Total Recall (1990) ****

For his RoboCop (1987) (review) follow-up, Paul Verhoeven delivered more sci-fi excess, gratuitous violence, and satire (as he would again seven years later with Starship Troopers (review)) in the form of a (loose) Philip K. Dick adaptation (of his 1966 short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale).

Much like RoboCop, Total Recall (1990) is a thrill ride that still manages to have a brain—though perhaps a bit less so than the former film. You could aim that criticism at star Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I'd argue that screenwriters Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett (of Alien (1979) (review) fame) are equally responsible. They wrote all those wonderful one-liners, Arnie delivers them in his signature style, and I for one love each and every one.

In addition to the dialogue, there is much to admire about TR: the excellent cast (even the small roles are memorable), the intense action, Jerry Goldsmith’s masterful and complex score, Rob Bottin’s brilliant makeup effects, the scope of the production design, and more. They simply don't make films like this anymore. I'm sure the 2012 remake attempted to replicate what makes it special, but much like the 2014 RoboCop remake (which I also haven't seen), I have little desire to find out.

Paul Verhoeven Feature Films Ranked