 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Total Recall (1990)
- Review Date: November 21, 2011
- R
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1990
Common Sense Media says
Brilliant but disturbing and violent Schwarzenegger sci-fi.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Total Recall is packed with heavy sci-fi violence that's treated with a dark humor. It includes women fighting and being shot, innocent bystanders used as shields, dead bodies, limbs ripped off, blood, fighting, and more. There are some sexual situations, including an alien woman with three naked breasts. Language is also very strong, including many uses of "f--k" and "s--t." There are also ads for Pepsi sprinkled throughout, as well as ads for beer. Most teen sci-fi fans will eventually want to see this.
What's the story?
In the future, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) keeps dreaming about Mars, even though he has never been there. He also dreams about a mysterious woman (Rachel Ticotin) he has never met, much to the concern of his wife (Sharon Stone). On a whim he visits a company that can implant the memories of a vacation, and chooses a "trip" to Mars. The process goes wrong, and perhaps unlocks something inside Quaid's brain. People begin chasing him, and he decides to travel to Mars to find out what's going on. He finds evidence of his previous identity, "Hauser," and some clues to what's really going on: It all ties into a plot to control the air supply on Mars. But how many layers does this mystery have, and how can Quaid tell what's real?
Is it any good?
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, Total Recall is a lowbrow/highbrow hybrid, which is sometimes successful and sometimes not. Taking a story by sci-fi cult legend Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report), Verhoeven starts out with some great ideas. The movie plays around with several, rather brilliant layers and themes of "reality" versus "illusion," including a fight scene in which the heroes make holograms of themselves to fool the bad guys.
However, Verhoeven's sensibility usually combines hysterical violence with his clever commentaries. While this sometimes works on its own, here he is forced to adapt it to Arnold Schwarzenegger's larger-than-life, testosterone brand of action. The result is bizarre, asking audiences to laugh and cheer at the meanest and most appalling situations (though this, too, could be part of the film's concept). Likewise, the story often stops while waiting for Arnold to beat the tar out of the latest batch of bad guys. But overall, the movie's imaginative effects and ideas win the day.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. Would you consider it over-the-top? What reactions do you have to this kind of violence and is it any different than seeing realistic violence?
Is Quaid a likeable hero? What makes him heroic? What does he do that's not so heroic?
What does this movie have to say about our future (or our present)? What concepts in it are realistic? Which are fantasy?
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AGE
Intense 90's Schwarzenegger pic has tons of bloody violence and gore
Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1990 action blockbuster Total Recall is a fairly dated movie, but it still manages to delievrr a decent amount of thrills and ecitement, even if some of the special effects look almost garishly outdated, when compared to the huge rush of special effects and CGI innovation that Hollywood has had in movis for about the last ten eyars or so. Still, it is oneof Paul Verhoven's better and more memorable movies. But, this movie is absolutely, 100% not of kids: There are many, many scenes (in fact, virtually too many to even count!) of stong brutal bloody violence and gore, and, now this is saying a lot, may actually be the goriest and bloodiest movie that Arnold Schwarzenegger has ever starred in. Yes. I am serious. Also, there is some infrequent but explicit sexual content including a three bare breasted prostitute who is seen at least three times. Finally, there is frequqnet profanity with about 28 uses of F--k, with about equally as many uses of sh-t, hell and d-mn, as well. Still, if you love Schwarzenegger, than you will rpboably love this movie, as well.
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AGE
Great movie
Total Recall is a great movie it has a great mix of space exploration adventure and a fair amount of comedy Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a great performance this movie actually used to be rated X for violence but seeing it today its more like PG-13 violence and there is nudity in one sence but played for comedic effect and looks sorta fake the movie has profanity the f word is said 28 times Total Recall is a great movie you should watch
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| Studios: | Carolco Pictures, TriStar Pictures |
| Director: | Paul Verhoeven |
| Cast: | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Ironside, Sharon Stone |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 1, 1990 |
| DVD release date: | June 18, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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