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Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Our opening text scroll, paraphrased: We’re in the second decade of the 2000s. There are corporations, they are opposed by the subversive Loteks, and there’s a random cyber-drug epidemic going around effecting hackers and data warriors, and the Yakuza is involved somehow (they unleash viruses and stuff to help the corps I think?), and there are Mnemonics who carry sensitive data for a living. If this weren’t a cyberpunk plot, I might be apprehensive. We’ve also got some b-movie caliber synths and a magnificently dated CG cyberspace. I must stress that if I don’t get a blocky, pixelated 90’s cyberspace, I am disappoint.
Minor spoilers below:
5 mins in: We’ve got Dracula levels of Keanu enthusiasm.
10 mins in: Oh boy…
20 mins in: Hey! The Japanese people are actually speaking Japanese to each other.
21 mins in: Nevermind.
40 mins in: Only the most elaborate and aesthetically innovative neon light designs.
45 mins in: YES! JESUS TIME!
1 hr 5 mins in: Now Keanu will grace us with a stellar dramatic monologue.
“I WANT A $10,000 A NIGHT HOOKER” – Actual quote from above image.
1 hr 6 mins in: The hooker wasn't up to par.
1 hr 15 mins in: Our protagonists keep a wired-up dolphin in a 4 foot wide filthy green water tank. Ummmmm…
1 hr 20 mins in: We’ve entered movie suspension wire heaven.
I thought this was crap when I saw it years ago, but it’s still kinda fun. I could’ve done with less lackluster action, but it’s still true to form cyberpunk, with a screenplay penned by W. Gibson himself. That can be lovely when done with even a modicum of decency. I also think that the movie has some pretty awesome facets (namely the cyber-time continuum bits). It carries the same sort of immature appeal as an overblown video game, and it has plenty of bad movie charm. There’s a lot of better like-minded entertainment, but I think this is at least worth seeing for genre aficionados. Although, if you’re expecting a serious adaption of Gibson’s literature, you’ve come to the wrong place.
A pretty generous
Our opening text scroll, paraphrased: We’re in the second decade of the 2000s. There are corporations, they are opposed by the subversive Loteks, and there’s a random cyber-drug epidemic going around effecting hackers and data warriors, and the Yakuza is involved somehow (they unleash viruses and stuff to help the corps I think?), and there are Mnemonics who carry sensitive data for a living. If this weren’t a cyberpunk plot, I might be apprehensive. We’ve also got some b-movie caliber synths and a magnificently dated CG cyberspace. I must stress that if I don’t get a blocky, pixelated 90’s cyberspace, I am disappoint.
Minor spoilers below:
5 mins in: We’ve got Dracula levels of Keanu enthusiasm.
10 mins in: Oh boy…
20 mins in: Hey! The Japanese people are actually speaking Japanese to each other.
21 mins in: Nevermind.
40 mins in: Only the most elaborate and aesthetically innovative neon light designs.
45 mins in: YES! JESUS TIME!
1 hr 5 mins in: Now Keanu will grace us with a stellar dramatic monologue.
“I WANT A $10,000 A NIGHT HOOKER” – Actual quote from above image.
1 hr 6 mins in: The hooker wasn't up to par.
1 hr 15 mins in: Our protagonists keep a wired-up dolphin in a 4 foot wide filthy green water tank. Ummmmm…
1 hr 20 mins in: We’ve entered movie suspension wire heaven.
I thought this was crap when I saw it years ago, but it’s still kinda fun. I could’ve done with less lackluster action, but it’s still true to form cyberpunk, with a screenplay penned by W. Gibson himself. That can be lovely when done with even a modicum of decency. I also think that the movie has some pretty awesome facets (namely the cyber-time continuum bits). It carries the same sort of immature appeal as an overblown video game, and it has plenty of bad movie charm. There’s a lot of better like-minded entertainment, but I think this is at least worth seeing for genre aficionados. Although, if you’re expecting a serious adaption of Gibson’s literature, you’ve come to the wrong place.
A pretty generous