Total Recall (1990)

Set in the year 2084, a construction worker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has troubling dreams about living on Mars. After visiting a company that implants false memories to simulate dream vacations, he has a psychotic episode that indicates that the life he's living now is a false implant. Shortly after an attempt is made on his life. Loosely based on the short story WE CAN REMEMBER IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE by Philip K. Dick and directed by Paul Verhoeven (BASIC INSTINCT). This is probably Schwarzenegger's best film (sorry TERMINATOR), a crackerjack non stop piece of action thrills with an intelligent screenplay. Considered too violent upon its initial release (it received an X rating until Verhoeven trimmed the violence), its violent scenes still pack a punch but to Verhoeven's credit, I didn't find them gratuitous. Within the limitations of his acting ability, Schwarzenegger is very good but it's not a movie where the acting matters much. Jerry Goldsmith delivers a knockout score. An imaginative cinematic rollercoaster ride that doesn't insult your intelligence. With Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell and Mel Johnson Jr.