Over the years I've heard a lot of Arnie behind the scenes, buying scripts, hiring special effects teams, getting directors on board etc. And he basically saved, and initiated a lot of his movies. The man had brains and vision!
Don't let the steroid pumped body fool you, he's a smart guy. He made a million in real estate before he was getting (multi) million dollar pay packets for his movies.
@@johnpotts8308 I agree, he didn't luck his way to success, he's a self made man and that used his brain to get where he got, as much or more than he ever used his muscles. And as we all know he's not a skinny guy
I'll take up that challenge. A man's actions are informed by his intentions. A man's intentions are informed by his thoughts. A man's thoughts are informed by what he believes about himself vis-à-vis the world. A man's beliefs are informed by the totality of his experiences. The totality of a man's experiences are held in his memory. Therefore a man's actions are informed (aka defined) by his memories.
imo it's just a low budget movie with cheap props and decors. And the most hilarious part is when arnold is outside on mars and his head and eyes almost popped like an over inflated balloon and then recovers as nothing happend when the air is released over the planet. Now i liked the movie back in the days but looking at it now i think it's cheap made and silly as hell.
@@3DPeter meanwhile, the Oscars didn't even have a best special effects category that year, they just did a behind the scenes segment of all the new special effects used in Total Recall and then handed it the Oscar 🙄
@@straightfacts5352 dude memories are an internal process nobody has access to. We can judge a person by the expression of his internal processes. Such expressions are his word and his actions.
As an 80's kid Arnie's movies were always the primo action flicks, he really did do a pretty decent job of picking and choosing what to be in. Predator, Terminator, Conan, and Total Recall all are fun to watch again today.
Fun fact: The group shower scene almost didn't happen in Starship Troopers. The cast was uncomfortable shooting the co-ed shower scene nude together. The cast in the scene said they wouldn't do it unless Paul himself was also nude. Paul Verhoeven immediately stripped off all his clothes in front of everyone, and continued working normally. The cast was stunned by his lack of hesitation, and boldness. They all agreed to film the shower scene. And Paul directed the entire scene while nude behind the camera. The scene itself required several takes until Director Paul Verhoeven was satisfied.
Well I believe he is Dutch, and many places in Europe consider nudity in a much less sexualized manner. He had probably been to nude beaches growing up and such But that is a pretty cool story, thanks!
My favorite part is when the guy tells him he is still in the simulation and he has to take a red pill to wake up from the simulation. But it's just a trick and the pill will just kill him. A great metaphor for the red pilled movement. A con man lying to someone so they do something that will destroy them lol. The red pill was from Total Recall and not the Matrix this whole time 😂
One thing I do appreciate about the movie Paul Verhovenen make is that his movie can be enjoyed on multiple levels. For example Robo Cop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers are just as enjoyable if you watch them as strait forward action movies where good guys beat up the bad guys. As if you watch the same movies as commentaries on politics and society.
Yes! They went from some of my favorite ultra-violent action movies as a kid, to being my favorite political satire films as an adult. I picked up on a bit of the satire in Starship Troopers as a kid, but it really hit me fully on my adult revisits.
The good guys don't beat up the bad guys in Starship Troopers. The good guys (aliens) get massacred by the bad guys (space Nazis) then the film ends! The film cannot be enjoyed any way other than a political satire, which is why I don't like it.
Arnold made this movie happen with his influence and made sure that the cast and crew were still in high spirits despite the injuries and illnesses. Must have been a fun set to be on.
I've watched this movie so many times I can't even count. I can still watch it back to back and I still love it. One of my most favorite movies ever made.
The thing that really bugged me about the remake was that it was a story where the world was a wasteland and only the UK and Australia survived. Yet everyone was American. They even had an Irish actor who could have easily been written as originally from Ireland and managed to get to the UK (far closer than the US) its just a bizarre choice. Original is the far superior film
I can buy Australia missing out on a global nuclear war, but the UK is top of a few hit lists. Could have kept the Mars theme and had them teleporting to "The Colony" on Mars. So many better options. But I guess they thought that drop train thing was cool??
@@LettersAndNumbers300 Exactly. Just like the RoboCop remake. Instantly forgettable and missing everything that made the originals great in the first place.
Like the commentator said, it was the "star power" of Dick Tracy they were afraid of, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna(who was big at that time) so that comment made sense if you know the cast of Dick Tracy
Just goes to show William Goldman was right: nobody in Hollyweird knows anything. All the "top execs" are flying by the seats of their pants, and a monkey flipping a coin could do their job.
But why NOT avoid releasing the film the same week as another hugely-hyped film guaranteed to diminish key demographic attendance? Even if Dick Tracey would only have stolen 5% of the takings, that's 5% of a lot of money. Why NOT avoid this? Some teenagers only go to the cinema every couple of weeks - why make them choose?
I remember going to see "Total Recall" with my dad in a second run theater. We also saw "Beck to the Future III" I think the same week, or somewhere close to it. It was a great movie summer for an 11 year old.
Father/son action movie theater days are among some of my favorite memories as well. No mom, no sisters, just dudes. If I may share, one I'll never forget was The Matrix with my pops opening weekend when I was 15, and no trailers or anything, just a recommendation from my godfather. We had no idea what we were getting into. I still remember walking out of that theater.
Ha! Me too!!! Me and my dad and brothers never missed a great action movie!!! Mom would make snacks for us to sneak in, and we always had cans of caffeine free Pepsi. I miss the 80s...so so much.
No one has been able to capture this particular mix of wit, satire, sarcasm, invention, and wonderment in science fiction since the days of Verhoeven's trilogy. The closest I can think of are maybe "District 9" or "The Boys", but even those have a totally different tone and timing. I'd give anything to see Verhoeven come back to the genre. We need him!
It's cool but there's no such thing as "80s orchestration." What you're hearing is the writing style of Jerry Goldsmith, who pretty much consistently produced his music in such a way, often incorporating synth or modulation into cues throughout the 70s, 80s 90s and 00s, before his death.
@@_Quint_ the small soldiers soundtrack is a great example of this. Also done by Jerry Goldsmith, with remarkably similar structure, style and sound. Still sounds great mind you!
One of the most memorable music opening, the names at the beginning, the red hue lights all over the place. Man I remember this film when i watched in the cinema for 1st time and I was blown. I have this masterpiece at 4k and it is still has better visual effects than most recent garbage out there.
I may be in the minority, but to me, Total Recall is the movie that most feels like a Philip K Dick story. His stories are most famous for their mind-bending questions about reality and identity, but his worlds often include elements that are weird even within the story. Adaptations tend to cut these out in favour of focusing on the big questions (e.g. Blade Runner cuts out elements like the mood organs and the electric sheep), and Total Recall is the only one I can think of that really embraces them.
Pause for a moment and realize just how influential Phillip K Dick has been. Science fiction has always been my favorite and most read genre since discovering Ursula Le Guin and Robert Heinlein when I was 12. An example: I am Legend was an amazing book and it has been fun to see the myriad of adaptions over the decades. Science fiction tackles themes and issues that regular prose cannot. In my opinion.
@@jakobrandel8105 I seem to recall from many years ago reading The Chronicles of Amber. Something about following a complex maze to transport between worlds? Don't remember much more but thanks for the suggestion. Orson Scott Card produced some very good reads. Herbert's son, Brian, with Kevin J Anderson has been fleshing out the Dune universe and I was glad and surprised to discover those novels just a few years ago. Well, the list is more lengthy than I have time for. Thanks again.
@@NeonGarlic Fair enough. For me I found Tolkien to be boring. I almost got stabbed for saying that. Well, not really just glared at in shock and horror for days. I love the themes and characters of Tolkien but the prose made me sleepy. Take care.
In going with the everyman angle, I did notice that throughout the movie, Arnold wears a lot of loose, baggy clothes that help hide his beefy physique.
It was also a good choice to change his occupation from desk clerk to construction worker. Even with oversized clothes I doubt audiences would buy him as an office worker type, haha.
Total recall is such a gem, rewatched it a few months ago still get chills when the doctor tries to convince Quade to eat the pill. Such a brilliant scene in a movie with endless stand out moments.
Paul Verhoeven is probably the most underrated living auteur director. Big fan of ALL his movies. Even his questionable ones are directed with a sadistic artistic glee. I wish he’d come back to Hollywood and jump into a DC film. 🍿🍿🍿
I would satirize the characters just as he did with Starship Troopers. I'd love to see his take on Judge Dredd. He'd be able to finally make an adaptation true to the original irony of the character.
@@jal051 "Judge Dredd" With Verhoeven at the wheel, and assuming he could get or license the rights, I'd bet you a six pack that Karl Urban would clamor to reprise the role, and he'd do it for scale if that's what it took to get it on budget. Dredd has overt shared elements of Robocop and Troopers, which seems like a great fit for old Paul, and I would see it opening day. I'm just mildly concerned that it would be a little on the nose. But only just mildly, because good lord there's a lot to satirize these days.
Definitely a favourite of mine, and without going into grisly detail let's just say that Sharon Stone's performance in this movie was.. influential on me growing up. Ay, and indeed, Caramba.
My buddy used to work at a video store back in the 90s. He could rent us free movies, and every damn week id come in, and he would just just give me a nod, and hand me the total recall tape. He was , and still is a damn good friend.
There was an article in StarLog about the production, and one of the selling point was that Sharon Stone and Rachel Tichotin were having “real” fights. They specifically said “we throw punches, and kicks. No scratches or hair pulling. This isn’t a cat fight.” Also, Gul Dukat is in this movie too!:)
@@ralphpal he is the head of security in the customs scene. He’s the one that yells “THEY’RE ALL CONNECTED!” When Michael Ironsides wants him to open the shutters and doors.
I love this movie and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I didn't know he was so invested and actually made the movie possible in the first place. Now I love them even more
I have seen this movie more times than I can count. There were about 5 or 6 times during your video that I wished I could hit "Like" again, and realized, to my dismay, that I already had. Bravo, Sir. Gloriously informative and beautifully edited, as usual! 👏🎉
My Uncle used to love this movie. He was the cool Uncle who had all the gadgets, cars and toys. I would sleep at his house and watch movies all night. He was one of the coolest people ive ever met in my life. Turns out he was one of the biggest heroin dealers in Milwaukee/Chicago area so thats why he had everything he wanted. He went away to prison for 15 years and passed away a few years after getting out. I miss him all the time and am thankful I had an uncle like that. This movie really stood out to me because of all the sci-fi weirdness. Anytime I see this movie I get that nostalgia of hanging at my uncles all comfy under the blankets, snowing outside and watching movies all night.
I remember seeing this movie in a theater. I loved it back the and I still do now. Everything about this movie is great. I still watch from time to time. Thanks for the taking the time to make a video about it, great job!
I went on a three-jumbo-jet private convoy to rome, and I didn't use to drink water back then. I was the only one on the returning trip who wasn't sick. Something about the absorption of locality by water, not actual contaminants in the water. One must adjust to the locality by eating solid substances for a few weeks before the body will accept the water.
Verhoeven had that grit and dirt and vision that the project needed. It's great to see Arnold recognized that wanting him involved. Never knew Arnold was actually involved much more than being the lead actor. This version is a classic.
What a great era the 80s was for sci fi action movies, Terminator , predator , total recall . I think i appreciate these movies even more now . Although these movies at the time may have got mixed reviews initially with time they have became classics.
I love this film. I think I first saw it in the early 90s and I must have seen it a dozen times. One of those films that's on late at night on ITV2 that I can't help watching and then it's suddenly 1am! 😂 So many fantastic, classic, funny lines throughout. Thanks for uploading this, it was an interesting watch.
Probably my favourite Verhoven movie. Love the uncertainty of the ending and the extreme violence, though still there, isn't quite as extreme as RoboCop. Another excellent video
[Spoiler?] One thing that I liked from the movie was that Quaid was the artificial personality was a better, more heroic person that the original real person. A nice irony that gums up the villain's evil plans. Also, the visit from the Doctor and Lori (Quaid's wife) that slows the movie down while we go through this alternative idea that Quaid is having a Schizoid Embolism. That was a nick phildickian touch to the story.
A friend of mine was in collage not too long after this movie came out. He said someone from the movie gave a speech at the campus. I thought he said the director but it was a long time ago. Whoever it was stated that he had the movie fade to white at the end to represent Quaid waking up in the chair, getting everything he paid for.
I watched Total Recall 2070 when it first aired and I loved it. I never missed a single episode. It was like this excellent mash-up of Blade Runner and Total Recall, with a little of other sci-fi classics sprinkled in, and had excellent production values. The show itself was arc based with good, coherent individual stories for each episode, much like the RDM Battlestar Galactica, so quite ahead of its time for a 90s show. It follows a detective in the CPB, or Citizen's Protection Bureau, who is assigned an android partner. Because his society and culture are so prejudiced and hate androids, he is too, and he begins the series with an antagonistic relationship with his android partner, but he eventually begins to trust and even like his partner when he is revealed to be more like Data in TNG than Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner; the android is just trying to figure out what being human means and what it means to be alive and live life. The main thrust of the series was the cops investigating the various goings on at the various mega-corporations that rule the future of 2070, with lots of intrigue and conspiracies. The storyline was quite involved and complex, and I imagine TV executives hated it because of that and the arc based nature. The last episode even ended ion a devastating cliffhanger based on build-up of the plot over the season that never got resolved, and I still think about to this very day. The series only had a few short scenes set on Mars, and I had the feeling they were keeping their powder dry and were going to have more scene set on Mars in later seasons. Overall, a really excellent show that deserved 6 season and a movie if any show ever did.
I also wanted to say that I would *love* a retrospective of Total Recall 2070 as a totally-forgotten-about hidden gem sci-fi noir. I wonder if the name helped tank it and it would have been better off called something different.
YOU SIR WOULD BE A PROPHET FOR SOME SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD! LOVE YOU FOR WRITING THIS PERFECT BODERLINE POEM YOU DID FOR ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL WORKS OF FILM MAKING THAT ONE LOOK OF IT AND PEOPLE NEVER FORGET FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES ' CALIBRE ' OF PROJECTS. LIKE FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR AND ' BRAINSTORM' AND TRON . KUDOS AND MUCH LOVE FOR BEING YOU. WISH COULD GIVE YOU THE ' RUSSIAN EDIT ' OF CALIGULA FOR BEING A PROPHET FOR SOME OF THE LOST SOULS OF THIS WORLD NOW😚 😁😁😁
I can't even begin to say how much I love your channel. I grew up on VHS, and when DVD introduced "making of" and behind the scenes, I went insane. No literally insane. Your channel is now what I crave, for somehow even in the Bluray age all directors and producers (besides Peter Jackson, who thinks seven tenths of making a movie is the behind the scenes... scenes, thank goodness) no longer waste the waste of digital space with all the waste they wasted when... making movies. Which I love. Not drunk enough yet damn, sorry. FANTASTIC channel, the best. Thank you for your hard work and research, best wishes always.
Such a great, violent, gory entertaining movie, classic Verhoeven. Being a soundtrack lover, Jerry Goldsmith's score is also exceptional, as he obviously tries changing things up, being 'not being Jerry Goldsmith' and it works. 16:42 Love this shot! I recall feeling vertigo in the theatre, really putting me in the movie.
Such an under rated movie. So fun and interesting. I feel like a lot of the "80s action movies" are smarter than they're givin credit for. Especially when seeing what happens to all these movies in the remakes.
Great retrospective, Rowan. One of my favorite Ahnold films. Awesome title sequence and soundtrack by Goldsmith that I played alot when I would draw. Great action, hot women, awesome set pieces, what's not to love?
Some great info here. Just increased my respect for Arnie. Appreciated the props to all the actors, perfect casting. Ironside is so fun to watch and deserved more accolades in his career. Rob Bottin too..what a win getting him on board. And the scale of the practical effects. Wow. Love Verhoeven’s energy and satirical angle. The only thing not mentioned is the tribute to Forbidden Planet where we see a recreation of one of its shots of the alien interior. 🤙🏼
You know, there's two 80's/90's movies I would recommend to show what the psyche of a bloke is; this and Weird Science! I love this flick. The film's exploration of male fantasy, with Arnie's casting as the cherry on top, is so fascinating. You can watch the movie as another Schwarzenegger action movie, or peel the layers back and explore its themes on the nature of reality as much as you like!
I can say as a 44 Y/O Old Bag that the Visual Effect when Arnold can't breathe and start to turn into a Crab is memorable and is a scene I'll take to the Grave!!! Well Done!!!
The TV series, Total Recall 2070 was spectacular, I was very sad when it got canceled, especially after that cliffhanger. However the last episode was amazing and even though I haven't watched it in years, the quotes still ring in my mind!
watched Total Recall for the first time a few weeks ago because this video was coming out! It's a really fun and interesting movie. Thanks for another great video
Saw this in theatre in a mega mall with a friend, both under the influence of a hallucinogen.. needless to say we both experienced the sensation that reality was still Total Recall after we left. ;)
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. You think this is the real Quade?... It is." My brother and I roared with laughter at that part. We were watching it on a VCR and we had to keep backing it up and re watching because we were laughing so hard, we couldn't make out what was said next. It took a dozen or more views to wear out the funny and we could actually hear what was happening. Good times.
I don't think I saw this in the theatre/cinema, but watched it countless times on VHS and cable. My favorite Arnold film, with Predator and Conan close behind. BTW, please review the Conan films. 😉
Bombastic, bold, hugely entertaining and such a charismatic and super-fun movie. The very serious remake had almost none of its towering qualities and came across to me as almost self-important. There are some truly magnificent movies getting made these days and movie making has evolved and advanced in many exciting and excellent ways but WHAT an incredible job Paul Verhoeven and James Cameron and John McTiernen did back then.
The last time I saw Total Recall was at a Boyz Weekend with my high school buddies at one of their cottages. We still love the 80's as that's when we met. We watched Total Recall and chuckled at some of the typical Schwarzenegger one liners. Still, there was something solid about this movie. Thank you Rowan for your perspective and research into your analysis of this iconic SF movie! I agree with you about the remake of Total Recall. I didn't see it (and still have not) mainly because it reeked of yet another "lets remake a popular movie from the past" instead of, like you said, creating an original movie with a different title. Hopefully Hollywood wakes up one day and realizes all these reboots and reimagines are not turning a profit and only alienating us GenX guys who just want escapism like we had in the 80's and 90's movies.
Do you have any plans to make this into a recurring series? If so may I suggest John Carpenter for a rundown of his films? I mainly ask this as I want to see you do a retrospective of Big Trouble In Little China.
I love how Total Recall and Robocop are both highbrow science fiction disguised as witty, absurd, over-the-top gorefests. They make you laugh at them, they make you laugh with them, and then they make you think. You leave the theater talking about their ideas and their implications. The level of violence in both films would not be acceptable to most if the tone of either film was more serious. The idea that Mr. Universe married to Sharon Stone could be an everyman only works with a huge wink at the audience. early on, you're like, "OK, so it's that kind of movie." Then the script sneaks the big ideas into your head despite the crazy antics on the screen. It ends with perfect ambiguity that keeps viewers arguing to this day. It's a real masterpiece. it's no wonder both the Robocop and Total Recall reboots were failures. They weren't a tenth as entertaining.
Totally agree with Goldsmith's score reminding you of Basil Poledouris. Whenever I rewatch the movie, the opening credits remind me it's not Poledouris, because I always think it is up to that point.
Apparently Verhoeven insisted on the similarities to Poledouris' 'Conan The Barbarian' in the opening credits cue. Which is ironic, since Poledouris was obviously asked by John Milius to use a similar idea to Goldsmith's 'Capricorn One' for that film. So it's questionable as to which piece of music is bearing more influence from another.
Total Recall is one of my favorites as it was able to successfully immerse the viewer with its scenery and score. It was the epitome of an 80's big budget action flick by being violent, funny, and taking itself seriously enough to present an immersive story with all of its fantastic world building. It was a far superior product to the lackluster remake that Hollywood put out 25 years later. In fact, I cant recall a single remake that Hollywood has created in the last 20 years that has been better than the original.
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Not that it matters much, but fyi, in your description it says that Robocop was released in 1978. But it was released in 1987.
@@shsrpr I was about to post the exact same thing ;-)
I'm glad to see you mention Total Recall 2070. I mentioned that to you a while back. It's nice to see the reference.
'In 1978 RoboCop hit the big screen.' ........... did it ?
Where’s Part 1 ?
Over the years I've heard a lot of Arnie behind the scenes, buying scripts, hiring special effects teams, getting directors on board etc. And he basically saved, and initiated a lot of his movies. The man had brains and vision!
Don't let the steroid pumped body fool you, he's a smart guy. He made a million in real estate before he was getting (multi) million dollar pay packets for his movies.
@@johnpotts8308 I agree, he didn't luck his way to success, he's a self made man and that used his brain to get where he got, as much or more than he ever used his muscles. And as we all know he's not a skinny guy
@@johnpotts8308 wasn't he a brick layer?
@@toomanyaccounts He's had several jobs (including bricklayer and selling dietary supplements), but it was real estate that made him rich
@@nicosmind3 He doesn't like the term "self made". Nobody can make it alone.
I rewatched Total Recall a few days ago, and about 10 minutes in I joyfully exclaimed, “oh my god, this movie is so fucking awesome!”
It’s the best of the three, and one of the best movies ever made. It’s so good that it makes me emotional.
@@wabznasm9660
“what have you been feeding this thing?”
“Blondes.”
…a tear comes to my eye.
It sure is.
Ditto, what an amazing film....and I loved the intro music....
Join the club my friend.. Join the club.
"see you at the party Rictor!!" and he throws off the severed arms of Rictor down the elevator shaft. Love it
This scene always has me laughing!
lol i say this to my cuz all the time
He came to the party unarmed
(not my joke)
Still the insult my friends group uses during intense video game battles 🤣
Classic lines!
"SEE YOU AT DA PARTY RICHTA!"
"Conseeder id a deevorce!"
"Twoooo weeeeeks!"
Total Recall is a MASTERPIECE. "You are what you do; a man is defined by his actions, not his memories."
I'll take up that challenge.
A man's actions are informed by his intentions.
A man's intentions are informed by his thoughts.
A man's thoughts are informed by what he believes about himself vis-à-vis the world.
A man's beliefs are informed by the totality of his experiences.
The totality of a man's experiences are held in his memory.
Therefore a man's actions are informed (aka defined) by his memories.
imo it's just a low budget movie with cheap props and decors. And the most hilarious part is when arnold is outside on mars and his head and eyes almost popped like an over inflated balloon and then recovers as nothing happend when the air is released over the planet. Now i liked the movie back in the days but looking at it now
i think it's cheap made and silly as hell.
@@3DPeter meanwhile, the Oscars didn't even have a best special effects category that year, they just did a behind the scenes segment of all the new special effects used in Total Recall and then handed it the Oscar 🙄
@@straightfacts5352 "informed" is not even a synonym for "defined." I'm not sure where you heard that "informed" is also known as "defined." 🤣🤣🤣
@@straightfacts5352 dude memories are an internal process nobody has access to. We can judge a person by the expression of his internal processes. Such expressions are his word and his actions.
Total Recall, Robocop and Starship Troopers are among the best films ever made. Doing remakes of them are beyond insane.
to say nothing of the s****y sequels to RoboCop. Nothing that follows is worthy of the original.
you right and the same for the omen west side story
I totally agree. Besides the fact that it is completely unnecessary, it's also disrepectful...
Basic Instinct is my personal favorite amongst Verhoven’s films
I never realised how they are a similar genre
As an 80's kid Arnie's movies were always the primo action flicks, he really did do a pretty decent job of picking and choosing what to be in. Predator, Terminator, Conan, and Total Recall all are fun to watch again today.
hes not stupid and made mad money. he made the hummer a thing.
Only The Terminator holds up, and AS had all of 32 words.
those great days are long gone..... so sad.
Fun fact:
The group shower scene almost didn't happen in Starship Troopers. The cast was uncomfortable shooting the co-ed shower scene nude together. The cast in the scene said they wouldn't do it unless Paul himself was also nude.
Paul Verhoeven immediately stripped off all his clothes in front of everyone, and continued working normally. The cast was stunned by his lack of hesitation, and boldness. They all agreed to film the shower scene. And Paul directed the entire scene while nude behind the camera. The scene itself required several takes until Director Paul Verhoeven was satisfied.
haaaahahahaaaa...ended it with satisfied
Well I believe he is Dutch, and many places in Europe consider nudity in a much less sexualized manner. He had probably been to nude beaches growing up and such
But that is a pretty cool story, thanks!
"satisfied"? or "happy end"?
I don't mind doing the coed shower scene!
Yeah, yeah we all saw the documentary also
Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers = the ultimate box set.
add some beers and fried chicken, you got a lads night in!
I often play them as a marathon.
Yes, indeed.
Yes but in what order should you watch it for the ultimate experience
I'd like to nominate Edge of Tomorrow as a candidate for consideration in this ultimate box set, outstanding movie also. 🎥🎬📺
Total Recall is a Masterpiece from a long gone time of movies. A true classic....
I didn't know it had a scene with someone offering someone to leave a simulation a red pill lol
I feel it is Arnold's best movie.
The original Total Recall film was nothing short of brilliant...it truly is one of the best sci-fi films ever.
My favorite part is when the guy tells him he is still in the simulation and he has to take a red pill to wake up from the simulation. But it's just a trick and the pill will just kill him.
A great metaphor for the red pilled movement. A con man lying to someone so they do something that will destroy them lol.
The red pill was from Total Recall and not the Matrix this whole time 😂
One thing I do appreciate about the movie Paul Verhovenen make is that his movie can be enjoyed on multiple levels. For example Robo Cop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers are just as enjoyable if you watch them as strait forward action movies where good guys beat up the bad guys. As if you watch the same movies as commentaries on politics and society.
Yes! They went from some of my favorite ultra-violent action movies as a kid, to being my favorite political satire films as an adult. I picked up on a bit of the satire in Starship Troopers as a kid, but it really hit me fully on my adult revisits.
In addition, they tend to be a great breakdown of real world violence while also having fun with a bunch of filmic violence.
Not to mention Arnie and his ridiculous/amazing one-liners!
Modern movie makers can certainly learn a lesson.
The good guys don't beat up the bad guys in Starship Troopers. The good guys (aliens) get massacred by the bad guys (space Nazis) then the film ends! The film cannot be enjoyed any way other than a political satire, which is why I don't like it.
Arnold made this movie happen with his influence and made sure that the cast and crew were still in high spirits despite the injuries and illnesses. Must have been a fun set to be on.
It´s just so goofy to see Arnold pretend to be an average construction worker.
"Yeah this muscles are normal airrghhh"
The fact that the movie’s ending is still being debated today shows how much it makes you think.
Quade did in the chair! The movie is the simulation!
@@ANTIStraussian wrong. Quade is real, he worked for Cohaagen and then switched sides. A man is defined by his actions.
Right? Its not just "action" movie like generic 20th century action movies. It make rambo, 007, commando, robocop, alien, etc like a pg rated movies.
One of the wierd things today, I cann't help but noticed how it somewhat mirrors waht is going on in Israel today with Gaza.
I saw it 3 times at the cinemas and I’ve watched it many times since. An absolutely legendary film that I will never get tired of..
I've watched this movie so many times I can't even count. I can still watch it back to back and I still love it. One of my most favorite movies ever made.
The thing that really bugged me about the remake was that it was a story where the world was a wasteland and only the UK and Australia survived. Yet everyone was American. They even had an Irish actor who could have easily been written as originally from Ireland and managed to get to the UK (far closer than the US) its just a bizarre choice. Original is the far superior film
And it was missing all of the social satire!
I can buy Australia missing out on a global nuclear war, but the UK is top of a few hit lists. Could have kept the Mars theme and had them teleporting to "The Colony" on Mars. So many better options. But I guess they thought that drop train thing was cool??
There’s a remake?
@@LettersAndNumbers300 Exactly. Just like the RoboCop remake. Instantly forgettable and missing everything that made the originals great in the first place.
It‘s just so bland
In retrospect, the Total Recall distributors being afraid of Dick Tracy is absolutely HILARIOUS 😆
Dick Tracy booooooommmmmbed.
Same thoughts here.
Like the commentator said, it was the "star power" of Dick Tracy they were afraid of, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna(who was big at that time) so that comment made sense if you know the cast of Dick Tracy
Just goes to show William Goldman was right: nobody in Hollyweird knows anything. All the "top execs" are flying by the seats of their pants, and a monkey flipping a coin could do their job.
But why NOT avoid releasing the film the same week as another hugely-hyped film guaranteed to diminish key demographic attendance? Even if Dick Tracey would only have stolen 5% of the takings, that's 5% of a lot of money. Why NOT avoid this? Some teenagers only go to the cinema every couple of weeks - why make them choose?
I remember going to see "Total Recall" with my dad in a second run theater. We also saw "Beck to the Future III" I think the same week, or somewhere close to it. It was a great movie summer for an 11 year old.
Father/son action movie theater days are among some of my favorite memories as well. No mom, no sisters, just dudes. If I may share, one I'll never forget was The Matrix with my pops opening weekend when I was 15, and no trailers or anything, just a recommendation from my godfather. We had no idea what we were getting into. I still remember walking out of that theater.
I remember watching Basic Instinct in junior high.
Ha! Me too!!! Me and my dad and brothers never missed a great action movie!!! Mom would make snacks for us to sneak in, and we always had cans of caffeine free Pepsi. I miss the 80s...so so much.
No one has been able to capture this particular mix of wit, satire, sarcasm, invention, and wonderment in science fiction since the days of Verhoeven's trilogy. The closest I can think of are maybe "District 9" or "The Boys", but even those have a totally different tone and timing. I'd give anything to see Verhoeven come back to the genre. We need him!
5:52 that theme always gives me chills. It’s perfect, and perfectly 80s.
It's cool but there's no such thing as "80s orchestration." What you're hearing is the writing style of Jerry Goldsmith, who pretty much consistently produced his music in such a way, often incorporating synth or modulation into cues throughout the 70s, 80s 90s and 00s, before his death.
@@_Quint_ the small soldiers soundtrack is a great example of this. Also done by Jerry Goldsmith, with remarkably similar structure, style and sound.
Still sounds great mind you!
One of the most memorable music opening, the names at the beginning, the red hue lights all over the place. Man I remember this film when i watched in the cinema for 1st time and I was blown. I have this masterpiece at 4k and it is still has better visual effects than most recent garbage out there.
You forget sometimes just how high a success ratio Arnold had back then.
I may be in the minority, but to me, Total Recall is the movie that most feels like a Philip K Dick story. His stories are most famous for their mind-bending questions about reality and identity, but his worlds often include elements that are weird even within the story. Adaptations tend to cut these out in favour of focusing on the big questions (e.g. Blade Runner cuts out elements like the mood organs and the electric sheep), and Total Recall is the only one I can think of that really embraces them.
U can never beat physical sets! Beautiful looking.
Pause for a moment and realize just how influential Phillip K Dick has been. Science fiction has always been my favorite and most read genre since discovering Ursula Le Guin and Robert Heinlein when I was 12. An example: I am Legend was an amazing book and it has been fun to see the myriad of adaptions over the decades. Science fiction tackles themes and issues that regular prose cannot. In my opinion.
Ever read Roger Zelanzy? I just finished Lords of Light and if you like PKD and UL you might dig him too.
@@jakobrandel8105 I seem to recall from many years ago reading The Chronicles of Amber. Something about following a complex maze to transport between worlds? Don't remember much more but thanks for the suggestion. Orson Scott Card produced some very good reads. Herbert's son, Brian, with Kevin J Anderson has been fleshing out the Dune universe and I was glad and surprised to discover those novels just a few years ago. Well, the list is more lengthy than I have time for. Thanks again.
@@mikeyh0 I tried to get into Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson Dune books, but honestly, they were kinda boring.
@@NeonGarlic Fair enough. For me I found Tolkien to be boring. I almost got stabbed for saying that. Well, not really just glared at in shock and horror for days. I love the themes and characters of Tolkien but the prose made me sleepy. Take care.
@@mikeyh0 lol. Not loving Tolkien is almost a taboo, but honestly I'm with you on that one.
An enduring masterpiece. We have already forgotten about the 2012 version of the movie.
In going with the everyman angle, I did notice that throughout the movie, Arnold wears a lot of loose, baggy clothes that help hide his beefy physique.
Yes. Contrast with, for example, Predator or Commando.
It was also a good choice to change his occupation from desk clerk to construction worker. Even with oversized clothes I doubt audiences would buy him as an office worker type, haha.
And the job he did made it natural for him to be so buff!
Total recall is such a gem, rewatched it a few months ago still get chills when the doctor tries to convince Quade to eat the pill.
Such a brilliant scene in a movie with endless stand out moments.
So many great films from that era, this being one of them
Paul Verhoeven is probably the most underrated living auteur director. Big fan of ALL his movies. Even his questionable ones are directed with a sadistic artistic glee. I wish he’d come back to Hollywood and jump into a DC film. 🍿🍿🍿
HUH, NOBODY WANTS TO GO THROUGH THAT HOLLYWOOD ABUSE AND MIND RAPE IN THEIR LIVES.
I would satirize the characters just as he did with Starship Troopers. I'd love to see his take on Judge Dredd. He'd be able to finally make an adaptation true to the original irony of the character.
Unfortunately he’s been unbankable as a filmmaker for the last twenty plus years.
@@jal051 "Judge Dredd"
With Verhoeven at the wheel, and assuming he could get or license the rights, I'd bet you a six pack that Karl Urban would clamor to reprise the role, and he'd do it for scale if that's what it took to get it on budget.
Dredd has overt shared elements of Robocop and Troopers, which seems like a great fit for old Paul, and I would see it opening day. I'm just mildly concerned that it would be a little on the nose. But only just mildly, because good lord there's a lot to satirize these days.
@@netcurtains yep still following his work, lElle and Black Book are terrific films.
Definitely a favourite of mine, and without going into grisly detail let's just say that Sharon Stone's performance in this movie was.. influential on me growing up. Ay, and indeed, Caramba.
...yeah "growing up"...
The "everyman" criticism levied against Arnie playing Quaid misses the fact that deep down, every ordinary man thinks he _is_ Arnie
Exactly, and this entire film is based on the idea that the film is “imaginary.”
I don’t. I’m just fat!
Ah, more like every man WISHES they were arnold
What?
Everyone IS Arnie
I still remember seeing this in the theater as a teen. Damn, when Rachel Ticotin first appeared onscreen. 🤩🤩
My buddy used to work at a video store back in the 90s. He could rent us free movies, and every damn week id come in, and he would just just give me a nod, and hand me the total recall tape. He was , and still is a damn good friend.
You were in Clerks, right?
There was an article in StarLog about the production, and one of the selling point was that Sharon Stone and Rachel Tichotin were having “real” fights. They specifically said “we throw punches, and kicks. No scratches or hair pulling. This isn’t a cat fight.”
Also, Gul Dukat is in this movie too!:)
Who does he play
@@ralphpal he is the head of security in the customs scene. He’s the one that yells “THEY’RE ALL CONNECTED!” When Michael Ironsides wants him to open the shutters and doors.
It's the only movie I went twice to see in an theatre. Love it.
Interesting
'GET TO THE CHOPPER Jenny, before Bennet get's to Mars...Quaaaaaaade!!!" Love that line 🤘
I love this movie and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I didn't know he was so invested and actually made the movie possible in the first place. Now I love them even more
I have seen this movie more times than I can count. There were about 5 or 6 times during your video that I wished I could hit "Like" again, and realized, to my dismay, that I already had. Bravo, Sir. Gloriously informative and beautifully edited, as usual! 👏🎉
I've really been loving these types of videos you've been doing lately. thank you for the hard work and editing that goes into making them!
Any time I mention that something is happening in two weeks, or for two weeks, or what-not, I have to say it a certain way because of this film 😜
Same! And every time I do this, the line gets stuck in my head for how long?
I knew I wasn't the only one doing this.
And of course, "Two Dollars", must be said a certain way to, but thanks to an entirely different movie XD
omg same 😅
Like from Terminator
"Nice night for a walk"
Twooo weeeeeeks!!! 🤣
My Uncle used to love this movie. He was the cool Uncle who had all the gadgets, cars and toys. I would sleep at his house and watch movies all night. He was one of the coolest people ive ever met in my life. Turns out he was one of the biggest heroin dealers in Milwaukee/Chicago area so thats why he had everything he wanted. He went away to prison for 15 years and passed away a few years after getting out. I miss him all the time and am thankful I had an uncle like that. This movie really stood out to me because of all the sci-fi weirdness. Anytime I see this movie I get that nostalgia of hanging at my uncles all comfy under the blankets, snowing outside and watching movies all night.
I remember seeing this movie in a theater. I loved it back the and I still do now. Everything about this movie is great. I still watch from time to time. Thanks for the taking the time to make a video about it, great job!
I went on a three-jumbo-jet private convoy to rome, and I didn't use to drink water back then. I was the only one on the returning trip who wasn't sick. Something about the absorption of locality by water, not actual contaminants in the water. One must adjust to the locality by eating solid substances for a few weeks before the body will accept the water.
Verhoeven had that grit and dirt and vision that the project needed. It's great to see Arnold recognized that wanting him involved. Never knew Arnold was actually involved much more than being the lead actor. This version is a classic.
What a great era the 80s was for sci fi action movies, Terminator , predator , total recall .
I think i appreciate these movies even more now . Although these movies at the time may have got mixed reviews initially with time they have became classics.
I love this film. I think I first saw it in the early 90s and I must have seen it a dozen times. One of those films that's on late at night on ITV2 that I can't help watching and then it's suddenly 1am! 😂
So many fantastic, classic, funny lines throughout.
Thanks for uploading this, it was an interesting watch.
Total Recall is one of my all-time favorite movies. This video is wonderful, thank you for making it!
Probably my favourite Verhoven movie. Love the uncertainty of the ending and the extreme violence, though still there, isn't quite as extreme as RoboCop. Another excellent video
The red light throughout the movie was perfect. Not too much or little. And one of my perfect soundtracks of all time.
[Spoiler?]
One thing that I liked from the movie was that Quaid was the artificial personality was a better, more heroic person that the original real person. A nice irony that gums up the villain's evil plans. Also, the visit from the Doctor and Lori (Quaid's wife) that slows the movie down while we go through this alternative idea that Quaid is having a Schizoid Embolism. That was a nick phildickian touch to the story.
A friend of mine was in collage not too long after this movie came out. He said someone from the movie gave a speech at the campus. I thought he said the director but it was a long time ago. Whoever it was stated that he had the movie fade to white at the end to represent Quaid waking up in the chair, getting everything he paid for.
I watched Total Recall 2070 when it first aired and I loved it. I never missed a single episode. It was like this excellent mash-up of Blade Runner and Total Recall, with a little of other sci-fi classics sprinkled in, and had excellent production values. The show itself was arc based with good, coherent individual stories for each episode, much like the RDM Battlestar Galactica, so quite ahead of its time for a 90s show.
It follows a detective in the CPB, or Citizen's Protection Bureau, who is assigned an android partner. Because his society and culture are so prejudiced and hate androids, he is too, and he begins the series with an antagonistic relationship with his android partner, but he eventually begins to trust and even like his partner when he is revealed to be more like Data in TNG than Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner; the android is just trying to figure out what being human means and what it means to be alive and live life.
The main thrust of the series was the cops investigating the various goings on at the various mega-corporations that rule the future of 2070, with lots of intrigue and conspiracies. The storyline was quite involved and complex, and I imagine TV executives hated it because of that and the arc based nature. The last episode even ended ion a devastating cliffhanger based on build-up of the plot over the season that never got resolved, and I still think about to this very day.
The series only had a few short scenes set on Mars, and I had the feeling they were keeping their powder dry and were going to have more scene set on Mars in later seasons.
Overall, a really excellent show that deserved 6 season and a movie if any show ever did.
I also wanted to say that I would *love* a retrospective of Total Recall 2070 as a totally-forgotten-about hidden gem sci-fi noir. I wonder if the name helped tank it and it would have been better off called something different.
YOU SIR WOULD BE A PROPHET FOR SOME SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD! LOVE YOU FOR WRITING THIS PERFECT BODERLINE POEM YOU DID FOR ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL WORKS OF FILM MAKING THAT ONE LOOK OF IT AND PEOPLE NEVER FORGET FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES ' CALIBRE ' OF PROJECTS. LIKE FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR AND ' BRAINSTORM' AND TRON . KUDOS AND MUCH LOVE FOR BEING YOU. WISH COULD GIVE YOU THE ' RUSSIAN EDIT ' OF CALIGULA FOR BEING A PROPHET FOR SOME OF THE LOST SOULS OF THIS WORLD NOW😚 😁😁😁
No1 asked bud
@@1BigDaDo You cared enough to reply.
I can't even begin to say how much I love your channel. I grew up on VHS, and when DVD introduced "making of" and behind the scenes, I went insane. No literally insane. Your channel is now what I crave, for somehow even in the Bluray age all directors and producers (besides Peter Jackson, who thinks seven tenths of making a movie is the behind the scenes... scenes, thank goodness) no longer waste the waste of digital space with all the waste they wasted when... making movies. Which I love.
Not drunk enough yet damn, sorry. FANTASTIC channel, the best. Thank you for your hard work and research, best wishes always.
Such a great, violent, gory entertaining movie, classic Verhoeven.
Being a soundtrack lover, Jerry Goldsmith's score is also exceptional, as he obviously tries changing things up, being 'not being Jerry Goldsmith' and it works.
16:42 Love this shot! I recall feeling vertigo in the theatre, really putting me in the movie.
Im so excited! I have the Thailand poster framed in my office.
It would be interesting to see your retrospectives on other enduring Arnold movies like Conan and Predator.
I'll second that.
I CANNOT WAIT for your video on "Show Girls"!
Such an under rated movie. So fun and interesting. I feel like a lot of the "80s action movies" are smarter than they're givin credit for. Especially when seeing what happens to all these movies in the remakes.
I think it's quite the rated movie. Most people know of and laude TR even if they don't like action movies
underrated if you are 15 maybe
My cousin and I snuck into the theater to watch this when it came out. We did not regret it.
This was a really good video.
Great retrospective, Rowan. One of my favorite Ahnold films. Awesome title sequence and soundtrack by Goldsmith that I played alot when I would draw. Great action, hot women, awesome set pieces, what's not to love?
Some great info here. Just increased my respect for Arnie. Appreciated the props to all the actors, perfect casting. Ironside is so fun to watch and deserved more accolades in his career. Rob Bottin too..what a win getting him on board. And the scale of the practical effects. Wow. Love Verhoeven’s energy and satirical angle. The only thing not mentioned is the tribute to Forbidden Planet where we see a recreation of one of its shots of the alien interior. 🤙🏼
Classic action movie. Great seeing it getting the rowen treatment 😃👍
You know, there's two 80's/90's movies I would recommend to show what the psyche of a bloke is; this and Weird Science! I love this flick. The film's exploration of male fantasy, with Arnie's casting as the cherry on top, is so fascinating. You can watch the movie as another Schwarzenegger action movie, or peel the layers back and explore its themes on the nature of reality as much as you like!
I didn't mind the newer Total Recall, but it just doesn't compare to this one in basically any way. At least in my estimation.
I forgot there was a newer one! watched it too - nothing memorable but deffo watchable.
I'd like to see the new one.
I have to say that much prefer the new version. I never liked the original 1990 version. Nice video though.
At best, it was Total Recall without Arnold.
It’s an uninspired nostalgia bait cash grab. It’s just generic and boring, which are two things you could ever say about the original.
I loved that cool scene when head piece of lady coming apart in the space port.
Is it me, or did you get through this entire retrospective without mentioning that Gul Dukat was in it?
Or even Robert Picardo too!
Dukat? That's clearly Gul Macet.
Also Captain Jellico, and who can forget Ensign Sonya Gomez making Benny wish he had three hands
@@TheChumm currently *Captain* Sonja Gomez on Star Trek: Lower Decks.
@@CantankerousDave yeah but LD ain't canon :P
Those were the days. I was 14 in 1990. Childhood in the 80s was a gift.
Always a favourite film of mine!
I also had serious "Conan" vibes off the opening music...I wonder if it was intentional by Goldsmith?
just call it 90s arnold music
Yes I want an answer to that, too. I think it’s way too close to be coincidental. It must be borrowing or referencing or something
@@hamm0155 Look at who composed the music for both.
I can say as a 44 Y/O Old Bag that the Visual Effect when Arnold can't breathe and start to turn into a Crab is memorable and is a scene I'll take to the Grave!!! Well Done!!!
The TV series, Total Recall 2070 was spectacular, I was very sad when it got canceled, especially after that cliffhanger. However the last episode was amazing and even though I haven't watched it in years, the quotes still ring in my mind!
seen it 20 times for sure. And I am still not getting bored with that film.
Love star ship troopers. Love Robocop. Love this.
Everything about this movie works and is still great today. Acting, directing, f/x, and especially music. An all time classic.
I really like this movie. I always assumed the screen going white at then end meaning that he was waking up from his fantasy.
Or that he was being lobotomised.
Or being lobotomized.
watched Total Recall for the first time a few weeks ago because this video was coming out! It's a really fun and interesting movie. Thanks for another great video
Saw this in theatre in a mega mall with a friend, both under the influence of a hallucinogen.. needless to say we both experienced the sensation that reality was still Total Recall after we left. ;)
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. You think this is the real Quade?... It is." My brother and I roared with laughter at that part. We were watching it on a VCR and we had to keep backing it up and re watching because we were laughing so hard, we couldn't make out what was said next. It took a dozen or more views to wear out the funny and we could actually hear what was happening. Good times.
I don't think I saw this in the theatre/cinema, but watched it countless times on VHS and cable. My favorite Arnold film, with Predator and Conan close behind.
BTW, please review the Conan films. 😉
It has crossed my mind :)
Bombastic, bold, hugely entertaining and such a charismatic and super-fun movie.
The very serious remake had almost none of its towering qualities and came across to me as almost self-important.
There are some truly magnificent movies getting made these days and movie making has evolved and advanced in many exciting and excellent ways but WHAT an incredible job Paul Verhoeven and James Cameron and John McTiernen did back then.
Coming up on 100k subs, too.
Well-deserved
When that first music hits you just know something great is beginning.
How this channel has >100K subs is beyond me. You're one of the very best.
FYI: You're saying _over_ 100k subs. The carrot has to point to the left to say _less_ than 100k.
@@danielseelye6005 "ackchully...."
@@rudyrobles8294 Just trying to make sure you don't look like a dummkopf is all.
Definitely gonna re-watch this soon! Always love these deep dives into movies like this.
Consider that a divowace. Classic.
The last time I saw Total Recall was at a Boyz Weekend with my high school buddies at one of their cottages. We still love the 80's as that's when we met. We watched Total Recall and chuckled at some of the typical Schwarzenegger one liners. Still, there was something solid about this movie. Thank you Rowan for your perspective and research into your analysis of this iconic SF movie! I agree with you about the remake of Total Recall. I didn't see it (and still have not) mainly because it reeked of yet another "lets remake a popular movie from the past" instead of, like you said, creating an original movie with a different title. Hopefully Hollywood wakes up one day and realizes all these reboots and reimagines are not turning a profit and only alienating us GenX guys who just want escapism like we had in the 80's and 90's movies.
Do you have any plans to make this into a recurring series?
If so may I suggest John Carpenter for a rundown of his films?
I mainly ask this as I want to see you do a retrospective of Big Trouble In Little China.
Check out a channel by Oliver Harper....big trouble is one of the most fun movies ever made
@@Fingersofjoy if you go to that video you will see a comment by myself from over a year ago.
Great recommendation though.
Arnie is like a kid in a toystore. He loves all the behind the scenes stuff.
14:43 - the old days, when the hero could use a random passerby as a meat shield…
Always loved this, watched it on VHS so many times. Thanks for the vid.
I love how Total Recall and Robocop are both highbrow science fiction disguised as witty, absurd, over-the-top gorefests. They make you laugh at them, they make you laugh with them, and then they make you think. You leave the theater talking about their ideas and their implications.
The level of violence in both films would not be acceptable to most if the tone of either film was more serious. The idea that Mr. Universe married to Sharon Stone could be an everyman only works with a huge wink at the audience. early on, you're like, "OK, so it's that kind of movie." Then the script sneaks the big ideas into your head despite the crazy antics on the screen. It ends with perfect ambiguity that keeps viewers arguing to this day. It's a real masterpiece. it's no wonder both the Robocop and Total Recall reboots were failures. They weren't a tenth as entertaining.
Robocop reboot imo not bad.
Yeah, not. bad.
But, Total Recall reboot on the other hand.
You gotta lotta nerve showing your face around here...
Look who's talking..
Excellent Retrospective. The format is like this other retrospective channel that I love.
Perfect clear concise and a kindness I can definitely tell you’re an artist and a true fan of art.
This was a masterpiece movie.
Totally agree with Goldsmith's score reminding you of Basil Poledouris. Whenever I rewatch the movie, the opening credits remind me it's not Poledouris, because I always think it is up to that point.
Apparently Verhoeven insisted on the similarities to Poledouris' 'Conan The Barbarian' in the opening credits cue. Which is ironic, since Poledouris was obviously asked by John Milius to use a similar idea to Goldsmith's 'Capricorn One' for that film. So it's questionable as to which piece of music is bearing more influence from another.
Total Recall is one of my favorites as it was able to successfully immerse the viewer with its scenery and score. It was the epitome of an 80's big budget action flick by being violent, funny, and taking itself seriously enough to present an immersive story with all of its fantastic world building. It was a far superior product to the lackluster remake that Hollywood put out 25 years later. In fact, I cant recall a single remake that Hollywood has created in the last 20 years that has been better than the original.
Love Verhoeven’s direction. His films always feel special and have a lasting impact
The memory implant worked and the entire movie is in the mind of the hero still sitting in the treatment room.