Total Recall?

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Last night I saw someone down my local who I recognised as being in my class at primary school. This was about fifteen years ago. I went over and introduced myself and he apologetically stated he had no recollection of who I was. So I reeled off the names of about ten to fifteen classmates and he didn't remember any of them, expressing his amazement that I still remembered all these people.

On my part, I was amazed at his lack of memory. So which one are you, a total recall or a no recall?

Trevor, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Was he amazed in a "WOW! That's brilliant!" way, or a "God, why on earth would someone remember people they went to primary school with?" way. If the latter, I would take a dislike to him.

Me? I'd be fine doing 10-15 without breaking sweat, and a lot more if I thought about it for a while. Even though I never saw many of them again after I left.

N., Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

No, he was genuinely surprised. I get the impression that for many people out of sight really does mean out of mind. People that take a more pragmatic approach to life have a tendency to forget things that are no longer relevant to them. People who are more... creative tend to maintain their links with the past a lot more.

I have no way of proving this, it's just a theory I have.

Trevor, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Okay, do your school registry then. (Males these are)

Arthurs, Bailey, Baran, Barber, Drinkwater, Grahame, Heather D., Heather M. (not twins), Lee, Schoonerad, Siegler, Singh, White, Williams

Pete, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I agree with your theory Trevor. That's why I asked the question about the tone of his response. You haven't really answered it though (not that it matters). I didn't doubt he was really surprised. I meant was he impressed or implying "you sad fuck"?

N., Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

No I understood what you were getting at. I didn't get the impression he was being disparaging, hence him leaving the pub in one piece. I did thrash him at pool though.

Trevor, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Trevor, maybe this person wasn't who you thought he was but thought you were a nutter so went along with your childhood reminiscing as he thought you'd punch him if not?

Emma, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

if that's true, he probably let you thrash him at pool too.

Ronan, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I would give your theory some credence Emma, if it wasn't for the fact that a mutual friend confirmed his identity first. Plus he chalked his name up for Killer. And he still had the same cheeky chappy grin he wore at age 12, albeit tempered somewhat by manly fat and years of substance abuse.

Trevor, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Quite, Ronan. I was once working in a pub during university holidays when a girl I was at school with when I was about 10 came in and recognised me. I was gutted at the idea that I looked the same at 19 as I did at 10.

Emma, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I have the same problem with being recognised from primary school. Alas I never bloomed like they all said I would :) Luckily I never recognise anyone else from school so my ignorance is almost inpenetrable making those awkward conversations by necessity short lived

Menelaus Darcy, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I could probably remember half to two-thirds of the people I went to primary and junior school with...and most of the people from high school. It helps that my year of leaving has the most enteries at friends reunited. jel=high memory capacity.

jel, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I remember almost all the kids I went to elementary school with, largely because we all went to the same junior high and the same high school. 12 years with a group of people tends to cement them in your mind.

Dan Perry, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

one year passes...
http://www.sea.fi/foto/total_recall.jpg
Twwwoooooooo Weeeeeeeeekkkkks

Carey (Carey), Monday, 1 September 2003 01:16 (twenty years ago) link

heh.

Trayce (trayce), Monday, 1 September 2003 01:55 (twenty years ago) link

three years pass...

it's funny, there's product placement for both coke and pepsi in this

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:24 (sixteen years ago) link

it's the future

latebloomer, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:27 (sixteen years ago) link

this movie rules

latebloomer, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:27 (sixteen years ago) link

yes.

Hurting 2, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:35 (sixteen years ago) link

Last time I watched this was at Incheon airport, all these Korean families sitting around with us waiting for the plane. It was a truly exceptionial experience.

Drooone, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:41 (sixteen years ago) link

don't get me started.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:45 (sixteen years ago) link

This shall be one of my first Blu-ray purchases. I own the VHS, but never bought the DVD.

As for Trevor's original question, yes, I can remember the names and faces of nearly everyone I went to school with and entire conversations from over a decade ago. It's not necessarily as welcome an ability as you might think, but it might come in handy someday, I suppose.

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:45 (sixteen years ago) link

no no wait... DO get me started. Please. The only dumbshit-but-awesome movie better than this is Die Hard, but I could be convinced otherwise.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:47 (sixteen years ago) link

No way, nothing tops TOTAL RECALL. We can learn very important lessons about future trips to Mars from this movie.

Abbott, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:51 (sixteen years ago) link

Yeah, Die Hard is not better. RoboCop, maybe.

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:53 (sixteen years ago) link

Which is to say the only thing that can possibly be better than Verhoeven is other Verhoeven.

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:54 (sixteen years ago) link

this movie ain't dumbshit, and there's even a coupla proto-Doom, Raimi-like POV shots

"See you at the party, Richter!"

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 04:55 (sixteen years ago) link

Also, apparently they still have miller lite in the future

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:01 (sixteen years ago) link

this movie ain't dumbshit

ok, I retract one half of that. You decide which half.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:03 (sixteen years ago) link

I love this movie, obv, so go easy on me.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:03 (sixteen years ago) link

http://www.sea.fi/foto/total_recall.jpg

Twwwoooooooo Weeeeeeeeekkkkks
-- Carey (Carey), Monday, 1 September 2003 01:16 (3 years ago) Link

otm

chaki, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:07 (sixteen years ago) link

the only thing that can possibly be better than Verhoeven is other Verhoeven.

taken on its own terms... ok, yeah.

I keep trying to get my girlfriend to watch Robocop, but it's just not a big priority for her. How can I make her understand unless she's seen it? I can't DESCRIBE it, obviously. This must be some kinda universal nerd question.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:13 (sixteen years ago) link

Tell her than the dad from that 70's show is secretly psychopathic.

you have a girlfriend?

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:25 (sixteen years ago) link

Tell her there's a girl with three titti...aw shit, that was Total Recall and that mostly only works on dudes.

You have tried to communicated how fucking funny RoboCop is? Most people like to laugh, does she like that kind of dark humor?

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:28 (sixteen years ago) link

I keep trying to get my girlfriend to watch Robocop, but it's just not a big priority for her.

This could be the title of a "Women are From Venus" style relationship advice book.

Hurting 2, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:30 (sixteen years ago) link

Yeah, come to think of it I have never heard a woman talk about RoboCop. Ever.

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:33 (sixteen years ago) link

you have a girlfriend?

Two things

1. fuck you
2. you may know her, at least around ILX.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:43 (sixteen years ago) link

oh great you're internet dating Aja

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:45 (sixteen years ago) link

I can't resist the 13-yr-olds.

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:49 (sixteen years ago) link

I feel bad now. Should have just left that post as "fuck you."

Have I mentioned that Total Recall is the best Schwarzenegger performance ever?

kenan, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:55 (sixteen years ago) link

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c0/c633.jpg

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 06:12 (sixteen years ago) link

I'll leave Marmot and/or shakey to handle this

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:03 (sixteen years ago) link

Also, i get a kick out of how there's at least two different readings of "We Can Remember...." out there. One by Keir Dullea, one by the late William Hootkins(Porkins from Star Wars)

Both are worthwhile.

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:11 (sixteen years ago) link

"We Can Remember...." out there. One by Keir Dullea,

YSI?

S-, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:18 (sixteen years ago) link

This could be the title of a "Women are From Venus" style relationship advice book.

I keep wanting to read this, but I'll just roffle at your comment for now.

I really can't remember Total Recall. I know I watched it, but I just have any... well recollection. The same with RoboCop. I vaguely remember it, hence why I know I watched it, but specific scenes or storylines remain a mystery. :-( I really should buy both on DVD. I've been wanting to do this for ages, but haven't so far.

stevienixed, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:28 (sixteen years ago) link

I'll leave Marmot and/or shakey to handle this

There are a few things I thought to say but decided against all of them.

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:32 (sixteen years ago) link

wuss.

Anyway, there's an audiobook of Keir Dullea reading "Minority Report and other stories" floating around on the torrent networks. It's pretty good.

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:38 (sixteen years ago) link

I just don't have much of a vested interest in riling up kenan.

marmotwolof, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:41 (sixteen years ago) link

Just you wait, my young apprentice, someday the feeling will begin to boil up within you.

kingfish, Thursday, 9 August 2007 07:44 (sixteen years ago) link

one year passes...

remake time : (

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ifa2d2edd233df646a9db6b5c8ef251e9

caek, Tuesday, 2 June 2009 23:36 (fourteen years ago) link

Only 1 cent! Get it now!

Ned Raggett, Monday, 6 August 2012 18:54 (eleven years ago) link

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable read whether you liked the movie or not., January 22, 1999
By
Michael Dawson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Total Recall (Paperback)
This is an excellent book for those who saw the movie and thought "This idea had potential." The Piers Anthony version of this story is superior to both the movie and the screen play. This book gives insight into the mind of a alien race and what it might expect from a species that considers itself mature enough for space travel. Mr. Anthony puts a relatively new face on the oft used concept of colonialism extended to interplanetary colonization. We see that the downtrodden are not always forgotten. We are also given the opportunity to wrestle with the question, of what makes a person themselves; is it ones actions(past, present, or future) or is it ones thoughts and ideas (remembered and forgotten). While the "Total Recall" story is taken from a short story entitled, "We can remember it for you wholesale." Piers Anthony offers a fresh look at the timeless concepts.

Ned Raggett, Monday, 6 August 2012 18:55 (eleven years ago) link

lol thank you Wikipedia

the novelization came out in 1989, branded completely independently of the movie, and then the movie was released in 1990 and the book was rereleased as a movie tie-in

keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, 6 August 2012 18:56 (eleven years ago) link

>therefore never actually noticed any type of "maybe it's all a dream" duality in the story because it's not really played up in the novelization from what I remember

so go ahead and spoil it for me, in the Anthony book... it is not a dream?

Milton Parker, Monday, 6 August 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link

A Piers Anthony novel of a script based on a PKD story is nearly as funny as Fred Saberhagen and James V. Hart's Bram Stoker's Dracula, based on the screenplay by James V. Hart, based on the novel by Bram Stoker.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511aLNQRXRL._SS500_.jpg

Marco YOLO (Phil D.), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:07 (eleven years ago) link

so go ahead and spoil it for me, in the Anthony book... it is not a dream?

It is rather emphatically not a dream, there is zero ambiguity about this

keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:12 (eleven years ago) link

and I think reading the book first grossly influenced how I interpreted the movie because it never actually occurred to me until this recent revive that there might have been ambiguity about whether it was real or not in the movie

keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:13 (eleven years ago) link

^^^why the movie is shitty in a nutshell

giallo pudding pops (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:13 (eleven years ago) link

do you recall how the woman with three tits was literarily depicted in the novelization?

smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:16 (eleven years ago) link

she was depicted as a woman with three tits

keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:17 (eleven years ago) link

although it was slightly unclear as to where the third tit was, I kept thinking it might have been where her belly button should be

keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, 6 August 2012 19:18 (eleven years ago) link

in a row is standard. unracked tits require special mention.

contenderizer, Monday, 6 August 2012 19:26 (eleven years ago) link

in the new film, the three-breasted hooker shows up before his visit to Recall, which removes any doubt as to whether or not she is real

makes you think

Milton Parker, Monday, 6 August 2012 20:13 (eleven years ago) link

http://www.gq.com/entertainment/tv/blogs/the-stream/2012/08/total-recall-director-paul-verhoeven-interview.html

GQ: You're not involved in the reboot of Total Recall. Are you curious to see it?
Paul Verhoeven: Moderately.

GQ: That's it?
Paul Verhoeven: I saw the trailer. It's difficult to judge a movie off of three minutes. But I had the feeling there was an essentially different look—more serious, in fact. I had the feeling there was not much, let's say, funny things happening.

GQ: The director, Len Wiseman, has admitted as much. Was there humor in the original script?
Paul Verhoeven: That had a lot to do with the choice of Arnold. Before we started, Patrick Swayze was involved. Arnold had been pursuing the project for years. In the original script, Quaid was an accountant. He was boring. Arnold is not an accountant. It would not work that way. We felt we should adapt the script. With Arnold, the tone should be a touch lighter. A little bit winking.

GQ: Total Recall, Starship Troopers, and RoboCop are all being remade. Do you feel vindicated?
Paul Verhoeven: I feel completely depressed.

GQ: Really?
Paul Verhoeven: It's depressing in the way that you feel that you're already dead and buried. Basically, you are transported out of the window.

GQ: Will they remake Showgirls?
Paul Verhoeven: I strongly doubt it.

WheatusVEVO (Hungry4Ass), Monday, 6 August 2012 20:15 (eleven years ago) link

not much, let's say, funny things happening.

goole, Monday, 6 August 2012 20:18 (eleven years ago) link

it's fun to imagine those answers in a herzog voice

contenderizer, Monday, 6 August 2012 21:12 (eleven years ago) link

...or a verhoeven voice?

Author ~ Coach ~ Goddess (s1ocki), Monday, 6 August 2012 22:37 (eleven years ago) link

verhoeven > herzog

smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Monday, 6 August 2012 22:38 (eleven years ago) link

; )

smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Monday, 6 August 2012 22:38 (eleven years ago) link

also what, starship troopers is being remade? fucking cocks

smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Monday, 6 August 2012 22:39 (eleven years ago) link

verhoeven > herzog

lol

Harvey Cartel (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 6 August 2012 22:45 (eleven years ago) link

Every response by Verhoeven in that interview is fantastic.

Sandy Borehole (S-), Friday, 10 August 2012 04:57 (eleven years ago) link

I like the phrase "transported out of the window."

Simon H., Friday, 10 August 2012 11:52 (eleven years ago) link

lack of ILX discussion prob means this isn't worth much other than beautiful CGI cityscapes?

kanye shiwen (dayo), Friday, 10 August 2012 12:34 (eleven years ago) link

from everything i've heard, there's nothing redeeming about it

WheatusVEVO (Hungry4Ass), Friday, 10 August 2012 16:31 (eleven years ago) link

NOT
LISTENING

TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Friday, 10 August 2012 18:58 (eleven years ago) link

will probably see Verhoeven's in the next week as new print is playing NYC.

Pangborn to be Wilde (Dr Morbius), Friday, 10 August 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link

wherer/when??

kanye shiwen (dayo), Friday, 10 August 2012 19:09 (eleven years ago) link

xpost I saw the original. I forgotten it completely so decided to see it again. Ah nostalgia. I absolutely loved it. Not as much as ST but still really fun movie.

Nathalie (stevienixed), Saturday, 11 August 2012 09:11 (eleven years ago) link

SEE YOU AT THE PARTY RICHTER!

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 11 August 2012 13:11 (eleven years ago) link

The original is like a regular touchpoint among me and my co-workers. Invitations to parties and other events are often met with "GET YOUR ASS TO MAHS, QUAID." A colleague recently discussed a trip to the doctor with his two-year-old daughter by noting that they turned down all vaccines except "the anti-Kuato one." Asking someone to do something ends with "Quaid … start the reactor …" etc

Marco YOLO (Phil D.), Saturday, 11 August 2012 13:58 (eleven years ago) link

It's a weirdly quotable movie, maybe because so few of its lines hit home as genius one-liners but all of it has a sort of odd, funkily-delivered sensibility, making really ordinary lines much more memorable. Years before I saw the movie, I was working at a bookstore and took down a special order for a customer named Richter; my assistant manager saw the note and went "See you at the party... Richter." When I finally saw the movie I spent the whole time waiting for that line - if it's not in the remake then I have absolutely no interest.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 11 August 2012 14:39 (eleven years ago) link

i misrememberd the quote of the cab scene as "DIE, BENNY, DIEEEE" with arnold ripping out benny's face flesh from his skull. but Benny can't have been the cab driver because the cabs are robopiloted.

Philip Nunez, Saturday, 11 August 2012 17:57 (eleven years ago) link

i really love the original; i think it's my favorite arnold. he's hilarious in it without losing his dignity. and the scene where the bad guys pop in the videotape and his face comes up -- HI, QUAID -- and he just looks totally bereft and horrified is really really funny and really really creepy.

a hauntingly unemployed american (difficult listening hour), Saturday, 11 August 2012 18:01 (eleven years ago) link

FWIW, when it's edited for TV, the scene where he drills Benny to death is changed from "SCREW YOU" to "DIIIIE BENNYYYY."

Agreed Arnold is great in this, kind of annoying how most of the reviews I've seen of the remake sort of brush him aside as musclebound bad-actor Arnold - - this is one of his comedy roles, lot of personality there!

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 11 August 2012 18:21 (eleven years ago) link

one year passes...

sat through the remake of this on a whim; it is absolutely terrible
couched in psychobabble, terrible looking TEH ASIANS DONE TOOK OVER set dressing, endless and pointless ken and barbie character building that goes nowhere, fatuous editing, dumbfuck action sequences, plot points telegraphed light years in advance and some of the worst special effects that money can buy
i am a great fan of the original but occasional fanservice bullshit like a decoy "two weeks" lady and triple titties don't help. fake out ending is dumb as hell and the lack of ambiguity about the live v memorex plot twist (spoiler: IT'S ALL REAL) renders the entire exercise more generic than you would suppose
in short if you missed it and were thinking about it: it's boring and you should not waste your time
http://i.imgur.com/wP9f5.gifhttp://i.imgur.com/wP9f5.gifhttp://i.imgur.com/wP9f5.gifhttp://i.imgur.com/wP9f5.gif

oh and LENS FLARE over and over and over wtf

acting was not so much bad as just boring and glowering throughout

Would be really cool if threads stayed on the same core subject throughout and reading the start of this it has been totally changed. So I thought I'd do the decent thing and go along with the starting topic.
Was trying to think through people I had been through the 3 schools I was at & 1 6th form college with. & several from my infants turned up again in my 2ary school but I can remember quite a few of them.

Would be interested in seeing how many of a list of classmates from various stages I could put a face to.
Funny thing that a friend of a friend wound up playing music together with my best friend from 2ary school about 10 years later. & neither of them had any reason to know of the other's existence through paths that would have connected with school.
So, nothing to do with Mars at all.

Stevolende, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 10:41 (ten years ago) link

I know taht I have managed to recognise people after several years gap. I once saw the back of a guy in the dole queue and realised it was somebody I'd known at school several years earlier and hadn't seen since.

Stevolende, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 11:03 (ten years ago) link

Thread drift is awes also total recall refers cleanly to either so nbd no arbitrary value judgements.

i could prob reel boys 1c off in order tho, the 24 strong class i attended for one year in 93. And last week i met a friend i hadnt seen in three years and as we chatted i checked if her mobile was still the same from memory, some things just stick once i learn them i spose? Wish that cramers rule of determinants stuck as fast tbh.

tracked like on pirate bay (darraghmac), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 11:12 (ten years ago) link

one year passes...

oh, i get it, i'm dreaming! this is all part of the delightful vacation your company has sold me.

difficult listening hour, Thursday, 5 February 2015 02:22 (nine years ago) link

Mr. Quaid, can you hear yourself? She's real because you dreamt her.

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 5 February 2015 03:15 (nine years ago) link

"swallow this." "what is it?" "it's a symbol!"

difficult listening hour, Thursday, 5 February 2015 03:30 (nine years ago) link

one year passes...

do you recall how the woman with three tits was literarily depicted in the novelization?

― smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Monday, August 6, 2012 3:16 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

she was depicted as a woman with three tits

― keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, August 6, 2012 3:17 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

although it was slightly unclear as to where the third tit was, I kept thinking it might have been where her belly button should be

― keeping things contextual (DJP), Monday, August 6, 2012 3:18 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Neanderthal, Thursday, 29 December 2016 15:16 (seven years ago) link

four years pass...

Djp’s post re the tits was my exact experience also. I remember hearing about the tits in the movie on the playground and being surprised when I finally saw them

xheugy eddy (D-40), Sunday, 25 July 2021 08:50 (two years ago) link

I can’t believe anyone hates the original movie in this thread. One of the greatest movies ever. I like in the ebert review how he gets at Arnold’s acting being central to its appeal

xheugy eddy (D-40), Sunday, 25 July 2021 08:51 (two years ago) link

Consider it a divorce.

So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 25 July 2021 09:32 (two years ago) link

My biggest criticism is that the mutant village subplot doesn't tie into the rest of the movie. It's a holdover from the Cronenberg project. It ended up being an excuse to have the triboobed lady.

wasdnuos (abanana), Sunday, 25 July 2021 12:07 (two years ago) link

great revive lol

brimstead, Sunday, 25 July 2021 16:41 (two years ago) link


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