Now, let’s move on to some of the Total Recall (2012) vs. Total Recall (1990) vs. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” twists.
“Resistance” Leader:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – N/A
- Total Recall (1990) – Kuato: A baby-sized, clairvoyant, mutant attached to the belly of his brother, George, (Marshall Bell) who seeks to free Mars from Cohaagen’s control.
- Total Recall (2012) – Matthias Lair (Bill Nighy) – Innocent, but branded by Cohaagen as a terrorist, Lair hides in the European wasteland while attempting to prevent Cohaagen’s invasion of The Colony.
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“True” Love
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – N/A
- Total Recall (1990) – Melina (Rachel Ticotin): A Mars resistance fighter.
- Total Recall (2012) – Melina (Jessica Biel): A Colony resistance fighter.
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Rekall “Reality” Advocate:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – N/A
- Total Recall (1990) – Dr. Edgemar, Rekall, Incorporated President, who attempts to convince Quaid that he’s dreaming, still strapped in a chair at Rekall, and that he must take a “red pill” (likely a sedative) as proof that he wants out of the dream.
- Total Recall (2012) – Harry (Bokeem Woodbine), Quaid’s best friend and co-worker at the factory, who claims that Quaid is stuck in his fantasy at Rekall and on the verge of a psychotic breakdown. Harry asserts that Quaid must execute Melina in order to prepare his mind for extraction.
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“True” Identity:
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – Douglas Quail: An Interplan assassin.
- Total Recall (1990) – Hauser: Cohaagen’s friend and gun for hire.
- Total Recall (2012) – Hauser: A UFB Agent turned resistance fighter.
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Three-Breasted Woman
- “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966) – N/A
- Total Recall (1990) – Check: Mary (Played by Lycia Naff) – a mutant.
- Total Recall (2012) – Check: The Seductive Woman (Played by Kaitlyn Leeb) – a woman that, presumably, augmented her body through futuristic plastic surgery.
Continue reading our Total Recall: 2012 vs 1990 vs… 1966 feature for an analysis of Quaid’s “true” mission as well as each story’s outcome…
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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.