Total Recall

TerrorFirmer

Not strictly about said movie, but definitely a prime example - movies that just don't get made anymore. Not necessarily a specific genre, nor any traits that go unheeded by modern films, but there's just something about 'those' films that makes me realize that the era of truly great action hero movies are long gone. We often hear 'they don't make them like they used to' thrown around, often with no real solid base, but last night, watching Total Recall (again), smiling like a maniac as Arnold Schwartzenegger uses an innocent civilian as a human shield going up an escalator into typically inaccurate 'bad guy' gunfire and shedding about 100 blood squibs in the process, I just had to think. Fair enough, that generation of action stars are mostly still around, albeit somewhat relegated - Seagal to low budget, Van Damme to a more serious type of film, etc. Lundgren still churns them out admittedly but on a budget so small that it's more of a consolation then a joy to behold. Only Stallone is up there flying the flag of macho, hyper-violent body count extravaganza, in a genre that's tried to get smarter and craftier to accommodate a far wider audience. Roll on Rambo, to probably, sadly, finish what Commando started - the best damn genre within a genre there ever was.

Starship Troopers did come somewhat close in it's immersing tongue in cheek, excessively violent parody, but since then, it's all been quiet...

Feelgood

Good movie alright, the chick with the three boobs in the bar was the discussion of my primary school class for about 6 months...

MisterAnarchy

You will like Rambo ,it is great ,lots of people being used as gun fodder.:D:D

MagicMarker

Sharon Stone........ god damn!!!

Nunu

Feelgood wrote: »

Good movie alright, the chick with the three boobs in the bar was the discussion of my primary school class for about 6 months...

Ah Total Recall, what a movie!:) Quatto was the business:D

...and I always thought she had 3 boobs too until I was emailed this a while back

PullMyFinger!

MagicMarker wrote: »

Sharon Stone........ god damn!!!

As a young teen I think both her and the 3 boobed lady in that movie did strange things to my hormones

Total Recall would never be made today by a major movie star and probably not even a major studio. Too much gore, too un-PC, not enough money to be made. Most studios try to have the widest audience possible to make the most dollars.

Die Hard 4.0 rated as PG13 sums it up nicely

Shame

Karl Hungus

Very interesting topic, but honestly, in the case of Total Recall, I think the reason they don't make 'em like that any more is because that was really the style of Verhoeven at the time, and I don't really think we'll get anything quite like Total Recall, Robocop or Starship Troopers ever again, even from the man himself.

With regards to the general 80's action film, I think the overly balletic and choreographed "Fantasty" action introduced to Hollywood by Yuen Woo-Ping through films like The Matrix had drowned that out, but I think people have been getting fed up of that, and films like Crank and Shoot 'Em Up have been the answer to that need. I think that

the hand in a sewing machine

bit from Crank would've been at home in just about any gory Arnie action.

But honestly, there's films that are absolutely stand-out examples of the genre, and their uniqueness is what makes them so special. Take The Terminator for example, there is simply nothing quite like it, James Cameron created such a bleak and oppressive atmosphere with that film, and even his own sequel couldn't recaptured that.

Feelgood

Nunu wrote: »

Ah Total Recall, what a movie!:) Quatto was the business:D

...and I always thought she had 3 boobs too until I was emailed this a while back

Jasus??....Anyone know her phone number or email address??

PullMyFinger!

Feelgood wrote: »

Jasus??....Anyone know her phone number or email address??

tanya@4boobedfreaksfrommars.com



she replies too!

It's true that there are no more heroes anymore. The late 80s and early 90s were a great time for action cinema. Arnie, Sly, Willis, Van Damme, Lundgren and even Segal were producing some of the most entertaining and violent films guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and action films all carried an 18s cert. Somwthing which is sadly lacking in this day and age.

MisterAnarchy

Deleted User wrote: »

It's true that there are no more heroes anymore. The late 80s and early 90s were a great time for action cinema. Arnie, Sly, Willis, Van Damme, Lundgren and even Segal were producing some of the most entertaining and violent films guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and action films all carried an 18s cert. Somwthing which is sadly lacking in this day and age.

Couldnt put it better myself.
The new Rambo film is a hark back to those films.
I havent enjoyed an action film so much in years.

missingtime

This is one of my pet peeves about the film industry.

The release the movie as a 15's with certin pieces cut out, then release a DVD 18's putting the appropriate bits back in.

With this 16 cert now (incredibly stupid btw) more movies will be bracketed in that section.

This is why I liked A History of Violence so much, there hadn't really been a movie of that nature, where they couldn't cut the violence out, for a long time.

Benster

Yep, those sort of films don't come along that often any more. As has been said by Karl above, the coming together of a great action director like Paul Verhoeven with a story from one of the masters of sci-fi created moments like that. Starship Troopers (A Heinlein story from DECADES ago), Total Recall (a PK Dick short story) and Robocop (ok, not a sci-fi published story afaik, but still class!) are all some of the most iconic films from my upbringing.

Also, another one to add to the list is the already-mentioned Terminator - James Cameron directs another PK Dick story, Second Variety. Not a to-the-letter version, more of a derivation, like Total Recall was to "We can remember it for you wholesale".

When a director with the weight of those mentioned gets behind a story so strong, he/she should be let run with it. Studios should not intervene to "steer" a film towards their "target demographic", just make the feckin picture! Have faith in your directors, let the public decide.

Sherifu

It would be nice to have some more of these movies. Jason Statham has filled some of the gap as someone said but there's not many like the 80s/90s action flicks made now. I saw Rambo 4 and it was a nice reminder. It could well be the studios fault for trying to hit the widest audience, whoever is to blame the present action films suck.

Vic Vinegar

Cool thread, gotta love those arnie flicks!

See you at the party Richter! (favourite line in the whole flick!)

kevmy

Not only are these half Sci-Fi half action films not getting made straight up action films aren't getting made I'm thinking of Lethal Weapon 1 and 2, Die Hard 1 and 2, even things like Tango and Cash and even fcuking Point Break.

They all have to be jumping around Hong Kong style and smart with the quips and have a post-modern know-it-all thing going on.

I'd say I've watched Lethal Weapon about 8 times and LW2 about 10 and they're both still great. The glory days films was from 1980 to 1996 and won't be seen again

missingtime

kevmy wrote: »

Tango and Cash

Ahhh Tango and Cash - quality rubbish. The guy with the massive jaw

Sam Vimes

Nunu wrote: »

Ah Total Recall, what a movie!:) Quatto was the business:D

...and I always thought she had 3 boobs too until I was emailed this a while back

you sure about that?

http://bananagrabber.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/recallln2a.jpg


and there was the line "you make me wih i had three hands"

L31mr0d

I'd agree and have said this many times. I loved the cheese and action in Arnie movies. Nowadays they have to give the hero morals, they have to have a female/ethnic equal and they can only kill the people if they are truly bad.

If you want a good throwback to that era watch The Marine

I loved this movie for its over the top action, relentless killing and cheesy dialogue. The hero in it can't leave a building without it exploding into a fireball while he flies through the air in slowmo, he can also survive being plowed through concrete walls. Also every woman in it, regardless of job... is amazingly hot and scantily clad. There's one bit where they are talking to a guy in a junkyard and all the men are walking around in overalls, but the women working there are in bikinis... awesome.

Definitely a movie to watch if you liked the cheese from 80's action movies.

Sherifu

Oh Christ the marine, just block your ears and don't listen to any of the lines.
The one I thought was great:

"this guy is like the Terminator!" and Robert Patrick gives him a look through the rear view mirror.

Tusky

Its sadly true. There are very few violent 18s action movies anymore. The 80s was littered with them. Terminator, Robocop, Die Hard, The Running Man, Commando, Total Recall etc.

Action movies these days always try to do something clever. The action is always blurry and you cant see the fights properly. They will usually carry a 12s rating as well or at most, 15s.

MisterAnarchy

I saw The Condemned a while back with Vinnie Jones and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
It wasnt half bad,Jones plays a right sadist in it ,killing lots of people.
The Condemned" tells the story of Jack Conrad, who is awaiting the death penalty in a corrupt Central American prison. He is "purchased" by a wealthy television producer and taken to a desolate island where he must fight to the death against nine other condemned killers from all corners of the world, with freedom going to the sole survivor.
Nearest thing to an 80's action film .
Over the top but enjoyable.

Duggy747

Those genre within a genre classic action movies are by far my favourite. Arnie, Stallone, Willis, early Seagal, etc, were the golden boys of an action age that started with Commando and pretty much died before The Matrix. After that, we've been succumbed to bullet-time (yawn!), Gun-Fu (Shoot ups that escelate to a karate showdown, yawn!), and as of recently the "grit-ee, serious" movies.

Now half of our "action heroes" are metrosexual wimps who usually care more for their sweethearts who they can't admit their love to (for the ladies) instead of brutally killing someone, turning around and saying a dry, witty pun! The other half are those chisled hunks who are moody and serious and usually go a bit naff in the head when they open themselves up to "the only girl that understands me" only to be stabbed in the back by her or she simply dies a pointless death.

I watched Demolition Man again not too long ago and, though it was ludicrious it was still fun to watch Stallone blowing the shìt out of everybody like a machine. That exploding building at the start is ridiculously MASSIVE, just the way I want it!! Paul Verhoeven's violent movies I've always loved, the dark humour and tongue-in-cheek attitude was spot on for the times.

John Rambo, now there's a movie I can't wait to see. This is probably the only movie that has has me determend to see it in the cinema, he's an 80's action icon and the pinnacle mascot of violence for that era of action movies. Credit to Sly for not throwing away his action status like pretty much the rest of his 80's action comrades did (I'm looking at you Willis, shame on you for DH4.............which wasn't all THAT bad but still!!)

Nunu

Commander Vimes wrote: »

you sure about that?

http://bananagrabber.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/recallln2a.jpg


and there was the line "you make me wih i had three hands"

Ye, I know, the pic i got just threw me off?
...she defo had 3:)

Nunu

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

I saw The Condemned a while back with Vinnie Jones and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
It wasnt half bad,Jones plays a right sadist in it ,killing lots of people.
The Condemned" tells the story of Jack Conrad, who is awaiting the death penalty in a corrupt Central American prison. He is "purchased" by a wealthy television producer and taken to a desolate island where he must fight to the death against nine other condemned killers from all corners of the world, with freedom going to the sole survivor.
Nearest thing to an 80's action film .
Over the top but enjoyable.

I must see that...rip off of The Running Man?

yabadabado

that film The Marine is showing on sky premiere all week but it aint a patch on the 80's action flicks

TerrorFirmer

I actually forgot to mention another important aspect, and that was that the actors themselves were a critical part to the film. I mean, Total Recall wouldn't have been remotely as brilliant as it was without Arnold. He's the difference between a mediocre and great film, solely for his charismatic presence. And these days, there is nobody to pick up where the 80's stars left off - Sure, the Marine is that type of film, but it doesn't quite make the grade - without changing any aspect of the film whatsoever, it would have been 2x as good with Arnold in his prime as the main interest. Not that some films themselves lack the formula, they just don't have the necessary actors to accompany them.

The Denouncer

I flew over the grand canyon and saw the red area they shot a lot of the Mars scenes in Total Recall. A mention has to go to the late great Jerry Goldsmith whose scores lifted many a movie.I still think Robocop is superior to Total Recall but have fond memories of seeing it at the time in UCI Coolock I think, it wasn't open long. Remember the TV show Total Recall 2070?

TerrorFirmer

Yeah, it's not very Total Recall-ish though....

The Denouncer

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Yeah, it's not very Total Recall-ish though....

Yeah it was more like Blade Runner. It pops up now and then on one of the sci-fi channels.

The Denouncer

The Denouncer wrote: »

Yeah it was more like Blade Runner. It pops up now and then on one of the sci-fi channels.

It's on Living TV at the minute on at 1am after the X-Files.

Benster

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Total Recall wouldn't have been remotely as brilliant as it was without Arnold. He's the difference between a mediocre and great film, solely for his charismatic presence. And these days, there is nobody to pick up where the 80's stars left off

Kinda makes you wonder if, when he's done being a politician, Arnie would go back to films, the way Stallone and Willis have gone back to characters they played years ago? Perhaps as a moody Dutch looking back on his exploits on de wrong side of de boh-dah?

He'd need some income to fund the sexual harassment trials that'll dog him til his grave anyway

B.

kevmy

Duggy747 wrote: »

I watched Demolition Man again not too long ago and, though it was ludicrious it was still fun to watch Stallone blowing the shìt out of everybody like a machine. That exploding building at the start is ridiculously MASSIVE, just the way I want it!! Paul Verhoeven's violent movies I've always loved, the dark humour and tongue-in-cheek attitude was spot on for the times.

When a film heads with the bad guys frozen head smashing on the floor after been kicked off his shoulders by a guy swinging on a rope then you know you've just seen a good film.

AARRRGH

One of my favorite all time movies. I practically know the script off by heart.

If you ever sen someone walking around Dublin in a blue t-shirt with "Quatto Lives" on it - that's me!

AARRRGH

Note that Robocop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers etc. are all by the same director.

Creature

Ah Totall Recall, great stuff. Verhoven's best film IMO. This was like the holy grail of films when I was 12 (well until I saw the uncencored version of Robocop, "I don't remember that melted dude getting hit by the car before" :eek:). Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside were perfectly cast as the villains.

~Rebel~

Excellent period of movies alright, was lamenting with a buddy recently that the closest thing we have now is Statham.

Another classic was The Last Boy Scout. Pretty much just Willis as an even more pissed off, sour, McClane

Sherifu

The new Far Cry movie looks like it might bring back some of these good memories. Link

Otis Driftwood

~Rebel~ wrote: »

the closest thing we have now is Statham.

That makes my head hurt.

He has boned Kelly Brook though so +1 for him!

nedtheshed

nedtheshed wrote: »

That makes my head hurt.

He has boned Kelly Brook though so +1 for him!

He was also in the jaw droppingly amazing Crank.