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Jul 28, 2018isaachar rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Easily my favorite Paul Verhoeven movie, Total Recall is mostly known for being just another Schwarzenegger action firm from the early 90's. It definitely has all the ingredients for it: bullets flying, explosions, catch phrases. But as usual with Verhoeven movies, there are a ton of social commentares and critiques of western foreign policy just beneath the surface. On that surface, Total Recall is about a guy who seemingly muddles into a martian conspiracy and no shortage of people trying to kill him. Pretty standard fare action filler, but I've always thought the coolest parts of the movie lie in the background. Through subtle hints references we know the world is divided into two powers, one western and other other. We know Mars was colonized by the western power to provide fuel for their machines of war, and that the earliest colonials were not given adequate protection out of cutting costs. We see the use of propaganda to obscure the situation on Mars in hopes of bringing more workers. We also see Mars is run by an corporate authoritarian appointed by the western Earth power, who uses his control over the most basic of life necessities (oxygen) to rule the planet with an iron fist. At the same time we see that life for average citizens of that Earth power is so work focused that people pay for memories of vacations they never experienced. That is a lot of social commentary for bloody action flick. And while we find out (*mild spoiler...its been almost 30 years so no warnings should be needed*) that everything that has happened may have only been the memory implant the hero asked for, the social disorder mentioned in the background was likely very much real. As with other Verhoeven works (Robocop, Starship Troopers), it's easy to miss the commentary lurking underneath the high octane bulletfest.