Search - Total Recall [Special Limited Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Sci-Fi Violence Movie Release: 1990 DVD Release: 09/18/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 53 mins Studio: Live/Artisan Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Action, Science Fiction, Sci-Fi Action, Space Adventure, Tech Noir See Also: Total Recall, Total Recall [Special Edition], Total Recall [UMD for PSP], Total Recall [Blu-ray], Total Recall [THX Optimum Resolution]

In Paul Verhoeven's wild sci-fi action movie Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a 21st-century construction worker who discovers that his entire memory of the past derives from a memory chip implanted in his brain. Schwarzenegger learns that he's actually a secret agent who had become a threat to the government, so those in power planted the chip and invented a domestic lifestyle for him. Once he has realized his true identity, he travels to Mars to piece together the rest of his identity, as well as to find the man responsible for his implanted memory. Verhoeven has created a fast, furious action film with Total Recall, filled with impressive stunts and (literally) eye-popping visuals. Though the film bears only a passing resemblance to the Philip K. Dick short story it was based on ("-We Can Remember It For You Wholesale"), the movie is an entertaining, if very violent, ride. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Doug Quaid
Rachel Ticotin - Melina
Sharon Stone - Lori Quaid
Ronny Cox - Vilas Cohaagen
Michael Ironside - Richter

When Live Entertainment, now Artisan, released the first DVD of Total Recall, it may have lacked significant extra material, but for an early disc it seemed very state of the art. As with many early basic titles, it too has been re-released into a special limited edition and the results make the original DVD pale in comparison. The new disc, framed at 1.85:1 and this time with an anamorphic transfer, looks very good, but not perfect. Detail is a bit weak, and occasionally grain is intrusive, but colors are quite strong and well saturated. The sound, on the other hand, has been greatly improved. The English 5.1 Dolby Digital track is powerful, with full use of the surround speakers, but doesn't lose any of the upfront sound necessary to drive the film, especially the dialogue. As mentioned, the first disc came with no real supplemental materials, but this one is far different. As with many Paul Verhoeven films, he has included a commentary track, and on this one he is joined by star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Though they comment more on the ongoing plot than the filmmaking process, they still offer an abundance of anecdotal information. Next is a new 30-minute documentary, and while it does rehash some of the observations made in the commentary track, it's still quite fascinating, though far too short. Also, at five minutes long, there is a featurette on actual, and future, Mars exploration with some nice animation. The remainder of the extras -- including "Rekall's Virtual Vacations," a comparison between storyboards and the final product for three scenes, conceptual art, production photographs, the theatrical trailer, and numerous television spots, cast and crew biographies and filmographies, as well as lengthy production notes -- round out a fine disc. Finally, in trying to be as creative as possible, Artisan has packaged this title in an unusual tin/paper container that is unique but seems rather flimsy. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide