Total Recall (2012)
Theatrical Release: 8/3/2012
Reviewer: Edwin L. Carpenter
Source: Theater
Writer: Kurt Wimmer & Mark Bomback
Producer: Toby Jaffe
Director: Len Wiseman
Genre: Action
Runtime: 118 min.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Colin Farrell,
Bokeem Woodbine,
Bryan Cranston
Synopsis:
 Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police - controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world - Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate. Dove Worldview:
As far as the family is concerned, this movie should be "recalled." Despite an interesting storyline and impressive special effects, the film registers a three rating in nudity, a four in violence, and a five in language and anything three or above in our content listing places a film outside of our "family-approved" category.
For Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) life seems to be pretty good as he lives with his lovely wife, played by Kate Beckinsale. However, when she turns on him, attempting to kill him, he learns that he actually is someone else and must help stop a tyrant who intends to use "synthetics", android-like creatures, to dominate the United Federation of Britain, and possibly much more real estate, in the late 21st century. Beckinsale is terrific as a terminator-like warrior who is determined to track down Quaid and kill him. Her dogged determination and fighting abilities gives him a run for his money.
The idea of Rekall, the organization which uses implants in a person's brain to make them believe the memories they have are real, is an intriguing plot device. Unfortunately, the content of the film prevents it from receiving our Dove "Family-Approved" Seal.
Sex: Couple seen in bed together; kissing.
Language: So much language that I lost count; several uses of "GD" and "J" and "JC"; OMG as well as a lot of uses of "S" and many other uses of language including the "F" word.
Violence: A lot of violence throughout although much of it is non-bloody; some blood seen on a character's face; shootings and characters die; a few characters are stabbed and cut with knives; explosions; cars ram each other; characters fall through glass; blood seen on broken glass; characters fall from a distance; fist fights and punches thrown and kicking; synthetic androids are destroyed and circuitry short circuits; flying darts sent at human targets; man slugged in throat; android squeezes man's throat and he is in pain.
Drugs: Drinking including beer drinking in a few scenes; bar scenes; the use of implants to make people believe in a fantasy world.
Nudity: A woman with three breasts is seen for a few seconds; nudity from the side and a woman's nude rear is seen; scantily clad girls at strip joint; woman seen in panties; cleavage; shirtless men; man in boxers.
Other: Mind control using implants; domination; betrayal and deceit.
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