Though it uses the character names from Total Recall, not WCRIFYW, and it's called Total Recall. It's kind of a mix between both. But without Mars, which both shared.
Total Recall remake: good news/bad news
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
Though it uses the character names from Total Recall, not WCRIFYW, and it's called Total Recall. It's kind of a mix between both. But without Mars, which both shared.
It seems to me that Mars is essential to Total Recall, though it may not be essential to "We Can Remember it for you Wholesale." However, since, by using the Total Recall name, the project seems to be indebting itself to the Verhoeven film and not the Dick story, it seems odd that they would be departing from the Mars setting (which seems to be awfully prominent on plenty of DVD art for something that isn't essential to the story).
On the other hand, I think the original film is terrific, so I see no reason why a remake would want to retread the same ground. The more dramatic they depart from the Verhoeven film, the better. Changing the setting is a good first step (okay, a good second step--casting Colin Farrell and Bryan Cranston were good first steps).
On the other hand, I think the original film is terrific, so I see no reason why a remake would want to retread the same ground. The more dramatic they depart from the Verhoeven film, the better. Changing the setting is a good first step (okay, a good second step--casting Colin Farrell and Bryan Cranston were good first steps).
Can't you do the same with Lord of the Rings, without mentioning Middle Earth, Hobbits, Orks, the Ring itself, etc...? Take away everything, just leave the basic story. The Ring is just a McGuffin, can be replaced by something else. And when it comes to the name... well, just look at the Karate Kid. He learns Kung Fu, yet the movie is still called Karate Kid.
Though it uses the character names from Total Recall, not WCRIFYW, and it's called Total Recall. It's kind of a mix between both. But without Mars, which both shared.
Yes, on that we agree.
It may be totally shit, it may be great. It may be an insult to both source materials, it may be a brilliant new take on both the previous movie and the book.
But - for now, we don't know. Because no-one has seen it! You included! Personally, I'm prepared to keep an open mind, even with Len Wiseman at the helm. I don't know why you're so set againat it already.
Checkmate
Commodore
Not really. Sure, you could change a few names and basic elements (and they did change some of those things), but the meat of the story is about Middle Earth.
Unlike Total Recall which, again, revolves around a guy who has a dream vacation implanted in his head where he's an undercover superspy. Mars isn't a requirement for it. We actually see him pick Mars from a wide selection of options in the movie... and that's all it is. A random selection of options. Exploring some of the other options in a remake is not only acceptable, but it would be a crime not to explore them. It would be more like having Star Trek set solely in San Francisco and dealing only with the humans in Starfleet; a single option out of thousands of possibilities.
Sure. But that wouldn't be a remake of the movie.
Why? It's just some random location that has nothing to do with the story. It revolves around a guy who receives a McGuffin that was created by an evil bad guy to rule over the world, and is sent to destroy that thing at the location where it was created. "Middle Earth" isn't a requirement for that story.
Checkmate
Commodore
No it's not.
The fact that you intentionally pretend to act like you don't understand the difference notwithstanding.
It is. The story doesn't need Middle Earth to take place in.
Without Middle Earth, it would be any old quest story. Let's say it takes place on Vulcan. You have a Star Trek quest story that for some reason involves elves and orcs.
Checkmate
Commodore
Yes it does because the story is about Middle Earth and the politics/conflicts therein. The entire story revolves around it. Without it, you wouldn't have the story.
Total Recall, yet again, has nothing to do with Mars. The character never even goes to Mars. It's all in his head. The story is about his fucked up mental vacation and the psychosis he goes through when its implanted. Mars is literally just window dressing.
Total Recall without Mars? That makes a whole lot of sense.
In related news, the next Star trek movie won't have the Enterprise, nor will it have any scenes set in space...
A movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, that reduces the epic to a mere quest to destroy a MacGuffin, can take place anywhere the hell it wants to.
However, the book The Lord of the Rings must take place where it does, in Middle-earth. Tolkien stated that Middle-earth is not another planet, but rather is our own, at some fictitious time in the past when, from our vantage point, history and mythology blur into one. This confusion of history and mythology is an essential element of the book.
However, the book The Lord of the Rings must take place where it does, in Middle-earth. Tolkien stated that Middle-earth is not another planet, but rather is our own, at some fictitious time in the past when, from our vantage point, history and mythology blur into one. This confusion of history and mythology is an essential element of the book.
It really depends on the story being told. Robinson Crusoe needs to take place in a setting that isolates Crusoe from civilization but has the elements needed for him to surive. Does it have to be tropical island? Could it be Mars?
My local TV station used to air Robinson Crusoe on Mars every school holidays when I was a child. Because it was on so often I ended up hating it and have never watched it as an adult. I see that on IMDB is scores 6.6 so maybe it isn't that bad.
As far as the new Total Recall movie goes - if it is closer to Dick's short story I will be pleased. I didn't mind the Total Recall movie (I actually own a copy) but it was a significant departure from "I Can Remember It For You Wholesale".
However I do not like Colin Farrell.
But then that would be part of the Recall, and not what they actually do.
I've always viewed the movie as it's what really happens but it's a good trait that it is left to interpretation.
As far as the actually remake, Colin Farrell boooooooooooooo. That has made me tremendously less interested and makes the Mars thing seem trivial in comparison.
Yeah, the movie is totally ambiguous as to whether the Hauser adventure is real or not. However, personally, because of the ambiguity, and because Hauser is supposed to be a "secret agent", I tend to lean towards believing that none of the adventure is real, and that it is all implanted.
In any case, we aren't supposed to know for sure.
In any case, we aren't supposed to know for sure.
Mars may be back, along with Jessica Biel.
No doubt, they read this thread and were suitably chastened.
Now all they need to do is replace Colin Ferrell with Robert Downey Jr. - now there's a PKD hero! - or better yet (though I know this won't go over well with the masses), Paul Giametti, who is the prototypical PKD hero, at least to me - a dogged loser schlub. Acceptible alternatives include Steve Buscemi and Brad Dourif.
If we must have a Hollywood-handsome type, Woody Harrelson or Aaron Eckhart would be closer to the mark. Or, take a chance on Brad Pitt.
No doubt, they read this thread and were suitably chastened.
Now all they need to do is replace Colin Ferrell with Robert Downey Jr. - now there's a PKD hero! - or better yet (though I know this won't go over well with the masses), Paul Giametti, who is the prototypical PKD hero, at least to me - a dogged loser schlub. Acceptible alternatives include Steve Buscemi and Brad Dourif.
If we must have a Hollywood-handsome type, Woody Harrelson or Aaron Eckhart would be closer to the mark. Or, take a chance on Brad Pitt.