More mind-blowing than The Matrix
an all time classic
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MovieChat Forums > Total Recall (1990) Discussion > More mind-blowing than The Matrix
Both films have equally intriguing stories, if you ask me.
That said, I think The Matrix is more thought-provoking in its style and execution, and more importantly it's always been a film that's left me asking far more questions (and not just about the movie itself, if you know what I mean).
But yeah, Total Recall is so much more unique than its given credit for.
The Matrix is pretty plodding, straight forward stuff as far as its exploration of reality is concerned. Total Recall is far more complex and interesting. You can literally interpret the movie either way without any flaws. In recent years, I've come to accept that Quaid absolutely is experiencing the Rekall fantasy that he paid for.
The remake was abysmal.
"You can literally interpret the movie either way without any flaws."
As opposed to 'figuratively interpret the movie'?
Can you give an example of a 'figurative interpretation'?
Or could you please stop using the word 'literally' literally wrong?
Anyway, you are also wrong about the content of your statement. It can't be interpreted EITHER way 'without flaws'.
If A is true, then D makes no sense. If B is true, then H makes no sense. That's the only kind of interpretation you get, 'literal' or otherwise.
What? Not satisfied with a vague statement like this with no examples? All right, here's an elaboration.
https://jpst.it/15PzW
(I have to use Pasteit, because this Moviechat board is RIDICULOUSLY limited - in IMDb, I could at least write what I wanted to say, right here in the message board, but in Moviechat, I am forced to use Pasteit. Is this what Moviechat creators really wanted? That people can't write longer messages than a few simple words? Do they want to dumb us down? Dámn cell phone internet user generation.)
"Or could you please stop using the word 'literally' literally wrong?"
He didn't use the word wrong, dumbass. He said:
"You can literally interpret the movie either way without any flaws."
This is as opposed to being able to "sort of" or "more or less" interpret the movie either way without any flaws.
Your post is funny because, unlike most people who unwittingly try to police the usage of the word "literally", you took issue with someone who correctly used the word "literally" in its traditional sense. Most of the misguided, self-appointed "literally" cops take issue with people who use the word "literally" like, "That scene was so funny that I literally died of laughter." Of course, they are wrong too (not as comically wrong as you are, though), because that is also a valid sense of the word "literally"; it is just not the original sense:
Definition of literally
in effect : virtually —used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible
will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice
— Norman Cousins
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally
And, if you want to educate yourself on why that's a valid sense of the word "literally", see here:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally share
"The Matrix is pretty plodding, straight forward stuff as far as its exploration of reality is concerned. Total Recall is far more complex and interesting."
As you made so many interestingly wrong statements, let me correct this one, too.
The question wasn't, which movie is less 'straightforward' (there isn't a space between 'straight' and 'forward'), the statement was that this movie is 'more mind-blowing'.
I don't really see how this statement could be true, because Total Recall can ONLY 'blow your mind' about a very specific, localized, small area, like 'this movie'. The Matrix can blow your mind about THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, reality itself, that extends way beyond the borders of the movie.
TC can 'blow minds' within the movie. TM can 'blow minds' about everything you experience in your whole life, way outside the movie limitation.
TC's "mind-blowing" is about the movie.
TM's "mind-blowing" is about reality itself (that includes TC, the movie).
The whole reality is way MORE than a movie.
Therefore, The Matrix is empirically more 'mind-blowing'.
Q.E.D.
Total Recall can ONLY 'blow your mind' about a very specific, localized, small area, like 'this movie'. The Matrix can blow your mind about THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, reality itself, that extends way beyond the borders of the movie.
say whatnow?
I dont see the difference between the "your not really here" element in each movie?
unless you are saying that the Matrix movie makes you question wether YOU are actually here , typing into a website , and that robots might be farming us in little pods .... it dosent for me.
we've just hit critical mass of anal-retentive jerkdom
Also, I'd like to know your reasoning for thinking that TC is 'far more complex and interesting'. It's storyline couldn't be more 'straightforward and plodding'. The Matrix has just as many and as interesting (if not more interesting) twists as TC, and anyone saying that The Matrix isn't complex as a movie, can't be serious.
In TC, after the hero goes to 'sleep', the plot is VERY clichéic. There's the villain, the villain's assistant, the assistant's incompetent goons, and everyone is killed exactly in the same order as in every other movie, and exactly the same way you'd expect. Heck, you can predict exactly how the movie is going to end pretty early in the movie. Not so with The Matrix.
What's "plodding" about The Matrix? What's "straightfoward" about The Matrix? It twists and turns like crazy, and seems to be about one thing only to be about another thing, then turns out to be about a third thing, etc. First it's about a hacker and authorities, then it's about virtual reality, then it's about saving humanity, then it's about Neo being the one - but then it's revealed he ISN'T the one - but then it's revealed that the previous revelation might've been a bit misleading, and only in the very end Neo actually does become the one and save humanity, but even that is left a bit vague. The indestructible main villain, which is way more interesting than some greedy corporate boss that wants more money (groan, just how plodding and straightforward is THIS boring, old cliché? He even LOOKS exactly like all evil corporate bosses from all action movies always look like - not so with Agent Smith!)
The more you analyze it, the more clear it becomes; your statement is completely and utterly wrong. TC is an interesting movie, but your statements don't hold water.
If you can get that big a paragraph about how "in depth" TM is , you should be able to write one twice as big about TR.
I didnt enjoy The Matrix
I loved TR
So yes
I like TR and Arnold has some classic lines but cmon man.
The Matrix is epic. And I’m only referring to the 1st one. Visually. Sound. Cinematography. And even more perplexing. The sequels were a disservice to the original.
The Matrix with Arnold in his Terminator prime. “Woh”
We can agree to disagree about TR vs The Matrix(I think they are equal), but if you want much better Matrix sequel experience, try "The Matrix Recoded". It is a fan edit which I think is damn good. It combines the footage from Matrix 2 & 3, and leaves quite a bit on the editing room floor while reshaping the whole story into something much more cohesive and enjoyable.
shareFor the memory of a lifetime, Rekall, Rekall, Rekall...
The film sure left me with a memory for a lifetime.
Also, isn't "Total Recall" the best possible title? I can't think of a better one. Waaaayy better than "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale".