MovieChat Forums > Total Recall (2012) Discussion > No charm

No charm

posted 4 years ago by Anotherday (6739)
27 replies | jump to latest

The humor and charm of the original are not in this movie.

The sets, CGI, and action are good. The acting is fine. But its hindered by the fact that it's a remake of a movie that's more fun.

Like most remakes, this is too gritty and dark to be fun and interesting. The future tech is too impractical to be enjoyed. This film would have faired better under a different title and no call backs.

The lense flares are annoying. The call backs remind me of a better film, and the good of the film is destroyed by the "need" to be nostalgic.

It's a decent but forgettable science fiction movie at best.

[–] bobbydallas (8054) 4 years ago

"It's a decent but forgettable science fiction movie at best."

truth.

[–] MickyMac (2935) 3 years ago

It's a remake that everyone has forgotten about now.

And it's one of those remakes like the Nightmare On Elm Street remake or lady Ghostbusters where people are like "No no no you balls it up or your doing it all wrong".

[–] legnadibrom (5697) 3 years ago

balls it up?
what a sexist term

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10241) 2 years ago

Calm down. He's talking about beach balls.

[–] BourbonKing (5612) 3 years ago

The acting felt hindered by the script. Colin Farrell has so much range yet he comes off as very dry, but I don't fault him at all. This is all on the writers and director.

[–] MickyMac (2935) 3 years ago

The problem with remakes/reboots is your trying to remake something that really can't be improved.

The whole movie was a botch Earth based retread of the original.

[–] Pete314 (2450) 3 years ago

Yeah, sure, Arnold's acting can never ever be improved...

[–] Kingswood (1213) 2 years ago

Reading comprehension obviously alludes you.

[–] Pete314 (2450) 2 years ago

Obviously?

[–] Kingswood (1213) 2 years ago

Yes?

[–] moviechatterer (13188) 2 years ago

i fink he compehended just fine

[–] thingmakersback (1173) 3 years ago

Not only that but the original is a movie involving trips to Mars and an insane alien instant-terraforming device--And this one manages to be LESS scientifically plausible.

[–] peter_t_2k3 (957) 3 years ago

Oh yes the original is far more fun, entertaining etc.

However I'm kind of glad they didn't try to replicate that. A remake should to me, always try to do their own spin on stuff, otherwise what's the point.

However it can backfire. The day of the dead remake for example, has nothing really from the original, and instead is just a generic zombie film. That should have been the title really.

[–] moviechatterer (13188) 3 years ago

See , what we got here is ...
Y'all got rose colored glasses for the old 80s cheesy as fuck B movie ,
so much so that when a movie with modern production values, better actors , better fx comes along you cant see it .

[–] Philhelm (472) 2 years ago

It was a '90s movie.

Even with special effects limitations, the sci-fi movies from around the late '70s to the early '90s blazed a trail that set the stage of modern sci-fi. Even if the technology is clearly surpassed by some of the technology we use today, it had an aesthetic quality that holds up to this day (including the computer monitor from The Running Man with the security perimeter password being displayed on 100-pt font). Perhaps the clunky tech lends itself well to a visual medium.

[–] moviechatterer (13188) 2 years ago

Very true , i love those , from "Logans Run" onwards .
I just mean theres a certain nostalgia bias , or even "this is the original leave it alone " bias (which rightly killed ghostbusters 2016)

If this latest Total Recall just had a different name it'd probly be recieved better.
Imma gonna watch it again to check
no need to watch the old one - i know it off by heart :)

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

Pretty much. This movie got a bad rap.
The only thing I don't like about it is the expansion of Kate Beckinsale's character.

[–] spurtle467 (1497) 3 years ago

Even the palette on screen is full of dull and dark colours. The colours you see in the poster are the ones you get right the way through the film, whereas the original is full of colour, energy, and yes, charm.

[–] Anotherday (6739) 3 years ago

Good point!

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Should've remade it with The Rock instead.

[–] mcqueen (1150) 2 years ago

I like it more and more each time i see it.