Total Recall – 4K Blu-ray Review
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Lionsgate Films 1990
R | 1hrs 53 min | Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Action | Adventure
HD | 1080P | Dolby True HD 7.1
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Vision | Dolby Atmos | Dolby True HD 7.1
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Staring: Arnold Schwarzenegger | Rachel Ticotin | Sharon Stone | Ronny Cox | Michael Ironside | Marshall Bell
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
So what did the 7.1 soundtrack sound like? Acceptable in most respects, and the native 4K HDR10 video? Quite good but not outstanding.
Entertainment: 4+
Video: 4/4+
Audio: 4/4+
Originally relased in SD in 1990 with Dolby Digital 5.1 and HD in 2012 with a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack.
Technical Review – Native 4K UHD HDR10
Total Recall was originally shot using Arriflex Cameras and Zeiss Lenses at a theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This Ultra HD release, is a new 4K scan and restoration of the original camera negative. It was created by StudioCanal and Lionsgate Films and finished as a native 4K Digital Intermediate with color grading in Dolby Vision and HDR10.
The picture is generally sharp and well defined and shows few compression artifacts. Fine film grain is clearly observable in most scenes but is well controlled with no signs of clumping or swarming. Close-ups provide good detail, clarity and definition with good skin tones. Unfortunately the high levels of fine film grain produce objectionable noise over virtually all facial close-ups. From costumes to pores, eyelashes and skin, all show improved clarity and detail, like the herringbone pattern seen on the Rekall salesman’s suit. Even some of the miniatures used in the various effects offer additional detail.
Total Recall was produced in the days of practical and optical effects, and those often show their age. This increased resolution really accentuates the interface between real and CGI/green screen, making each and every one absolutely visible even if you are not looking for it. While some movies really benefit from a 4K scan of the original photochemical film, this one, to me, did not, as I found many of the special effects a little amateur.
This version provides a well balanced color spectrum that manages to offer some striking hues and a well saturated color palette, especially toward the red end of the spectrum. Compared to my HD version the added color depth enhances the film’s palette with lush and vibrant reds, yellows, greens, and golds.
Blacks are generally deep and mostly noise free, supported by adequate low level detail. Peak whites provided clean detail with no significant clipping, providing an average dynamic range.
A visual step-up from my original 2012 HD version but not one to rave about.
Audio – Dolby True HD 7.1
Total Recall features a new Dolby Atmos track on both the 1080 and 4K discs. My original SD release featured a Dolby Digital 5.1 re-mastered soundtrack, the HD release featured a DTS-HD 5.1 mix that was actually very good. It was very impactful and immersive providing quite a visceral experience. So how did this mix compare?
As always my systems defaults to the core of all immersive mixes, in this case Dolby True HD 7.1. Overall I found the mix to sound compressed, to such point I had to check to make sure that my audio setting had not defaulted to auto compression. It lacked dynamics and was short on bottom end punch and energy. Even the dynamics of the gunfire seemed restrained and I felt that Jerry Goldsmiths score had less punch than the DTS mix.
Despite the rear and side surrounds helping to keep you immersed in the various environments acoustics, there was little other action from them. I also noted at least once, that the acoustics portrayed by the audio did not match the environment that the sound was supposed to have been created in.
Dialogue was always clear and detailed with a fixed, solid, up front, and mostly center imaging.
Story Overview
Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is haunted by a recurring dream about a girl and a journey to Mars. Lori (Sharon Stone) his “wife”, continually assures him that these are just dreams and mean nothing. Quaid cannot shake the feeling that these are not dreams but memories. Wanting to find out more about his dreams he buys a holiday at Rekall Inc. where they sell implanted memories. During the memory implant procedure something goes wrong and he remembers being a secret agent fighting against the evil Mars administrator Cohaagen (Ronny Cox). This memory starts a whole sequence of events that leads him back to Mars to discover his real identity and how he got into his current predicament. Back on Mars Quaid meets up with the girl in his dreams (Melina, played by Rachel Ticotin) and as he starts to unravel his past they start a rollercoaster ride to the films epic finale.
My 2 cents
So some thirty years after its original SD release and ten years after its HD release another golden oldie gets the 4K treatment. Rarely if ever would I say that a film should not be re-relased in 4K but I will make a exception here. I was not impressed with either the video or audio. I already own the re-mastered Artisan special limited edition SD DVD and the mind bending HD edition. In many ways I prefer my HD version processed using Darbee. It just shows far less insight into the special effects interface and less film grain. I also found its DTS-HD 5.1 mix to be considerably more dynamic with a more extended and punchy 0.1 LFE performance.
