I?” question. Have you ever wondered who you are? Or who you are supposed to be?


2. Did you know that there is no one else in the whole world like you?


3. The Bible also tells us that ‘When you are in Christ you are a new creation, the old has passed away.’ 2 Corinthians 5: 13.

   Read through the following verses and answer this question, “Who does the Bible say I am?”

   
   Accepted, Ephesians 1: 6
   Loved, Ephesians 1: 4
   Adopted, Ephesians 1: 5, 6
   Forgiven, Ephesians 1: 7
   A child of God, Romans 8: 16
   A friend of Jesus, John 15: 14
   Saved by grace, Ephesians 2: 8
   Chosen, John 15: 16
   Complete, Colossians 2: 10
   Redeemed, Galatians 3: 13
   Rescued, Colossians 1: 13
   Cared for, 1 Peter 5: 7
   Blessed, Ephesians 1: 3
   Healed, 1 Peter 2: 24
   Eternal, 1 John 5: 11, 12
   A new person, 2 Corinthians 5: 17
   A masterpiece, Ephesians 2: 10
   An heir, Romans 8: 17
   A temple, 1 Peter 2: 5
   An example, Ephesians 5: 1
   Declared not guilty, Romans 3: 24
   Not condemned, Romans 8: 1
   Made right with God, 2 Corinthians 5: 21
   Led by the Spirit, Romans 8: 14
   Living by faith, 2 Corinthians 5: 7
   Being transformed, Romans 12: 1, 2
   Not afraid, 2 Timothy 1: 7
   Strong in the Lord, Ephesians 6: 10
   Victorious, Romans 8: 37
   An overcomer, 1 John 4: 4
   A co-worker with God, 1 Corinthians 3: 9
   A workman, Philippians 2: 13
   One in Christ with other believers, Galatians 3: 28
   Part of the church, Ephesians 5: 29, 30


4. What can you do this week to live out these truths?