Latest news with #EscapeFromNewYork
Tom's Guide
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
30 years later, this Keanu Reeves movie nailed the future — stream it free on Pluto
In the year 2021, society has all but crumbled under the weight of a futuristic new technology called the internet. Megacorporations rule the world, while the masses suffer from a brain disorder called 'nerve attenuation syndrome' brought on by their addiction to cyberspace. "Johnny Mnemonic" wasn't just ahead of its time; it was downright prophetic. Released in theaters on May 26, 1995, "Johnny Mnemonic" was a box office failure. But in the decades since, it's become a cult classic thanks to the unlikely collaboration of screenwriter William Gibson (best known as the novelist who created the cyberpunk genre), director Robert Longo (a visual artist and first-time director suddenly at the helm of a $30 million blockbuster), and star Keanu Reeves. Together, they created a dystopian thriller that was met with a resounding shrug at the time but has gone on to become one of the most prescient movies of its era. "Johnny Mnemonic" stars Reeves as Johnny (no known last name), a 'data courier' whose job is to upload top-secret information into his brain using a special implant and then smuggle that data to its destination. At the start of the film, a group of scientists in Beijing hire Johnny for his services. They also warn him that the file is technically too large for his brain. He'll die if he can't deliver it within a few days, adding a race-against-the-clock element to an already frenzied story. Johnny soon arrives in the 'Free City of Newark,' a town so dangerous and lawless the government has ceded control to gangs and corporations. (Considering recent events in Newark, this feels surprisingly accurate in 2025.) Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. As we settle into the main story, it shifts from cyberpunk fantasy to dystopian hellscape. The film borrows liberally from 1981's "Escape From New York," imagining a lawless city full of bizarre characters where violence reigns supreme. Throughout his journey, Johnny is joined by a body-hacking bodyguard played by Dina Meyer (best known for her role on "Beverly Hills, 90210"), a freedom fighter played by Ice-T and a homicidal priest played by Dolph Lundgren. The script may be corny, but everyone onscreen is clearly having a good time and trying their best — with one surprising exception. Reeves seems simultaneously in over his head and totally disinterested in having anything to do with this movie. Perhaps the issue is his character, who appears to be just unfazed by the chaos around him. At the film's climax, Johnny gives a whiny speech in which he screams out: 'I want room service!' William Gibson was probably trying to make a point about consumerism, but it's hard to root for a character whose motivations are so pathetic. Behind the scenes, the making of "Johnny Mnemonic" was even more dramatic. In a 1995 interview with Wired, Gibson describes the entire experience as 'being part of what sometimes felt like a medieval military campaign.' Even getting to make the movie at all was an extraordinary challenge. Gibson and Longo originally envisioned a low-budget project that could explore the rising popularity of the internet in 1995 through the lens of a cyberpunk dystopia. But the studios weren't interested in an art house film. They wanted a blockbuster. 'We went in and asked for a million and a half, and they laughed,' Gibson told Wired. 'It wasn't until we started asking for much more that they started taking it seriously.' They ultimately settled on a much larger budget, but that came with the usual strings associated with a tentpole movie. Sony, which financed the film, got even more involved after Reeves' previous movie, "Speed," became an unexpected hit. At one point, they even pressured Gibson to include scenes with buses and explosions in an attempt to recreate "Speed's" success. Considering all that meddling, it's a miracle "Johnny Mnemonic" exists at all. While it may be an extremely imperfect movie, "Johnny Mnemonic's" legacy is impossible to ignore. The Wachowskis even used its depiction of the internet as part of their pitch for "The Matrix,' which took those concepts of life in cyberspace and the dangers of technology (and Keanu Reeves) and transformed them into something even better: an actual good movie. "Johnny Mnemonic is not a good movie." Whether it lands in "so bad it's good" territory or simply "so bad" is up for debate. Still, it's worth rewatching this bizarre cyberpunk epic that took a look at the internet back in 1995 and accurately predicted how this nascent technology would come to dominate — and ruin — all of our lives in just a few decades. Watch "Johnny Mnemonic" free on Pluto TV
Geek Tyrant
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK Is Coming Back to VHS With Cool New Art — GeekTyrant
If you've ever dreamed of rewinding back to a grimy, neon-soaked 1997, the Escape From New York version, not the real one, now's your chance… on VHS. John Carpenter's 1981 cult classic is officially returning to its analog roots, and it's not just a nostalgia play—it's a collector's dream. Vice Press is dropping Escape From New York back onto VHS this Thursday, May 15th, and they're doing it with style. There are two editions, both packed with retro charm and cool new artwork. First up is a limited-edition slipcase version, only 1,000 copies exist, featuring a custom-designed tape and slick new art from Phantom City Creative. The second option is a collector's edition VHS with a reversible cover: one side features the original theatrical poster, the other showcases new artwork by artist Matt Ferguson. And if you've got a VCR that plays PAL format, you're in luck! For those of us stateside who just want the art without the rewinder, Vice Press is releasing a Phantom City Creative poster will also be available separately as a 24" x 36" lithograph, with regular and variant editions, both limited to 250. For fans who've always loved that original poster image by Barry E. Jackson, there's more good news. Vice Press collaborated with Matt Ferguson to restore and release that iconic design as a 27" x 40" lithograph, again in a limited edition of 250. Whether you're reliving your analog childhood or discovering Snake Plissken for the first time, this release is something special.
Gizmodo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Escape From New York Is Returning to VHS With Brand New Artwork
Nothing quite says 1997 New York City like a brand-new VHS. John Carpenter's 1981 cult classic Escape From New York saw Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken drop into near-future New York City with a mission to save the President. Most of us probably first saw the film on the old school format, which just so happened to be prevalent around the time reality caught up to the movie. Now, almost 30 years later, Escape From New York is coming back to VHS, and it's all sorts of awesome. This Thursday, May 15, Vice Press is releasing two new VHS versions of Escape From New York. One is a 1,000-piece, limited edition slipcase featuring brand new artwork by Phantom City Creative with a specially designed tape. Then there's a collector's edition featuring the original theatrical poster on one side, and Matt Ferguson's recent work on the other. And yes, the VHS actually plays. Though, for those of us in the United States, it's unfortunately in the UK's PAL format. So, if you want something new from Snake's world but not the VHS, Vice also has that brand new Phantom City Creative poster dropping on its own. There's both a regular and variant 24 x 36 inch lithograph, each in editions of 250. Finally, if you love Escape From New York but really are only drawn to that iconic original image by Barry E. Jackson, Vice Press has also worked with Matt Ferguson to fully restore and release that. It's a 27 x 40 lithograph in a limited edition of 250. Here's the iconic image. All of these go on sale at Vice Press at 2 p.m. ET (that's 6 p.m. GMT) on Thursday, May 15. Both versions of the VHS are £30, and the posters range between £40 and £50.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man appears in court for vandalizing police camera during Mardi Gras
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A Maryland Heights, Missouri, man accused of vandalizing a mobile police camera while attending Mardi Gras festivities in Soulard appeared in court Monday afternoon. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Zachary McGee, 32, with first-degree property damage. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's probable cause statement, McGee and others are accused of spray painting a Skycop mobile camera on March 1 at South Ninth Street and Lafayette Avenue. Revisiting the St. Louis scenes of 'Escape From New York' – What do they look like today? Police said the damage to the camera exceeded $750. Police were able to identify McGee after receiving numerous tips from the public. No future court date was made available through online records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Charges filed in 2023 fatal shooting over drug deal gone bad
ST. LOUIS – A woman from Old Jamestown, Missouri, has been charged for the death of a cohort during a drug deal that ended in gunfire. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's probable cause statement, the shooting happened around 4 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2023, in the 3100 block of Evans Avenue in the city's Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. Officers arrived to find Tyrone Wilson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, our news partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Wilson was taken to the hospital, where he died. He was 24. Investigators learned Nichole Birr, 32, contacted Wilson earlier in the day to set up the sale of a large amount of marijuana. Wilson eventually found a potential buyer and arranged a meeting. Revisiting the St. Louis scenes of 'Escape From New York' – What do they look like today? Birr picked Wilson up in her vehicle and they drove to meet the buyer. The meeting took place inside Birr's car, with Wilson and the buyer discussing a price for a certain amount of marijuana. Police said at some point, the buyer and Wilson got into an argument over weapons, and Wilson was fatally wounded. Police said they interviewed Birr on Aug. 12 and that she admitted to setting up the drug deal and that she was responsible for Wilson's death. She also told investigators she stole Wilson's marijuana. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Birr with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Birr will be jailed without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
