'Total Recall' trailer poses a tough choice

Posted Friday, April 6, 2012 at 4:32 PM Central

by John Couture

Everyone knows how I feel about sequels and remakes, so I won't belabor the point. But, there are cases in which I think remakes are kosher and I may shock many of you, but Total Recall is one of the ones that I'm more than ok with.

I know that many of you grumbled when it was leaked that Colin Farrell wouldn't be traveling to Mars in this new take on the classic Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale." But, that's pretty much the reason I'm good with this remake.

You see, in the Dick story, Douglas Quail (no that's not a typo) doesn't actually ever go to Mars. Now, I'm not saying that all adaptations need to be faithful to be worthy, but for me, the fact that Farrell's Quaid doesn't go to Mars allows this incarnation to judged on its own merits.

I have a feeling that we are going to find out that both versions of Total Recall can survive as separate, yet similar movies. And let's face it, the original movie doesn't hold up all that well. If you watch the Arnold Schwarzenegger version now, it almost seems like a farce of the original subject matter.

Actually most of Schwarzenegger's movies feel that way to me, sadly. Anyhow, I actually think that advancements in technology help the newest take on the story and I'm sort of looking forward to it.

And let's face it, what dude wouldn't want Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel fighting over them? That, and it's good to see that Colin Farrell is still alive. I was beginning to wonder there for a minute.