While I don't really know why it was necessary to re-imagine (this is the term Hollywood uses these days) this one it isn't all bad. In fact, it does have some good points.
It's certainly not as out there as the Arnie version from 1990 and it isn't set on Mars (though that does get a mention) but somewhere a lot closer to home, for me anyway.
The world director Len Wiseman has imagined is one of the fine points of the movie. It's 2099 and the world has virtually destroyed itself to the point that only the United British Federation and The Colony (which is essentially Australia - surely a little in-joke on British colonisation in the 1700s) remain.
There's a rather cool, but completely implausible, method of travel between the two populous areas - a fast train through the centre of the Earth called 'The Fall', another great innovation.
Anyway, Colin Farrell takes on the 'Arnie' role. He's Doug Quaid, a lowly factory worker who is bored with his life - despite being married to the wonderful Lori (Kate Beckinsale) - and seeks out a business called Rekall which promises to implant fantastic memories in place of actually having the experience.
Everything goes awry when Quaid wants to have a secret agent memory implanted - and, well, you're left to work out whether he actually is a spy.
It turns out Quaid isn't married and is actually Carl Hauser, a super spy working as a double agent though we're not really sure if it is for the Resistance, led by Mattihas (Bill Nighy), or for Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston) who wants to wipe out The Colony. Getting in the way of him working out whose side he is on is Melina (Jessica Biel), Hauser's girlfriend who could pass as a young Beckinsale.
At the end I basically felt like it was an inferior remake, it felt too safe even though they had the obligatory appearance of the girl with the three boobs. Although the experiences wasn't quite as severe as my deja vu during the Amazing Spider-Man.
Having said that I really enjoyed Beckinsale's performance, though I might be a little biased as a bit of a fan. She was almost Terminator-like and clearly revelled in the role.
I'm glad I didn't watch the original prior to seeing this version, as mentioned I reckon I'd be cutting it to pieces right about now. It has its moments but I can only go to a 6 out of 10.
Surely people have some original ideas out there so we don't have to sit through unnecessary sequels and remakes!
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