Johnny 2.0 (1997 TV Movie) User Reviews

An intelligent sci-fi film

[DigitalRevenantX7 · 6/10 · 9 November 2007]

The Story: Genetic researcher John Dalton is hospitalized after being attacked by animal rights activists. He wakes up only to find that 20 years have passed & that he is a clone. Sent in to find the original Dalton, Johnny 2.0 sets out across the post-apocalyptic wasteland, only to find a major conspiracy being hatched.

This is one of the most intelligent science fiction films of the late 90s. After a fairly clichéd start with the researchers fighting animal rights activists, the film surprises the audience with the 20 year time jump. Script writer Wynne McLaughlin uses Cyberpunk tropes quite well, as well as giving us some original ideas. The MRI memory recordings is a load of nonsense but the other ideas – organic tracking units, genetic reconstruction & personal holograms – are very good & lift the film up from the run-of-the-mill clone films that usually plague the genre. The direction is top-notch & the acting is exemplary. Jeff Fahey, used to playing multiple characters after the dire time-travel film "Time Under Fire", gives a better performance than before & Michael Ironside invests some dignity in his role. The only flaw is the title, which is not exactly accurate, but to explain is to give the game away.

Grade: B 10-11-07 Review by M. K. Geist

It's not earth shaking but OK.

[ansell-72879 · 6/10 · 8 July 2021]

Johnny 2.0 is an OK late '90s made for television, The Sci Fi Channel, movie. If you were shelving a physical copy of the DVD, you would probably put it with Johnny Mnemonic. Despite its humble origins, made for tv, it is actually a cut above Johnny Mnemonic which got the full Hollywood treatment.

Johnny Dalton, played by Jeff Fahey, regains consciousness after being in a coma for several years. He eventually discovers life is an illusion, shades of The Matrix, and that he is a clone. Rebel leader Nikki Holland, Tahnee Welch, helps Dalton to find his original un-cloned self, shades of Bladerunner, despite the secrecy and dangers.

The cast are generally up to the task. Canadian Michael Ironside as Frank Donahue, Johnny's business partner, is probably the standout actor and should be. He has been in everything from Scanners to Total Recall. He deserved more screen time. Fahey seems to have specialized in B movies though he is apparently a gifted dancer, classical and ballroom. There is no evidence of this in Johnny 2.0.

The film is well paced, the plot unnecessarily convoluted, the technical aspects are what one might expect of a low budget movie and the original musical backing, thank you Ed Tomney, and special effects make the grade.

Director Neill Fearnley keeps things well in hand and writer Wynne McLaughlin provides the cast plenty to work with.

The film had a European release as, Fac Simile, and did a little business.

If you are new to the genre or an old Sci Fi hand, Johnny 2.0 is a worthwhile way of spending 93 minutes. It's not earth shaking but OK.

Very solid Sci Fi, Total Recall by way of Blade Runner

[NateWatchesCoolMovies · 7/10 · 10 June 2017]

It's always fun to come across genuinely intelligent science fiction films, especially when you go into them expecting a half assed, clunky yawn, which happens frequently. Johnny 2.0 is an overlooked little cyber-punk gem in an unassuming release package, a thinking man's sci-fi story that could have easily gone the other way, but contains enough inspired creativity to rise above the muck. Jeff Fahey plays Johnny Dalton, a genetic researcher whose facility is attacked by activists. Waking up from the disaster he is stunned to find that he's not Johnny at all anymore, but a clone who has been in cryo for 25 years, awakened now for one purpose: set out across a post apocalyptic wasteland to retrieve the original Dalton and smoke out a web of conspiracies that have hatched over the years. There's all sorts of really intriguing ideas at play here including MRI memory mapping, organic tracking suits, genetic reconfiguration and personalized holograms, a wealth of scientific world building that earns this film its stripes in the artistic departments. Fahey is excellent, as is a noble Michael Ironside, Tahnee Welch and John Neville. Super solid storytelling, ideas worth exploring, an impressive level of design and atmosphere achieved despite the limited funds, there's not too much you can say about this one that is not the highest of praises.

Good Movie

[Alex-372 · 27 March 2000]

Considering the very low budget, or even the so-so acting at the start (which improves as the storyline becomes more clear), all the movie's power comes from the storyline and it's concept.

What _would_ happen if all of us could be brought back as clones of ourselves - and in the next 40 years, we may just happen to find out.

And that's what science fiction does at it's best - examine the real-life future consequences of technology that is only just possible today. That doesn't mean they get it right, but it's nice to see ideas fleshed out.

Don't expect any flashy or up-to-date special effects, and you won't be disappointed.

Good for the genre but unoriginal for the idea

[bellino-angelo2014 · 7/10 · 24 March 2024]

While I don't watch a steady diet of sci-fi movies I often watch them for the cast members. And since this was on YouTube (and dubbed in Italian of all things) I knew I had to watch it.

When the movie begins scientist Johnny Dalton (Jeff Fahey) is in the office with his boss Frank Donohue (Michael Ironside) seeing an interview of them on TV and soon after their laboratory is assaulted by some criminals and after a concussion Johnny ends in a 15-year coma. When Johnny wakes up after 15 years have passed, he is visited by Frank who tells him that Johnny is a clone even better than the original and has to stop Taylor because he wants to rule their society. After lots of chases, shootouts and some help from rebel leader Nikki Holland (with which he'll fall in love) and weird scientist Phil, Johnny will finally find Taylor and after some bickering they join forces for finding the boss who has the resin necessary for cloning and as you might expect from many movies of this type there is the big showdown with the boss and also the big shocking twist that Donohue was the real responsible for the cloning of Johnny and did it for the money. Donohue is arrested and before the movie fades to black Johnny asks Nikki if she wants to be his secretary.

The acting was good by all and the fight scenes and shootouts were nice. But what bogged me from giving it a higher rating was that the concept has probably been redone so many times. In hindsight if you want a better movie about cloning I'd recommend THE 6TH DAY. But this would still be liked by die hard fans of the genre or fans of some of the stars.

Great movie for sci-fi afficionados

[cammie · 9/10 · 9 July 1999]

Though I was momentarily unsure if this film would live up to its potential, this movie was quite entertaining. My only difficulty with the film is its make-up department. I simply have a problem when grey hair is the only hint of a person aging 15 years

Interesting premise in a near future world.

[Kestrel-6 · 2 December 2001]

While this movie doesn't have the slew of special effects that most sci-fi films do in this day and age, it does present a question that bears some thought. Are we the sum of our memories? And if so, at what point are we a different person? At least, that was my take on the film.

The first few minutes drew me in as that appeared to be the question. As the film unraveled however, plots within plots became apparent and more seemed to surface. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're channel surfing late at night and it's on, it's a decent movie to watch.