Plot: What’s it about?
Johnny (Keanu Reeves) used to be a normal human, but he is now a mere shell of his former self. His memory was erased, his mind grafted with a data storage device, and his purpose in life made into being a courier, but he plans to regain control and soon. His mind is now a massive storage device, which holds large amounts of data and as a courier, he transports this information from client to client. The data is uploaded into his brain, he travels to the destination, the data is downloaded, and then the cycle starts all over again. In order to end this chain and return to a normal life, Johnny must rid himself of the data storage unit and of course, that means serious cash. As he is not a rich man, Johnny decides to take on one last courier mission and after this task, he’ll have enough loot to get a normal life again. But this mission is a dangerous one, as Johnny must carry double his normal load and if he doesn’t download without twenty-four hours, he’s as good as dead. In addition, the information is top secret and in great demand, so as Johnny tries to deliver the data, others will try to ensure he never arrives…
If you’re in the mood for cyber-thrills and can check your brain in at the door, Johnny Mnemonic is a nice ninety-eight minutes of diversion. With a screenplay by William Gibson, I figured this would be one insane ride, but I suppose my hopes were too high at the time of release, as I was quite disappointed with this picture. I viewed it again on home video and with a new perspective, I had a lot more fun and actually enjoyed seeing it once again. It has immense plot holes and questionable characters, but come on, this is sci/fi and not a British miniseries. The leaps of faith are rewarded with superb visuals and a good time, which seems like a fair trade, if you ask me. I like well written sci/fi as much as the next cyborg, but I don’t scoff at mindless fun either. Keanu “Whoa” Reeves is in his typical form, while the rest of the cast turns in unusual, but memorable performances. I wouldn’t call this film a great movie by any means, but it does entertain, so long as you view it in the right mindset. This new Superbit edition is ripped & ruthless, with enhanced video and audio, so if you want to own this flick, this version is the wisest choice.
I doubt anyone will remember this as a milestone in his career, but that’s with good reason, as Keanu Reeves turns in a lackluster performance. Of course, no one expects much from Reeves even these days, so I imagine no one was surprised by his stiff, disjointed effort here. At least he’s playing a semi-robotic character here, which makes his usual robotic motions seem a little more at home, right? I’m sure he was cast due to his looks and status as being sort of popular though, so I suppose even the casting agents weren’t surprised by the results. His work here is weak to be sure, but given the kind of movie this is, it just adds more camp value, which isn’t bad in this case. This is not his worst outing, but let’s hope casting agents watch him a little closer in the future, to steer him off, if need be. Other films with Reeves include The Gift, Speed, The Matrix, The Replacements, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The eclectic supporting cast includes Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers), Udo Kier (Blood for Dracula, Blade), Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier, Men of War), Ice-T (Mean Guns, Kept), and Takeshi “Beat” Kitano (Battle Royale, Brother).
Video: How does it look?
Johnny Mnemonic is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. As I have never seen the previous DVD, I am unable to make direct comparisons, but Superbit tradition holds, this is an improvement in all respects. This is a very visually stylish film, so detail is crucial and subtle touches are as clear as can be here, very impressive work. The smallest of details is even crisp here, which means the visual experience is a fantastic one. The black levels are impeccable here, very rich and smooth, but never too dark even for a second. In the same line, colors are just as impressive, with vibrant hues present and no signs of errors in the least. I wouldn’t say this is a flawless visual effort, but it is darn close, as the score reflects.
Audio: How does it sound?
As this is a sci/fi movie with solid audio potential, I was excited to see it given 5.1 surround options in both Dolby Digital and DTS. The end results are a dead heat between the two tracks and in truth, neither was as impressive as expected. The surround use is there and sparks at times, but lacks the total impact I was wanting, so I was a tad let down. Even so, the tracks provide an active, effective trek and as such, I wasn’t let down for too long. The loud musical score kicks heavy and often, while dialogue is clear and never lost in the mix. Not as powerful as I had hoped, but both tracks are more than up to task. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, Chinese, Thai, and Korean.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials.
