Tom Jolliffe looks back at the wave of straight to video Virtual Reality films that followed in the wake of The Lawnmower Man in the mid to late ’90s… The idea of virtual reality worlds has been something of a sci-fi staple for many decades. Cronenberg toyed with the concept in Videodrome. Philip K Dick’s […]
4K Ultra HD Review – Total Recall (1990)
Total Recall, 1990. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Ronny Cox. SYNOPSIS: Total Recall was remastered in 4K for this new edition that also includes a digital code, as well as a copy of the movie on Blu-ray. Three new bonus features, including a comprehensive look at the […]
Ranking the Films of Paul Verhoeven
George Nash assesses the cinematic output of the subversive Dutch provocateur Paul Verhoeven… On the Rotten Tomatoes page of Showgirls, the critical consensus reads as follows: “Vile, contemptible, garish, and misogynistic — and that might just be exactly Showgirls‘ point”. It’s about as perfect as any summation could hope to be in capturing the journey taken […]
Total Recall receiving 4K restoration release for 30th anniversary
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Total Recall, StudioCanal have announced that Paul Verhoeven’s cult classic 1990 action sci-fi is set for a 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition release this November with a special restoration supervised by the renowned director himself; check out the cover artwork, trailer and special features details here… Adapted from […]
How Schwarzenegger Reigned Supreme in the Action Genre
As Arnold Schwarzenegger turns 73, Tom Jolliffe looks back at the period where the Austrian Oak ruled action cinema, with an eye for quality material… As Arnold Schwarzenegger turns another year older, now would be a good time to look back to an era of global box office domination, and cult appeal in the action […]
Paul Verhoeven wanted a four-breasted mutant sex worker in Total Recall
With the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi actioner Total Recall celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, director Paul Verhoeven has been reminiscing about the 1990 cult classic in an interview with The Ringer. During the discussion, Verhoeven revealed that he originally intended to make Benny wish he had four hands during the bar scene on Mars featuring […]
Looking Back at the Legacy of Andrew G. Vajna
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the legacy of the late Andrew G. Vajna… When I was growing up I was fascinated by the video shop. Thousands of boxes displaying all manner of films. This was an era when cover art was particularly impressive. You could wander your eye over a shelf and scan until something […]
A Beginner’s Guide To Paul Verhoeven
Tom Jolliffe continues our series of beginner’s guides to iconic directors with controversial Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven… A man who never does anything by halves, Paul Verhoeven is a director who has courted controversy throughout his career. With a long and varied resume, spanning beginnings in Dutch TV and film, then in and out of […]
3 Successful Franchise Revivals and 3 Failures
George Chrysostomou with three successful franchise revivals and three failures… Franchise revivals are an ever present part of Hollywood today. Whilst audiences love sequels, prequels, original properties and reboots, there’s nothing quite as nostalgic as a franchise revival – taking a property from years ago, giving it a fresh coat of paint and selling it […]
It’s Okay To Prefer A Remake, Really
Edward Gardiner on why it’s okay to prefer remakes… If it’s not a sequel, it’s a remake. Always a hot topic in film discussion, the phenomenon of film remakes is something many of us still can’t entirely wrap our heads around. It’s been going on for decades, to varying degrees of quality, but only in recent […]