DVD The year is 2084 and when Douglas Quaid purchases a memory implant holiday to Mars, it unlocks a hidden identity and plunges him into a violent planetary conspiracy.
Details
Douglas Quaid is haunted by recurring dreams of Mars and a mysterious brunette. Seeking answers, he turns to Rekall for a memory implant vacation. During the procedure something goes disastrously wrong and Quaid begins reacting as if he already possesses suppressed memories of being a secret agent.
Sent home in confusion, his world quickly collapses. Friends turn hostile, his wife Lori attacks him, and a hidden message from his "other self" directs him to Mars. There he becomes entangled with rebels fighting the corrupt administrator Vilos Cohaagen and the psychic mutant Kuato, uncovering a secret that could transform the planet forever.
Throughout the chaos one question lingers: is Quaid truly a former agent named Hauser, or is he still strapped to a Rekall chair experiencing the ultimate implant fantasy?
Picture & Sound
Given the film's heavy use of Martian landscapes, it would be easy for the image to drown in red hues. Fortunately the DVD handles the colour palette well, avoiding the colour bleeding that plagued earlier Laserdisc and video editions. The image is sharp with respectable detail and solid black levels, and artifacting is minimal.
However, despite being marketed as re-mastered, the transfer does suffer from noticeable dust specks and visible print damage throughout. For such an important science fiction title, this is disappointing.
From the opening bars of Jerry Goldsmith's booming score, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track makes a far stronger impression. The 448 Kbps mix is rich and involving, with excellent stereo separation and active surround usage. Explosions, gunfire and atmospheric effects make full use of the soundstage, and the LFE channel finally gets the workout the earlier release lacked.
Menu & Extras
The menus are superbly animated across both discs, complete with slick CGI transitions and interactive terminal effects. They are perhaps slightly slow to navigate, but visually they are impressive and thematically appropriate.
The main disc houses two audio commentaries. Cinematographer Jost Vacano's commentary is entirely in German and therefore inaccessible to non-German speakers, though his enthusiasm is evident. The Arnold Schwarzenegger and Paul Verhoeven track remains the highlight. Originally recorded for the Region 1 edition, it may feel slightly dated but is still packed with insight. Verhoeven handles much of the technical discussion while Arnold contributes entertaining anecdotes, including stories of on-set injuries and production challenges.
The supplemental disc justifies the "Special Edition" label. The vintage television "Making Of" featurette is short but informative. The standout extra is the thirty-minute "Imagining Total Recall" documentary, which features extensive contributions from Verhoeven, Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and the writers. It is enthusiastic, detailed and genuinely engaging - one of the better DVD featurettes available.
The storyboard comparisons are surprisingly worthwhile, showing how key sequences translated from page to screen. "Visions of Mars" offers real-world scientific context, while "The World of Science Fiction Literature" provides a more academic, if slightly niche, exploration of Mars in fiction. The Rekall "Virtual Vacations" are light entertainment rather than groundbreaking content.
The galleries and promotional material round out the package. While some features refused to cooperate on PC playback, they functioned correctly via a standalone player.
Overall
Before CGI dominated cinema, big-budget science fiction relied on models, prosthetics and physical effects. is filled with them - from Martian landscapes to Arnold's infamous nasal excavation scene. While occasionally obvious, these effects have a tangible weight that modern digital creations sometimes lack. The film rightfully won an Academy Award for its special effects.
This Special Edition arrives late to Region 2, especially considering earlier vanilla and Region 1 releases. Whether the timing coincided with renewed interest in science fiction blockbusters is open to speculation. Nevertheless, its arrival is welcome.
For Arnold fans, science fiction enthusiasts and collectors alike, this two-disc edition finally gives the film the substantial treatment it deserves. Blood, satire, mutants and Verhoeven excess - all preserved in one satisfying package. Highly recommended.
Special features
Disc One
- Audio Commentary by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Paul Verhoeven
- Audio Commentary by Cinematographer Jost Vacano
Disc Two
- "Making Of Total Recall" Featurette
- "Imagining Total Recall" Featurette
- Teasers, Trailers and TV Spots
- Storyboard / Film Comparisons
- "Visions of Mars" Feature
- "The World of Science Fiction Literature" Featurette
- Virtual Vacations
- Photo Gallery
- Conceptual Artwork
