It's A Post

You know you're the late duck when recalling certain events from only a week ago becomes a virtual impossibility. Luckily, this only happens in a casual, laid-back environment and not in a work/school situation. On the more professional note, I do believe a late review is due. 


In wake of the final new summer release, I flocked to the midnight show of Len Wiseman's remake or, as I viewed it, re-imagination of Paul Verhoeven's 1990 Total Recall. 


Without revealing a majority of the plot for those unaware of the original source material, the story follows Doug Quaid- an Average Joe of sorts with troubling dreams and issues recalling certain memories. Colin Farrell's casting as the lead character was interesting. He brought a serious tone that Arnold Schwarzeneggar did not possess in the original. Here's a man without any idea of who he is and hearing others call him by another name tied to the resistance movement fighting against the tyrannical Chancellor Cohaagen played by a rather surprising Bryan Cranston who we'll get to in a moment. 


Now, when the original came out twenty-two years ago, I had only been around four months. I didn't see the film until around age twelve and, of course, couldn't make a damn bit of sense other than the fact Arnold's one-liners were cult classics. Youtube some of his greatest hits and stroll down nostalgia lane while you're there. 


The 1990 version was relatively unrealistic for obvious reasons. Cinematography's evolved over the past two decades. This goes to say the opposite for the 2012 remake as the presentation is absolutely phenomenal. Set in 2084, this world actually looks like one we could be heading towards. Magnetic streets with vehicles using reverse polarity to levitate. Synthetic police forces/militaries. Enhanced biometrics. Subterranean, transglobal travel (traveling through the earth from one continent to another at high speeds allowing mass transit in minutes). The next eighty-four years could find us in this world minus downsides of a third world war rendering environments uninhabitable. As amazing as the surroundings are, this really is the film's saving grace: presentation. 


Acting from Farrell, Beckinsale, Biel, and Cranston was great, but I couldn't help but feel the writers could have done more with the source material to move it above the original. You'll see throwbacks to the campy, corny, comical source material and a few "blink-or-you'll-miss-it" bits that give a chuckle. Other than paying homage to Verhoeven, the overall tone was the typical seriousness of low-class rebelling against tyrannical high-class. Of the four, Kate Beckinsale's portrayal of Lori Quaid was worthy of a show-stealer. This woman can do anything. From a WWII-era nurse to werewolf hunter, she has what it takes to be versatile with roles. Hell, her American accent versus her native British literally created two separate characters all because of her voice. In one unnamed scene, she goes from concerned wife to hardcore, bad-ass assassin without missing a beat (no, this wasn't the beginning). 


Cranston shined as Cohaagen and definitely used some of his acting from Breaking Bad to fashion a cold, ruthless, does-whatever-it-takes-to-get-done attitude. I'm surprised at his transformation from overly sensitive push-over (Malcolm in the Middle) to this well-established method acting. 


I honestly don't feel like spoiling the movie or the desire to see it, so I'll leave you with these closing remarks. I still love the original and would watch it any day. However, this doesn't go to say I wouldn't be up for a second viewing perhaps when it launches in three months on Blu Ray (funny how home media releases have been shortened by almost six months). Of the two, I'd much rather lean toward the realistic future presented in Wiseman's version. For a good laugh and flashback to innocent times, I'll always have Verhoeven's. 


Len Wiseman's Total Recall earns a spot in the second quarter, "Think about it for a bit, then stay on the couch and find something else on" unless you're in for a good summer action movie. If that's the case, enjoy. 


In other recent news, the Wachowski brothers are at it again! Yes, a spectacular presentation on the silver screen is upon us. Instead of continuing on an already dead series, the brothers team up to deliver Cloud Atlas, the film adaptation of David Mitchell's 2004 novel of the same name. Mitchell's narrative follows six individual stories occurring over the course of 1850 to a dystopian future. I picked up a copy, just started it, and will post updates as this noble endeavor progresses. As for the film, they're shooting for a brilliant all-star cast including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw (appearing as Q in November's James Bond sequel, Skyfall), Susan Sarandon, Keith David, Hugo Weaving, and Hugh Grant. Cloud Atlas is scheduled to release 22 October 2012. 


That's all for tonight, but before I go, allow for my customary good-bye to sink in. #312- Read Cloud Atlas before 22 October because it's fun to compare original material versus its adapted version. 


Jonesy signing off for the first time in a while.