CLASSIC MOVIE CORNER: 'Total Recall' (1990)

“Total Recall” (1990)

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside

The Gist: In a rare feat, this movie manages to be both stupid and smart.

The Story: In the year 2084, a construction worker named Quaid (Schwarzenegger) dreams of visiting Mars. He can’t afford an interplanetary vacation, so he goes to Rekall, a company that promises to implant memories of the perfect virtual vacation at a fraction of the cost. Rekall even offers fantasy vacations, where the customer can “travel” as a different person. Quaid signs up to experience Mars as a secret agent, but the experience awakens buried memories from his past life. Quaid believes he really was a secret agent who had his memory wiped, a belief confirmed when trusted acquaintances and his wife, Lori (Stone), try to silence him through deadly force. Who is Quaid? Only a trip to the Red Planet can provide the answer.

The Review: In “Total Recall,” someone gets killed at an average rate of once every 90 seconds. Usually films with that high a body count don’t delve into deep existential quandaries. And while no one will mistake “Total Recall” for “The Seventh Seal,” it’s a lot more profound than your average Schwarzenegger flick. You can thank author Philip K. Dick for that. His short story, “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” asked readers to consider what makes us the people we are. Is it our experiences and memories? If you take those away, what’s left? Writers Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusset, who also penned 1979’s “Alien,” took that idea, injected some bone-crunching action and crafted a memorable thrill ride.

The Classic Quote: Lori: “No wonder you're having nightmares. You're always watching the news.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)