Reviews (145)

Despite Flaws, Recall Is Total As A Fun Sci-Fi Story
Paul Verhoeven has become among Hollywood's better known directors. His most recent work, Starship Troopers, did well at the box office thanks to its outstanding special effects, interesting premise, and surprisingly good cast.

Verhoeven first earned widespread movie fame with Robocop, but it was 1990's Total Recall that stands as his best work.

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a genuinely great performance as Douglas Quaid, a construction worker in the late 21st Century who, out of an unconquerable fascination with Mars - now a colony run by vicious corporate dictator Vilhos Cohaagen - goes to Rekall, Inc., a company that implants "memories" of experiences in those willing to pay. But when Rekall implants a memory of a trip to Mars, it "pops a memory cap" in Quaid, who turns out not to be who he thinks he is. When his wife Lori (the overrated Sharon Stone in the only performance of hers that is truly worth watching) tries to kill him, Quaid forces! her to tell him that a supersecret Agency under the direction of Cohaagen erased his memory and implanted a new one.

Quaid dodges the guns of the murderous Richter (a delightfully insane performance by Michael Ironside) and gets help from a former buddy of his on Mars. He then travels to the Red Planet and gets mixed up in a bloody civil war between Cohaagen's goons and rebel followers of a being called Kuato. But seemingly nothing is as it appears to Quaid, until he learns from Kuato just what the secret is that Cohaagen wants.

It is fairly easy to point out what is wrong with this film - it is excessively violent and gory, and includes some action scenes - like a bloody bar brawl - that are unnecesary. The pivotal scene - when Quaid is strapped in an implant chair to have his memory erased again, but he rips free and slaughters the scientists performing the procedure - is effective, but ruined because it allows Quaid to pull off an absurd flexing of muscle - he rips ! a heavy arm restraint out, anchor and all, and rips it thro! ugh the throat of one Cohaagen scientist thug. There is also the usual absurdity of action films - the wholesale slaughter of enemy soldiers without so much as a scratch on the one or two good guys. There is also a PREPOSTEROUS speech by Cohaagen during the final act that is a glaring example of the cliche of the villian who has the hero cornered, but spends so much time talking it gives the hero an opportunity.

Nonetheless, it is a superior script, with many twists and a fascinating climax. END

"See you at the party Richter."
Total Recall is one of those movies I can watch over and over and never get sick of. It is what every true Arnold fan wants in an Arnold flick. And aside from being one of Arnold's best films it is a very great sci-fi flick period.

Arnold plays everyman Douglas Quaid, a guy living an average life on the near future earth who is obsessed with the idea of going to Mars(which is colonized). He decides to go to a futuristic company called Recall, which sells it's customers memories of vacations they did not really take. Quaid decides to do it and while the salesman is making his pitch he poses the question, "what is the same about every vaction you have ever taken?" The answer: You. So Quaid buys the secret agent package and that is when the action begins. Suddenly everyone is out to get Quaid and he can't figure it out, all he knows is he has to get his "a** to Mars." He does and the film really takes off with mutants, rebels, women, corruption, double crossing, heavy carnage, planet saving, and Arnold, smack in the middle of all of it.

The story in summary can actually be found within the movie, which is a very unusual plot device, but it works in this film. The guy at Recall says by the time this is over you will kill the bad guys, get the girl, and save the planet. So is Total Recall a dream or a reality. This question is one of the things that makes it such an engaging movie because you don't know. Really though the best part of this film is Arnold. He is in tip top form in this film and it is certainly one of his best. The character allows him all the elements to shine, odds against him, guys always trying to fight him, lots of guns, and terrific one-liners. Paul Verhoeven(Robocop, Basic Instict) has crafted a awesome film. The set direction is great and it makes the fantastic action that much better. Sure Verhoeven may get a little carried away with violent nature of his action, but would anyone really want this film any other way? Not me.

Total Recall is a blast. On an additional note I just picked up the DVD Collector's Edition and it is a must have for fans. The commentary with Verhoeven and Arnold is hilarious and the making of's are very well done. This is one of those films that will become a classic over time because that is what it is, CLASSIC.

ETMR - Total Recall
1. Humanity: What problems do you see in the Mars colony in the film? Is the colony a feasible idea for today?

2. Implications: The movie is centered around the question of what is reality, and how to discern truth from fiction. What dangers does the film speak of for today, in terms of distinguishing reality from a created world?

3. Evolution: It could be said that the technology expressed in the film is very basic, compared to technological innovation today. Concepts like terraforming using a combustion of air, planetary colonies with glass windows, and cheap, robotic androids are all scientific anomolies in that they seem to belong to a past age. How has the technology in the movie changed in our world?

4. Realism: Philip K. Dick's stories are heralded because of their closeness to what an actual future will be like. Do you think the story in Total Recall is an accurate prophecy for the future?

5. Stageplay: Verhoeven, the director, is known for his elaborate and overblown stories told with a comedic satire, using colorful special effects. But aside from the eye candy, do the actors convince you?

Verhooven to subtle for his own good...
I used to hate this film. Which is odd, because I like Philip Dick, I like Verhooven and, then, I liked Schwatzenegger. The film was actually good up to the end. I just thought the end was too soapy and stuid even by Hollywood standards. Then I read the book "Dead Air" by Iain Banks. There the film is explained, and suddenly it all made sense to me. Verhooven's films are full of action and gore, which tend to overshadow that they also tend to have a quite strong message. That's why Total Recall always bothered me: where is the message? But it is there, quite obvious really: it all takes place in Schwartzenegger's head; he is still in the reality simulator! That would explain why things start happening shortly after his visit there. It would explain why the girl on Mars looks exactly like the girl he chooses for the reality simulation. The whole ending with them close to dying in the low pressure on Mars is a total replay of what he experiences in the beginning, when we know he is in the reality simulator. Finally, it explains how ridicilously fast the Martian atmosphere is replenished by the melting glacier. Suddenly the film becomes really good, and truly follows the spirit of Dick. I think I must watch it again.

"Come to Rekall!"
Another Arnie flick? I've already lost count... Well anyway, this film, loosely based on Phillip K. Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" is pretty much worth your while, especially since Arnie has one of his better roles here.
Doug Quaid (Arnie) has dreamed continuously of going to Mars. He talks with his wife Lori (Sharon Stone) about it, but she does not like the idea. One day, Quaid hears about a company named Rekall that can take you on a virtual vacation. Arnie tries it out, only to find that nothing is what it seems... and that he may not really be who he thinks he is. He travels to Mars, and discovers that he is a rebel leader fighting against the ruthless Cohagen (Ronnie Cox) and his man Richter (Michael Ironside).
Arnie acts well in this flick, Sharon Stone is good as his wife, and Cox and Ironside act as if they are truly evil. The story is somewhat complex, and will have you hooked.
BUT: Don't forget that this is a Paul Verhoeven film, and Paul Verhoeven=Lots of shooting and gore. This is definately not for the squeamish, but if you can stomach it, you be on for a wild ride. ... Read more

Description

Troma Entertainment unleashes the Tromillennium Edition of cult favorite CHOPPER CHICKS IN ZOMBIETOWN! Digitally remastered and restored, featuring Academy Award® Winner BILLY BOB THORNTON (Monster's Ball, A Simple Plan, & Sling Blade), Chopper Chicks In Zombietown comes complete with Zombies, Rock N' Roll Music and tough, hard bodied biker beauties! Meet the Cycle Sluts, a rebellious & free spirited gang of female bikers made up of tough-as-nails lesbians, a former homecoming queen, and a mute. The Cycle Sluts leave their troubled lives behind to go on a tour of America only to encounter a town overrun by Zombies created by the local Mad Scientist (Don Calfa - Weekend At Bernie's, Return of the Living Dead, "Barney Miller") to mine nuclear radioactive material. The Cycle Sluts refuse to be run out of town by anyone, including Flesh Eating Zombies! Ganging up with local outcasts, including a school of blind orphans and a dwarf, and armed with black leather, whips, chains, machine guns, chainsaws, and dynamite, the Cycle Sluts know how to fight until the end!A true feminist cult classic, Chopper Chicks In Zombietown literally offers hours of DVD entertainment! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great spoof of 50s/60s chick biker flicks!
This film has EVERYTHING a good b-movie needs to be a Good b-movie!, el cheapo effects, horrible actors/actresses, Horrible singing, and hot chicks on bikes! given this is Billy Bob Thorton's first endeavor,, he won't win any awards here, but he does o.k.
This film is for those who remember USA's Up All Night with Rhonda Shear!!!!! thats where I saw this Many years ago!
It is also for those who remember the 50's/60's biker movies! And for lovers of cheesy Troma films.
Cheesy acting, horrible but Funny zombies make this a cult classick!
Don't expect a "Night of the living Dead" style zombie flick, this film was made to make ya laugh! At least give it a rent If not interested in buying, otherwise Buy it! its a GREAT one to own and laugh at over, and over again!

So bad it's ..... still pretty bad
When the zombie motif has already been self-parodied with such class and black humour as Romero's Dawn of the Dead and Peter Jackson's hilarious Braindead, any movie trying to follow in those famous footsteps has to be pretty special. And special, Chopper Chicks in Zombietown ain't.

Ok, it's got a few inspired moments - I liked the ice-cream van chiming out "Dance Macabre", the zombie transfixed by the CCTV was amusing, and the Uzi weilding kid bemoaning the zombie attack on their school bus by grumbling "what rotten luck - going blind, being orphaned and now THIS!" has to be the best line by far in the movie. The townsfolk are reasonably well observed 1950's B-movie caricatures, and the choice of weaponry by the chicks in the final showdown with the zombies was quite amusing.

The overall impression however is dull, tedious and lacking the usual Troma gross-out but stylish trademark. Even at only 83 minutes, it feels overlong and the absence of any outtakes or any other bonus material on the DVD makes poor value for money.

I got my copy for just £3-99 in a high street clear-out sale. With a total of three half-chuckles throughout the movie, I don't feel like I got a bargain.

You've got to own this movie
I went to a private showing of this film with Oakland's Harley Owners Group years ago at the Pizza Hut after a Berkeley theater decided to cancel the showing.

This film brings new meaning to the designation "low budget". The "Cycle Sluts" are a pack of tantalizing beauties who ride hard across the desert on shiny new hogs by day and sleep around a campfire each night. However, in every scene the girls appear as though they have just stepped out of the beauty salon.

When the biker women come across a small town and find that the dead are coming back to life,... Sound familiar? This flick doesn't try to hide the fact that it's "The Wild One" meets "Night of the Living Dead". The only way to kill a zombie is by burning it, and just before they burst into flames, the zombies turn to motionless manikins. The plot and the actors get dumber by the minute.

You've got to own this movie. Only one thing -- just don't want to watch it sober.

Zombietown, Indeed.
Well, at least the title is right. The Chopper Chicks come to Zombietown, and...well, that's about it. I loves me some Troma, so I figured "CC in ZT" would at least entertain me for 90 minutes, but nope. This one's a stinker.

Apparently "CC" wants to be a parody. We can tell it's a comedy by the goofy, Candyland-style music that plays when the zombies attack. But what is it a parody of, exactly? Itself? The filmmakers provided themselves with mad scientists, lesbian bikers, midgets, blind kids, and zombies...but they forgot the screenplay. Billy Bob and Martha Quinn should provide some entertainment, right? Well, Martha tries, but Billy Bob is just dull. Don Calfa is in it...he's usually good for a larf or two, right? Nope. The flick is boring, slow-paced, dimwitted, and boring. But hey - you take your chances with Troma, right?

Why did Troma pick this movie up?
Chopperchicks in Zombietown, what an awesome title eh? i really expected way more. let it be known that i am an avid troma fan and know what troma fans like. i bought this movie on a whim because the title sounded so cool, i really wish i hadnt bought it. if youre a billy bob thorton fan, dont even bother his part isnt that big. the movie was just downright boring. if you want a good troma movie get tromeo and juliet, the toxic avenger, or an out of house production like killer condom. this movie is a true disappointment and i wish i could give it no stars at all. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Great movie to start off the series
"Lethal Weapon" pairs one of the best duos ever seen in a movie. A suicidal cop (Mel Gibson) and an aging veteran cop (Danny Glover) have to team up to investigate a case of a woman that jumped from a building to her death. They also have to battle some bad guys and catch other criminals on their way. However, not all is smooth sailing when the duo first meets. They must learn to get along and accept each other's styles if they want to get the job done.

"Lethal Weapon" couldn't have been done much better to start the series off at a fast pace. It has a lot of funny and action packed sequences in it. Some of the best are when Mel Gibson shows his ability to shoot a gun at target practice and the ending sequence.

If you like the "Lethal Weapon" series or action movies with a sense of comedy in them, I recommend getting "Lethal Weapon."

A good film gets better
The recent release of the director's cut of Lethal Weapon add depth to the film by the inclusion of approximately 7 minutes of new scenes. The additions are in the beginning of the film when the characters are still being developed. In one scene, Gibson's character walks into the line of fire of a sniper, and in another he has a rather violent reaction to a commercial on TV. In the context of this portion of the movie, it further establishes the pain Gibson's character is going through and his mental state...is he crazy or just not caring what happens to him? Additional scenes also establish Glover's character's concern at growing old...does he still have it?

The balance of the film is pretty much unchanged. Lethal Weapon is a fun buddy action/comedy movie, but shines more than the sequels, which emphasized comedy and cartoonish action. Gibson and Glover actually act here, Gibson in particular in the scenes where he is struggling with his wife's death. The interplay between the actors makes this movie a cut above the standard action movie.

Lethal Weapon (1987)
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love.
Running Time: 105 minutes.
Rated R for cop violence and language.

The ultimate in the cop-buddy action flicks, Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon" is still an essential part of the action-drama genre to this day. Mel Gibson stars as the unstable, suicidal cop who is still grieving the tragic death of his wife, but finds purpose when he is teamed with over-the-hill Sergeant Danny Glover to investigate the mysterious death of a small-time hooker that jumped/was thrown off a building.

As the duo dives deeper into the case, they realize they are in the middle of a tense, big-time drug traffic arrangement and they are up against some tough cookies (namely Gary Busey and Mitchell Ryan). Gibson is great as the reckless Martin Riggs, using his insane tendencies as adrenaline throughout the film, but often also showing a sofer, tender side that produces a lot of laughs. Glover is his equal as Murtaugh, who feels that he is at his last stand as a police officer, but tags along because he feels his duty as a cop is unfinished. An excellent script by Shane Black and an explosive, taut directorial effort from Donner. Has lost some of its mustard due to numerous sequels and imitations ("Rush Hour" anyone?), but still an extremely fun action-adventure that will delight all those who are Gibson fans and love to laugh and gasp.

One of the best of the genre
Lethal Weapon is one of the best films of the action genre, blending off-beat humor with surprisingly expressive acting and tense situations. Though much of the plot is over the top, and the casualness of the gunplay (as Danny Glover asks Mel: "have you ever met anyone you didn't kill?) seems like it should make the movie too unbelievable to be good, the humor with which the situations are treated pulls the film together easily. Even though the scenes added in the director's cut don't add up to a much longer movie, they do further the character development of Mel Gibson's character. Notably, the sniper scene shows the audience the extent of Gibson/Riggs' emotional disturbance, and lends a deeper character credibility during the confrontation between Riggs and Murtaugh after the rooftop jump, in which Riggs explains that the only thing restraining him from suicide is "the job." Riggs is seen more clearly in this version as a modern gunslinger, a victim of depressed and unstable victim of circumstance who decides daily to keep on living only because he stubbornly refusus to let the bad guys win. Glover plays well opposite, and he does a very good job interpreting a man confronting middle age, family responsibilities, and his responsibility and desire to be a good cop despite the changes in the world that are occuring around him.
The humor is, at the end, what ties this film together. the punchlines seem to come at the tensest moments, though for the most part they avoid the cheesy one liners before blowing the bad guys away. They simply arise out of the context, and do not feel artificial. Busey is also good, and he can really act the part of being one mean SOB. The action is spectacular, and the end fight scene is extremely well choreographed, as the crew hired one of the infamous Gracies (A brazillian family who define modern mixed martial arts) to help out with it. One of my favorite movies of all time, and easily the best of the series, Lethal Weapon defines the action genre in a way that hasn't been seen since.

The Greatest Action Film of All Time!!!!
This movie starts out the way all great movies should... From the moment you make eye contact with the nips you are sucked into it. And then theres the crazy awsomeness of Martin Riggs. The school sniper scene very cool. And then theres Roger Murtog a great character, we are introduced to him in the bath tub where his family seems to wind up hanging out with him every movie. Am I the only one who thinks they are alittle TOO loveing. All that aside Roger is an awsome character. The more these movies go on the more the better the chemistry between these two cops. By the time you get to the fight with Riggs and Mr. Joshua at the end you will be trying to keep from shouting at the screen and rooting Riggs on. Good stuff ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every statuesque, beautiful blonde woman has spent more time in thecompany of Neanderthals than she cares to remember. Seems it's always been that way:Clan of the Cave Bear, a 1986 feature scripted by John Sayles andbased on Jean Auel's bestselling novel set in prehistoric times,starsformer mermaid Daryl Hannah as an intelligent Cro-Magnon woman adopted andraised by lesser-evolved Neanderthals. Berated for her brains, sexuallyexploited, and generally treated as uppity chattel, Hannah's character sets out for the far country to see who else is there. Eventually, she finds moreBaywatch-like gods and goddesses similar to herself, including anAryan-looking stud with whom she discovers how good sex can feel with a warm,caring, proto-human. Sayles's writing on this project is forceful but cheeky.It's hard not to laugh at a number of scenes that shouldn't, in the strictestsense, be laughed at (the use of subtitles to decipher caveman grunts andclucks may or may not be an intentional running joke), but one gets thefeeling Sayles looked upon this challenge as a pop exercise instead of (as manyof the book's fans would have preferred) a religious experience. Michael Chapman, ace cinematographer of Mean Streets and The Wanderers,directed with an eye toward primitive exotica and made this aterrific-looking movie. Author Auel was reportedly unhappy with the finalresults on screen, but the film is well worth a fascinated look. With PamelaReed and James Remar. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (41)

I Liked It
I just finished reading the reviews of Clan of the Cave Bear, and for the life of me, I can't understand why everyone despises this movie. I liked it. I happened to catch it a few years ago on some cable channel, and it fascinated me enough to go out to try and find the book upon which it was based. Imagine my delight to see that Ms. Auel had written even MORE books about Ayla! I now own all 5 books (and what a great day it was when The Shelters of Stone was finally released!) and the movie. I can't wait till the final book she is working on is finished. If it had not been for the movie, though, I would never have known of Ms. Auel's wonderful books, and it saddens me that she reportedly did not like the movie at all. Granted, they did not have all the special effects when this was made that they have now, but overall, I believe it was a sincere effort.

Save your money, buy the book
As so often happens with screen adaptations of books this one is a real loser. From start to finish the writers/producers seem to have taken the general plot outline and characters and dropped most of the actual story.
It will do all right as a way to spend an afternoon if you haven't read the book (at this writing the paperback is $2 cheaper)but too much is so unlike what Ms. Auel wrote. I know that lot's of detail had to be removed for times sake but at what cost to the story? Little Ayla's orphaning resembles the book as does her discovery by the Clan but the way the Neanderthals behave isn't like the book. I don't even remember all of the scenes but when Ayla gives birth to her son Durc, that's conpletely different, although good. Later in the story when Ayla's adoptive mother Iza (Pamela Reed unrocognizable in makeup)is too old and frail to go to the CLan Gathering Ayla is sent in her place, they made a real mess of that one.
Daryl Hannah is very well cast as the adult Ayla, she's the best reason to watch ths movie.

This is a better movie than the video sales represent

Rated R: Not for sale to persons under age 18.
Studio: Warner Studios
Video Release Date: September 1, 1998

Cast:

Daryl Hannah ... Ayla
Pamela Reed ... Iza
James Remar ... Creb
Thomas G. Waites ... Broud
John Doolittle ... Brun
Curtis Armstrong ... Goov
Martin Doyle ... Grod
Tony Montanaro ... Zoug
Mike Muscat ... Dorv
John Wardlow ... Droog
Keith Wardlow ... Crug
Karen Austin ... Aba
Barbara Duncan ... Uka
Gloria Lee ... Oga
Janne Mortil ... Ovra

Lycia Naff ... Uba
Linda Quibell ... Aga
Bernadette Sabath ... Ebra
Penny A. Mesa ... Ika
Penny Smith ... Ika
Joey Cramer ... Young Broud
Rory L. Crowley ... Durc
Nicole Eggert ... Middle Ayla
Emma Floria ... Young Ayla
Pierre Lamielle ... Brac
Mary Reid ... Ayla's Mother
Samantha Ostry ... Young Uba
Shane Punt ... Young Vorn
Christiane Boyce ... Baby Durc
Catherine Flather ... Baby Durc
Amy Cyr ... Young Girl #3
Colin Doyle ... Young Boy
Natino Bellantoni ... Gorn
Rick Valiquette ... Voord
Alan Waltman ... Norg
Paul Carafotes ... Brug
Salome Jens ... Narrator
Bart the Bear ... The bear

The setting is prehistoric, and the theme revolves around the clash between Neanderthals and pre-human Cro-Magnons, who supposedly existed side-by-side for some time, the one destined for extinction and the other for our ancestry.

The film has drawn so much attention among my friends and family that I thought for awhile that it was destined to be a "cult" film.

Daryl Hannah plays a Cro-Magnon girl who is abandoned in infancy and raised by Neanderthals, who are jealous of her blond good looks and intelligence, which they don't understand.

I would suggest that you watch this one first without the kids, as some parts are pretty explicit, but the language is clean--except that they have their own, of course: as in, "ug! uga boo uga boo boo ugga"--but it is a thought provoking film, nevertheless.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

In some ways, better than the book
Few movies are as good as the books they're based on, but this is one of them. This movie actually improves on the book in that it takes out most of the soap-operish qualities of the original, even though it does, by necessity, edit and change the story a bit. It's difficult to make a popular and appealing movie about cavemen. Most people even get bored watching National Geographic. I disagree with the Amazon review; the subtitles are anything but laughable, and the sign language used seems plausible and natural. There are not a lot of caveman movies, but this one, along with Quest For Fire, is one of the best. Anyone watching this movie or reading the book will learn a lot about the lifestyle of our ancestors. The story elements make it entertaining for all ages, and the scenery is gorgeous.

daryl hannah's best performance in her career
with the exception of her nasty turn in blade runner, daryl hannah gave her best & most underappreciated performance here in hollywood's adaptation of auel's earth children novel. while perhaps not as spiritual(or a religious experience as tom has written), the clan of the cave bear is a beautifully choreographed story with many unrealized rewards. orphaned as young girl, ayla is adopted by iza(played beautifully by pamela reed)under the clan of the cave bear. ayla grows up to understand the ways of the clan but never truly feels as if she is a part of the family for fear of angering the spirits. in a time & place where neanderthals existed prior to cro-magnons, ayla learns very quickly that knowledge is forbidden to anyone but great leaders(or leaders to be) & weaponry is completely forbidden to women. she discovers too what many women discover later in life & tries to stay alive in a male dominated land. with the exception of one gory & violent hunting scene where the clan attacks a cave bear or a brutal rape scene, this film could've easily been a family classic perhaps worthy of many viewings. i disagree with tom in that clan is certainly not a film for lovers of traditional pop culture or popcorn films in general. there is a certain degree of knowledge & common sense which one must have to appreciate or even respect such a film as this. unfortunately, this film will never go down in history as anything truly memorable but i've found the film to be compulsively watchable & i'm actually incoined to read one of the books in the earth children series now after having watched this twice on dvd. for anyone interested in pre-historic dramas or feministic films with women in caves, clan is a marvelous film for you & at a reasonable cost too. ofcourse, daryl hannah completists will most likely want to own this one as well & who could blame them. this is absolutely better than her mermaid performance in splash. long live the legend of ayla which should inspire, strengthen, & encourage us to survive in a strange land. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Great movie to start off the series
"Lethal Weapon" pairs one of the best duos ever seen in a movie. A suicidal cop (Mel Gibson) and an aging veteran cop (Danny Glover) have to team up to investigate a case of a woman that jumped from a building to her death. They also have to battle some bad guys and catch other criminals on their way. However, not all is smooth sailing when the duo first meets. They must learn to get along and accept each other's styles if they want to get the job done.

"Lethal Weapon" couldn't have been done much better to start the series off at a fast pace. It has a lot of funny and action packed sequences in it. Some of the best are when Mel Gibson shows his ability to shoot a gun at target practice and the ending sequence.

If you like the "Lethal Weapon" series or action movies with a sense of comedy in them, I recommend getting "Lethal Weapon."

A good film gets better
The recent release of the director's cut of Lethal Weapon add depth to the film by the inclusion of approximately 7 minutes of new scenes. The additions are in the beginning of the film when the characters are still being developed. In one scene, Gibson's character walks into the line of fire of a sniper, and in another he has a rather violent reaction to a commercial on TV. In the context of this portion of the movie, it further establishes the pain Gibson's character is going through and his mental state...is he crazy or just not caring what happens to him? Additional scenes also establish Glover's character's concern at growing old...does he still have it?

The balance of the film is pretty much unchanged. Lethal Weapon is a fun buddy action/comedy movie, but shines more than the sequels, which emphasized comedy and cartoonish action. Gibson and Glover actually act here, Gibson in particular in the scenes where he is struggling with his wife's death. The interplay between the actors makes this movie a cut above the standard action movie.

Lethal Weapon (1987)
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love.
Running Time: 105 minutes.
Rated R for cop violence and language.

The ultimate in the cop-buddy action flicks, Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon" is still an essential part of the action-drama genre to this day. Mel Gibson stars as the unstable, suicidal cop who is still grieving the tragic death of his wife, but finds purpose when he is teamed with over-the-hill Sergeant Danny Glover to investigate the mysterious death of a small-time hooker that jumped/was thrown off a building.

As the duo dives deeper into the case, they realize they are in the middle of a tense, big-time drug traffic arrangement and they are up against some tough cookies (namely Gary Busey and Mitchell Ryan). Gibson is great as the reckless Martin Riggs, using his insane tendencies as adrenaline throughout the film, but often also showing a sofer, tender side that produces a lot of laughs. Glover is his equal as Murtaugh, who feels that he is at his last stand as a police officer, but tags along because he feels his duty as a cop is unfinished. An excellent script by Shane Black and an explosive, taut directorial effort from Donner. Has lost some of its mustard due to numerous sequels and imitations ("Rush Hour" anyone?), but still an extremely fun action-adventure that will delight all those who are Gibson fans and love to laugh and gasp.

One of the best of the genre
Lethal Weapon is one of the best films of the action genre, blending off-beat humor with surprisingly expressive acting and tense situations. Though much of the plot is over the top, and the casualness of the gunplay (as Danny Glover asks Mel: "have you ever met anyone you didn't kill?) seems like it should make the movie too unbelievable to be good, the humor with which the situations are treated pulls the film together easily. Even though the scenes added in the director's cut don't add up to a much longer movie, they do further the character development of Mel Gibson's character. Notably, the sniper scene shows the audience the extent of Gibson/Riggs' emotional disturbance, and lends a deeper character credibility during the confrontation between Riggs and Murtaugh after the rooftop jump, in which Riggs explains that the only thing restraining him from suicide is "the job." Riggs is seen more clearly in this version as a modern gunslinger, a victim of depressed and unstable victim of circumstance who decides daily to keep on living only because he stubbornly refusus to let the bad guys win. Glover plays well opposite, and he does a very good job interpreting a man confronting middle age, family responsibilities, and his responsibility and desire to be a good cop despite the changes in the world that are occuring around him.
The humor is, at the end, what ties this film together. the punchlines seem to come at the tensest moments, though for the most part they avoid the cheesy one liners before blowing the bad guys away. They simply arise out of the context, and do not feel artificial. Busey is also good, and he can really act the part of being one mean SOB. The action is spectacular, and the end fight scene is extremely well choreographed, as the crew hired one of the infamous Gracies (A brazillian family who define modern mixed martial arts) to help out with it. One of my favorite movies of all time, and easily the best of the series, Lethal Weapon defines the action genre in a way that hasn't been seen since.

The Greatest Action Film of All Time!!!!
This movie starts out the way all great movies should... From the moment you make eye contact with the nips you are sucked into it. And then theres the crazy awsomeness of Martin Riggs. The school sniper scene very cool. And then theres Roger Murtog a great character, we are introduced to him in the bath tub where his family seems to wind up hanging out with him every movie. Am I the only one who thinks they are alittle TOO loveing. All that aside Roger is an awsome character. The more these movies go on the more the better the chemistry between these two cops. By the time you get to the fight with Riggs and Mr. Joshua at the end you will be trying to keep from shouting at the screen and rooting Riggs on. Good stuff ... Read more

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This science fiction blockbuster from 1990 began its production life as a very different movie than the one that was released. An adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," Total Recall was originally conceived of with Richard Dreyfuss starring as a Walter Mitty-like character who experiences a variety of artificially induced fantasies. The movie we know is a mega-budget action epic set on Mars.Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a normal working man who discovers that his entire reality has been invented to conceal a plot of planetary domination. Oscar-winning special effects and violent action propel the twisting plot, in which Arnold manipulates his manipulators in a world of dazzling high technology. Director Paul Verhoeven (Robocop) indulges his usual penchant for gratuitous bloodshed, but the movie has enough cleverness to rise above its excesses. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (145)

Despite Flaws, Recall Is Total As A Fun Sci-Fi Story
Paul Verhoeven has become among Hollywood's better known directors. His most recent work, Starship Troopers, did well at the box office thanks to its outstanding special effects, interesting premise, and surprisingly good cast.

Verhoeven first earned widespread movie fame with Robocop, but it was 1990's Total Recall that stands as his best work.

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a genuinely great performance as Douglas Quaid, a construction worker in the late 21st Century who, out of an unconquerable fascination with Mars - now a colony run by vicious corporate dictator Vilhos Cohaagen - goes to Rekall, Inc., a company that implants "memories" of experiences in those willing to pay. But when Rekall implants a memory of a trip to Mars, it "pops a memory cap" in Quaid, who turns out not to be who he thinks he is. When his wife Lori (the overrated Sharon Stone in the only performance of hers that is truly worth watching) tries to kill him, Quaid forces! her to tell him that a supersecret Agency under the direction of Cohaagen erased his memory and implanted a new one.

Quaid dodges the guns of the murderous Richter (a delightfully insane performance by Michael Ironside) and gets help from a former buddy of his on Mars. He then travels to the Red Planet and gets mixed up in a bloody civil war between Cohaagen's goons and rebel followers of a being called Kuato. But seemingly nothing is as it appears to Quaid, until he learns from Kuato just what the secret is that Cohaagen wants.

It is fairly easy to point out what is wrong with this film - it is excessively violent and gory, and includes some action scenes - like a bloody bar brawl - that are unnecesary. The pivotal scene - when Quaid is strapped in an implant chair to have his memory erased again, but he rips free and slaughters the scientists performing the procedure - is effective, but ruined because it allows Quaid to pull off an absurd flexing of muscle - he rips ! a heavy arm restraint out, anchor and all, and rips it thro! ugh the throat of one Cohaagen scientist thug. There is also the usual absurdity of action films - the wholesale slaughter of enemy soldiers without so much as a scratch on the one or two good guys. There is also a PREPOSTEROUS speech by Cohaagen during the final act that is a glaring example of the cliche of the villian who has the hero cornered, but spends so much time talking it gives the hero an opportunity.

Nonetheless, it is a superior script, with many twists and a fascinating climax. END

"See you at the party Richter."
Total Recall is one of those movies I can watch over and over and never get sick of. It is what every true Arnold fan wants in an Arnold flick. And aside from being one of Arnold's best films it is a very great sci-fi flick period.

Arnold plays everyman Douglas Quaid, a guy living an average life on the near future earth who is obsessed with the idea of going to Mars(which is colonized). He decides to go to a futuristic company called Recall, which sells it's customers memories of vacations they did not really take. Quaid decides to do it and while the salesman is making his pitch he poses the question, "what is the same about every vaction you have ever taken?" The answer: You. So Quaid buys the secret agent package and that is when the action begins. Suddenly everyone is out to get Quaid and he can't figure it out, all he knows is he has to get his "a** to Mars." He does and the film really takes off with mutants, rebels, women, corruption, double crossing, heavy carnage, planet saving, and Arnold, smack in the middle of all of it.

The story in summary can actually be found within the movie, which is a very unusual plot device, but it works in this film. The guy at Recall says by the time this is over you will kill the bad guys, get the girl, and save the planet. So is Total Recall a dream or a reality. This question is one of the things that makes it such an engaging movie because you don't know. Really though the best part of this film is Arnold. He is in tip top form in this film and it is certainly one of his best. The character allows him all the elements to shine, odds against him, guys always trying to fight him, lots of guns, and terrific one-liners. Paul Verhoeven(Robocop, Basic Instict) has crafted a awesome film. The set direction is great and it makes the fantastic action that much better. Sure Verhoeven may get a little carried away with violent nature of his action, but would anyone really want this film any other way? Not me.

Total Recall is a blast. On an additional note I just picked up the DVD Collector's Edition and it is a must have for fans. The commentary with Verhoeven and Arnold is hilarious and the making of's are very well done. This is one of those films that will become a classic over time because that is what it is, CLASSIC.

ETMR - Total Recall
1. Humanity: What problems do you see in the Mars colony in the film? Is the colony a feasible idea for today?

2. Implications: The movie is centered around the question of what is reality, and how to discern truth from fiction. What dangers does the film speak of for today, in terms of distinguishing reality from a created world?

3. Evolution: It could be said that the technology expressed in the film is very basic, compared to technological innovation today. Concepts like terraforming using a combustion of air, planetary colonies with glass windows, and cheap, robotic androids are all scientific anomolies in that they seem to belong to a past age. How has the technology in the movie changed in our world?

4. Realism: Philip K. Dick's stories are heralded because of their closeness to what an actual future will be like. Do you think the story in Total Recall is an accurate prophecy for the future?

5. Stageplay: Verhoeven, the director, is known for his elaborate and overblown stories told with a comedic satire, using colorful special effects. But aside from the eye candy, do the actors convince you?

Verhooven to subtle for his own good...
I used to hate this film. Which is odd, because I like Philip Dick, I like Verhooven and, then, I liked Schwatzenegger. The film was actually good up to the end. I just thought the end was too soapy and stuid even by Hollywood standards. Then I read the book "Dead Air" by Iain Banks. There the film is explained, and suddenly it all made sense to me. Verhooven's films are full of action and gore, which tend to overshadow that they also tend to have a quite strong message. That's why Total Recall always bothered me: where is the message? But it is there, quite obvious really: it all takes place in Schwartzenegger's head; he is still in the reality simulator! That would explain why things start happening shortly after his visit there. It would explain why the girl on Mars looks exactly like the girl he chooses for the reality simulation. The whole ending with them close to dying in the low pressure on Mars is a total replay of what he experiences in the beginning, when we know he is in the reality simulator. Finally, it explains how ridicilously fast the Martian atmosphere is replenished by the melting glacier. Suddenly the film becomes really good, and truly follows the spirit of Dick. I think I must watch it again.

"Come to Rekall!"
Another Arnie flick? I've already lost count... Well anyway, this film, loosely based on Phillip K. Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" is pretty much worth your while, especially since Arnie has one of his better roles here.
Doug Quaid (Arnie) has dreamed continuously of going to Mars. He talks with his wife Lori (Sharon Stone) about it, but she does not like the idea. One day, Quaid hears about a company named Rekall that can take you on a virtual vacation. Arnie tries it out, only to find that nothing is what it seems... and that he may not really be who he thinks he is. He travels to Mars, and discovers that he is a rebel leader fighting against the ruthless Cohagen (Ronnie Cox) and his man Richter (Michael Ironside).
Arnie acts well in this flick, Sharon Stone is good as his wife, and Cox and Ironside act as if they are truly evil. The story is somewhat complex, and will have you hooked.
BUT: Don't forget that this is a Paul Verhoeven film, and Paul Verhoeven=Lots of shooting and gore. This is definately not for the squeamish, but if you can stomach it, you be on for a wild ride. ... Read more

Reviews (145)

Despite Flaws, Recall Is Total As A Fun Sci-Fi Story
Paul Verhoeven has become among Hollywood's better known directors. His most recent work, Starship Troopers, did well at the box office thanks to its outstanding special effects, interesting premise, and surprisingly good cast.

Verhoeven first earned widespread movie fame with Robocop, but it was 1990's Total Recall that stands as his best work.

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a genuinely great performance as Douglas Quaid, a construction worker in the late 21st Century who, out of an unconquerable fascination with Mars - now a colony run by vicious corporate dictator Vilhos Cohaagen - goes to Rekall, Inc., a company that implants "memories" of experiences in those willing to pay. But when Rekall implants a memory of a trip to Mars, it "pops a memory cap" in Quaid, who turns out not to be who he thinks he is. When his wife Lori (the overrated Sharon Stone in the only performance of hers that is truly worth watching) tries to kill him, Quaid forces! her to tell him that a supersecret Agency under the direction of Cohaagen erased his memory and implanted a new one.

Quaid dodges the guns of the murderous Richter (a delightfully insane performance by Michael Ironside) and gets help from a former buddy of his on Mars. He then travels to the Red Planet and gets mixed up in a bloody civil war between Cohaagen's goons and rebel followers of a being called Kuato. But seemingly nothing is as it appears to Quaid, until he learns from Kuato just what the secret is that Cohaagen wants.

It is fairly easy to point out what is wrong with this film - it is excessively violent and gory, and includes some action scenes - like a bloody bar brawl - that are unnecesary. The pivotal scene - when Quaid is strapped in an implant chair to have his memory erased again, but he rips free and slaughters the scientists performing the procedure - is effective, but ruined because it allows Quaid to pull off an absurd flexing of muscle - he rips ! a heavy arm restraint out, anchor and all, and rips it thro! ugh the throat of one Cohaagen scientist thug. There is also the usual absurdity of action films - the wholesale slaughter of enemy soldiers without so much as a scratch on the one or two good guys. There is also a PREPOSTEROUS speech by Cohaagen during the final act that is a glaring example of the cliche of the villian who has the hero cornered, but spends so much time talking it gives the hero an opportunity.

Nonetheless, it is a superior script, with many twists and a fascinating climax. END

"See you at the party Richter."
Total Recall is one of those movies I can watch over and over and never get sick of. It is what every true Arnold fan wants in an Arnold flick. And aside from being one of Arnold's best films it is a very great sci-fi flick period.

Arnold plays everyman Douglas Quaid, a guy living an average life on the near future earth who is obsessed with the idea of going to Mars(which is colonized). He decides to go to a futuristic company called Recall, which sells it's customers memories of vacations they did not really take. Quaid decides to do it and while the salesman is making his pitch he poses the question, "what is the same about every vaction you have ever taken?" The answer: You. So Quaid buys the secret agent package and that is when the action begins. Suddenly everyone is out to get Quaid and he can't figure it out, all he knows is he has to get his "a** to Mars." He does and the film really takes off with mutants, rebels, women, corruption, double crossing, heavy carnage, planet saving, and Arnold, smack in the middle of all of it.

The story in summary can actually be found within the movie, which is a very unusual plot device, but it works in this film. The guy at Recall says by the time this is over you will kill the bad guys, get the girl, and save the planet. So is Total Recall a dream or a reality. This question is one of the things that makes it such an engaging movie because you don't know. Really though the best part of this film is Arnold. He is in tip top form in this film and it is certainly one of his best. The character allows him all the elements to shine, odds against him, guys always trying to fight him, lots of guns, and terrific one-liners. Paul Verhoeven(Robocop, Basic Instict) has crafted a awesome film. The set direction is great and it makes the fantastic action that much better. Sure Verhoeven may get a little carried away with violent nature of his action, but would anyone really want this film any other way? Not me.

Total Recall is a blast. On an additional note I just picked up the DVD Collector's Edition and it is a must have for fans. The commentary with Verhoeven and Arnold is hilarious and the making of's are very well done. This is one of those films that will become a classic over time because that is what it is, CLASSIC.

ETMR - Total Recall
1. Humanity: What problems do you see in the Mars colony in the film? Is the colony a feasible idea for today?

2. Implications: The movie is centered around the question of what is reality, and how to discern truth from fiction. What dangers does the film speak of for today, in terms of distinguishing reality from a created world?

3. Evolution: It could be said that the technology expressed in the film is very basic, compared to technological innovation today. Concepts like terraforming using a combustion of air, planetary colonies with glass windows, and cheap, robotic androids are all scientific anomolies in that they seem to belong to a past age. How has the technology in the movie changed in our world?

4. Realism: Philip K. Dick's stories are heralded because of their closeness to what an actual future will be like. Do you think the story in Total Recall is an accurate prophecy for the future?

5. Stageplay: Verhoeven, the director, is known for his elaborate and overblown stories told with a comedic satire, using colorful special effects. But aside from the eye candy, do the actors convince you?

Verhooven to subtle for his own good...
I used to hate this film. Which is odd, because I like Philip Dick, I like Verhooven and, then, I liked Schwatzenegger. The film was actually good up to the end. I just thought the end was too soapy and stuid even by Hollywood standards. Then I read the book "Dead Air" by Iain Banks. There the film is explained, and suddenly it all made sense to me. Verhooven's films are full of action and gore, which tend to overshadow that they also tend to have a quite strong message. That's why Total Recall always bothered me: where is the message? But it is there, quite obvious really: it all takes place in Schwartzenegger's head; he is still in the reality simulator! That would explain why things start happening shortly after his visit there. It would explain why the girl on Mars looks exactly like the girl he chooses for the reality simulation. The whole ending with them close to dying in the low pressure on Mars is a total replay of what he experiences in the beginning, when we know he is in the reality simulator. Finally, it explains how ridicilously fast the Martian atmosphere is replenished by the melting glacier. Suddenly the film becomes really good, and truly follows the spirit of Dick. I think I must watch it again.

"Come to Rekall!"
Another Arnie flick? I've already lost count... Well anyway, this film, loosely based on Phillip K. Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" is pretty much worth your while, especially since Arnie has one of his better roles here.
Doug Quaid (Arnie) has dreamed continuously of going to Mars. He talks with his wife Lori (Sharon Stone) about it, but she does not like the idea. One day, Quaid hears about a company named Rekall that can take you on a virtual vacation. Arnie tries it out, only to find that nothing is what it seems... and that he may not really be who he thinks he is. He travels to Mars, and discovers that he is a rebel leader fighting against the ruthless Cohagen (Ronnie Cox) and his man Richter (Michael Ironside).
Arnie acts well in this flick, Sharon Stone is good as his wife, and Cox and Ironside act as if they are truly evil. The story is somewhat complex, and will have you hooked.
BUT: Don't forget that this is a Paul Verhoeven film, and Paul Verhoeven=Lots of shooting and gore. This is definately not for the squeamish, but if you can stomach it, you be on for a wild ride. ... Read more