Fans of 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Total Recall have had little reason to be impressed by the forthcoming remake of Arnie's second best film (it’s not a patch on T2): casting Colin Farrell in the lead alongside almost forgotten female leads Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale did little to whet anyone's appetite. But the first official trailer has now been officially released and here at The List, we think it looks pretty good.

From what the trailer gives us, the rather cartoony effects of the original have been replaced by high end CGI and kick-ass fight scenes. Storm trooper-looking henchmen for Farrell to beat into a pulp are also a new addition. The original won an academy award for Best Visual effects (it must have been a slow year); this new version seems to be trying to outdo its predecessor.

Director Len Wiseman’s previous work includes the Underworld franchise (with credits as director, writer and producer in the series) and Die Hard 4, so he’s obviously a fan of hard-hitting action. The movie is being promoted as more of a rehashing of Phillip K. Dick’s original short story ‘We can remember it for you wholesale’ rather than a straight down the line remake of Arnie’s sci-fi thriller.

The trailer sees Farrell visit Rekall, a company who promise him (through the words of a bleach blonde John Cho) the memory of his fantasy. Crime fighter, world-class athlete or secret agent, what’s it to be? From here it all kick’s off for Farrell’s character Douglas Quaid as his dreams and real world collide.

By the looks of the trailer, the film's aiming to tick boxes in a number of categories: red-blooded male film-goers are being pitched to with an all-out Beckinsale v. Biel slug-fest, while an appearance from Bill Nighy gives some British thesp credibility to the proceedings. It's looking so far so good for this re-make.

Total Recall trailer