What happens when you put Paul Verhoeven, Arnie and Philip K. Dick into a blender? This delicious sci fi classic! This is an ultraviolent philosophical spectacle (yes, science fiction did pose philosophical questions before ‘The Matrix’ arrived!), where the line between reality and dreams is blurred. Hell, even the reliability of memory is questioned. Verhoeven’s predilection for ultraviolence lubricates the philosophy, as do Arnie’s quips (“Screw you!”). What results is a thrilling ride of a film, where twist is piled upon twist, often in splurges of blood and gore.

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In the pantheon of Verhoeven films, this ranks only below Robocop. Perhaps an actor other than Arnie could have really dug the depths of Quaid’s existential crisis, but I can’t really imagine the film without Arnie. His talents as an actor are often underrated, and he plays the sometimes crazed Quaid rather well. Of course, it’s not as sophisticated or stylish as that other classic film based on a Dick novel, Blade Runner, but sometimes you need your philosophy delivered by Arnie and ultraviolence!