Total Recall | Was it real, all a sim or something else?

We watched it last night. I admit, it's been a few years.

So, was Douglas Quaid really living the life of a secret agent, was it all a seemingly realistic Rekall implant, or was something else going on?

Discuss.

There is an official answer out there. I forget what it is. I've always had this movie stuck in my head though, as the divergent point happens so early in the movie and it follows exactly what he chooses so it's like- did he choose it as a repressed memory? Is the whole movie his implant? 

I bought this movie last year specifically so I could watch it and try to figure it out.

Verhoeven has flip-flopped on if Quaid or Houser were the real person.

Personally..... it's like the song Na Na Hey Hey.  If you believe that they are singing 'Hey hey hey", that is what you hear.  If you believe they are singing "Hey Hey-ey", THAT is what you hear.

(Trivia:  The guy in the beret in the "Two weeks" scene is Garak from DS9.  There, now that's two things you can't un-hear)

I love this movie, and all things Philip K. Dick. 

I read it as he (Howzer) was the spy. Quaid was the implant. When they tried to implant Quaid with memories, there had already been too many chefs adding salt to the stew (Howzer's brain). 

I just read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? For the first time. I'd recommend it. 

In reply to wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) :

I'm a bit miffed that I lost my copy of that book in a move.  WAY different than the movie they made out of it.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Yes, but I really enjoyed it none the less. I've been exploring Cyberpunk as a genre, and it's a bit hit and miss for me, but Philip K. always gets me where I live. 

Blade Runner is a whole different entity for me than Sheep.

But back to the point, I've got five kids...

In reply to wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) :

Take them to the dentist.

(If you haven't, see A Scanner Darkly.  Haven't read the book but apparently the movie could only be made if it was kept true to the book.  The bizarre visual style lends itself to the subject matter)

In reply to wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) :

That is a very cool read, and totally different than Blade Runner. 

After watching it last night, I'm now in the "it was a Rekall implant" camp as it was all just too perfect. How was Quaid's human shield in the subway able to stop all those rounds? Why was there almost no emotion from Sharon Stone's real husband upon finding her body? How could Cohaagen seal off those secret tunnels? (Weren't they secret?) Did anyone ever reload their guns? Why didn't Quaid just quietly enter Mars; why the whole "two weeks" bit? How was Benny able to attack them with the mine digger at just the right time? Does everyone on Mars know how to drive one? And how did Benny know where to find them? How did Quaid know how to use the tool that he then used to spear Benny? I know that Quaid knew construction, but did he have experience on that particular piece of equipment? Why was Cohaagen just waiting there at the end with the bomb? Why not just blow it up instead of waiting for the big reveal? 

Also, I love how the implant grabber tool's business end came from Harbor Freight. 

The doctor's speech then sums it up:

 I don't wanna spoil it for you, Doug.
              Just rest assured, by the time the trip
              is over, you get the girl, you kill
              the bad guys, and you save the entire
              planet.

I'm not knocking the movie. Just my 2c. 

Also of note is that when he is making his choices during the implant, the picture of the lady he chooses (romantic interest) is a picture of the person he actually meets, implying that that person is an implant and not real.

I love the old school practical effects in the movie. Sometimes, when you have a big booger...

Depends on my mood.

If I'm pessimistic and down, Quaid is getting lobotomized.

If I'm feeling good he's the hero that saves the day. 

aircooled said:

Also of note is that when he is making his choices during the implant, the picture of the lady he chooses (romantic interest) is a picture of the person he actually meets, implying that that person is an implant and not real.

Yes, that too.

I don't believe that Quaid gets lobotomized. He enjoys his Rekall and, when it ends, goes back to life. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

But, that's what the doctor at the Mars hotel said was going to happen. Everything ELSE he said would happen if he didn't take the red pill,, happened.

Kind of like how everything people said to Neo at the beginning of The Matrix (and the middle, too) was foreshadowing.

BUT.  Quaid only shot the doctor because he noticed the doctor's flop-sweat.  If he was not really there, like he claimed, he wouldn't have been nervous.

The flop sweat was part of the sim. (layers upon layers)

Man, I love me some Total Recall. I really need to sit down and watch that; it's been a while. It's so over-the-top ridiculous in so many ways. 

I'm pleased this is on the original - one of the first movies I ever bought when it was released on VHS.

Interested if the discussion wanders to the remake as well...

There was a remake? 

In movies which dwell in this particular realm of sci-fi the test of greatness is the not knowing.  It up to the viewer to interpret as they will.   That's what makes this and others like it truly interesting, the ability to explore the different possibilities and draw your own conclusions.  Sometimes even contradicting  yourself on further viewings/readings.

In reply to JThw8 :

Heh.  I love YouTube videos about filmmaking and storytelling.  Fury Road is held up as a well told story because it relies on a lot of show, not tell, so it leaves the worldbuilding and character exposition up to the viewer to observe and makes the movie enjoyable on multiple viewings.  Like, most of Furiosa's history is hinted at by short lines of dialogue and inference, but it only really makes sense once you find out halfway through the movie where she came from.

Held up as an awful example is Suicide Squad.  I've never seen it, but apparently all the character exposition is handled by bulletpointed lists and narration in the space of about two minutes.  Blah.

David S. Wallens said:

There was a remake? 

Yes. Higher production values and lower Ahhhnold content. A solid remake but like most remakes, probably unnecessary.

David S. Wallens said:

There was a remake? 

I wouldn't call it a remake.  I remember seeing it, but it wasn't the same story line.  I rewatched the original recently and had pretty much the same "Hey that was REALLY cool but what just happened?!" kind of reaction.

I need to watch the "re-load" or whatever we're calling it again sometime.  I remember enjoying it...but I also watched it without having seen the original in probably 10+ years.

on Edit:  It looks like in 2012 a film named "Total Recall" was released.  Seems like maybe they wanted us to think it was a remake before we saw it.  I don't remember the specifics...but it definitely wasn't a straight-up remake.

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) :

That is a very cool read, and totally different than Blade Runner. 

After watching it last night, I'm now in the "it was a Rekall implant" camp as it was all just too perfect. How was Quaid's human shield in the subway able to stop all those rounds? Why was there almost no emotion from Sharon Stone's real husband upon finding her body? How could Cohaagen seal off those secret tunnels? (Weren't they secret?) Did anyone ever reload their guns? Why didn't Quaid just quietly enter Mars; why the whole "two weeks" bit? How was Benny able to attack them with the mine digger at just the right time? Does everyone on Mars know how to drive one? And how did Benny know where to find them? How did Quaid know how to use the tool that he then used to spear Benny? I know that Quaid knew construction, but did he have experience on that particular piece of equipment? Why was Cohaagen just waiting there at the end with the bomb? Why not just blow it up instead of waiting for the big reveal? 

Also, I love how the implant grabber tool's business end came from Harbor Freight. 

The doctor's speech then sums it up:

 I don't wanna spoil it for you, Doug.
              Just rest assured, by the time the trip
              is over, you get the girl, you kill
              the bad guys, and you save the entire
              planet.

I'm not knocking the movie. Just my 2c. 

So why have the Doc have a bead of sweat? Ok, sure, realism, but hes a construct put in Quaid's mind to get him back to reality. Any hint of deception, especially in a spy adventure implant, would destroy any semblance of credibility with the customer, dooming him to lobotomization. I don't buy it.    

In reply to ClemSparks :

Part of the reason I bought Total Recall to examine was the last time I saw it was when the movie was a couple years old, and I was at an age where I just took everything literally and didn't examine what I was seeing.  So, I never really considered that the movie might have actually been a mind screw until reading an article about that on TVTropes or some place.

Now... I question everything.  Like the idea that in Terminator 2, none of it happened.  It's all in Sarah Connor's drugged up mind as she lies restrained at the mental hospital.  Notice that everything goes too perfect and always goes her way after she's picked up?

Duke said:

David S. Wallens said:

There was a remake? 

Yes. Higher production values and lower Ahhhnold content. A solid remake but like most remakes, probably unnecessary.

 

I remember watching the remake and there is a cool fight scene in it, but otherwise its kinda meh.  Brian Cranston content is always good though.

I went back and watched the original afterwards and one of the fight scenes with Arnold is. so. bad.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KtHhIePpZg

Along the lines of the original question:

In 12 Monkeys, do all future events take place in his head (and are twisted versions of the present)?

wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) said:

I love this movie, and all things Philip K. Dick. 

I read it as he (Howzer) was the spy. Quaid was the implant. When they tried to implant Quaid with memories, there had already been too many chefs adding salt to the stew (Howzer's brain). 

I just read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? For the first time. I'd recommend it. 

the book is really good! It certainly fleshes out the world a lot more than the movie that was based on it.

I listened to this last summer, it was a good collection of his stories including "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" (Total Recall) . https://www.amazon.com/Minority-Report-Other-Stories-Unabridged/dp/B0001BJEC8

This paperback version is only a few $. https://www.amazon.com/Minority-Report-Classic-Stories-Philip/dp/0806537957