Let’s start with the Total Recall (2012) vs. Total Recall (1990) vs. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” basics.
Location:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – Earth with “dreams” of Mars – including aliens.
- Total Recall (1990) – Earth with an actual mission to Mars – including mutants and aliens.
- Total Recall (2012) – Earth – no mutants or aliens.
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Larger Conflict:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – An assassination plot on Mars.
- Total Recall (1990) – Mars Governor, Vilos Cohaagen, discovers an alien artifact that could threaten his control over exportation of Martian resources as well as Mars residents (who work and spend money under his administration). Resistance forces seek to activate the artifact and give control of Mars back to the working people.
- Total Recall (2012) – Following World War III, which leaves much of Earth uninhabitable, there are only two hospitable locations left on the planet: the wealthy United Federation of Britain and the impoverished Colony. Colony inhabitants travel to the UFB daily for work – via a massive transit vehicle, “The Fall.” Terrorist acts by alleged resistance fighters threaten a tenuous peace between the two nations – as the UFB considers military action against The Colony in order to stamp out potential future threats.
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Protagonist:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – Douglas Quail (That’s not a typo): Clerk at the West Coast Immigration Bureau who lives on Earth.
- Total Recall (1990) – Douglas “Doug” Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger): Construction worker who lives on Earth.
- Total Recall (2012) – Douglas “Doug” Quaid (Colin Farrell): Factory worker in the UFB who lives in The Colony.
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Primary Antagonist:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – Interplan: A covert government agency.
- Total Recall (1990) – Vilos Cohaagen (Ronny Cox): Corrupt Governor of Mars.
- Total Recall (2012) – Vilos Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston): War veteran turned UFB Leader.
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Wife:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – Kirsten Quail: A stand-in that was hired by Interplan.
- Total Recall (1990) – Lori Quaid (Sharon Stone): A Cohaagen Operative.
- Total Recall (2012) – Lori Quaid (Kate Beckinsale): A United Federation of Britain Operative.
Continue reading our Total Recall: 2012 vs 1990 vs… 1966 feature for a breakdown of Quaid’s love interests and identities as well as a (possible) appearance by the three-breasted woman…
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Arnold was my favorite when I was younger. After seeing the new Conan and this new Total Recall, I wish they’d stop re-doing his movies! Just stop. I’m tired of seeing awesome movies (and songs, for that matter) re-done.
In fact, just have Jason Statham do all action movies. He’s the only good one these days.
Typo: In the “Final Outcome” section, in the “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” bullet, the name “Quail” is used initially, but subsequent references (still in the 1st bullet) use the name “Quaid”.
Great comparison. Thanks!
The 1990 film was amasing for its time. A little
Though some of the visual effects and futuristic ideas were pretty cool. Over all I thought the movie was an excuse to make money off of a brilliant authors idea. And wiserman probably thought, that through association of a popular 90s movie, people will go see this movie even if its bad. Cha Ching!!
Over all I thought the movie was an excuse to make money off of a brilliant authors idea. And wiserman probably thought, that through association of a popular 90s movie, people will go see this movie even if its bad. Cha Ching!!
The 1990 film was amasing for its time. A little cheesy but good film making and good story telling. The 2012 version is terrible. Half way through my girlfriend and I just started talking about what we were going to do for valintines day. Colin ferrel is a good actor. Unfortunately, Wiserman is a terrible director and a worse film maker. He altered the story line to make the wife the main villain to give kate beckensdale (his wife) a starring role. Cgi never looks real. It is cheating for film makers in my opinion. Also, It’s becoming a new trend for bad film makers, to take someone else’s successful idea, and clone it into a passionless visual stimulation fest. The whole movie, I could sence the key grips, Hollywood employees and a director telling the the actors what to do in every scene. That’s not good film making.
Though some of the visual effects and futuristic ideas were pretty cool.
The original Total Recall is by far the better movie, hands down. The new one doesn’t even produce any intrigue or over the edge excitement. Too bad, good actors who were really desparate for a script.