Total Recall Review - Off The Shelf Reviews

This week Gary and Iain review and discuss, Total Recall (1990) by Director, Paul Verhoeven. Starring, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Ironside and Rachel Ticotin.
For more Off The Shelf Reviews:
/ @offtheshelfreviews
Podcasts: offtheshelfreviews.podbean.com/
Follow us on Twitter: / @otsreviews
KZbin: / offtheshelfreviews
Facebook: / offtheshelfreviews
Support us: / offtheshelfreviews
Twitch: / offtheshelfreviews
Discord: / discord

[@igadiz]

I’ve been watching you guys for a few years now. I am sadly surprised and flabbergasted as to why you don’t have 100’s of thousand subscribers. My guess is the you tube algorithm is doing you no favour. Please don’t give up, we may not be many but, we are a loyal bunch. Keep up the good work.

[@cthewave9955]

I saw this at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, CA, and Michael Ironside was the special guest speaker. What a night!

[@miikasuominen3845]

Loved it back then, love it now. Robocop, Starship Troopers and Total Recall. What a trio!

[@usamazahid3882]

It's an Awesome movie not only with Paul Verhoven's direction of (RoboCop), not only with the performances of the Actors, especially Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator), Michael Ironside (Darkseid), Sharon Stone (Catherine Tramell) and even Ronny Cox (Dick Jones), but, with the music from famed Rambo composer, Jerry Goldsmith. The Titans of the 80's action genre, coming together to make an impressive movie.

[@rossknowles5608]

Verhoeven must have laughed his head off at the Total Recall and Robocop remakes.

[@rantingnyrangers5300]

I've seen both. There a joke like most movies now a days

[@Ramuk]

You forgot to mention Cohagen's best line "And Ill be home in time for corn flakes!"

[@Dani..663]

Love this film. Sharon stone and her hair are gorgeous in this

[@High_Key]

Now I smell a Commando review coming!

[@DavyDredd14]

OTSR for : Raw Deal (1986) also !

[@StElna]

Holograms don't sweat! A mate asked me back in 91/92 how Arnie knew the Recall ad guy wasn't a hologram. I thought about it for a few seconds and said, "holograms don't sweat.". I've believed that since.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Kinda how I looked at it. However, if that Doctor was in a hologram chamber at Recall, arguing with Quaid, he may have sweated (for real), under the stress of them having a customer going bonkers/insane in their recall gizmo and the issues that would cause , and the hologram image of him in Quaid's mind, just duplicated that.

[@sadderthanyou7793]

@@chrisperrien7055 Nonsense.

[@Based_Shogun]

The first three minutes of this is basically about 100 different buzzed conversations I've had.

[@serpent6827]

I believe the mutant with the one eye at the bar was played by Dean Norris aka Hank Schrader from Breaking Bad.

[@pilot3605]

I'm ignorant af and know almost nothing about this era of filmmaking, but these reviews have taught me one thing: you hear the name Rob Bottin, you're gonna see some out of this world special effects. Practical stuff just hits different

[@PunkRJH90]

"Ha ha ha ha ha." "You think this is the real Quaid?" "It is".

[@jamesabernethy7896]

I keep saving your videos for my workouts. Been catching up with your Howling series review so probably won’t see this on for a little while. Love your channel, so funny and lots of astute points. I love the wide variety of movies you cover, wether I’ve seen them or not you are always entertaining. Keep up the amazing work that really inspires people the experience old and more recent movies for many different reasons.

[@ThreadBomb]

One nice thing to notice on rewatch is the multiple images of Quaid that occur at certain key moments. The worst part for me is the "two weeks" head reveal. Bottin was just a little too bold there, and the illusion failed. OTOH, Kuato's host was so convincing I never realised it was fake until this video. The development of the film is a saga in itself; Cronenberg spent a year working on it, introducing the character of Kuato.

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

The scene with the fat lady suit is so fucking stupid. Why does Quaid even freak out in the first place when he’s in a crowded airport?

[@rantingnyrangers5300]

Best Arnold movie in my opinion. It's got everything ya need. Action Sci fy. Aliens. Mutants and mind control!!

[@dmccampbell]

Classic, its a given in my film collection. "See You At The Party Richter!".

[@alexjacobsen8487]

I’ve watched this 5 times already. LOVE THIS! thank you otsr!

[@paulhirst7602]

One of Arnie's best ever movie's when the man was absolute box office gold. Everbody involved in that dumpsterfire of a remake should be embarrassed of their involvement in it.

[@Sean12248]

I pirated it online shortly after it came out......I'll never get that time back. Lord that dumpster fire was beyond awful

[@ThreadBomb]

Dumpster fire is too harsh. It wasn't bad. It was just 'nothing'.

[@feliperios3496]

l wouldn't go so far as to call the remake a dumpsterfire however l do prefer the original. Some things shouldn't be remade only remastered.

[@neonsmoviereviews7969]

The remake was more of a Philip K Dock story where this was an Arnold/Verhoeven action movie

[@Davidcross0121]

Wasn't that bad on second viewing. The future looks great. It's obviously not better than original though.

[@NickElliott-dv8vn]

Really is a treat revisiting all these great reviews! Such a childhood classic for me and another timeless one one at that.

[@YaBoyYeti]

Three Booby Woman got stuck in my head for many years after first time watching this movie in the 90's. Good times lol.

[@quazzon4354]

This, T1/T2, and True Lies are probably the best Arnie films ive watched, and possibly the best ones hes been in. Great review as always fellas, cheers!

[@DeltaAssaultGaming]

Predator

[@quazzon4354]

@@DeltaAssaultGaming Ah yes, for sure! Maybe its a top 5, what would you chose for the last one?

[@christermyrberg3661]

Agreed 👌

[@Draliseth]

@@DeltaAssaultGaming *Commando Ftfy.

[@mrnaughtycat]

Love the part where he’s going we all going to die and arnie shoves him off the control panel and says die as he’s flung out into Mars lol

[@kylecurry577]

On a different note...perhaps at some point you can review Sidney Poitier movies. “In The Heat of the Night” , “ To Sir...with love...”, etc. in homage to Mr. Poitier passing away. Thank you.

[@kylecurry577]

Fantastic!! A all time classic & a lot of fun. One of the best sci-fi action movies ever with solid SFX. Great soundtrack with a perfect touch of satire from Paul Verhoven...a very underrated director. One of my favorites!! (both director & movie). Ronnie Cox & Michael Ironside play great villains. This is a small example of the genius of Philip K. Dick. A great writer!! Props to Dan O’ Bannon & Ronald Shusett. Oh yes...Rob Bottin is a artist/ genius!! A interesting note originally David Cronenberg was going to direct & he wanted Richard Dreyfus to play the lead...interesting!!

[@kramalerav]

The mutant subplot was Cronenberg’s idea back when he was developing the film. They decided to keep it.

[@doctorpicardnononono7469]

if it's all in Quiad's fantasy then why are there scenes without him in it?

[@ThreadBomb]

Because he's psychotic? Or because the fantasy functions like a video game, and is realistic to the extent that NPCs don't just glitch out when the player isn't looking.

[@garlicgorilla6540]

Wow. My brain hurts now

[@Stroheim333]

The version of the last scene I saw, in Europe, had the camera pull back and showing that the background was just a bluescreen. This after Schwarzeneggers says something like "It still feels like a dream". I found it genious!

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

Doesn't exist.

[@Stroheim333]

@@VenusHeadTrap2 Yes dear -- it exist.

[@kramalerav]

Re:”Why don’t we have Johnny Cabs?!” I live in Phoenix, which is one of only two cities in the world (the other being San Francisco) where Waymo operates their fleet of robotaxis. I rode in my first Waymo last week, and was immediately reminded of Total Recall. Fortunately, it’s a very smooth ride and nothing like in the film! Although it the driverless car is creepy at first.

[@planetpokiewood1738]

Loved it! Absolute classic! Please think about “V” the mini series - classic 80’s

[@anthonyhudak9363]

Here's to a great year of reviews. Hopefully you guys can finally discuss a film in the kaiju genre this year

[@jackcraven2266]

Always awesome and great ride, and another classic Arnie and Verhoeven film! Your review made me want to watch this and Robocop again! And seeing again how great work they did with this film only makes me more pissed off that we never got Crusade which Arnold and Verhoeven were going to make in mid 90's. If you thought this movie was crazy and gory, believe me, you have no idea what we almost had with Crusade.

[@henrikschmidt3964]

Having most of the film actually being a fantasy, it pretty much explains any inconsistencies. There is no question in my mind the idea is, that the whole adventure is a dream.

[@chrisdee1583]

Where am I? You're in a Johnny Cab. How'd I get here? The door opened,you got in 😂 Classic deadpan humour from Our Johnny.

[@TheSoundsOfTheSTown1]

I loved watching this movie as a kid 🍿

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

That close up of Kuato’s eye scared the living daylights out of me

[@cthewave9955]

44:14 Guys...don't you mean the lady with the three Iains? 🤣🤣

[@absolutely1337]

Robocop 2, starship troopers 2, total recall 2012. Best trilogy!

[@WoodBlock707]

Finally, I’ve been waiting yrs for you guys to review total recall!!!

[@Padre_diego_longoose]

The only legit homie that Quaid had help him was the dude who dropped off his gear in the suitcase.

[@mathiieedoobas]

Gotta feel sorry for Quaid. After saving Mars, he joins the Police, only to be wrongly convicted of a crime, and forced to fight for his life in a gameshow. Man can't catch a break, barring hooking up with 80s Sharon Stone.

[@Grandmastergav86]

This was a 90's release

[@mathiieedoobas]

80's Sharon Stone was a well known time traveller, to those who know her well. I met her next year, and had a blast. Lovely lady.

[@jackshepard1203]

Excellent review guys! I was excited to see this video pop up on my feed, and set time aside today to enjoy it. I've seen the film at least 100x, but appreciate it now at a deeper level after listening to your analysis. Great work as always, looking forward to more!

[@Jay-mu4xl]

OTSR Thursday is here! 🌟 I love Total Recall! Thanks Gary & Iain! Have a good day Shelfers! 👊 🎶 For the memories of a lifetime, Recall Recall Recall 🎶

[@absolutely1337]

I’ve NEVER thought about the phone calls and time to get to Mars. Must have seen this easy 30 times, too. *mind blown*

[@nickelliott629]

What can I say that you both and the comments haven't already said? Just fantastic stuff indeed! Such nostalgia! So quotable! And worth several viewings! Great review my brothers! Really love how you both enjoy Paul's films. 🤘👊 ....And how could I forget Sharon Stone In this film...my God she was hot haha.

[@dougmasters4579]

Awesome stuff guys. You gotta review Stallone's Cobra. Same type of carnage as this masterpiece.

[@sadderthanyou7793]

Both the original novelette and the script are clear it's not a dream in the end.

[@krisorgan]

One of my favourite Arnie movies. Top 3 along with, predator and The Terminator. I'm gonna cheat and add T2, it is one of the greatest movie's ever made after all.

[@skippy1138]

You guys really need to review "Basic Instinct" - would love to hear your take on it.....

[@BruceLeroyUK]

“Baby, you make me wish I had three hands!"

[@chrislondo2683]

Minority Report was originally meant to be sequel for this.

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

You’re finally doing it! My number 1 movie of all time. Total fucking Recall.

[@gowkie3940]

My all time favorites reviewing one of my all time favorites!

[@christermyrberg3661]

Total Recall has always been my favourite movie from Arnold Schwarzenegger & my second favourite from Paul Verhoeven after Robocop

[@usamazahid3882]

Make that also your first/second/third favorite because of the musical composition made famous by Rambo's composer Jerry Goldsmith too.

[@christermyrberg3661]

@@usamazahid3882 Good call 😁

[@tarman8871]

This films a classic

[@phoenixshroud]

Another awesome review to kick of 2022, guys! 👊👊 This classic is always a fixture at the Prince Charles Cinema's Arnie All Nighter.

[@AubreyTheKing]

When Gary asks Iain what's his favorite scene from the film, I agree with Iain's answer! THE WHOLE MOVIE! Total Recall is a f**king Gem! A Masterpiece of a flick! The pure definition of a Classic!! I may be over hyping this film, but My God! I LOOOVE Total Recall! I LOOOVVEE EVERYTHING about it!! The story! The cast! The directing! The sets! The music! It's all amazing! When I saw this as a kid, YES! A KID! I loved it! And the older I get, the MORE I enjoy it!! Aside from The Terminator, THIS is my favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger movie!! If there was a film that made me love Arnold, it was THIS movie!! I can watch Total Recall quoting every line without blinking! I'm just gushing all over this movie!! So I'll stop lol but by any chance you love action movies, and you're a Arnold Schwarzenegger fan, and haven't seen this film yet, then....WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW!?! GO BUY IT!! WATCH IT! ENJOY IT! PRAISE IT! Total Recall is one of the GREATEST MOVIES! OF ALL TIME! Get your ass to Mars! 👍

[@jonahjones1702]

Awesome film

[@TheBeird]

While Predator is the best film Arnie was in, in my opinion, Total Recall is the best "Arnie" film with his persona. Because Verhoeven was smart to realize, since the theme of this film is dreams and fantasy, that the Arnie persona WAS the dream of a lot of people. It's a brilliant film, and smart without being so insecure that it has to tell you how smart it is

[@TheAlan136]

I always thought it was real life and not him in the machine having a dream. They had scenes of just the bad guys talking which Arnold could not have known about. I don’t know about you, but when I dream, I’m in the entire thing. I’m never seeing someone else’s point of view.

[@whoawtf7419]

Yes! This is one of my all time favorite scifi movies and maybe my favorite arnold movie. So many memorable scenes and the effects are outstanding! Great review guys!

[@winstonmontgomery8211]

16:25 That never crossed my mind haha

[@Coldwater-sw6me]

Ghostship anytime maybe?

[@dinksmallwood5561]

I came for The Usual Suspects, but I subscribed for Total Recall.

[@misterwillguitar]

fantastic review sirs! Im intrigued - how awesome would it have been to see Swayze in the role! wow

[@StoneyBrownTV]

You guys have to do Mad Max 2!! 😃

[@perforce1]

Two weeks…!?

[@RichardBarkman]

Didn’t realize looks Arnold Schwarzenegger quite resemble doom guy/Slayer way before doom game in 90s 24:09

[@Cwibacca]

This movie is amazing, I'm only a few minutes into the review. "Oh man, 1990's Sharon Stone." I concur Iain. Edit: the "Fuck you, you asshole" lady is one of my highlights too. 😆 🤣

[@allamaraine8066]

I just watched Total Recall for maybe the second or third time since watching DS9 for the first, and I hadn’t realized that was Dukat. Cheers! 🍻 Edit: Oh yeah, just got into the channel. Love watching you guys shoot the shit about the stuff I grew up watching. Cheers, again! 🍻

[@mattmidgley4275]

Great review guys and another Arnold classic in the bag

[@markusvesa2763]

See you at the party Ricter! Great movie. Happy new year boys and keep up the good work.

[@menorahdarkness4877]

24:56 that Arnie mask is brilliant.. never noticed that before !!

[@feliperios3496]

You know l'm aware the movie aims to being ambitious, however l like to think everything we watched in the movie actually happened otherwise it would be a bit disappointing although at the same time l have to admit that having that "awful thought" like Arnold put it at the end of the movie from time to time, really makes me enjoy the whole thing even more.

[@horrorcocktail]

I always liked the Lady in the entrance hall of REKALL, switching the color of her fingernails and being nerved by customers.

[@KontrolStyle]

keep em coming =] many of us been here a few years - cheers

[@user-qj8hx3qf2c]

Great work fellas! I lub this fugging flick!

[@aranerem3767]

One of the best Arnold movies

[@ZarkAttack]

If everything is taking place within his head, how do we have scenes that do not include his character?

[@kaijukidsam]

Great review and Iain, love the Godzilla shirt ;) Hoping to see some Godzilla-related reviews from you guys in the future. I will check your backlog though just in case I missed any

[@andrewblanchard2398]

it would take THOUSANDS OF YEARS or even MILLIONS OF YEARS to create a viable atmosphere

[@ASTMA193]

My favourite film and this is as good as watching it myself. Cheers, guys.

[@chrisdee1583]

Iain keeps calling him Carl it's Doug he didn't become Carl till Dark Shite😂😂😂

[@rossross9281]

My Mrs gave birth to our first daughter two weeks before Christmas. When she first came out she looked just like Quato!!! ( not sure if I’ve spelled that correctly 😬 )

[@chrisperrien7055]

well , did you name her that? LOL Babies all kinda look like Quato when they pop out.

[@rossross9281]

@@chrisperrien7055 no I don’t think my Mrs would have been up for that!

[@danielrees6884]

I think I'm the only that enjoyed the remake. I hope you guys review the remake as I think it's well made and well acted. Better than the RoboCop remake.

[@Tihana1989]

the mines and some end parts of mars remind me of Red faction game!

[@lordmacabre]

Excellent Review!

[@elfboy29]

You learn so much from your well-researched and lovingly made vids.

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Arnie Viciously killing science lab boffins just doing their job is Brutal but Funny as fuck.

[@MM-cu9kd]

Gentlemen great review i wake up at 3:00 in the morning and low & behold a new review am off to work and seeing your content I love it see u at the party victor 😂

[@dantomlin7733]

It is an amazing film, a must for any Arnie fan, Howdy Quaid is a greeting between myself and a good friend who is also an Arnie fan. I have the mind bending edition and it still is a case of is this the real life ? Is this just fantasy ?. Back in the 90's on a cold rainy day when you was stuck indoors it was about watching films, my 13 year old son can't figure out why I've watched films like this thousands of times and the simple reason is it's epic, and we didn't have the internet, and Ecco The Dolphin got frustrating after a while.

[@Emulous79]

I grew up with this movie. I have seen nothing with so much balls since.

[@seangilchrist3102]

good morning boys! awsome pic for todays video. thanks!!

[@JanisTreijs]

I love your reviews!

[@ThunderingJove]

Good video, thanks!

[@this_is_who_we_are]

I sensed Iain would say that he has 'to get my ass to Mars'...

[@davidknight2104]

About time guys! 😉🙌🏼

[@alexjacobsen8487]

When is this film set? Even earth looks really futuristic. The TV etc

[@dariogeorge8680]

Happy NY boys!

[@jurgenfreiberger6593]

HOW DID THE JONNY CAB EXPLODE BEING ELECTRIC

[@bentramer682]

I'm surprised you haven't talked about this yet, but anyway this will be great because you guys have only gotten better as time goes on. Anyway now I'm kinda looking forward to a Conan the Barbarian video.

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

C u at the party Riiiiccchter is ICONIC.