After a chemical war early in the 21st century, the globe is divided into two territories: the United Federation of Britain, where the rich people live, and the Colony, where the working people are all crowded together in poor conditions. The Colony workers go to Britain to work every day through a huge super-elevator that goes through the middle of the planet. Doug Quaid is an average joe, working building robots for the government with his best friend Harry... but he wishes for something more. He finds a company, Rekall, that can implant fake memories into your brain, and Quaid wishes to be a secret agent. However, when he goes to Rekall, Quaid is told he actually is a secret agent, and everyone in the building is killed, until Quaid's training kicks in and he murders all of his assailants. Quaid doesn't remember training, ever holding a gun, or any of this alleged secret agent past, so he runs home to go on the run with his wife. Upon arriving home, he finds out his wife has been spying on him for Britain, and she isn't who she says she is. While running from his wife, Quaid is rescued by Melina, a woman he dreamed about in the past, and he finds out he holds in his brain key information that can take out Britain's robots and help facilitate a resistance by the Colony to help even out the distribution of wealth and resources. But when Quaid is hunted down and the leader of the resistance is killed, Quaid wonders what memories are real, what memories are fake, and how he can find the person responsible for ruining what he thought was his life.
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Best part of story, including ending:
It's a smart and action-packed re-imagining of the original sci-fi classic, with some terrific special effects and fun genre performances.
Best scene in story:
Quaid at one point must escape using a series of elevators that don't just travel up and down, but also move side to side. It's a dizzying and very fun bit of action.
Opinion about the main character:
Quaid is the classic man in over his head, forced to confront something he never asked for. Colin Farrell does a good job keeping him curious and interesting to watch.
