TOTAL RECALL
RYAN: Twelve years ago, in 1990, Arnie Schwarzenegger was a movie star, not a politico. The Governator was The Terminator and one of his more popular films was Total Recall.
CAROLINE: Thanks for the history lesson. How was this remake?
RYAN: Sexier, cooler, and better than the original.
CAROLINE: Wow ok. I barely remember the original aside from that Sharon Stone costarred. The babes in this one are Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. How were they?
RYAN: They’re both so friggin’ hot! Seriously they have perfect bodies. So does Colin Farrell, btw. He’s redefining abtastic.
CAROLINE: Well that explains the sexiness.
RYAN: It is a very sleek, sexy film. Not sexual; but they’re all hot actors which, LBH, let’s be honest, never hurts to look at for a couple hours. But the merits beyond the eye candy are varied as well.
CAROLINE: Such as?
RYAN: It’s a good sci fi story. And they’ve changed it a bit from the original. It’s based on a short story and I don’t know which is more true to that but I actually preferred the story changes in the remake. Instead of going to Mars, they travel through the center of the earth to opposing continents.
CAROLINE: That’s cool. Remakes have to overcome comparisons… it certainly helps when it’s a little different.
RYAN: I can imagine some people who love the original being perturbed that this one is different. But I’m not a diehard Arnie fan so I was pretty open. I also love sci fi as a genre. And this story is heavy on the sci fi. The writing was a bit cheesy in the first twenty minutes or so while you’re adjusting to the world this takes place in but once the first twist hits… it’s full steam ahead and I was into it.
CAROLINE: Do you think I would have liked it?
RYAN: I think you would have liked most of it. It’s really a boy movie though. It’s action and fighting and robots and basically a rogue spy meets Star Wars type of thing.
CAROLINE: Yeah I’d be more into the spy story than the Star Wars for sure.
RYAN: The effects and sets and scenic design are phenom. Effects improve so much and so continually that this looks so much cooler than the 1990 original too.
CAROLINE: Yeah that’s gotta be true. How’s Colin?
RYAN: He’s good. He’s not the greatest actor on earth but he’s pretty and I don’t mind him as an action star. Kate kicks butt, no surprise since she does all of those Underworld films. Her husband directed this, btw.
CAROLINE: And what about JT’s fiancee?
RYAN: I really liked Jessica in this. I don’t really consider her a great actress but she’s much better in this than in some other things she’s done.
CAROLINE: I’m glad you enjoyed it.
RYAN: I did. It’s not as brilliant or big as a movie like The Dark Knight Rises. But for true sci fi fans, there is plenty to sink your teeth into here. And I liked it more than the original so there you have it.
— RATING —
