2. Real or Rekall?
One of the best attributes of the original film's script is how well it deals with the concept of memory vs. reality, pondering whether or not Quaid is actually on Mars, or is in fact still back at Rekall. Even as the film concludes, we're unsure as to what is reality, and this ambiguity has kept people debating the ending for the two decades since. The marketing for Wiseman's remake heavily implied that this would also be a core concern of the narrative, but in the film itself, it is severely toned down compared to the original, and only very rarely does it at all become a concern for the viewer. In fact, only one instance - a brief flash of a blur during one scene - at all hints to this, and Wiseman delivers a final shot of ambiguity to bring this theme crudely back to the surface. However, the plot is so murky and inconsistent in his remake that one could be forgiven for just not caring whether Quaid is back in reality or is in fact still living through Rekall, whereas the original, with its likable characters and smarter execution, actually made us emotionally and intellectually engaged in what was taking place.