Considering Total Recall was in development hell for over 15 years before it's release in 1990, it's amazing that the film became the 5th biggest moneymaker of that year. The film rights of Philip K Dick's short story were purchased in 1974 by Alien writer Ronald Shusett before being developed through the 1980's by directors like David Cronenberg, Bruce Beresford and Richard Rush. Coming off the back of RoboCop, Paul Veroevan was wisely tapped to thanks to his ability to balance commercial, non-stop action, with intellectual science fiction, all wrapped up in a knowing, larger than life style.
It's a good call too as I not sure there's any other director that could balance a Schwarzenegger starring action vehicle with relentless, huge scale pyrotechnics, a bullshit, wise cracking sensibility (and proud of it) along with some philosophical musings about nature of the human soul, whether memories define who you are, and about the definition of 'reality' itself. It's pretty deep stuff, but Verhoevan cleverly limits these deliberations to a few short scenes at the start, middle and end of the film so it doesn't get in the way of the chases, fighting and ultra-violence.
It's hard to see how the Earthbound set remake coming in 2012 can come anywhere close to matching the Mars set iconography of Arnie's movie. From the red landscapes, the Venusville mutants (including the three breasted Lycia Naff...awesome!), the Johnny-Cabs, Quato, the Pyramid Mine, and Rob Bottin's eye bulging depressurisation scenes. It's got two great villains in Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside, memorable one-liners ("What have you been feeding this thing?" "Blonds!"), impressive Oscar winning effects (Arnie's female disguise), a complex spy plot with double crosses and secret identities and two gorgeous babes with Rachel Ticotin and Sharon Stone. Stone in particular shines here, launching her movies career properly. It's also one of the first times in a major movie where two women have a proper, full on scrap...no pulling hair and nail scratching here.
A deceptively bullshit action movie with a lot more going on under the surface, it's surprising Total Recall hasn't been used as a template more often for studios wishing to adapt tricky sci-fi material to the big screen. Oh, and then you realise it has with Paycheck. Never mind.
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