History Trivia / JohnnyMnemonic

* GeniusBonus: A Japanese character viewable during our first glimpse of "Internet 2021" (found [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3243330949_131ea8ce1e.jpg directly above the words "Internet 2021"]]) is a character very rarely seen in Japanese language[[note]]It's not even in student dictionaries; if you'd like to look it up, it's Nelson (Classic) 1179, Unicode 5957, ten strokes.[[/note]]. It's pronounced "tou" or "kasa", meaning "hackneyed, cliched" in English. Very likely [[BitingTheHandHumor one of the graphic artists having a chuckle at the expense of the paymaster]].

* GeniusBonus: A Japanese character viewable during our first glimpse of "Internet 2021" (found [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3243330949_131ea8ce1e.jpg directly above]] is a character very rarely seen in Japanese language[[note]]It's not even in student dictionaries; if you'd like to look it up, it's Nelson (Classic) 1179, Unicode 5957, ten strokes.[[/note]]. It's pronounced "tou" or "kasa", meaning "hackneyed, cliched" in English. Very likely [[BitingTheHandHumor one of the graphic artists having a chuckle at the expense of the paymaster]].

GeniusBonus: A Japanese character viewable during our first glimpse of "Internet 2021" (found [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3243330949_131ea8ce1e.jpg directly above]] is a character very rarely seen in Japanese language[[note]]It's not even in student dictionaries; if you'd like to look it up, it's Nelson (Classic) 1179, Unicode 5957, ten strokes.[[/note]]. It's pronounced "tou" or "kasa", meaning "hackneyed, cliched" in English. Very likely [[BitingTheHandHumor one of the graphic artists having a chuckle at the expense of the paymaster]].

GeniusBonus: A Japanese character viewable during our first glimpse of "Internet 2021" (found [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3243330949_131ea8ce1e.jpg directly above StarDerailingRole: Creator/DolphLundgren stayed off the words "Internet 2021"]]) is a character very rarely seen in Japanese language[[note]]It's not even in student dictionaries; if you'd like to look it up, it's Nelson (Classic) 1179, Unicode 5957, ten strokes.[[/note]]. It's pronounced "tou" or "kasa", meaning "hackneyed, cliched" in English. Very likely [[BitingTheHandHumor one of the graphic artists having a chuckle at the expense of the paymaster]].

* ActorAllusion: Johnny's implant is disguised as a prosthesis for counteracting dyslexia. Creator/KeanuReeves, in fact, suffers from this disorder in real life.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/WilliamGibson isn't very happy with what became of this adaptation of his own story. Gibson himself, despite being credited as the sole screenwriter, has insisted for years that it wasn't his screenplay that was ultimately produced.

* GeniusBonus: A Japanese character viewable during our first glimpse of "Internet 2021" (found [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3243330949_131ea8ce1e.jpg directly above the words "Internet 2021"]]) is a character very rarely seen in Japanese language[[note]]It's not even in student dictionaries; if you'd like to look it up, it's Nelson (Classic) 1179, Unicode 5957, ten strokes.[[/note]]. It's pronounced "tou" or "kasa", meaning "hackneyed, cliched" in English. Very likely [[BitingTheHandHumor one of the graphic artists having a chuckle at the expense of the paymaster]].
* TheMockbuster: The low-budget 2003 sci-fi action film ''{{Film/Absolon}}'' bears striking similarities to the plot and thematic elements of ''Johnny Mnemonic''. ''Absolon'' is set in an early-21st century "near future" where half the world has been killed by [[ThePlague a viral plague]] known as "Neurological Degeneration Syndrome" (NDS), and the remaining survivors are [[PhlebotinumDependence dependent on receiving regular treatments]] produced by a single pharmaceutical MegaCorp The film's hero (played by Creator/ChristopherLambert, who funnily enough was once in the running to play the lead role in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', before Keanu Reeves got the part; See Also: WhatCouldHaveBeen) is unwittingly tasked with carrying part of the cure for the plague in his own bloodstream and finding the second half of the cure [[RaceAgainstTheClock in three days or less, or else the part of the cure already inside him will kill him.]] The film also co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, bearing a vague resemblance to actor Denis Akiyama and also filling a character role very similar to that of Shinji from ''Johnny Mnemonic''. However, in a unique twist on ''Johnny Mnemonic's'' premise, there's an important revelation that [[spoiler: the cure the hero is carrying in his bloodstream is NOT for the plague--which turns out of have already died out--but a cure for the human body's dependence on the MegaCorp's continuing treatments]].
* OneBookAuthor: This was the only feature film directed by Robert Longo, who was world renowned as a highly influential painter and sculptor before and after the film was released.
* ParallelPornTitles: "Joannie Pneumatic"

** The film got the Internet both right and wrong; while there is in fact a widespread data network in the film that is used for information and communication all around the world, the interface to access it requires a (implied very expensive) virtual reality rig and is impractical at best — and despite the fact that such a graphically intense interface would require a massively wide data pipe just to work, a huge deal is made of ferrying a couple hundred gigabytes from one place to another. And then, despite all this, the spreading of pirate information from the LoTek — who would surely be able to steal the 3D-Internet technology — happens by ''analog TV transmission''.

** Christopher Lambert was in contention to play Johnny at one point.

* TheMockbuster: The low-budget 2003 sci-fi action film ''{{Film/Absolon}}'' bears striking similarities to the plot and thematic elements of ''Johnny Mnemonic''. ''Absolon'' is set in an early-21st century "near future" where half the world has been killed by [[ThePlague a viral plague]] known as "Neurological Degeneration Syndrome" (NDS), and the remaining survivors are [[PhlebotinumDependence dependent on receiving regular treatments]] produced by a single pharmaceutical MegaCorp The film's hero (played by Christopher Lambert, who funnily enough was once in the running to play the lead role in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', before Keanu Reeves got the part; See Also: WhatCouldHaveBeen) is unwittingly tasked with carrying part of the cure for the plague in his own bloodstream and finding the second half of the cure [[RaceAgainstTheClock in three days or less, or else the part of the cure already inside him will kill him.]] The film also co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, bearing a vague resemblance to actor Denis Akiyama and also filling a character role very similar to that of Shinji from ''Johnny Mnemonic''. However, in a unique twist on ''Johnny Mnemonic's'' premise, there's an important revelation that [[spoiler: the cure the hero is carrying in his bloodstream is NOT for the plague--which turns out of have already died out--but a cure for the human body's dependence on the MegaCorp's continuing treatments]].

* TheMockbuster: The low-budget 2003 sci-fi action film ''{{Film/Absolon}}'' bears striking similarities to the plot and thematic elements of ''Johnny Mnemonic''. ''Absolon'' is set in an early-21st century "near future" where half the world has been killed by [[ThePlague a viral plague]] known as "Neurological Degeneration Syndrome" (NDS), and the remaining survivors are [[PhlebotinumDependence dependent on receiving regular treatments]] produced by a single pharmaceutical MegaCorp The film's hero (played by Christopher Lambert, who funnily enough was once in the running to play the lead role in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', before Keanu Reeves got the part; See Also: WhatCouldHaveBeen) is unwittingly tasked with carrying part of the cure for the plague in his own bloodstream and finding the second half of the cure [[RaceAgainstTheClock in three days or less, or else the part of the cure already inside him will kill him.]] The film also co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, bearing a noticeable resemblance to actor Denis Akiyama and also filling a character role very similar to that of Shinji from ''Johnny Mnemonic''. However, in a unique twist on ''Johnny Mnemonic's'' premise, there's an important revelation that [[spoiler: the cure the hero is carrying in his bloodstream is NOT for the plague--which turns out of have already died out--but a cure for the human body's dependence on the MegaCorp's continuing treatments]].

* TheMockbuster: The low-budget 2003 sci-fi action film ''{{Film/Absolon}}'' bears striking similarities to the plot and thematic elements of ''Johnny Mnemonic''. ''Absolon'' is set in an early-21st century "near future" where half the world has been killed by [[ThePlague a viral plague]] known as "Nerve Degeneration Syndrome" (NDS), and the remaining survivors are [[PhlebotinumDependence dependent on receiving regular treatments]] produced by a single pharmaceutical MegaCorp The film's hero (played by Christopher Lambert, who funnily enough was once in the running to play the lead role in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', before Keanu Reeves got the part; See Also: WhatCouldHaveBeen) is unwittingly tasked with carrying part of the cure for the plague in his own bloodstream and finding the second half of the cure [[RaceAgainstTheClock in three days or less, or else the part of the cure already inside him will kill him.]] The film also co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, bearing a noticeable resemblance to actor Denis Akiyama and also filling a character role very similar to that of Shinji from ''Johnny Mnemonic''. However, in a unique twist on ''Johnny Mnemonic's'' premise, there's an important revelation that [[spoiler: the cure the hero is carrying in his bloodstream is NOT for the plague--which turns out of have already died out--but a cure for the human body's dependence on the MegaCorp's continuing treatments]].

* TheMockbuster: The low-budget 2003 sci-fi action film ''{{Film/Absolon}}'' bears striking similarities to the plot and thematic elements of ''Johnny Mnemonic''. ''Absolon'' is set in an early-21st century "near future" where half the world has been killed by [[ThePlague a viral plague]] known as "Nerve Degeneration Syndrome" (NDS), and the remaining survivors are [[PhlebotinumDependence dependent on receiving regular treatments]] produced by a single pharmaceutical MegaCorp The film's hero (played by Christopher Lambert, who funnily enough was once in the running to play the lead role in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', before Keanu Reeves got the part; See Also: WhatCouldHaveBeen) is unwittingly tasked with carrying part of the cure for the plague in his own bloodstream and finding the second half of the cure [[RaceAgainstTheClock in three days or less, or else the part of the cure already inside him will kill him.]] The film also co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, bearing a noticeable resemblance to actor Denis Akiyama and also filling a character role very similar to that of Shinji from ''Johnny Mnemonic''. However, in a unique twist on ''Johnny Mnemonic's'' premise, there's an important revelation that [[spoiler: the cure the hero is carrying in his bloodstream is NOT for the plague--which turns out of have already died out--but a cure for the human body's dependence on the MegaCorp's treatments]].

* MythologyGag: The bartender seen with the electronic prosthetic arm is a reference to Ratz, a bartender introduced early in Creator/WilliamGibson's ''Literature/{{Neuromancer}}''.

* TheMockbuster: The low-budget 2003 sci-fi action film ''{{Film/Absolon}}'' bears striking similarities to the plot and thematic elements of ''Johnny Mnemonic''. ''Absolon'' is set in an early-21st century "near future" where half the world has been killed by [[ThePlague a viral plague]] known as "Nerve Degeneration Syndrome" (NDS), and the remaining survivors are [[PhlebotinumDependence dependent on receiving regular treatments]] produced by a single pharmaceutical MegaCorp The film's hero (played by Christopher Lambert, who funnily enough was once in the running to play the lead role in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', before Keanu Reeves got the part; See Also: WhatCouldHaveBeen) is unwittingly tasked with carrying part of the cure for the plague in his own bloodstream and finding the second half of the cure [[RaceAgainstTheClock in three days or less, or else the part of the cure already inside him will kill him.]] The film also co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips bearing a noticeable resemblance to actor Denis Akiyama and also filling a character role very similar to that of Shinji from ''Johnny Mnemonic''. However, in a unique twist on ''Johnny Mnemonic's'' premise, there's an important revelation that [[spoiler: the cure the hero is carrying in his bloodstream is NOT for the plague--which turns out of have already died out--but a cure for the human body's dependence on the MegaCorp's treatments]].

** J-Bone urges everyone to "get their VCR's ready" when the Lo-Teks are about to broadcast [[spoiler:the cure to NAS.]]

** J-Bone urges everyone to "get their VCRs ready" when the Lo-Teks are about to broadcast [[spoiler:the cure to NAS.]]

** J-Bone urges everyone to "get their VCR's ready" when the Lo-Teks are about to broadcast [[spoiler:the cure to NAS.]]

** Early in the development, [[Music/{{U2}} Bono]] was in talks about supervising the soundtrack and possibly play Street Preacher.

* ActorAllusion: Johnny's implant is disguised as a prosthesis for counteracting dyslexia. Actor Keanu Reeves, in fact, suffers from this disorder in real life.

* CreatorBacklash: William Gibson isn't very happy with what became of this adaptation of his own story. Gibson himself, despite being credited as the sole screenwriter, has insisted for years that it wasn't his screenplay that was ultimately produced.

*** Ralfi's bodyguard who [[TapOnTheHead coldcocks]] Johnny in a men's bathroom pointing out afterwards that she hasn't been in a men's bathroom in "years," pointing out that she's trans female.

*** Takahashi killing two {{mooks}} Shinji had appointed as henchmen after Takahashi says he did not give him permission to have henchmen, as well as berating Shinji for failing to collect Johnny's head a second time.

* CreatorKiller: Both Gibson and director Robert Longo swore off working on Hollywood movies after their experiences here. Longo subsequently went back to directing music videos, while Gibson's only other screen credits to date are on a couple of episodes of ''Series/TheXFiles''.

*** An additional scene of Takahashi mourning the loss of his daughter, while observing a holographic projection her.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Ice-T, Udo Kier, Henry Rollins, Takeshi Kitano, and Dolph Lundgren all fill out the supporting cast.

** Encrypted E-mail was already a thing people knew about and knew would be better developed over time back in 1995 when this movie was seen in theaters. [[http://siskelandebert.org/video/9252RGW9BBYO/Casper--Braveheart--Johnny-Mnemonic-1995 Siskel & Ebert]] even commented at the time that they [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief couldn't willingly pretend to believe]] that, by the time the movie takes place, there wouldn't be an easier way to quickly deliver encrypted digital information than what the movie depicts. Now in 2012, the movie's premise of a "mnemonic courier" whose job is to move digital data from one location to another ''physically''--through [[RealLife meatspace]] and not through a computer network--grows increasingly unrealistic.
*** In an odd way, RealityIsUnrealistic with this. While transmitting encrypted data through meatspace is unrealistic, some employers will transfer ''encryption keys'' physically via certified couriers if the project is classified in some manner such as a government contract.

** In 1995, 320Gb was massive. By 2010... hard drives of 1 terabyte are under $100. 80 gigs nowadays could fit on a small USB thumb drive. This is an upgrade from the short story, which was written in the 80s and used megabytes instead of gigabytes.