Movie Review - The Legend of Tarzan

The Legend of Tarzan

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Christoph Waltz, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Rory J. Saper, Christian Stevens, Sidney Ralitsoele,  Djimon Hounsou, and more.

Directed by: David Yates Screenplay and Story by: Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer Based on the Novels/Stories by: Edgar Rice Burroughs Cinematography by: Henry Braham Music by: Rupert Gregson-Williams 

Premise: Lord Greystoke is invited by the King of Belgium to tour the innovation and advances put in place in the Congo in Africa. Greystoke turns the invitation down. Until an American convinces him it would be the perfect cover to investigate growing rumors of slavery there. Unbeknownst to Greystoke (aka Tarzan) there is a deeper plot afoot - one in which he plays a major part. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Alexander Skarsgård, and Margot Robbie all gave great performances for the film. They made for a great cast combination.  Everyone involved did a great job. Due to how the story unfolds, Mr. Skarsgård show us different facets of Lord Greystoke. Including the battle he wages internally between the life his parents wanted for him and that which he lived in his youth. Margot Robbie plays the American raised in the Congo and Tarzan's love, Jane. Fighting her own battles during the adventure, Margot does a great job going toe-to-toe with Christoph Waltz. Samuel L. Jackson added a lot of the comedic touches as well as pulled out pieces of Tarzan's story for the audience. Watching him deal with his wounded pride as the 'ignorant natives' prove much more hardy and crafty than he expected was fun to watch.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Multiple companies were employed for the special effects and they were well worth it. The gorillas, the elephants, the lions, they all looked fantastic. The head rubbing scene between Tarzan and a lioness he'd know as a cub was awesome to behold. (I was so jealous!) 

The Mangani apes were fabulous. Each was distinct enough the audience could easily tell which was which. Kala's, Kerchak's and Kala's ape son's expressions and body language spoke volumes. 

The scene with the ostriches was cool and a lot of fun. All the animals were amazing. The fog special effects in the region of Opar were very well done. Several explosions, a ton of bullets, and some massive destruction filled the special effects docket. :)

But the most impressive special effect, in my opinion, had to do with Tarzan's hands. Living among the apes since he was a baby, Tarzan's muscles and bones developed differently from the human norm. The hands appear more like a gorilla's. Though an unspoken thread in the plot, the fact Kala gave him a rock to help him shape his hands so they could be more effective makes a large impact. It is quietly referenced several times and is a facet of his inner struggles. 

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: Per the Edgar Rice Burroughs website there have been 41 Tarzan films and 57 one-hour television episodes made. So rather than do the expected origin story in this film, the writers took a different route to get us acquainted with the characters. One that I think made the film different from other retellings and worked well to craft a good film. 

Rather than as the Lord of the Jungle, we meet John Clayton as Lord Greystoke. He's been years away from the Congo and has been serious in taking care of his duties as the heir of Greystoke. John has embraced the land of his birthright as if he'd never been anywhere else. He is refined, well educated, intelligent. With small flashes back to his time in the jungle, we do get bits about his origin. But they take a back seat to the overall story arc, so it enhances what is going on, but doesn't over shadow it.

Jane's love for the people and country she was raised in was a lovely surprise. Her relationship with the small village her father taught in was bright and heartfelt. You could feel they were all family.

There are hidden bits of homage and in-jokes sprinkled through the film for both the books and the previous films/tv shows. There are also bits of humor interspersed throughout. (My favorite was the warriors leaning out of the way on the back of the train. lol. You'll know when you see it. :) ) 

A lot of themes are explored. The meaning of family, not quite fitting in, what it is that makes us who we are, how actions have repercussions, and more. 

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: While many of the stunts are CGI, there were still plenty of real stunts to keep the department quite busy. Fights, gunplay, avoiding stampeding animals - they had plenty to keep them occupied.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Between several locations in England and those in Africa, there is much to delight the eyes. Add in some CGI and all the vistas were quite impressive. Long panned views of the grasslands, aerial shots of the jungle, or just pockets in the trees - every shot told its own story. In fact, towards the end, they actually do.

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: From presenting Lord Greystoke in his finery to slowly divesting him of clothes, the department did some nice costuming work. The makeup was excellent as well. They gave the different tribes their own distinct looks, helping to show their diversity. The work on Tarzan's bite from both the special effects and makeup department was outstanding. 

Conclusion: The Legend of Tarzan is a lovely new take on the old tale. There is lots of action, cool vistas, villains, and heroes.  All the fun things that have made Tarzan the icon he's been since the first story hit the stands back in 1912.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Pay Full Price to See Again!)

Movie Review - The Transporter Refueled

The Transporter Refueled

Starring: Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson, Loan Chabanol, Gabriella Wright, Tatiana Pajkovic, Wenxia Yu, Radivoje Bukvic, Noémi Lenoir, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Samir Guesmi, and more.

Directed by: Camille Delamarre Written by: Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, and Luc Besson Based on Characters Created by: Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen Cinematography by: Christophe Collette Music by: Alexandre Azaria Stunt Coordinator: Laurent Demianoff Fight Choreographer: Alain Figlarz Car Stunt Coordinator: Michel Julienne

Premise: Hoping to spend some time with his newly retired father, Frank's plans take a detour after he ends up taking an impromptu job. Matters turn for the worse when he finds out his new client has decided she wants insurance, and kidnaps his father as leverage. The three rules no longer apply. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Not as meaty as Statham, Ed Skrein still has the scruffy look and the attitude we've come to associate so well with regards to the Transporter movie franchise. Chris Vance is a more devonaire Transporter (from the TV series) - so Skrein fits neatly somewhere between the two. It's been fun watching their different interpretations of the same character.

Ray Stevenson was quite entertaining as Frank's father. He had way too much fun in the film - almost like he'd gone on holiday. Lol. Loan Chabanol had great chemistry with Skrein and the camera. Throughout the film you could see her admiration of the man she's hired and coerced grow. Lovely side glances from her.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: What do we go see Transporter films for? The car chases, the hand-to-hand combat, the gun play, and if we're lucky, explosions! The film hit high marks on all these and more.

My favorite special effect had to be the driving maneuver that involved four different fire hydrants. A truly innovative move and with a touch of CGI and camera play it looked awesome. The way Frank disposes of one of his cars and then the trigger device made for some neat fireworks. The gun battle on the boat and all the exploding bullet damage was surreal.

3) Plot/Story - Neutral: Several people involved with the film have also been involved with some of the other films and even TV episodes. So the beginning scene is a familiar one for the Transporter franchise. There's always someone wanting to mess with Frank or his car in the parking garage. They never learn, but does make for a great mood setter.

There are a lot of other signature moments here and there in the film, so there's a lot of fun to be had by fans. And while no one expects this type of film to be highbrow, it was a little odd how on some things the writing was very bad, while on other things it was good.

So this will be one of those films to go see for the visuals, and leaving the little grey cells at home.

The first mistake has to do with the job itself. Even though the bad guy knew Frank in his army days, it seems odd he'd know Frank had become the Transporter, especially as Frank keeps his identity as secret as possible. And from the bad blood between them, I doubt Frank would have ever taken a job from them man or told him about his post army work.

The second would be the timing. From the girls you get the feeling they've been working up to this plan for years. But even assuming she knew who the Transporter was, there's no way Anna would have known anything about his father and when he was retiring/visiting early enough to incorporate him into her plan in this manner.

The third was making such determined ladies, who want nothing more than to leave the life, suddenly throwing themselves all over both Franks. It somewhat belittled all the trouble and the gazillion risks they'd been taking to put this plan together.

There's more booboos, but I will leave those to you to find. :) (Or to ignore. heh heh)

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The stunt department worked their buns off! Lots of car chases with a ton of imaginative car flips and crashes. You'll find yourself cringing at some of these, they look so nasty! Flips, flops, head on collisions, they've got it all!

Then we get into the hand-to-hand combat! Some quick camera moves here and there, but otherwise it's all right there for us to see. And Frank uses the tools he knows best - his car, his fists, and sticks. I utterly adored the fight down a small corridor with a wall of drawers on both sides. Talk about close quarters! And ingenuity too!

Big kudos to the stuntmen themselves as we see several motorcycle wipeouts and men skidding across the streets and into tables. They make it look so easy! :P

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Shot in France, we get lots of gorgeous shots of Nice and Paris. Nice truly looks like an amazing place to visit for sure. :)

Conclusion: While keeping to the high standards of driving, stunt work, and hand-to-hand we've become accustomed to in the Transporter Movies and TV series, the plot could have used a little help. But if you ignore those bits, you're in for a fun and action packed ride.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - Carrie

Carrie

Starring: Julianne Moore, Chlöe Grace Moretz, Gabriella Wilde, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Zoë Belkin, Ansel Elgort, Samantha Weinstein, Karissa Strain, Judy Greer, Katie Strain, Barry Shakaba Henley, and more.

Directed by: Kimberly Pierce Screenplay by: Lawrence D Cohen and Alberto Aguirre-Sacasa Based on the Novel by: Stephen King Cinematography by: Steve Yedlin Original Music by: Marco Beltrami

Premise: Carrie White led a very sheltered and strict life until she went to high school. An easy target, things escalate when she has her first period and she's made fun of for not knowing what it is. Her mother's emotional problems don't help the situation. But when Sue, one of tormentors that day, decides what they did to Carrie was wrong and she tries to make amends, her jilted friend Chris decides to make Carrie's magical prom night an utter nightmare. But she's not aware something has awakened inside Carrie. (Rated R)

Review: 

1) Acting - Total Thumb Up: Julianne Moore and Chlöe Grace Moretz were fantastic as the emotionally scarred mother and daughter. Moore's love and focused self hate came through clearly as each piece of her frayed memories and delusions are revealed through the film. Moretz easily conveyed her character's clashing desire to be liked but not hurt. Watching her at the prom and seeing what Carrie could be, even as we know all will go terribly wrong, just made the moment that much more poignant. Portia Doubleday as Chris was totally convincing in her self interest and inability to admit things can't always go her way.

Kudos to Barry Shakaba Henley for his role as the school principal. His expressions and utter reticence on discussing girl issues were delightful.

2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: Most of the effects used for "Carrie" were fantastic. The telekinetic feats as Carrie comes into her power were done seamlessly and looked great. The destruction of the house, the explosions, the events at the prom, all wonderful special effects moments. Yet it was in the one thing you'd not expect there to be a problems that the film seemed to slip a bit - the pig's blood once it got all over the girl. From scene to scene the look of it on Carrie was inconsistent. And sadly, this inconsistency at the expected climax of the film drained a lot of its built up energy.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The plot for "Carrie" is much like the proverbial 'train wreck'. You know it's coming and you're just waiting off to the side to see how they make it happen. Lots of nice build up and views of the different pieces aligning in such a way that the film culminates in the grand chaos of an unknown power given full, free reign.

It's been years and years since I read the novel by Stephen King or seen the original film version, so it's hard to make a good comparison between the three. This version definitely had all the iconic scenes of the original. However, the advertising inferred that the chaos in this one would extend much farther than just the high school - that the entire town would be showered with Carrie's wrath - this is not the case. So like the issue with the blood, this too took away some of the expected enjoyment during the height of the film.

4) Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: There was a lot of really nice work with regards to the cinematography. Our first shot is of this well maintained, nice looking, wooden house. Then with a slow forward motion we're taken inside to find that within all is not as peaceful and idyllic as the outside implied. There were also some great shots of the location where the prom is held as the students work on setting it up. The magical transformation of the room once it is complete is much like the transformation Carrie herself goes through. And like her, it too becomes scarred as the evening reaches it's climax. Nice bit of duality there.

Conclusion: "Carrie," for the most part, does well as a remake. Unfortunately, the few spots were it failed were part of the 'payoff', so it hurt the film overall. Still, it as definitely entertaining.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Elizabeth Debicki, Isla Fisher, Amitah Bachchan,  Jason Clarke, Max Cullen, and many, many more.

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann Screenplay by: Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pierce Based on the Novel by: F Scott Fitzgerald Cinematography by: Simon Duggan Original Music by: Craig Armstrong

Premise: Nick Carraway has big plans for his future. He moves to New York after college to study and enter the world of stocks and bonds. Renting an old gardeners cottage nestled between the homes of the 20's new rich, he gets drawn into the secrets and games played by those new and old to power and money. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Everyone's talents shine as brightly as all the amazing decorations at Gatsby's parties. Maguire is a delight as the naive, later turned bitter, Nick Carraway. DeCaprio pulled off being rich and sophisticated easily, but what will win audiences over is his little boy eagerness and embarrassment before and during the contrived tea party. Too funny!

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: While one might not expect this to be the type of film to special effects, it actually had a lot. The bay, the green warning light, the three different sections of New York were all created or much enhanced through CGI work. There's also a fireworks sequence to Gershwin that was fabulous.

The film starts in black and white and an old Warner Brother's logo, mimicking the reel films of old. Then it blooms to color during the beginning music, and fades away in the same manner at the end of the credits. A nice bit of homage to Warner Brothers and all the previous novel to film incarnations of "The Great Gatsby" over the years.

3)  Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: I read "The Great Gatsby" back in highschool, so it's been quite a while, therefore I can't make any comparisons in that respect. I might have also watched the 1974 version with Robert Redford, but again, don't remember enough to compare with the new version.

The way the film unfolds, the audience is drawn along with Nick by the experiences and people he meets in during that strange summer. As things unfold, tidbits get sprinkled here and there and we follow the trail as the slowly unfolding mystery of Gatsby is revealed.

Though not obvious, a lot of themes and symbolism are sprinkled throughout the film giving the audience subconscious clues of the secrets and darkness lying below the surface. Though the first time you hear about "God's Eyes" you might dismiss it, by the end of the film you'll be thinking of them the same way.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: There aren't many 'gags', but the ones they have are very well done. The speeding trips to town were especially fascinating, the cars and riders and those they avoided colliding with, shown from different angles and directions.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The tiny cottage next to the giant Gatsby castle, the old blue blood mansion across the waterway - each place was unique and almost seemed to have a life of its own. With the CGI augmented visuals, some truly quirky but effective filming tricks get pulled along the way, giving the film a very unique feel.

Gatsby's grounds and the rooms indoors are opulent and almost fairytale like. The 'fantasies' in Gatsby's mind brought to reality, yet still retaining a feeling of it being 'not quite real' at the same time. Great ambiance throughout.

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Between all the parties at Gatsby's, the more laid back affairs at the Buchanan mansion, and the middle of the road places, each had their own look and feel. The dresses and makeup for the people at Gatsby's weekend parties were amazing, though also easily missed when trying to absorb in the 'over the top' grandeur. Myrtle's dress spoke volumes in her introduction, clueing the audience as to who she was before she ever spoke a word.

Conclusion: "The Great Gatsby" is a grand spectacle of sight and sound. A lot of symbolism and minor themes are woven around a good and solid plot. A poignant peek into the life and attitudes of the 20's.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina

Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew McFadyen, Kelly McDonald, Jude Law, Olivia Williams, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and more.

Directed by: Joe Wright Screenplay by: Tom Stoppard Based on the Novel by: Leo Tolstoy Cinematography by: Seamus McGarvey Original Music by: Dario Marianelli

Premise: Leaving her husband and son to go to Moscow to help her brother reconcile with his wife, Anna Karenina inadvertently crosses paths with Vronsky, a young and passionate soldier who is currently courting another woman. The spark struck between them sets their own lives and that of those around them spiraling in directions none ever expected and which could prove the undoing of them all. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Keira Knightley does a superb job as Anna Karenina. From her drifting through her overtly ordered life to resisting temptation to giving in to it and eventually spiraling into despair, every emotion was clear and full. As her conservative, workaholic husband, Jude Law was perfect. Matthew McFadyen brought a touch of levity as Anna's philandering brother, Olansky. All the performances by the cast were outstanding.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The effects for this film are many, though most go back to the 'tried and true' methods of theater, just on a grander and expanded scale. Reality waxes and wanes, toy trains transforming into actual machines or illusions of docks or Moscow streets in the upper walking rafters of a theater. Image is everything, whether by a reality imposed by society, or that dreamed up for ourselves. Slices of life turned surreal.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: Nicely paced for the most part, the story follows the developing lives of a number of characters all somehow connected to or affected by Anna Karenina. As the film's tag line says "You can't ask why about love." And we're shown various types of it, from destructive, to one sided, to sublime. It is the main driving force behind all. But it isn't always healthy for everyone.

The integration of the stage motif and and its intricate interweaving between social expectations and rules of conduct was an interesting take on a story which has been told many times in film. At first it seemed a little jarring, then into a lot of fun. Watching its influence on the different scenes was interesting. Not all viewers will enjoy it, however, as to some it will prove a distraction rather than an added layer, and jerk them multiple times out of the story's trance.

There are a lot of little details that have to be caught visually, or from sounds, little clues of things not addressed directly. These worked really well. And though the industrial age was well entrenched at the time the story is set in, the machines in the film are the people. The choreography in this movie for several sequences was just amazing.

Lots and lots of symbolism hidden throughout - the ordered and staged state in the lives of those involved, yet when they are happy, content, or at peace they are out in nature, under an open sky. The longer you think about the film after it's over, the more discoveries you'll make, and the more astounded you will be.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The majority of the film occurs indoors, but the locations vary widely, even when it is in the same place as it will have been twisted into something else. The country scenes are all vast and wide. The inner scenes inversely are always restrained, like puzzles being changed, but still leaving you trapped in the same location - stuck.

5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: The costumes were fantastic. Several of the costume changes are done as we watch - definitely not your normal fare, yet so wonderfully done.

Conclusion: "Anna Karenina" is a stunning, visual treat. Very subtle on many levels. Slows down a bit too much towards the end, but totally worth it.  And wait until you see the ballroom scene - very complex and even pays homage to the Russian Ballet.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Better for Matinee)

Movie Review - Red Dawn

Red Dawn

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Adrianne Palicki, Isabel Lucas, Connor Cruise, Edwin Hodge, Brett Cullen, Alyssa Diaz, Julian Alcaraz, Will Yun Lee, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and more.

Directed by: Dan Bradley Screenplay by: Carl Ellsworth and Jeremy Passmore Based on the 1984 film "Red Dawn" Original Music by: Ramin Djawadi Cinematography by: Mitchell Amudsen

Premise: While home on leave, Jed Eckert witnesses the crippling of his hometown by a massive blackout. The next morning, he wakes to find it being invaded by North Koreans. Banding together an unlikely set of fighters, Jed decides the invaders will not be taking over his home without a fight. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Thumbs Up: Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck did a good job showing the audience their family's strained relations without ever actually talking much about it. Josh Hutcherson showed his usual flare.  Connor Cruise had several poignant moments and he carried them off beautifully.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Bullets flew everywhere and there were explosions galore. The scene when Jed and Matt look up into the sky and see the invaders dropping down was quite affecting and well done. Sadly, some of the efforts of the special effects department were diluted or downright sabotaged by the use of shaky cam on several of the scenes.

3) Plot/Story - Neutral: I'll be honest, I didn't pick to see "Red Dawn" because I expected it to have depth or a convoluted plot. And it was a good thing I didn't. This film is best watched without thinking too hard. As difficult as the premise was to believe in 1984, it is ten times more so in 2012. With the amount of technology now at our disposal, a campaign of this magnitude could not have been arranged without word getting out. A secret pulse weapon is mentioned purely to set up the premise and nothing more is learned about it at all.

I saw the original back in the day, but don't remember much. My husband said the remake followed most of the main points of the original. The brothers are at odds due to the death of a loved one years before, and their issues clash during different parts of the film, but eventually they reach some resolution.

Sadly one of the more satisfying moments in the film was marred by the fact the item and location hadn't been shown previously, so ended up being a point of bad story telling. Still, they did try to give some quick filler to substantiate their survival, so some things were well thought out. Killing didn't come naturally to all of them and the hard decisions some had to make were hard, and the audience was able to see that.

4) Stunts - Thumbs Up: With bullets and explosions, we always get stunts. The gags were solid and worked well, except those that were made blurry by shaky cam. Still, enough flying bodies and some hand-to-hand fights were present to fulfill our action quota.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Thumbs Up: There were many nice sweeping shots of the different locations and they gave the audience a good feel of the town and the thick woods our heroes hide in. The fall colors in the forests made for a nice backdrop. It also helped create a starker contrast after Captain Cho's attempt to destroy their hiding place changes the terrain.

Conclusion: "Red Dawn" was fast paced and fun. A nice diversion as long as you don't look at it too closely. Hubby felt the original film was better.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Better For Matinee)

Movie Review - Total Recall

Total Recall

Starring: Colin Farrel, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine, Bill Nighy, John Cho, Will Yun Lee, and more.

Directed by: Len Wiseman Screenplay by: Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback Screen Story by: Ronal Shusett, Dan O'Bannon, Jon Povill, and Kurt Wimmer Based On The Short Story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by: Philip K Dick Cinematography by: Paul Cameron Original Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams

Premise: A disillusioned man plagued by strange dreams decides to give the memory making thrill of Rekall a try. While being set up for his fantasy as a secret spy, things suddenly take a turn as armed men storm the room and kill everyone around him. When they try to grab him, he exhibits skills he's never known before and brings them all down. When he goes home, his wife of seven years then tries to kill him. Is he actually still at Rekall playing out his spy fantasy or is the horror his life has become real? (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Thumbs Up: Colin Farrel was great as Douglas Quaid. You could feel his character's frustration at his lot in life even as he argued with himself he should be satisfied and grateful. At several spots Quaid is force to make hard choices, and the struggle to pick the right course reflected very well in Mr. Farrel's expressions and actions. Kate Beckinsale as Lori, however, stole the show. Her dogged, never ending determination and drive was a definite force in the film and came off the screen at the audience in waves.

2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: A lot of the effects were very subtle, but definitely there. The palm phones were very cool and the options of private conversations or video conversations were impressive. Holographic imaging was everywhere. The glowing tattoos were super cool, too. The magnetic cars and all the security force androids felt real. The chase scene through the elevator tunnels and on the elevator cars was nicely done.

3) Plot/Story - Neutral: I saw the original "Total Recall" with Arnold Schwazeneger years ago, so not all the facts from the original were fresh in my mind during the viewing of the remake, but I still couldn't help notice a major deviation from then original right from the start - this version of the film is set on Earth rather than Mars. While that normally really wouldn't make much of a difference, in this instance it seemed like an odd change, especially as the new background premise made little sense. (If you have that many robots at your disposal, why aren't they out there cleaning the unsafe zone so humanity could expand?)

The core story is pretty solid - Quaid getting caught up in the middle of things he doesn't understand and trying to find out what is going on and following the clues left by his former self. But all the set up and information outside the core plot don't add up. Luckily, the film moves at a very fast pace, not allowing for the audience to spend a lot of time putting things together and realizing a lot of things don't quite fit together.

One example of what I'm talking about would be the Rekall shop at The Colony - located in the worst part of town, and advertising its presence solely by a small sign outside the door, inside the facility is huge! The room for setting up the experience was opulent and had a tremendous amount of space - something which the living conditions of everyone we'd seen up to that point made it seem incredibly unusual. The room even had a giant Buddha head (something which probably weighed tons). Yet if your clients are the low paid, crushed humanity of The Colony, how can they afford to go there? This was just one of many things that didn't quite fit.

4) Stunts - Thumbs Up: There was lots of tumbling, running, leaping, and hand to hand combat among explosions, car chases, careening elevator cars and more. All nicely done.

Conclusion: A fun, exciting ride as long as you don't think too hard and try to make sense of things. Also, if you've seen the original "Total Recall", there are several spots to look for giving homage to the 1990 film.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)