Customer Reviews

Johnny Mnemonic (Widescreen)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Taken from William Gibson's short story of the same name, Johnny Mneumonic is perhaps the most underrated film of the 90's. Its definately a view more than once film. The flaws (and there are many) stem mainly from the tinkering of Sony who changed the
initial thrust of the film as well as the soundtrack from the
directors and the screenwriters original concept. Having done my homework on this film -- and having read the original screenplay and listened to the audiotape version of the original, the changes are significant. The glitch in the matrix of Johnny M came about after SPEED became a huge boxoffice success. What was meant to be a small art theater film became
overblown and distorted so that Sony could take advantage of Keanu Reeves, who was paid next to nothing for making this pic.
Sony's greed sank this film, with disastrous editing, post production scene re-shoots, early release, a bloated as campaign.
Still some of the original poetry still exists -- the cyber interface, the melding of machine and human (the ghost in the machine), and some knock out effects -- The short story can be
found in Gibson's Burning Chrome, or you can purchase the screenplay on line used. From the reviews it looks like it may become the cult classic that it deserves to be. And the Japanese version retains much more of the original flavor -- albeit still flawed, its a piece of work!!

A Warning for those looking for a widescreen copy of this film: THIS DISC IS FULL FRAME. I know the amazon listing here states that it is in widescreen, but this is wrong, and it will not allow for a change to the specs without a url to back up the claim (although they could just check the product themselves to confirm).

Ordered this DVD because I wanted the widescreen version of this movie but to my disappointment it is full screen (4:3 AR). Unfortunately I noticed the problem only after the return period had passed (I had filed the DVD away for watching later). I blame myself for not checking sooner but Amazon really dropped the ball - the aspect ratio is printed right on the DVD cover.

I don't recommend buying this DVD. It's the type of movie that you might watch and enjoy once or twice, but never again. The script and plot are both kind of bland -- a typical world-is-going-to-end sci-fi plot. Keanu Reeves also has a less-than-stellar performance, but it's not his fault -- the script really gave him nothing to work with.

It's not Keanu Reeves' acting, but rather that the screenplay was written by the author of the short story. And it just doesn't seem to be up to the quality of most of his work. It is disappointing because it could have been much better.

I actually liked this film when it came out but seeing it again this past week I was struck by how flat Reeves' performance was. He is so very good in "Speed" and in the "Matrix" films... but in this one, he is really weak and uninteresting... and knowing how good he can be, I can only blame the director. This was a good story, but poorly transcribed for the screen... and though the special effects were good for their day... those are pretty dated by todays standards. See either MATRIX film instead and leave it go at that.

Words cannot describe the agony I experienced while watching this piece of crap. I would rather have 10 root canals then see ANY part of this junk again. Not only is the acting, plot, dialogue, and directing horrible - but in the end the whole world is run by a FREAKING DOLPHIN!!! A big plastic looking fake dolphin. I want my money back, I want a letter of apology from anyone even remotely involved with this film, and the executives who green lighted this crap should be fired. I wish I could give it a negative rating. This is THE worst movie I have EVER seen. Anyone who likes this movie must be really high or really dumb.

Before Keanu Reeves first entered The Matrix in 1999, he got primed to play Neo, in his first techno thriller, Johnny Mnemonic. Given the end product, he must have left this dud off of his resume, (I would have) otherwise, he might not have been hired for that role at all.

I must confess that I have never read author William Gibson's short story, on which the film is based, but I can't believe it's as bad as this movie...or is it? It's amazing to me, that Gibson also wrote the screenplay. Needless to say, I will not be reading that, any time soon. That said--this review must go on. Johnny Mnemonic (Reeves) is a futuristic courier who loads important data straight into his brain for storage and safe keeping. This information is so vital, in fact, that Johnny has given up brainspace that houses cherished childhood memories, in order to save space to do this last job. He's got just 48 hours to transport a large load of data from Beijing to Newark NJ--and some futuristic samurai warriors--for reasons that don't matter--are out to make sure he doesn't make it to his destination alive.

Hollywood conceptual artist Robert Longo decided to step behind the camera and direct--he should have stayed put. While the movie does make a strong case for itself on a visual level, it is just a mess, in every other way. The cast, including Dina Meyer, Ice-T, Takeshi Kitano, and the greatest actor ever, Dolph Lundgren (I'M KIDDING), seem lost here...What a mess!!

Thank goodness the DVD doesn't have any extras (not even the trailer) on it. If it did, that would have been like rubbing salt on the wound, and I couldn't take the pain. If you decide to watch Johnny Mnemonic anyway, despite my warrning, at least you'll be able to see the film in either the full-screen or widescreen formats. Not that those options will make things any better. Watch at your own risk

no widescreen and looks like a copy of vhs put on to dvd.

extras, what extras.
cast bio of 4 actors wow

waste of money.

he's like a robutt because he has a computer part in his brain and he's like the UPS man except they let him wear long pants. i think keanu probably has nice knees but you don't see them in this film. he's very pale. they shot a lot of asian men in this movie which doesn't bother me one way or the other. i'm not prejudust.
iced tea acts better when he's wearing his sunglasses. when he takes them off you forget that he can act. maybe he reads q cards?
then he gives the computer chip and what's left of his brain to a good guy. keanu does. not iced tea who gets murdered.
i like this movie better than matrix because my coke tasted like windex when i saw the matrix movie and i rented this movie and had cranberry apple juice which i like without ice.