Johnny Mnemonic
Johnny Mnemonic is a 1995 science fiction movie with Cyberpunk elements.
The film stars Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), and is based on the short story of the same name written by William Gibson.[1]
Plot
A Mnemonic courier named Johnny wishes to regain his lost memories. But in order to do so, Johnny must take on another courier job in order to pay for the procedure. Tasked with transferring 320gb of data, twice what he is capable of safely carrying, Johnny has just 48 hours to complete his task.
On his trail are gangster Shinji and businessman Takahashi, both of whom want the data contained in Johnny's brain implant.
With the help of his enhanced bodyguard Jane, Johnny must retrieve the password in order to unlock the data and save himself.
Introduction Sequence
The world in which the movie is set is laid out in the opening sequence of the movie. It states:
In the second decade of the 21st century.
Corporations rule.
The world is threatened by a new plague: NAS
Nerve Attenuation Syndrome
Fatal, Epidemic, It's cause and cure unknown.
The corporations are opposed by the LoTeks.
A resistance movement risen from the streets:
Hackers, Data-pirates, Guerilla-fighters in the info-wars.
The corporations defend themselves.
They hire the Yakuza. The most powerful of all crime syndicates.
They sheath their data in black-ice, lethal viruses waiting to burn the brains of intruders.
But the LoTeks wait in their strongholds. In the old city cores, Like rats in the walls of the world.
The most valuable information must sometimes be entrusted to mnemonic couriers, Elite couriers who smuggle data in wet wired brain implants.
Transhumanist Elements
The movie features many transhumanist elements including:
- AI
- Animal enhancement
- Cyberspace
- Cyborgization
- The LowTeks are an example of Luddites
- Memory Augmentation
- Virtual reality
