Johnny Mnemonic

You probably vaguely remember it as that other movie that Keanu Reeves made just after his first Matrix movie . . . yeah, it's that one that you know he starred in, but for some reason you never got around to seeing it.

That's because it's not as good as the first Matrix movie. Basically, this is a B-sci-fi movie with just above b-movie budget special effects - but not by much. It's got all the elements of other sci-fi movies as well - the future world (which gives us both predictions . . . super techno AND post-apocalyptic destruction - this movie gets points just for trying to merge the two) . . . it's also got your paean to Terminator (an indestructable android who literally has a Jesus complex - hey, more points for that!) . . . it's got your Men-in-Black hero (but it loses points because Reeves is so FLAT - I mean, this guy seriously comes across as though he just wants his paycheck and to get on back home, knowwhaddimean?)

I think I've pretty much covered everything - oh yeah, your spunky tough-girl heroine, with one scene of a naked back to make you think there might be a little nudity (that's pretty standard in your b-scifi's) but there's really not enough character development to make her very likable.

That's what it is . . . there was no character development. You have all the sci-fi elements in this movie, but instead of being blended together to make a good product (like all the movies I've mentioned, to which this movie alludes, which are all GOOD sci-fi's), you have nothing but a plastic tub filled with discarded metal innards of various toasters and bicycle spokes . . . I hope you get the allusion, because I'm trying to create the image of a bunch of metal pieces rattling around but can never hope to make a coherent whole.

That's it. Johnny Mnemonic. Columbia Tri-Star. 1995. Directed by Robert Longo.

Watch only if you like sci-fi. Anybody else will be bored to tears.

And yes, I realize that I'm only seeing it now after 10 years. Hey, I've got a watch list that's a mile long. I'm getting to my backlogged books and movies just as fast as I can, OK?

VG