Known Unknown

No, I haven't been reading Donald Rumsfeld's memoirs. I watched a movie the other night called Unknown. (Not to be confused with Unknown. Frankly, this one sounds like a better plot, but with twist endings...) I don't keep up with movie releases much, but it seemed to me that this one didn't make much of an impact when it was in theaters. There was one big reason I didn't like this film and find it odd that it would rate a 7 over at IMDB. But it's a spoiler, so meet me after the jump if you can't successfully ward off your curiosity.
 
SPOILERS!:
This movie was simply a remake of Total Recall. That's it. And, Total Recall was kinda fun, I guess. But when you're not making a campy space-thriller/mystery with Ah-nold Schwarzenegger in the lead role, but instead a serious thriller with Liam Neeson (okay, okay, "semi-serious") you need to step it up a bit more.

Let's run down the comparison list:
Hero in a fairly mundane job? Check.
Accidental brain injury? Check.
Confused memories about the past that don't accord with reality? Check.
Shadowy secret organization who tries to kill hero for no apparent reason? Check.
Shadowy secret organization with an assassination plot? Check.
Wife that's not really a wife? Check.
Wife that's really an assassin/agent for shadowy organization? Check.
Attractive mysterious woman who is not pseudo-wife? Check.
Revelation that hero is actually villain and member of shadowy organization? Check.
Decision by hero to be hero instead of returning to work with villains? Check.
Shadowy organization revealed to be acting in nefarious manner that will be to the detriment of millions in order to make a ton of money? Check.

I guess the one significant difference is that the man our hero goes to for help doesn't turn out to be a quisling.

(Whilst putting in the links, I find that they are going to release an honest re-make of Total Recall next year. I'm not sure it deserves it, but it probably won't be any worse.)