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Amazon.co.uk Review
You might be tempted to call it "Johnny Moronic" after you've seen this illogical and derivative adaptation of William Gibson's cyberpunk short story (available in his book Burning Chrome), which is all the more depressing since Gibson himself wrote the screenplay. First you have to ask yourself why valuable top-secret electronic data would be stored in the "wet-wired" brain of a human courier (played by Keanu Reeves), who then transports the data from China to New Jersey as part of his last, most dangerous assignment. Surely there are better ways to transmit sensitive information, but since this is really just a conventional thriller with near-future design and spiffy special effects, Gibson and New York artist Robert Longo (making his directorial debut) are more interested in surface gloss and cyberpunk atmosphere. On that level the movie's fairly engaging, and Japanese film star Takeshi Kitano makes a pretty good villain, tracking Reeves down for the information in his data-packed brain. The movie also boasts an eclectic gallery of supporting players including rapper Ice-T, performance artist and rocker Henry Rollins, beefcake actor Dolph Lundgren, and transcontinental oddball Udo Kier. They can't stop this trip through virtual reality from being botched up, but sci-fi fans will certainly enjoy the echo of Gibson's fiction that remains on the screen. --Jeff Shannon
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There is alot to like in this film, but if you can't bear Keanu Reeves don't waste your time, the film completely revolves around his space age courier.
Johnny is used to carrying around large chunks of information by downloading it straight into his brain and is well paid for it, but this time he has downloaded too much data and his brain will turn to mush unless he can get it out soon. Our hero ends up in a race against time and whilst he tries to save himself he encounters a resistance movement who have their own interest in the information he carries.
This is good fun. There are some interesting ideas (as you would expect from cyber-punk author turned screenwriter William Gibson) and they are well executed. The story itself is a bit daft but watchable and the actors do a fine job.
This is not a film that will change your life or make you gasp at its amazing vision of the future, but accept it for what it is, simple sci-fi escapism, and you should enjoy it.
Don't buy it expecting to see something similar to The Matrix, though. This is completely different story and style-wise. The only thing they have in common is Mr Reeves.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
With cyberpunk master William Gibson penning both the script and the short story it came from, you'd be expecting great things from this movie. And if you've seen The Matrix, you know Reeves can do cyberpunk. Does this live up to your expectations?
Reeves is a high tech courier, delivering information for the Japanese mafia in a chip embedded in his skull. On the run from high tech corporations and the yakuza he encounters low tech freedom fighters and talking dolphins, in the kind of city where you'd expect Snake Plissken to walk round the corner any minute.
It's great fun. And if Keanu Reeves is your bag, you'll enjoy it. As a cyberpunk tale it's pretty good, but as a movie it's just not as good as you'd hope for. Plot holes and dreadful dialogue mean it just can't rise to the occasion.
Nevertheless, I'll be queueing up for the DVD :-)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Whilst we all know Keanu's best stint in the world of cyber-punk came with the Matrix, few, or at least not me until recently, know of this attempt written by the daddy himself, William Gibson.
Reaves has always been good at keeping it cool, but here his ability to even do that is brought into question. Not only does Reavse's character break down through the coarse of the narrative but his acting also starts to tear the fabric of the fiction. This is not helped by the films dialogue, which well it might work in Gibson's books and stories (this film is based on one of them)does little to help us relate to, or even believe in these characters' plight.
Outside of this, the world of the fiction is also near breaking point. Environments are jumbled and the transition between these worlds seems jumpy. The representation of the Internet - a very Gibsonian representation - is brilliant, and perhaps the best thing this film has going, but even this doesn't feel entirely integrated.
A part from the internet Dolph Lundgren also provides a high point as the cybernetic bringer of salvation, a kind of religious nut-case who goes around killing people for money.
This film feels like a real attempt to bring Gibson's complex sprawl to life. A very hard task indeed and unfortunatly this film fails on most fronts.
If you are a fan of Gibson then go for this film as you may find it of interest, but don't expect to see that beautiful receeding city - this film just doesn't hit its mark.
Reaves has always been good at keeping it cool, but here his ability to even do that is brought into question. Not only does Reavse's character break down through the coarse of the narrative but his acting also starts to tear the fabric of the fiction. This is not helped by the films dialogue, which well it might work in Gibson's books and stories (this film is based on one of them)does little to help us relate to, or even believe in these characters' plight.
Outside of this, the world of the fiction is also near breaking point. Environments are jumbled and the transition between these worlds seems jumpy. The representation of the Internet - a very Gibsonian representation - is brilliant, and perhaps the best thing this film has going, but even this doesn't feel entirely integrated.
A part from the internet Dolph Lundgren also provides a high point as the cybernetic bringer of salvation, a kind of religious nut-case who goes around killing people for money.
This film feels like a real attempt to bring Gibson's complex sprawl to life. A very hard task indeed and unfortunatly this film fails on most fronts.
If you are a fan of Gibson then go for this film as you may find it of interest, but don't expect to see that beautiful receeding city - this film just doesn't hit its mark.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It doesn't do what it says on the cover
Don't be fooled by the jacket which says Keanu Reeves and Dolph Lundgren starring. It's a run of the mill futuristic yuppie thingy, with Dolph's few scenes as a nutcase killer... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Delicia
It's cyberpunk Jim!
Nice little bit of pre-matrix Keanu to go on the Cyberpunk shelf. Add a bit of Dolph & ICE-T and how can you go wrong :).
Published 9 months ago by FullovStars
johnny mnemonic
i bought this film as i remembered watching it when it first came out.i enjoyed as much this time as i did back then.
Published 22 months ago by berty
It's good
If you don't take it seriously. If you like a bit of cyberpunk this gets close while still being a bit tame. Dolf is funny and worth it just for that.
Published 22 months ago by J. BARRETT
Pretty Good Sci-Fi
Shame Reeves can't act for **** though. But he fits the wooden city slicker character well enough here.
++ Henry Rollins is in it... Read more
++ Henry Rollins is in it... Read more
Published 23 months ago by BookWorm v CodeMonkey
Johnny Mnemonic
I really enjoyed this film from start to finish. It's from a cool era the mid nineties, and the coming explosion of the internet, which films like this helped to further. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by I Smith
Johnny Mnemonic
Firstly what a great title, who wouldn't want to be referred to as MNEMONIC. I really enjoyed this film, some might say you need to be a serious Keanu Reeves fan but I think if you... Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by J. M. T. Gabriel
Our Brain is a USB key looking for its USB plug
A fascinating film that brings together several genres and also several influences. First the technical level of virtual reality and computerized graphics. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2008 by Jacques COULARDEAU
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