Read Negative User Reviews for Total Recall (2012)

3

lahaine2012Nov 20, 2012

I haven't seen the original Total Recall, so I'm unable to comment on how well this one matches up to it. But what I can comment on was how insignificant this reboot was. It was bland, greatly lacking in edge and originality. The first halfI haven't seen the original Total Recall, so I'm unable to comment on how well this one matches up to it. But what I can comment on was how insignificant this reboot was. It was bland, greatly lacking in edge and originality. The first half of the film had some purpose, but the remaining half gives way to a typical, extended chase scene with typical results. Ram-packed with so many "A" list stars its almost embarrassing to watch them try to perform in this high octane mess. And thank you Len Wiseman for crafting not only some decent visuals, but also crafting something that's as forgettable as a spec on the floor. He doesn't even attempt to go beyond the 'summer flick' mold. This was a Total Failure.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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3

SatiricalewokNov 8, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Now, I really like the original, so I went into this quite looking forward to a version with better special effects. And the special effects are fantastic, the landscapes are breathtaking. But this film is catastrophically dull. This is a heavy eyelid educing movie, and yes the whole lift through the centre of the earth thing is ludicrous, but I wouldn't care if it was fun. But it's just so soul crushingly boring.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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2

DarsidiusNov 26, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I finally saw this movie, and am a little disappointed. Having seen the 1990 version of this movie, I knew that there would be changes (a reboot) to the original in this outing, and figured that I would give this movie the benefit of being able to stand on it's own. To start, the entire setting of the movie seems off, almost as though the director decided to mesh Blade Runner with the video game Mass Effect. In fact, the synthetic security force is a complete rip-off from the video game, to name only one. It's hard to write this review without picking the movie apart, and the stigma of the first movie will always be there as a critique because this movie modelled itself completely after it. It's not really a complete reboot, but it's as though someone with a better budget and technology decided to make a visually stunning film with the story of Total Recall kind of spliced into it. Things, like the three breasted woman or the fat-woman disguise, made a cameo in this film, but they were very out of place. There was a great suspension of reality in several parts of the film, but I guess in the future, people crash through windows, survive gunshot wounds without treatment, and climb ladders on trains going 500 mph through the Earth's core everyday. At times, the fight scenes and the constant chase scenes can become very tedious and boring, and the story appears to fall on the back burner to move these scenes along. There were very few memorable characters in this reboot, unlike the original movie which had more acting and less scowling from the actors and actresses; in fact, I had a hard time keeping up with Jessica Biel's and Kate Beckinsale's characters because they looked similar to each other, and their characters weren't exactly fleshed out very well. Having seen it, I can't recommend this movie to anyone just yet. I admit that I've watched it once, and that sometimes a different frame of mind may change one's interest in watching a movie. But this movie seems to lack something that you can't really put your finger on, and the design choices, once you've seen them elsewhere, are distracting and dislikeable. Do yourself a favor and see the 1990 version first, if you haven't, then youtube Mass Effect 2's videos after watching Blade Runner before you watchi this movie, and you'll see what I mean.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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3

Parker75Aug 5, 2012

Massive disappointment. Bland, soulless action and forgettable characters. A real pity and a waste of a good cast. Somehow everything that made the original good and fun is missing here. What's even more frustrating is that it has anMassive disappointment. Bland, soulless action and forgettable characters. A real pity and a waste of a good cast. Somehow everything that made the original good and fun is missing here. What's even more frustrating is that it has an interesting and intriguing set up that is so utterly let down by a never ending stream of identical fights and chases as to make any memories of story distant.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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2

chupanebreDec 2, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you're looking for a great example of a director destroying the story they are trying to tell, you've come to the right place. The novelty of the story has been completely butchered by a director (Len Wiseman) that doesn't seem to understand how to use perspective. If the audience is meant to question whether what they are watching is reality or implanted memories, the story has to be told from the perspective of Quaid (Colin Ferrell). Wiseman, however, frequently breaks away from the main character and shows the audience scenes that Quaid isn't even in. This destroys any illusion that the story is only taking place inside Quaid's head. How can you remember something you weren't even there for? Apart from the perspective debacle, the story is just a complete mess, with plot holes and inconsistencies waiting around every turn. The action, on the other hand, would have be great, if I hadn't already seen it in Minority Report.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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3

funenthusiastAug 7, 2012

Total Failure - the first third of the movie is OK (I really liked the gadgets!). Just when the story started to get interesting, suddenly the visual effects guy got in the way and the video editor decided to do his/her job while smoking pot.Total Failure - the first third of the movie is OK (I really liked the gadgets!). Just when the story started to get interesting, suddenly the visual effects guy got in the way and the video editor decided to do his/her job while smoking pot. The story line is filled with inconsistencies to the point that it is annoying. Suddenly you will be twisting in your seat watching all the goofs throughout the last two thirds of the movie. Save you trip to the theater for this one and watch it on TV once it hits Netflix (wait, with the poor quality of content in Netflix these days you may need to watch it on cable TV - which either way is just fine).… Expand

8 of 11 users found this helpful83

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3

VidsRuleSep 27, 2012

Wow. I'm gonna give a general spoiler here: there is a little twist at the beginning that seems to set up a cool movie, and then the rest of the movie is one giant chase scene without a single moment of story. I couldn't believe how manyWow. I'm gonna give a general spoiler here: there is a little twist at the beginning that seems to set up a cool movie, and then the rest of the movie is one giant chase scene without a single moment of story. I couldn't believe how many times the heroes are backed into a corner when at the last minute they pull out their guns and start shooting and then comes the getaway. This is nearly the entire movie. A pointless experience.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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3

pointfivewitAug 17, 2012

have to agree with your '44' concensus. this movie was all action and cgi and precious little story/substance. how come arnold is such a so-so actor yet so watchable? glad 1) he's out of my state government and 2) back in the movie biz

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

DrTonyNov 4, 2012

Reading some of the reviews on here makes me wonder if the studios have their stooges post here. Aside from a few video effects this movie is such a piece of garbage, and it gives the original a bad name. From the stupefied plot to flatReading some of the reviews on here makes me wonder if the studios have their stooges post here. Aside from a few video effects this movie is such a piece of garbage, and it gives the original a bad name. From the stupefied plot to flat acting, is this really the best they could do with several hundred million dollars budget? Where no real actors available, or they all just tossed the retarded script in the bin? Seems so, as it ended up "starring" this Colin Whatever--an absolute zero as far as acting and looks, and Jessica Biel who was hot in the 90s playing a non-acting role, but is well pass her prime. Best skip this, watch the original, watch the Blade Runner for some dark robotic futurism. Nothing to see here other than a few very average special effects.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

DemonboxSep 2, 2012

"But those hoping for a real head trip - a truly cerebral Dick adaptation - will have to keep waiting."

forever i'll add to this review...
This movie has nothing that reminds P.K.Dick and is not even funny as it's predecessor, basically a shame

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

timscsDec 8, 2012

the original movie was excellent, this movie was a piece of s**t. They are never going to stop ruining old movies when all they see is dollar signs in their eyes. Hollywood cries they are losing money to piracy, well make some descent moviesthe original movie was excellent, this movie was a piece of s**t. They are never going to stop ruining old movies when all they see is dollar signs in their eyes. Hollywood cries they are losing money to piracy, well make some descent movies and maybe people will watch more. I have seen the movie industry go downhill for the last 20 years and i won't pay for this crap anymore. There are lots of talent movie makers out there, give them a change and stop with the bulls**t.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

MarcDoyleAug 5, 2012

Doesn't hold a candle to the original, which was so full of original ideas that could be exploited here. Sure, it looks fantastic, but it's just dry and boring. It's missing the camp that I loved so much about the original. You know you'reDoesn't hold a candle to the original, which was so full of original ideas that could be exploited here. Sure, it looks fantastic, but it's just dry and boring. It's missing the camp that I loved so much about the original. You know you're in trouble as a moviegoer when you first check your watch at about 45 minutes in.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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3

jwt7000Aug 6, 2012

Besides the good characters and the action thrills, this movie is an unnecessary remake to the original as what preview critics would say. Mars, memory and life were the main themes in the original movie, but this one just doesn't seem toBesides the good characters and the action thrills, this movie is an unnecessary remake to the original as what preview critics would say. Mars, memory and life were the main themes in the original movie, but this one just doesn't seem to have those good ones, not even the setting of Mars. This looks and feels like Star Wars meets Blade Runner and Minority Report.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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1

Buffy1987Aug 8, 2012

I was very disappointed with this mindless and unintelligible flick. It's a total waste of time as nothing makes any sense at all and it's just an endless barrage of running and fighting and confusion.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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2

TetsuoJan 25, 2013

This should of been renamed "Recalled", for both lovers of the original and fans of Philip K. Dick. This doesn't even try to follow the short story, the trailers don't even lie. Convoluted script, boring leads, and those "references" from theThis should of been renamed "Recalled", for both lovers of the original and fans of Philip K. Dick. This doesn't even try to follow the short story, the trailers don't even lie. Convoluted script, boring leads, and those "references" from the original are shoehorned in (including the 3-breasted prostitute), just to remind us what we should of been watching. The setting feels nice but it feels like it's borrowed from Blade Runner and Minority Report. If Philip K. Dick was alive, he'll wish that it was all a dream.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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0

MikefromAngusJan 6, 2013

What a disaster of a movie! the movie reminded me of a bad copy of "balde runner" with a mix of the prequel "star wars". The whole movie consists of the main character running, shooting. getting into a corner. and once again shoot their wayWhat a disaster of a movie! the movie reminded me of a bad copy of "balde runner" with a mix of the prequel "star wars". The whole movie consists of the main character running, shooting. getting into a corner. and once again shoot their way out of it. The remake of total recall was worse then the orginal.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

KadeemluvmusicAug 10, 2012

What was Sony thinking? This is total BS. First off, who told the director to plan a remake of the 1990 original classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? Two, why is Colin Farrell in this movie, anyway? He's not an action star yet. I used toWhat was Sony thinking? This is total BS. First off, who told the director to plan a remake of the 1990 original classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? Two, why is Colin Farrell in this movie, anyway? He's not an action star yet. I used to like him since "Phone Booth," but not anymore since the new "Total Recall"
alienated fans and critics alike. And just like that, it's a mess! I definitely like both Kate Beckinsale (Underworld) and Jessica Biel (7th Heaven) and the three-breated women part, but it wasn't meant to be well concrete. The action, however, wasn't that even good. Can't you see it's a lot different than the original version? Well, it doesn't quite match it. This is one of the worst remakes of all time and this year because I need an 70's or 80's style of a reboot, not living it up to 90's nostalgia, again. I hope Arnold should take notes because trust me, he's gonna be pissed off and I smell a lawsuit going on here.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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3

judahjsnAug 7, 2012

I was hoping the critics were overthinking this and it would be worth the trip and price of admission. Unfortunately I was ready to leave after a half an hour. It's just a really soulless movie that bludgeons you with action. If you tried toI was hoping the critics were overthinking this and it would be worth the trip and price of admission. Unfortunately I was ready to leave after a half an hour. It's just a really soulless movie that bludgeons you with action. If you tried to analyze it, it'd be worse since much of the plot and action hinges on really implausible connections. Even by sci-fi standards it's lazy. We already live in a world that is already connected by a network. The characters in this future-set movie escape the authorities time and time again in ways that would be almost impossible even in a world of today's technology, let alone the far-off future.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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0

mds03Apr 29, 2013

This is easily one of the worst movies ever made on planet Earth. It was boring, corny, stupid, it had bad acting, and the runtime felt an hour longer than it really was. What a total ripoff money grab. I wish I didn't have to say this, butThis is easily one of the worst movies ever made on planet Earth. It was boring, corny, stupid, it had bad acting, and the runtime felt an hour longer than it really was. What a total ripoff money grab. I wish I didn't have to say this, but Total Recall, is Total Crap.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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1

aethelyonJan 8, 2013

This is the biggest pile of **** Every aspect that made the original so amazing is missing here. This is the same guy that made the worst Die Hard movie. Someone should blacklist him from working in Hollywood.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

TriggerhappyMar 31, 2014

Sluggish, predictable, and immediately fading from memory, this movie is far less entertaining than such sci-fi flicks as Timecop 2 or Streetfighter, let alone Verhoven's great original. The political satire is dull and heavy-handed, theSluggish, predictable, and immediately fading from memory, this movie is far less entertaining than such sci-fi flicks as Timecop 2 or Streetfighter, let alone Verhoven's great original. The political satire is dull and heavy-handed, the visuals are utterly undistinct and even the action scenes offer nothing of interest.
In short, an complete waste of time. The only thing that stands out in this ocean of recycled tosh is the solid acting of Farell and Beckisale, who does a fantastic Sharon Stone impression. The one feeling left in me after watching the movie was that these two deserved a better script.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

MeritCobaMay 24, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is an uphill battle for the cast to salvage a dreadful plot that is so full of holes that the movie makes water before it is well underway and sinks barely out of the port. Colin Farrell plays a desperate Bond and Kate Beckinsale a killer so determined out for his blood that I had expected(and hoped) that she actually would turn out to be a robot programmed to off him(Terminatrix). They both throw in all they got to make this movie an event and you get bombarded by action sequences and nice visuals that reminds of Blade Runner and other near-future movies..

Even the story isn't too bad, although run-of-the-mill and therefore predictable and thus very early into the movie you already know who and what Farrell is. But oh my, oh my what a bad plot. Just a few examples. When Colin is chased by the cops he manages to shake pursuit and falls onto a driveway where he gets saved by Jessica Biel. How she knew he was there isn't explained. But it gets even worse, for after she has picked up Farrell unnoticed by the police, the police somehow knows that she has Farrell in her car and pursues her. Another example: when Farrell is captured by soldiers the main bad dude orders him killed, but instead of having his troops open fire right then and there, he orders Beckinsale to do it. But she is somewhere else and has to make her way to where Farrell is, thus giving Farrell time to escape. And this kind of thing happens more than once. A continuous series of lucky breaks and turns makes that Farrell escape them and death.

The main story stands and falls with a total suspense of disbelief. Earth has become uninhabitable but for two spots. One being Great Britain and surrounding territories and the other being Australia. The two are connected by a long tube drilled straight through the core of the earth with all the problems that entails. But even that can be swallowed if it were not for the fact that the plot turns around one side invading the other through that tube. So what is keeping the invaded part from just blocking their side? It just needs a lot or rubble and debris to do that as the tube goes straight down so gravity will do the rest. So nothing really and thus the whole story has lost its reason to be..

Otherwise the movie is a great bore. There is no humor at all and no wit either and the attempt of Bill Nighy at saying something profound to Farrell sounds like stammered ramblings of an old geezer overdosed on medicine. This scene is hilarious for Farrell and Nighy have just met a few minutes before and Nighy starts to crank out supposed sage advise at Farrell about his condition while he hardly knows him, at least not that Farrell. His role in the movie is total superfluous otherwise and could have been left out. Beside this weak attempt at something profound the subject of what is real and not real, something that fascinated P. K. Dick, the writer of the story this movie is based upon, is no longer mentioned or used. So expect no surprises or twists along those lines.

The final fight between Farrell and the main bad dude Cranston is both nonsensical and underwhelming. Farrell, beaten up, tied with one hand behind his back, blind folded and limping on one feet could beat the thirty odd years older Cranston hands down. Come on people, he is no Darth Vader. Instead they could have had Beckinsale and Farrell slog it out in some kind of epic showdown, as their final confrontation is basically botched.

This movie will without a doubt go down history as the lesser one(and that is saying something) and allow for jokes about forgetting bad movies. If you want to see a better Total Recall, you know where to look.

A plea for you. I know bad movies like these are excused along the lines of: it is just a popcorn movie. But consider this. You pay for these movies and this movie is bad for the lack of a good written plot. If you do not demand better, you will get these bad movies. It is your money, ask your moneys worth. In every other area you demand and expect it, why not for movies?… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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1

Erik_ImsenJan 30, 2013

I tend never to use a rating of 0, as it would state that the film is a 100% failure, not only artistically, but also technically. Hence my usual lowest rating being 1 out of 10. When the filmmakers remember to remove the lens cap prior toI tend never to use a rating of 0, as it would state that the film is a 100% failure, not only artistically, but also technically. Hence my usual lowest rating being 1 out of 10. When the filmmakers remember to remove the lens cap prior to shooting, or when they don't film themselves while shooting against a reflecting surface, or when the boom mic doesn't swing at the top of the screen, that deserves to be taken into consideration. And that just what the rating of 1 does: acknowledge the minimum amount of professionalism put into a film.

And that's just what can be said about Total Recall (2012). The universe the story unfolds into is sure good looking, but at the same time unimaginative and made of bits and pieces from other films. The acting is horrible -when will someone finally tell Kate Beckinsale to please just model?- The stunts are over the top, the characters bi-dimensional, and the movie fails to follow it's own logic.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

sil3nt_nickMar 24, 2013

Little dialogue and pure action... bad recipe for a film.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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0

Keano77May 19, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So in the end, she had to wait for him to wake up to kill him? Loool worst assassin ever, simply a bad movie, some ok parts but really come on? I think there should be a council so the customers who are paying their hard earned money on cheap movies to get it back!!! Viva the revolution… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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3

CameraBounceGodSep 13, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this movie doesn't really continue on well from the beginning....theres a girl fight in there....a stupid scene in the lobby where he gets away...they never really touch upon his special fighting ability until he fight malcom in the middles dad and he no longer has any agility whatsoever somehow.....i guess i would watch it again but only so that i could poke more holes...this movie is just as bad as the original… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

BroyaxJan 10, 2017

Cela fait longtemps que je n'ai pas vu le Total Recall de Verhoeven et sur le coup, j'aurais du mal à départager la version du Hollandais volant avec le cabotineur Schwarzenegger de celle de 2012 avec le très sérieux Farrell : ils ont enCela fait longtemps que je n'ai pas vu le Total Recall de Verhoeven et sur le coup, j'aurais du mal à départager la version du Hollandais volant avec le cabotineur Schwarzenegger de celle de 2012 avec le très sérieux Farrell : ils ont en effet ce point commun de ne pas respecter la merveilleuse nouvelle de Philip K. Dick et d'en avoir fait des films d'action décérébrés.

Mais avant de revoir et de m'occuper comme il se doit du vieux Total Recall, autant m'affairer sur le Total Recall nouveau, comme le Beaujolais. Une cuvée qui permet d'apprécier la charmante Kate Beckinsale très à l'aise dans son rôle de méchante forcenée et le sémillant Bryan Cranston dans son rôle... de grand méchant qu'il semble apprécier ! Quant à Colin, il assure le strict minimum et se contente... de faire aussi bien que Schwarzy (c'est dire s'il est mauvais...) les blagues potaches en moins.

De course-poursuite effrénée en course contre la montre et autres poursuites entrecoupées de dialogues clichés avec les méchants, le tout dans une réalisation un peu juste mais regardable, ce Total Recall s'avère définitivement aussi con qu'il est bas de plafond.

Il ne parvient même pas à titiller un quelconque second ou troisième degré chez le spectateur, ni à le faire rire, car une telle stupidité étalée ainsi sur presque deux heures, ne devrait-on pas pouvoir en rire à l'insu du bon vouloir de son plein gré ? eh bien, non, hélas. J'étais plutôt à la limite de l'enui, désoeuvré devant cette cavalcade assez grotesque qui ne fait décidément pas honneur à la Science-Fiction. L'oeuvre de Dick semble décidément inadaptable !… Expand

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2

Steven1981Mar 18, 2020

Total Recall stars Colin Farrell and is a remake of the 1990 original Total Recall film that stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.. The original was rubbish but this remake is even worse. It's not even violent and the action scenes are more like X-MenTotal Recall stars Colin Farrell and is a remake of the 1990 original Total Recall film that stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.. The original was rubbish but this remake is even worse. It's not even violent and the action scenes are more like X-Men leftovers. Terrible film, terrible acting, boring, unconvincing and bland… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

IAmaMovieGeekMay 30, 2020

This is a piece of garbage action movie. I found it so boring. But I did like the little twist at the start. Other than that, this movie is bad. I'm giving this film a D.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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2

i2k-Meta2023Jun 1, 2023

Lens flares everywhere...
Loved the original one with Arnold Schwarzenegger. This one far the worst from two.

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