Total Recall Trailer 2

Well, well, well. This has gone from being something I wasn’t too keen on (being a remake of the highly-regarded Paul Verhoeven/Arnie flick), to being something I am very much looking forward to. How about that. And it’s largely thanks to this trailer. Sony/Columbia Pictures has done a fantastic job of selling director Len Wiseman’s cool visuals and fluid camera work, which is all in service of what seems like pretty thrilling action. Besides, it’s got lovely ladies like Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel kicking ass, so that’s always a plus.

Most revealingly, despite their claims that this sticks more closely to author Philip K. Dick’s story, there’s a whole lot of nods to the Verhoeven version, which deviated significantly from the source material. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing though. Those are just small homages (hello, 3-boobied hooker!) and Wiseman appears to be doing enough to make this his own. Can’t wait.

Here’s the synopsis: “Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he’s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life – real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.”

“Total Recall” premieres 3rd August.