Brandon's Cult Movie Reviews: JOHNNY MNEMONIC

[@TheBrandonTenold]

I WANT ROOM SERVICE!!!

[@LeeroyPorkins]

Aberration 1997?

[@Lizz_ss25]

TekWar when!

[@royshaheer]

This movie is literally predicted 2021 and Metaverse for real.... Generational piece!!!

[@2st486]

it's weird how i almost never see Dark City cited as inspiration for The Matrix

[@mathieuleader8601]

*HOMER LETS CALL ROOM SERVICE!*

[@TimeBomb014X]

Weird how Keanue is essentially a cyberpunk icon with Johnny Mnominc, The Matrix and Cyberpunk 2077

[@robertpanek5944]

It's also funny that Johnny Mnominc and Cyberpunk 2077 have the same plot.

[@txmetalhead82xk]

That’s seriously cool

[@weldonwin]

Also, how many characters Keanu plays, all named John or Johnny. Johnny Mnemonic, Johnathon Harker (Dracula), Johnny Utah (Point Break), John Anderson (The Matrix), John Wick, Johnny Silverhand

[@wonderingpariah8049]

Shit you're right.

[@exidy-yt]

@@weldonwin Damn, I never realized! Nice catch.

[@tonenuff]

“Although this a 90s Keanu movie, his acting is still kinda ‘whoa…’” 🤣 Glad to see you did this one. Whenever someone asks me to to remember something complicated, I say “Who am I, Johnny Mnemonic?!?” And nobody gets it… so now I feel validated 😁

[@Leo-sd3jt]

They don't get it because they had to wipe out that piece of memory to be able to work as illicit data couriers

[@edholmes1386]

For decades I’ve felt the room service rant deserved more credit. Thank you.

[@TheBrandonTenold]

Maybe juxtaposing it with Nicolas Cage will give it the boost it deserves?

[@somercet1]

Either Gibson or Longo mentioned being highly impressed by Keanu's performance of that scene. They were expecting something quiet and disappointed and Keanu gave them a full-on screaming fit/breakdown, that slowly morphed into quiet disappointment.

[@blackc1479]

At least the beginning of it has very strong Billy Zane demon knight vibes. "Bunch of ho dunk po dunk them there motherfuckers!"😂

[@wstine79]

"I want the club sandwich, I want the cold Mexican beer, I want a Brandon Tenold video at the Imperium Hotel in Tokyo!"

[@SAM-ru4vx]

I want kangaroo ice t, Henry Rollins with the neck tattoo, and Takahashi as the crime boss.

[@LordVolkov]

I want Jesus Time!

[@tinchotincho9231]

I love this movie so much. Keanu, Dolph, Ice T and Henry Rollins together will never happen again.

[@TheBrandonTenold]

Unless they make the cyberpunk expendables.

[@burningmisery]

@@TheBrandonTenold Shut up and take my bitcoins!!!

[@lolajaramillo4620]

When this movie came out and an interviewer talked to Henry Rollins about being in it, they asked him if he got to meet Ice-T. He said something like him and Ice were filmed separately, since they unfortunately didn’t have any scenes together, so he was disappointed that they didn’t have a chance to really meet, talk, or hang out on set together.😕

[@RobDaCajun]

I love this movie because I actually read the short story by Gibson.

[@N30b1]

Unfurtunately for Dolph also the last movie he appeared, that was released primary for the silver screen, untill the expendables. I loved him beeing a weird cybopreacherkiller.

[@edisonlima4647]

Of course I remember Sea Quest! The episode in which they find a sunken ship with an air pocket haunted by 2 ghosts and find out the captain had sunken it specifically to imprison a woman who didn't love him so she had no way to escape his advances before dying and that he was after her even as a ghost was dark as s***, I will never forget that.

[@Awakeandalive1]

Don't forget the series ending with them being trapped on an alien planet and all of them dying in an alien civil war that Mark Hammill was involved in for some reason...

[@arielfangirlmendez]

I do

[@RaScarabous]

@@Awakeandalive1 That was after the time traveling submarine. Can't forget the time travel plotline.

[@skylx0812]

I was aware of the show, but as the youngest, didn't have control of the remote to ever watch it. The series aired on NBC, and we were an ABC family. 😕

[@Calriec]

@@Awakeandalive1 Actually, that's not how it ended. The show was renamed SeaQuest 2032 and continued for one more season with Michael Ironside as the lead.

[@gardener68]

Honestly, "I want room service!" was the best line in the movie.

[@TheBrandonTenold]

A close 2nd would be "Jesus time".

[@oneproudbrowncoat]

@@TheBrandonTenold Enh, Spider's reply to "Who is this... Jones?" is right up there.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

I think they covered the reason why you put things in his brain is because whenever he got into an airport they searched him for any illegal electronic device. The memory booster in his brain registered as a dyslexia implant on the airport scanner, so it was legal to transport.

[@BettyWhiteTheVibratorSlayer]

Originally the code was made of his "lost" memories, that was a cool touch, as he broke the code to save him self he learned his past

[@nobbynoris]

This guy never thought of just sticking it up his arse?

[@jeffumbach]

Also in the original short story couriers didn't have a plug in their head, they basically memorized a ton of information that they speed read and then repeated it back later but it was locked by a password that only the receiving party knew just like here so Johnny couldn't just unload the info on his own without the password.

[@skylx0812]

Neurolink was available by the mid 2000s. A man had an antenna in his brain for a device that corrected his color blindness. An artist, he created a way for people to send pics directly to his brain. Because of the implant in his brain, he had to have his passport updated to categorize him as an "Augmented Human". Daniel H. Wilson, author of the novels Robocapolypse and Robogenesis, said in an interview that although tech being devoloped to assist the handicapped, it could lead to the emegence of cyberneticly enhanced humans that would have an unfair advantage over normal humans. A basic link device was possible in the early 2000s, no telling whats out there now.

[@Omicron9999]

@@skylx0812 Unfortunately, cybernetics haven't really advanced all that much considering the technology level of our consumer goods. Prosthetics have come a long way, sure, but they're still controlled via measuring skin conductivity and muscular pressure rather than being rigged directly into people's skeletal structure and nervous systems, and wiring implants into people's brains is still basically where it was back then. We made our mobile phones into miniature computers and our videogames consoles are pretty sweet, but cybernetics won't advance to Ghost in the Shell levels unless a need to mass augment the populace comes up. Or people finally decide death is inconvenient and silence the ethical lobbyists holding back the tech that could allow us to extend our natural lifespans, whichever comes first.

[@poochyenajones1362]

Even with its flaws, I still consider this movie to be one of the finest examples of cyberpunk genre of the 90s.

[@marhawkman303]

The first, may not be the best... but they still set the stage for the later works :D

[@JanPospisilArt]

I've recently read an interview with the director and Keanu going ham on the mound is a scene added during filming, expressing the frustration they all felt because of the studio fucking up the movie.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Yep, that sounds right.

[@CesarDaSalad]

Bastard studio, not giving them room service! 😡

[@Replicaate]

I love this wild, imperfect, gross cyberpunk flick. It's like the closest we'll ever get to a Snow Crash movie for the time being.

[@misterprickly]

Fun fact: This movie was a big deal for *Autodesk* (makers of AutoCAD) as they were using this movie as a huge promotional for their software. You can see their logo above the movies date. This must have been done in Toronto's studio district. It's the only place where you can have full on car chases and high octane fire fights, without disturbing the neighbours. The "minds eye" animations were half the reason why I got into CG animation. They were great!

[@soknightsam]

Rented the minds eye collections religiously back in my dope days

[@henrykujawa4427]

In my view, AutoCAD reached its peak in mid-1995, when they made it WINDOWS-friendly (and, added an actual working text editor, which it didn't really have before!!). However, since then, Autodesk kept "upgrading" the program over and over, and at some point made it SO complicated, that you virtually needed to be one of its software designers to be able to know how the F*** to use it. I worked in drafting for a couple decades, I know. They also apparently owned 3D Studio, arguably the WORST-designed "3D" software EVER, EVER designed. I KNOW.

[@GloryHulle]

What’s this? A hot, new, fresh-from-the-oven review from Brandon Tenold?? And the film being reviewed is Johnny Mnemonic?!! Oh hell YES! Thank you for this fine welcome to the weekend, Brandon. I cannot get enough of your sincere yet snarky views on movies! But between you, Phelous, and Mark of Fanboy Flicks, I seem to have a love for the opinions of Canadian men, lol. This was an awesome video! I really enjoyed looking back on this very 90’s (and I mean that in the most loving way possible) sci-fi flick and hearing your take on the action. Keep on being amazing, Brandon! 🖤

[@persomiissleepy]

I own a copy of Burning Chrome in my house where the short story is featured. Just laying around not being touched. Also I'm just going to appreciate how Keanu is still doing work in Cyberpunk fiction.

[@vgrntm]

I’m just out here looking for Gibson fans

[@CorbCorbin]

@@vgrntm Gibson is arguably the most influential, and copied writers of the last 40 years. His work is all over Manga and Anime, while also containing so many relevant themes, that even those who don’t know his work, still end up taking from it through someone else influenced by him.

[@Leo-sd3jt]

Johnny Mnemonic the Black and White version just came out on bluray and the special feature is Longo, Gibson, and Keanu all talking with each other for 30 minutes. It's actually really interesting and great

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@CorbCorbin There's a reason why I tend to lean more towards manga and anime and I think that's it. When I hear things like the fact there's a Japanese Johnny mnemonic cut (which I think I've heard before) that is vastly superior I'm like yeah that's about right. I wish it surprised me but they just seem to have a better grasp of the stories and concepts. I don't know why American studios always like to eff this stuff up.

[@m.e.3862]

I'm looking forward to The Peripheral that's going to premiere on Amazon Prime in a couple of weeks

[@jeremyclegg3588]

I had already read all of Gibson's work up to that point when this came out. I was pumped and I remember that I was really hoping that they would include the dolphin. Imagine my delight. But the best part of this film for me was Reeves's performance on that slag heap. Whenever I think back on this film, it's him screaming "I want room service!" on that heap under the bridge. This was the moment where my estimation of Reeves as an actor jumped up. You really feel his frustration at being forced out of his comfort zone. I don't want to be the saviour of the downtrodden, I just want to get paid. And it's just an awesome, over-the-top moment of sci-fi cheese. I want room service indeed.

[@Redfern42]

I'd almost forgotten about the "mono-molecular wire garrote" nicknamed "molly wire" in Gibson's stories. It's one of those concepts that works well in prose, but if depicted on camera as described, it would appear the wielder is just doing weird mime and then items and flesh falling apart. Basically, you wouldn't see the literally "molecule thick" cord. So the movie gave it a funky lightsaber glow for visual appeal. Hey, at least they included the weapon.

[@snorpenbass4196]

IIRC, they justified it by the wire being heated (either from moving through air molecules or from its own powersource). Be that as it may, it's one of the most OP hand to hand cyberware weapons in CP2077.

[@shishoka]

Actually... that might look pretty cool if done right. Might make them look godlike. They move their hand ccx and someone suddenly falls in half vertically.

[@georgeoldsterd8994]

Didn't they also have a similar weapon/ ability in Cyberpunk 2077?

[@NefariousKoel]

@@georgeoldsterd8994 Pretty sure the mono-molecular whip was around since the original game Cyberpunk 2020.

[@georgeoldsterd8994]

@@NefariousKoel I wouldn't know, tabletop RPGs were never big where I live. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@bdrive5663]

Every time I start a new Cyber Punk / Shadow Run TT game I make all my players watch this movie. Also the CGI sequences in this film were done by some of the animators from the group that did the Mind's Eye videos. Nave saw Mind's Eye on TV but I rented them on VHS. They were actually the reason I wanted to go into professional computer animation out of high school.

[@shinrailp1416]

Did not know i needed Keanu going full Cage in my life but that was gloriouse!

[@tarnetskygge]

Watch Knock Knock (2015) if you want more Keanu Cage!

[@davidromeroblaya7920]

After a hard day, this is one of the movies that help me to relax. And my seal of approval for using a Rise of the Triad track for the video, Brandon.

[@TheBrandonTenold]

Any of the songs that are actually in the movie would've gotten the video flagged, so I thought I'd pick something that still fit.

[@what0080]

I’m impressed. You went the entire review without a Cyberpunk 2077/Johnny Silverhand reference. 🎉

[@MaximumKahnage]

Lol i showed my mate 2077 recently and he kept asking if there was a connection between silverhand and mnemonic lol it was pretty funny

[@simen30]

the laser weapon is a nod to this movie

[@DrZuluGaming]

Hell, the premise is rather similar with the hero getting a piece of data that slowly kill them if it's not removed. It's just that in 2077, Keanu Reeves was the data.

[@akiraasmr3002]

Don't look in the comments

[@bad-people6510]

Which is hard considering how obviously this movie is just somebody's Cyberpunk 2020 campaign put to film with the names changed.

[@cthulhupthagn5771]

Yes, I remember The Minds Eye. I was first introduced to their shorts in the late '80s, when I took a media analysis course in middle school and the teacher had us watch them. Then when the Sci-Fi channel first went live, they used to have a clip show to fill in some of the gaps in their early programming, and they used to play clips from the mind's eye. Then I went and saw the lawnmower man, which lifted all of their CGI scenes from The Mind's Eye

[@kingkenno8803]

Finally watched this back in August. Dolph, Keanu's breakdown moment, and the laser dolphins made it all worth it.

[@michaelk8860]

Absolutely one of my favorite cyberpunk movies that I wish would get a LOVING remake with a tie in to a trilogy of movies based Gibson's novels/stories which would obviously include Neuromancer, seeing as so many of those characters cross between stories in his universe. I am excited to hear about there being a Japanese cut and now must seek it out. I definitely appreciate the Reboot reference, still once of my favorite childhood series. Yes, I REMEMBER SeaQuest! Although I didn't see them on YTV, I did love and have several of the Mind's Eye series VHS.

[@Simple_Man_Golf]

The Rise of the Triad music does NOT go unappreciated in this house

[@DrMatrix1231]

Can never say no to Going down the fast way.

[@DJ_Macphisto]

ROTT soundtrack goes with anything. Just ask Civvie 11.

[@Simple_Man_Golf]

@@DJ_Macphisto #freecivvie

[@themalcontent100]

It is always fun watching movies that predict dystopia futures. And scary how close they are. Demolition man was crazy insightful.

[@gwaltzilla]

We watched this movie and Strange Days on our discord right before the new Cyber Punk game came out last year. My friend in his 20s mind was blown on how much those old movies inspired some of the content in the game. lol

[@Salty_dog132]

Ah, strange days. To this day, I am amazed how few people saw it.

[@jasonhunter2819]

@@Salty_dog132 It's such a low-key movie without the big flashy effects that the big movies around it but wasn't a grounded grown up movie based on a Grisham novel so it sort of flew under the radar and then never got onto TBS/TNT/USA for a cable tv revival like a lot of other movies did... Too bad too, since it's a legitimately good neo-noir

[@NefariousKoel]

They all evolved from the same 1980s cyberpunk novels. The Cyberpunk TRPG first came out around '89 or so and utilized those inspirations. For instance, the "laser whip" in the movie was obviously inspired by the Monofilament Whip which became a cyberpunk staple. Among many other things. I'm surprised there wasn't more such gadgetry but.. budget movie and studio interference.

[@gwaltzilla]

@@NefariousKoel O ya for sure. I have read Philip K. Dick. His work is what inspired the late 80s Cyberpunk stuff. I think his novels and short stories on this type of stuff have been out since the late 60s. I was talking about specific scenes in that game that was totally inspired by some of the scenes in the movies. One of them is when the killer in Strange Days video records his victims then makes them see and feel what he does. Compared to when you have to investigate and recreate a murder in the game using video recordings from implants of the victim. Very cool stuff.

[@TDKAP]

i watch these videos right before i sleep after my work at a hospital for graveyard shift. Idk why its so fun yet calming to watch these

[@toyamwarr]

It’s been awhile since Brandon reviewed a movie from my childhood. I’ll have to rewatch this movie.

[@danielbacon99]

Sea Quest and ReBoot references. Really taking me back. You rock, keep it up!

[@SillyPom]

I actually really dug this movie for its aesthetic and ideas, to the point it felt to me like the futuristic "Lanwmower Man" sequel that was promised and then put on an extended development hiatus. Heck, when trailers for "The Matrix" first popped up I almost thought it was a sequel to "Johnny Mnemonic" at first. Learning about Robert Longo's career as an artist back then definitely shined a light on the movie's look and feel for me, which only added to my appreciation for it. Plus, the CG sequences in the virtual world always felt totally inspired by video game programming. On that note, I too remember those quaint Mind's Eye segments if only because I owned the first four collections on VHS as a kid. Don't stress about fewer people remembering "Sea Quest" though. They'll all be made aware once the inevitable reboot starts streaming. Anyway, terrific spotlight on what I always felt was a little cyberpunk gem of a 90's flick, sir. And hell yes, I WANT ROOM SERVICE was and always will be an iconic line in cinema.

[@philkovach948]

Your weird references are always on point. Reboot and Seaquest? Put that nostalgia straight into my veins

[@andy-in-indy]

Johnny Mnemonic and Strange Days were some of the best Cyberpunk offerings before The Matrix. And remember: They didn't go to the Cyber Chimp because the dolphin had a SQUID (on porpoise)!

[@SAM-ru4vx]

And the jude law movie. You know the one with the bone guns eXintentZ (1999)

[@Leo-sd3jt]

Both came out the same year. 1995. Virtuosity and the Net came out that year as well. So did Ghost in the Shell and Hackers. 1995 was like the year of cyberpunk in film. My favorite cyberpunk movie, Nirvana, came out in 1997.

[@andy-in-indy]

​ @Leo Nirvana is not a movie I have heard of. I will have to check it out.

[@jasonhunter2819]

Also The 13th Floor, hitting that 'what is reality?' thing the Matrix was doing in the same weekend...but without the cutting edge camera effects and popular explosion

[@rubeniscool]

@@SAM-ru4vx eXistenZ is technically Biopunk :)

[@petconerd1984]

All the 90s references you used, I actually remember them. Soon as you said Seaquest, I was like “I remember that!” Then almost immediately I realized, “Christ I’m old.”

[@blackc1479]

Right there w ya, though I gotta admit, I didn't remember rami being in it.

[@fredericmaisonneuve2911]

Dude! Those CGI sequences on YTV blew my mind as a kid. When the bird crashed through the glass... those animations had a lot of emotion in them. You could tell the people making them were passionate. That combined with Reboot and Beast Wars introduced me to CGI. I went on to study 3D art and work as a 3D modeler. Now a days I'm more of a 2D/3D artist doing concept art and illustration also.

[@garethspotfur1]

I remember those shorts too.dated now, but so fun at the time.

[@JeffreyPiatt]

Beast Wars references this film Tigertron hacks the Predicon ship in the same way as this film.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

The CGI was definitely a lot better than Lawnmower Man, which only came out a few years earlier

[@UlshaRS]

Dolph chewed the scenery in the movie more than his entire Punisher roll and it's one of the best parts of the movie along with Henry's as the most grounded and relatedable to 90's kids high on the fledgling internet subculture

[@glarryg2318]

I remember "Seaquest!" Frank Welker did the voice of Darwin the dolphin, which is why he sounded like Slimer from the Ghostbusters cartoon.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

if it’s an animal or alien that doesn’t speak English, odds are he’s voicing the character!

[@comixproviderftw_02]

That’s pretty eerie how close they were at predicting the future

[@c.o.n.collectingofnostalgi889]

I still watch this movie once a year and I really want another cyberpunk movie that is as good as this with some Robocop, Virtuosity, Strange Days, Judge Dredd, Fifth Element, Gunhed all mixed into a Nightcity cyberpunk extravaganza of a movie.

[@anuvisraa5786]

That will we abensome chomba

[@warlok363]

Watch Cyberpunk Edgerunners

[@knightrider4545]

So you want a movie version of Cyberpunk 2077? I mean really both have Keanu why not? Still, I did see part of this movie when I was like 12 and didn't know what was going on. Found out later and watched about a year ago. I agree somethings have not aged well and I really wanted to love this movie it just seems a bit clunky. Reading Neromancer was a better story with Jane's return but this isn't a bad movie.

[@sergiocampanale3882]

That's a very fine and entertaining line up ... Films that mostly were poorly received at the time but have finally gained their exalted status as 'cult movies'.

[@sigmacademy]

Lawnmower Man 1 and 2? Had CGI sequences that were supposed to reference "cyberspace"? ;)

[@JeffKing310]

Plague, Civil unrest, neural links - this movie has it all baby

[@Justlookin48]

I love the "I want room service!" rant! Yes, it needs to be a meme!

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

"The internet is some futuristic Bladerunneresque city that you fly through to navigate it..." Worded excellently, sir! I actually liked this film first time I saw it on VHS back in the day; it wasn't bad at all.

[@Foxtrot-Uniform-CharlieKilo]

I remember Seaquest; it was basically an underwater Star Trek TNG

[@brianfinlay5817]

The thing I remember about this movie was when it was released on VHS, the tape box had a cut out window on Reeves' forehead so you could see through the VHS box and see the recording tape in Jonny's head.

[@pedrovallefin8406]

Thats a nice, kinda clever, touch. The people in charge of the VHS box were having fun that day.

[@neilsix]

The tape was orange too

[@SwaggyG_2102]

I must say that for a Sci-Fi movie from the mid 90s, the CGI surprisingly manages to hold up here. Especially when you consider the fact that this was around the time CGI (and mostly 3D animated models in general) was still in it's teen phase. Sure, it looks a little bit outdated now, but hey, it could've been worse.

[@tachikomakusanagi3744]

I'd argue not when you rememeber that it came out 2 years after Jurassic park, and 20 years after the Star Wars Death Star animation :)

[@thetruth-hl7ct]

@@tachikomakusanagi3744 The CGI was SUPPOSED TO look like CGI. All the scenes where Johnny is on the internet were intentionally meant to look the way they were. They were never meant to look lifelike.

[@CorbCorbin]

@@tachikomakusanagi3744 The Death Star explosion was a model, with almost no after effects until the “special editions.” Jurassic Park is a movie for which a lot of tech was created, just like The Abyss and T2. This wasn’t a budget like either of those two, and Lucas’s CGI work in the prequels, from a few years later, hold up even worse.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@CorbCorbin Yeah looking around at semlin movies around the same time it was very hit and miss. A movie like dark city which I think had a similar budget to this I think did a much better job at creating a world that's held up much better over time. I'm always a believer that practical effects hold up better than CGI or digital effects.

[@john_blues]

The CGI was mostly horrible in this movie. That's part of the reason it didn't do well. It stood out as bad even back then.

[@upandaljm]

The 'laser floss' is actually a Monofilament whip and this is the same source universe as Cyberpunk 2077 just much earlier. Saw it in theaters and loved it ever since.

[@AgentofLADON]

I read somewhere that Lundgren's character concept was a miscommunication when someone suggested a 'cyborg monk assassin'. Guess they meant Zen Shaolin and not Friar Tuck Spanish Inquisition.

[@Cross177]

No one expects the inquisition!

[@Replicaate]

Yeah, but doesn't that make it so much more unique?

[@AgentofLADON]

@@Replicaate Oh for sure. I can't name any other media with a western style cyber monk. I'm sure someone made their RPG character like Dolph when playing shadowrun or a similar genre game.

[@Majere613]

The 'laser garrotte' is basically a monowire, you see Lucy using something similar in Edgerunners. In the Cyberpunk game it's sometimes called a slice-n-dice. You can see a lot of ideas that ended up in the Cyberpunk PnP RPG here, but the idea of using a dolphin's brain to aid computation was actually borrowed by Star Trek TNG. The official maps of the Enterprise-D show an area called Cetacean Ops, which we've now seen on-screen in Lower Decks. I remember the reviews at the time, and the number of reviewers who said things like 'why don't they just send it over the Internet' when the opening crawl explains exactly why the hell you don't do that, irritated me greatly. A lot of the time, when a movie title sets up an obvious insult certain critics will pan it just so they can use the damn thing.

[@UnkleKlumsy1353]

5000 fucking bonus points for using Rise of the Triads, "going down the fast way" in the title opening. Andrew Hulshult made a mighty banging remix of that, too. One of the best old school vgm tracks ever. Also, yeah, I remember Seaquest. I forgot Ted Raimi was on it though

[@TheBrandonTenold]

And Michael Ironside was in the third season...apparently, I never made it that far.

[@troyschulz2318]

12:08 Speaking of weird cameos, that’s Rainer Werner Fassbinder regular Barbara Sukowa as the AI lady.

[@bazanime]

Woah this is a legendary movie staring a breathtaking actor. Sequest DSV was awesome. I Want Room Service!

[@hypnotised-clover]

Reddit moment.

[@garageink74]

Seen this movie in the theater opening weekend. I then went on to see it probably 10 more times when it moved to the dollar theater. And have watched it once every few years since. It’s about time to revisit.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

I'm not Canadian, but I grew up in Buffalo, NY which isn't far from Canada at all. In fact, from my front door I can be on any of three bridges to Canada within maybe 20 minutes, so I was able to get some Canadian television stations where I lived. I definitely remember YTV and the crazy CGI. Thanks a lot man. Now that you've mentioned that I'm going to have to not do the homework I should be doing because I have throw myself down a rabbit hole concerning YTV!

[@joshuafrohm921]

My grandfather loved this movie I had the VHS when I was 9 and it was out to rent. We'd always watch it when he'd babysit me.

[@striderreborn1467]

For those of you unfamiliar with that Japanese Celebrity, Takeshi Kitano (Aka Beat Takeshi) was mostly known as the quiet yet terrifying Teacher from one of my all-time favorite films Battle Royale. He's also known for being in a number of Gangster/Crime Drama-Related films in his Homeland and is considered to be the Robert DeNiro of Japan. He even made an appearance in the Yakuza 6 videogame as well which seemed like a natural fit.

[@karenstarr]

He also played chief Aramaki in the live action GITs movie.

[@Belgand]

He was already well known worldwide before Battle Royale. Primarily as a comedian/TV host in Japan but as a director/dramatic actor overseas. His TV hosting fame is most notable worldwide because of foreign versions of Takeshi's Castle. Radically reworked in the US into MXC. When Johnny Mnemonic came out it was two years after his international art house smash Sonatine. Still regarded as his most praised work as both an actor and director. Battle Royale wouldn't be released for another five years. The original novel it was adapted from didn't even come out for another four.

[@strangelee4400]

He is also revered in the Netherlands for his role as wombat nagomi, the celebrity chef whose psychic abilities predict when and where schools of fish will appear in the North sea.

[@JoeyJ0J0]

He also made the Famicom game Takeshi's Challenge , A brutal and cryptic troll game

[@JnEricsonx]

@@karenstarr Still 50-50 on his Zatoichi film role.

[@SeekerOTheWay]

When I saw this in the theatre, they got the ratio (lens ... I don't know) wrong and so it was stretched too tall. It included the Yakuza getting into the elevator and Johnny looking into the fishbowl at least before they stopped the film and fixed it. This was also yet another movie that banked on their song soundtrack. Which I think must have also influenced the Wachowskis, if you think about it!

[@umbrellacorp.]

18:43 And again about Keanu's acting. 🤣👍 Keanu Reeves is Awesome. 😎✌ I love the 80's and the 90's.

[@gilga3554]

Sea Quest was pretty nice, basically an underwater Star Trek.

[@smaugfrost]

Yep. Mind eye episodes sold on video tape at Suncoast and other stores. They were pretty much cutting edge for 1992 CGI.

[@MiddleAgedNerd]

The Meltdown On The Mound™ has got to be one of the most sincere moments in cult film history - if not all of cinema. Johnny has been getting misled and manipulated since the beginning of the movie, goons have tried to kill him multiple times, and when he finally gets to a place that supposedly can help him, when he gets to their doorstep they drop a flaming car bomb at him (just for the fun of it.) Who wouldn't at this point yell out, "What the fuck is going on?"

[@exidy-yt]

What I always loved about this movie was the little throw-ins to Gibson's other works. The bartender you pointed out is actually Ratz, the bartender of the Chatsubo, the pub that Case worked out of at the start of Neuromancer. His 'claw' is a cheap Soviet-bloc cybernetic replacement for the hand he lost in the war of that novel when he was captured after losing his hand. There were others too. The Japanese cut, which really is the extended cut since it was still primarily in English over there too contains several more, as well as leaving in the fact that Jones, the cybernetically enhanced dolphin was a heroin addict, deliberately made so by the military to keep him under control and eager to do his mine-sniffing work. I never understood why this was cut in the North American release. Or left out that the name of the bodyguards was "The Magnetic Dog Sisters", easily the coolest name for a bad-guy team of trannies I've ever seen. Not to mention an ideal post-punk band name. I loved this movie from day one and never understood the hate. Okay there were some seriously cringly moments (You have to hack your own brain!) but overall it was great, cheese and all.

[@sentryw4rd]

In Neuromancer its heavily implied that Johnny was Mollys (Cases GF/Bodyguard) dead Ex-Boyfriend.

[@exidy-yt]

@@sentryw4rd Yup, I had almost forgotten that bit. Can tell you're a huge Neuromancer fan. Amazed you actually got the Wintermute username, you must have registered it damn early! 👍

[@msxbox101]

Your references in this video are amazing. Loved Reboot, Seaquest and Cybermorph on my Atari Jaguar.

[@scockery]

What would we do for 90's villains if it wasn't the Yakuza or Russian "mafia"? Or Udo Kier? They should've just filmed the movie at Takeshi's Castle.

[@kevingooley9628]

I know, how 90s stereotypical of William Gibson to put the Yakuza in his 1981 story!

[@scockery]

@@kevingooley9628 That's why they waited until the 90's to make the film. In the early 80's Hollywood would be like "What's a yakuza?"

[@Belgand]

@@scockery Well, in 1974 they released The Yakuza in the US, although that was a box office failure and never attained more than a cult following. Black Rain in 1989 brought them to much greater prominence in the US as a side effect of the "Japan is going to take over the world" trend brought on by their economic boom years in the '80s.

[@fenriswhispers]

I saw this in theaters and to this day I randomly scream out "I WANT ROOM SERVICE "

[@robwalsh9843]

Anyone remember William Shatner's TekWar? It was actually made into a decent 90's mini series and had a very William Gibson-esque setting. Not bad for the Shat. Principal Skinner mentioned it on The Simpsons, "Well, the children are going to have to learn about TekWar sooner or later"

[@Awakeandalive1]

Man, those books were so much fun. They were like if Isaac Asimov & Raymond Chandler had a baby.

[@mmattson8947]

Wasn't that one of like four syndicated action mini-series, where they rotated the show every week? And "Hercules" was the only one to make it multiple seasons?

[@robwalsh9843]

@@mmattson8947 I think so

[@GatorMilk]

@@mmattson8947 That was the one with the cyberpunk boomer shooter

[@michaelmcfarland1716]

@@mmattson8947 four made for TV movies, followed by one full season as a series.

[@taramullen6521]

I remember those shorts from YTV. My bro and I used to watch YTV all the time as kids. Another awesome vid Brandon.

[@BroomPusher2024]

Really is fascinating when you realize Keanu's been the face of CyperPunk in pop culture from its heyday, all the way up to its falling out with the cringefest that was 2077.

[@101Mant]

2077 is having a huge surge in popularity right now and the consensus seems be the Edgerunners anime is good so not sure about a falling out.

[@Ravenite456]

Cyberpunk 2077 is a lot like Johnny Mnemonic in that while deeply flawed it's still worth your time if you're into that kind of thing.

[@domtaylor1887]

The part at 9:20 makes me think that Keanu (even now) would make a decent Roger Smith if they ever did a live action adaptation of The Big O. All he's missing is a giant mech and a redheaded robot girl.

[@ThyDavideth]

So criminally underrated it makes me sick. One of the best cyberpunk movies ever made

[@1pcfred]

One of the only cyberpunk movies ever made too.

[@Nergalsama01]

14:54 Looks like Dolph took one look at the script and thought to himself: "Well, when am I ever gonna play a long-haired fanatic cyberpunk priest assassin ever again? I'm gonna have fun with this!" :D

[@sirequinox4874]

This is definitely one of your best reviews. I laughed out loud several times. For me "Johnny Mnemonic" is a guilty pleasure. I know it's not good, but it's a fun watch. I take it out and give it a rewatch every few years. It has a comfy futuristic feel to it that I find relaxing and nostalgic.

[@MoparRican_93]

This is by far the absolute ORIGIN of the CyberPunk series complete with the VR headset/Neuromod head implant, his name "Johnny" alone has inspired "Johnny Silverhand" in the game, the tension with China, the Orange monowire in the movie tied with the ACTUAL orange Monowire in the Cyberpunk game and it being in 2021 (aside from it being "2077") with the ACTUAL RELEASE OF CYBERPUNK in that year... yeah this movie is a masterpiece 👌👏🙌✨️💿

[@mahmoudahmedgamal6035]

This movie is an attempt at adaptation of William Gibson books, The father of cyberpunk. The game is based on the tabletop of the same name.

[@gorelegrimshank1110]

Yes Brandon, you should do more Beat Takeshi movies.

[@StreyX]

I remember Seaquest and it's short run. RIP Jonathan Brandis. Also, I did not expect an Ironmouse reference on this channel.

[@brianpratt3224]

Ahhh Seaquest, a show that gave everyone in the DeLuise family work

[@danielseelye6005]

Gotta take care of family.

[@antonharmacinski276]

One of my favorite movies of all times. I'm a huge cyberpunk fan and this was a great journey through a cyberpunk setting.

[@kamenrangerzeo8251]

So this is what you get when you combine Cyberpunk 2077 and The Matrix. 7:40 Vic Romano from MXC 9:00 no tongue 9:18 "May I see your invitation please. " "Sure here's my invitation." 9:32 Ice T joke 10:59 Whip it good 14:52 He's become Fabio 15:50 my name is Neo 16:13 so she's a ghost in the machine, oh wait that's Ghost in the Shell 16:55 sledgehammer 18:55 he's gone full on Nick Cage and he quotes by saying "I WANT ROOM SERVICE." Me: "So do you want fries with that." So let's see guy gets data into his head tries to get it out hmm definitely cyberpunk 2077.

[@Kouh_Sijaed]

Great use of Lee Jackson's Going Down The Fast Way in your opening, you Rock Brandon!

[@ReiEmeraldTakedo]

Shout out to the ironmouse fans. Sweet retro model he used there.

[@natp8387]

Man, I remember every single thing you referenced in this review. It's great! I miss the 90's. So much entertainment gold!

[@wstine79]

I remember watching this in the cinema. I enjoyed how 90s high tech the movie was. Aside from Keanu Reeves, my favorite character was Henry Rollins as Spider.

[@scockery]

Who's Dr. Allcom?

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

Back then this film had zero advertising was a cult hit. I watched it also I was 19 back then

[@gabrieldarkwind5866]

Don't forget Dolph Lundgren

[@mr.pavone9719]

I saw it in the theater on post while I was stationed in Germany. We'd get a new movie roughly once a week and tickets were cheap, even by 90s standards. The writing is clumsy but it's a fun movie.

[@DefiantSpurr]

We need a prequel movie, which explores Dolph Lungrens character. A cyberpunk action fest, where he gets to be the preacher , hired to do some mission

[@pedrovallefin8406]

I feel a sequel would be more likely, the "30 years later" type. It sounds like something right on Keanus alley, it would fit with his aged action hero rol that make him famous again. Plus, since the movie was set in the more recent past, a sequel 30 years later would mean its actually in the future again!

[@jeffumbach]

The bartender with the cybernetic hand is another character who has appeared in a few William Gibson stories, although his hand was a lot stronger and he didn't get roughed up in those stories.

[@Leo-sd3jt]

He was the one who roughed

[@gregmark1688]

Wait a minute! Those TV sets are broken! Clearly, there's no TV Party tonight.

[@JoeyJ0J0]

I can see where CD Project Red got a lot of their ideas for Cyberpunk 2077, no wonder they got Keanu Reeves to play a Johnny Silverhand.

[@Theigzorn]

tbf cyberpunk 2077 is based on a pen & papier rpg wich is most likey in parts based on the book.

[@JoeyJ0J0]

@@Theigzorn oh yeah, that too

[@garymaxium1632]

the laser dental floss is a weapon in cyberpunk 2077 so this could be where it came from

[@nickstav08]

The movie kind of feels like a stream lined version of the game in a way

[@Leo-sd3jt]

@@garymaxium1632 Technically the monofilament thumb thing came from the short story on which the movie's based on.

[@ScottForrest420]

I loved this movie back in the day. It was a fun movie and is still a good flick today.

[@mightyfilm]

For me, this movie will always be a punchline in an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun. The only movies left at the rental store Harry worked during a blizzard were Johnny Mnemonic, The Making of Johnny Mnemonic, and a porn flick called Fat Frauleins.

[@TheBrandonTenold]

Legend has it that 'the making of Johnny Mnemonic' was actually a pretty big influence of 'the making of The Matrix'.

[@mborok]

I remember going to theaters to see computer animation festivals.

[@p0laris74yt8]

Not gonna lie, after seeing the edits with the “Room Service” rant, I kinda wanna see Keanu and Nic Cage in a movie together. Lol

[@demonkingbadger6689]

Just do what my brain will end up doing (whether i want it to or not). Next time you see a Keanu movie, inagine Cage in the role. Your nightmares can thank me.

[@TheBrandonTenold]

Hopefully one day the gods will bless us with such a movie.

[@pathevermore3683]

23:04 yeah, i remember those. we got them as VHS rental tapes. the company that made them also did the CGI in this movie.

[@kaijukid1443]

I can't believe this movie predicted 2020 and 2021

[@collin1240]

I bought "Mind's Eye" animation collections back in the day on VHS tapes. I'd forgotten about that. Your video also spurred me to get the B&W version of Johnny Mnemonic.

[@MR.AIRWALK]

I never comment but just want you to know I love your brilliant writing… excellent stuff

[@davcar72]

22:59 In the US at RadioShack, we had Beyond The Mind's Eye videos for sale and clips were featured on the in-store videos we played on the TVs. Same thing you're talking about here.

[@aliceinmansonland448]

I loved this movie as a kid, the VHS box art was the coolest! Tank Girl is still something I watch to this day! Henry Rollins' Black Flag did TV Party, there's lots of CRT televisions (the best ones for retro gaming,) the TV made into a Cross looks a LOT like Marilyn Manson's, and Lundgren was a Terminator Jesus Freak. There are a lot more connections than you think. The sliced human bit was carried on in Cube and Resident Evil. There's more, I just can't remember them all.

[@wwiiinplastic4712]

It was never Henry's; it was always Greg's band. I've seen both of them in Black Flag and every project since but granted in 1986 the band was about to implode regardless Henry looked to me like someone ready to bolt and go off and do his own thing. Stuff Greg was not going to allow in the Flag sound library. And if he had not left, we likely would not have had him to enjoy in his other projects and films like this and Feast.

[@MoonDevoured]

the way he says/signs "I need a computer" is priceless

[@DangerPixie]

I have a soft spot for this movie, it being a cheesy cyberpunk film from the '90s and an adaptation of a story by one of my favourite writers. I'm surprised you didn't mention New Rose Hotel, since it came out a few years later and is also an adaptation of a William Gibson story. It's not very good, but it's got Willem Dafoe and Christopher Walken, so that's something.

[@djschultz1970]

Should be next. Christopher Walken

[@casualpeace3956]

Johnny Silverhand's alternate universe.

[@AntzemEmnza]

18:44 looks like he's exhibiting Cyberpsychosis

[@protaganis]

@Brandon Tenold The laser floss is called monowire. They used a similar gimmick in multiple cyberpunk games. It's a monomolecular wire that cuts between the molecules and so is effectively the sarpest thing in the universe... And that's as much gamer geek as I dare let out. Great Channel, Sir!

[@marshalhammel5065]

18:28 I did not expect to see Ironmouse on this channel.