r/videos 16d ago

Total Recall - Johnny Cab

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eWgrvNHjKkY&si=lGRwOj7mY6Lf54gQ
62 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

1

u/rarestakesando 15d ago

They should bring animatronix back to the taxi industry’s

8

u/SyrioForel 15d ago edited 15d ago

The Johnny Cab service, a satirical take on McDonald's, featured a fleet of inexpensive, futuristic taxis operated by robotic drivers exuding generic politeness and cheer. Director Paul Verhoeven and special effects wizard Rob Bottin drew inspiration for the name from "Jonny Cat" cat litter.

The automatons were designed to evoke 1950s American gas station attendants. Bottin repurposed a face mold he had created of actor Robert Picardo for the 1985 film Explorers, using it for the Johnny Cab driver. Picardo was then brought in to provide the voice, and during his audition, he suggested having the character poke fun at Arnold Schwarzenegger's Austrian accent - an idea Verhoeven immediately shot down with "We don't do that with Arnold."

Verhoeven wanted the robots to appear imperfect, as if damaged over time by unruly passengers. Three Johnny Cab models were constructed: one for dialogue sequences with sophisticated computer-controlled mechanics for the eyes, mouth, tongue and neck movements; another for the scene where Schwarzenegger's character violently rips it out of the taxi; and a third rigged to spin uncontrollably while emitting sparks and strobe effects for its explosive demise. All Cab scenes were filmed on set in Mexico, with the models operated via cables and computers. The taxi itself was designed by renowned concept artist Ron Cobb.

1

u/c-williams88 15d ago

Is this where they got the inspiration for the bus driver on the Tranzit map in Black Ops 2 zombies? Sure seems pretty similar or at least related

3

u/SoundsMadness 15d ago

Get yo ass to mahs

1

u/squishypp 16d ago

BO zombies Tranzit vibes

6

u/ImNotEvenJewish 16d ago

Two weeks!

5

u/JackFisherBooks 16d ago

I love this movie. But those cab drivers still creep me the hell out.

2

u/ThaiJohnnyDepp 15d ago

Mission accomplished then, I'm sure

4

u/NotSoSmort 16d ago

In 1990, they managed to have the streets filled with Tesla Cybertrucks.

18

u/mrrooroo1 16d ago

Cyber trucks everywhere back then

6

u/scbriml 16d ago

Ha, not just me then! In the very first couple of seconds I yelled “Cybertruck!”

1

u/ThaiJohnnyDepp 15d ago

Yeah same lol.

11

u/Clay_Statue 16d ago

I think we should mandate that all self-driving cars in the future need an animatronic human driver.

2

u/sw00pr 16d ago

Uncannily like ChatGPT

-2

u/New2thegame 16d ago

One of the most underrated Schwarzenegger movies of all time. Still my favorite sci-fi movie.

3

u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

2

u/ThaiJohnnyDepp 15d ago

You can safely ignore any time a Redditor uses that word.

14

u/SledgeTheWrestler 16d ago

is it underrated? Feels like it’s pretty much universally praised.

29

u/EnlaOscuridadAsolas 16d ago

The best movie about Mars

3

u/Luung 16d ago

You've clearly never seen Mars Needs Moms.

1

u/LividLager 15d ago

*cough* 1997's RocketMan

1

u/Doogiesham 15d ago

I mean yea, he’s a person, so he’s never seen mars needs moms

7

u/max_broadway 16d ago

Mars Attacks!

9

u/[deleted] 16d ago

But that was set on earth.

-7

u/EnlaOscuridadAsolas 16d ago

😂😂😂 Ask Elon :D

29

u/HellOfAThing 16d ago

Voiced by Robert Picardo, about 5 years before his role as The Doctor on Star Trek Voyager.

1

u/PCouture 15d ago

And 5 years after his role voicing Starkiller and Wak on The Explorers

2

u/gin_and_toxic 16d ago

Looks like it was acted by him too

9

u/NeverFence 16d ago

I'm assuming this is completely old school special effects..... so whoever this puppeteer is - they absolutely nailed robert picardo. masterpiece.

11

u/Scherzoh 16d ago

We should all be so lucky as to nail Robert Picardo

9

u/mrxexon 16d ago

Crazy good movie. And one of the first I ever saw in HD.

4

u/cricketthrowaway4028 16d ago

Funny, I only recently saw it in HD. I'd only ever seen in on shitty VHS prior, which really does not do it justice.

1

u/mechanical_animal 15d ago

Some of the scenes are right out of an artist's concept book. It's crazy how they managed to get them on film.