Total Recall Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Total Recall" is a technical masterpiece that artfully serves the film’s dystopian aesthetic. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode delivers exceptional visual clarity and detail, ensuring that both real and digital elements are seamlessly intertwined. The transfer demonstrates superb facial texture reproduction with lifelike features readily observable in close-ups and minute details meticulously rendered in wider shots. The deliberate use of a limited chromatic range accentuates the film's cold, muted tones, while moments of vibrant neon lighting pop against the otherwise somber backdrop. Black levels are inky and dynamic, contributing to an excellent sense of depth and three-dimensionality. Despite this constrained color scheme, the video presentation maintains incredible sharpness and exhibits no signs of noise, banding, or other digital artifacts.

The visual experience is enhanced by the film’s impressive bitrate and the judicious use of contrast, with immaculate whites lending a striking cinematic quality to the image. The combination of 35mm and HD cameras results in a lush, finely detailed presentation that captures the essence of the film’s futuristic cityscapes and the minutiae of its intricate set designs. Even though Total Recall’s visual style favors a gritty, monochromatic palette, the high-definition transfer breathes life into every frame. Blacks are truly deep, enhancing shadow details and contributing to the overall cinematic ambiance. Skin tones appear natural and varied across the cast, contributing to a palpably realistic portrayal. Ultimately, this Blu-ray edition sets a high benchmark for visual fidelity in modern home cinema, offering an exemplary video experience that fully honors the film’s ambitious visual scope.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel surround mix on Sony's Blu-ray release of "Total Recall" is an exceptional audio presentation that stands as a paragon of high-fidelity sound design in home entertainment. This soundtrack showcases a wide dynamic range, superlative clarity, and fine detail that will satisfy audiophiles and casual viewers alike. Dialogue is definitive, coming through the center channel with impressive lucidity and separation, never getting lost amidst the bustling acoustics or the immersive auditory environments. Front channel imaging is superb, allowing precise directional correlation of sound elements based on onscreen events, creating an engaging listening experience that seamlessly envelops the viewer.

The surround channels are employed both effectively and aggressively, expanding the front soundstage and immersing the listener in a 360-degree web of sound. The mix also makes authoritative use of low-frequency effects to underscore dramatic scenes, delivering room-shaking bass that extends into skin-tingling territories. The bombastic sounds of shootouts are particularly noteworthy, with gunfire erupting from all corners of the room, maintaining fine clarity from trigger pull to impact. Musical scores by Harry Gregson-Williams are deftly balanced across the speakers, offering a smooth and spacious aural experience that enhances the narrative without overpowering dialogue or other sound effects.

However, some technical issues detract slightly from the otherwise impressive audio quality. Several users reported instances of audio dropouts and lip-sync issues, which required adjusting player settings from bitstream to PCM to resolve—a process that is frustrating but necessary to restore the soundtrack's intended performance. That said, when functioning properly, the mix provides a continuously active soundstage rich with city noise, robust mid and upper bass, and ultra-low frequency effects that enhance action scenes vividly. The rear channels are populated with ambient noise or intentional stillness, contributing to a fluid and immersive auditory experience that underscores the film's dynamic and exciting atmosphere.

The Blu-ray extras for Total Recall offer a comprehensive dive into the film's production, blending insightful commentary with interactive features and behind-the-scenes footage. The collection spans two discs, starting with the Extended Director’s Cut and the Theatrical Cut, accompanied by an engaging audio commentary from director Len Wiseman on the extended cut. The standout feature is the Total Recall Insight Mode for the theatrical cut, delivering an immersive, scene-specific look at production elements such as visual effects, set design, and costuming. The second disc enriches the experience with a blend of concise featurettes, including a gag reel, sci-fi analysis by Michio Kaku, and a look at the creation of “The Fall.”

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio commentary with director Len Wiseman: Insightful discussion on the Extended Director’s Cut.
• Total Recall Insight Mode: Interactive behind-the-scenes for Theatrical Cut.
• Gag Reel: Light-hearted bloopers and mishaps.
• Science Fiction vs. Science Fact: Michio Kaku explores the science behind the film.
• Designing The Fall: Brief feature on one of the signature visuals.
• Total Action: Seven segments on various aspects of the film's key scenes.
• Stepping in Recall: Previsualization sequences.

Director Len Wiseman's 2012 remake of "Total Recall," starring Colin Farrell as Douglas Quaid, delivers a visually stunning and action-packed experience. Set at the end of the 21st century, the film depicts a world devastated by chemical warfare, where only two livable territories remain: the United Federation of Britain and The Colony. Quaid, a factory worker dissatisfied with his monotonous life, visits Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories. The procedure goes awry, revealing Quaid's true identity as a super-agent and thrusting him into a high-stakes battle for survival. The film replaces the Martian mutants of the original with a gritty portrayal of warring terrestrial factions and high-tech police states.

Wiseman’s adaptation is a sleek, visually engaging reimagining that excels in its use of cutting-edge CGI and well-choreographed action sequences. The production design is heavily inspired by Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner," merging high-tech environments with dystopian aesthetics. Farrell’s portrayal of Quaid offers a more streamlined and emotionally nuanced counterpoint to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s robust original. While Farrell adeptly navigates the physical and psychological turmoil of his character, Kate Beckinsale’s aggressive intensity and Jessica Biel’s balanced yet interchangeable performance provide competent but unremarkable support.

Despite its technical accomplishments, this iteration of "Total Recall" struggles to explore deeper philosophical themes beyond their function as plot catalysts. Intriguing concepts like the nature of memory and reality are addressed but never fully developed, making the film more of a visually impressive thrill ride than an intellectually engaging experience. This approach renders the movie entertaining but occasionally hollow, failing to live up to the mind-bending complexities of the original. Wiseman’s film would have benefited from either distancing itself more from its predecessor or diving deeper into its philosophical undertones rather than relying heavily on recycled elements, including the infamous three-breasted woman, which serve more as nostalgic nods than meaningful contributions to the narrative.

The 2012 Blu-ray release of "Total Recall" directed by Len Wiseman represents a visually stunning yet narratively conflicted action experience. The film offers an engaging, albeit superficial narrative that struggles to find its identity. It stands as a remake that tries hard to distinguish itself from Paul Verhoeven’s original, yet frequently reminds viewers of the superior predecessor. The juxtaposition between breath-taking modern CGI effects and nostalgic elements borrowed from the 1990 film create an atmosphere of beautiful confusion, much akin to the film’s iconic three-breasted woman: intriguing, yet slightly out of place.

Despite its shortcomings in cohesively integrating new story elements with classic themes, the film’s technical aspects are impressive. The Blu-ray boasts exemplary video quality and near reference-grade audio, although some audio issues have been noted, potentially necessitating careful consideration before purchase. The futuristic design of the movie’s setting, capturing a nightmarish world divided between wealthy haves and impoverished have-nots, is beautifully rendered and practically demands attention from aficionados of spectacular CG craftsmanship. The Blu-ray package is packed with engaging supplementary content—most of which is exclusive—ensuring hours of additional entertainment and insights for devoted fans.

In conclusion, while Wiseman’s rendition of "Total Recall" may not fully satisfy all audiences, it undoubtedly provides a visually compelling action spectacle. The narrative imbalances and thematic struggles are countered by impressive production values and supplementary content that justify viewing, if not outright purchasing. However, prospective buyers should be mindful of the potential for audio inconsistencies. Ultimately, this Blu-ray stands as a cautiously recommended release where visual prowess meets narrative ambition.