Johnny Mnemonic. Dir. Robert Longo. Perf.

Keanu Reeves, Dina Meyer, Dolph Lungren, Takeshi Kitano, Ice-T, Henry Rollins. Screenplay by William Gibson. Tri-Star Pictures, 1995.

The premise of the film remains the same, and the ending, though noticeably different, retains the theme of the original story.

Instead of Molly, Jones, and Johnny making a private profit by outwitting the technology of the elites, the movie version of Johnny Mnemonic makes the Lo Teks a band of noble freedom fighters who broadcast pirate television messages to the downtrodden lower classes excluded from the immense wealth of the cities. The issue of class is more prominent in the film than in the short story. Gibson's original story was one of three individuals profiting by bucking the system; the film seeks revolution. The film begins with scenes of decadence: a posh hotel room, giant television screen, and an expensive call girl. As Johnny...