Retro Geek: Total Recall, saving the planet Mars from political corruption

Following the trail that began last week , today we look back to stop another classic science fiction. A work that may not have matured over time as well as Blade Runner , but it is certainly a classic and a landmark of Hollywood aunaba genre where a magnificent budget to develop a film script that was instrumental in the 90's: Total Recall .

Like Ridley Scott's film, Total Recall is based on a book by Philip K. Dick , in this case on the short story you can remember it wholesale . Last year marked 20 years since its release and as usual in the classics, this year and is confirmed a 3D remake with Colin Farrell as the protagonist. Leaving aside what is achieved with the same, Total Recall was and is a great film for many different reasons. Then I happened to collect certain data, video and curiosities of a huge work and I would urge you to see those who have not enjoyed the wonderful world recreated by Paul Verhoeven in 1990, a film that did not aspire, or at least I saw so long, to be a cult.

Film

How looks real? .. As real as any memory ... Well, do not mock me ... I certainly do not mock me, Doug. Your brain will not notice the difference. We guarantee it or your money back ... What about the guy lobotomized? Have you returned the money?

With this phrase mythical movie is decrypted part of the plot development of the work. The synopsis we near the end of the century. Its introduction we read:

Earth, year 2084. Doug Quaid, a normal man leading a seemingly quiet life, is tormented by a nightmare that every night it carried to Mars. He then decides to resort to laboratory Recall, a virtual vacation company that offers you the opportunity to realize her dream thanks to a strong hallucinogen. However, his attempt fails. The drug raises your memory stayed true on Mars when it was the most feared agent Coohagen cruel. Quaid then decided to return to Mars ...

With a huge budget for its time (the second most expensive film at that time), the film was extremely violent and showing a special effects pioneer for its time. With time and reliving the film again, the effects may have an offset point, but what really makes this classic film as are the topics covered within the genre. Inside were many of the key stories of K. Dick. Although in this case, it is less understandable located within the dystopia of Blade Runner. Total Recall included paranoia in a world of dreams that seemed real, yes, but with a scent of series B, a lot of action over philosophies or black film. Reality and fiction are mingled in a plot where the protagonist had to choose between two worlds. A movie lovers will enjoy the genus that is between the hiperrrealismo major asset of many scenes (violence and crudeness of deaths) under a constant state of duality, where the viewer does not know what happens to a dream and what is reality . If you think, the history of the film is the most current, saving a planet and defend the citizens of corrupt politicians and big business ...

Then I happened to tell a series of data as curiosities and videos that maybe you did not know about the movie:

• The film had an X rating in the U.S. when it opened, so had to cut scenes for the R.

• The film went through many hands before the final outcome. For the lead role came to be nominated Richard Dreyfuss, William Hurt and Patrick Swayze before Schwarzenegger was finally chosen

• Schwarzenegger was more than the protagonist of the film. De Laurentis and his company went bankrupt, so finally it was the California governor who took the power of the tape. Carolco Picture producer and was eventually elected Schwarzenegger Paul Verhoeven Robocop after success.

• Many films have collected much of the essence of Total Recall, including the Matrix itself (in this case the allusion to the pills as a means to reach other worlds is quite clear.)

• The year of its release was such a superior special effects on other films, the Oscar nominated only the tape, winning the prize.

• The beeps that come out of the taxi are actually Johnny Norwegian national anthem.

• During the implementation of the Call Memory holiday, on a monitor appears for one second a picture of a green Martian taken from a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

• Brubaker, name that fits Quaid in the hotel, is the same as the captain of Capricorn One , a film about a fake trip to Mars.

• There was a computer game based on the movie. It was developed by Ocean Software for the Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Atari ST, and one for the Nintendo developed by Interplay Entretainment .

• Many of the vehicles used in the film were designed and built between 1977 and 1984 by Quincy-Lynn Enterprises.

• It was the last great movie that used for special effects use thumbnails instead of images by computer. A year later, Terminator II revolutionize the use of effects in film history.

• There was no sequel, but what was originally intended to be the second part, where Quaid worked as a law enforcement officer, was based on the book of K. Dick The Minority Report ... years later, Spielberg finished filming Minority Report .

• The total number of deaths in the film (the vast majority of "brush" Schwarzenegger) is 77.

Music

Who does not remember this legendary soundtrack? Jerry Goldsmith composed, perfectly in tune with the fast pace of the film, a piece that fits perfectly and sticking the main theme of the film.

Two curious about it. In Spain, many remember the main theme after the acquisition of rights by Canal + for a sports program. In addition, the piece is inspired by the soundtrack to Conan the Barbarian , coincidence or not, also played by Schwarzenegger. The following video is made for the wonderful intro of the film accompanied by the mythical theme.

Special Effects

Surely, the highlight of the film at the time. The special effects that accompanied the film several scenes left to posterity. Special effects that taking even more difficult if we consider that it was large-scale miniatures. Five companies were used to carry out the process titanic (Dream Quest Images, Hunter / Gratzner Industries, Industrial Light & Magic, MetroLight Studios and Stetson Visual Services Inc.).

Point in the film

Warning, here comes a spoiler for those who have not seen. Total Recall left countless scenes to remember, but perhaps the time when Quaid realizes the truth (in part), is one of the key moments. I will not say much more, which already saw it, remembered as the scene is followed by another which shows how to prevent tracking or monitoring of people on Mars (year 2084) ...

To end and as a tribute ended with a video created by Simon Mckenna . Many key scenes and dialogue displayed in this little short of five minutes. Enjoy.

Total Recall recut from mckenna simon on Vimeo .

Image: Salvatore Aiala

Retro Geek: Total Recall, saving the planet Mars on political corruption written ALT1040 April 27, 2011-jorge miguel
Send to Twitter | Share on Facebook