Bladerunner [DVD] [VHS] The definative cyberpunk movie, the screenplay version of Philip K. Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'. In 21st century Los Angeles (2019), the assignment of a semi-retired policeman, known as a "blade runner" is to hunt down and eliminate four "replicants," genetically created humanoid robots. On earth illegally from an off-world colony where they were used as laborers, with a built-in life span of only four years, they've jumped ship to confront the individual who designed them.

Johnny Mnemonic [DVD] [VHS] In the very ugly future of 2021, a world-weary courier (who carries info in his head) takes one final run from Beijing to Newark, his storage capacity dangerously overloaded with volatile data sought by a huge, ruthless corporation. Intriguing premise, written by William Gibson and directed by artist Longo, goes absolutely nowhere, as uninteresting characters mouth laughable dialogue against a landscape of urban hell. Despite the computer graphics, this is cyberclaptrap. Runs about 15m. longer in Japan.

Strange Days [VHS] [WIDE] It is 1999, and urban society is little more than a vast wasteland of anarchic violence. Seedy, burnt-out ex-cop Lenny Nero caters to the sensation-seeking citizens by dealing in "clips": virtual reality sequences where the user can "re-live" the experiences of another, including robberies, rape and murder. But Lenny's life is turned upside-down when two rabid cops, who want an incriminating clip that Lenny possesses, begin to pursue him. Furthermore, Lenny, with the help of female bodyguard Mace, is desperately searching throughout the chaotic enclaves of L.A. for his ex-girlfriend Faith, who he still loves. Everything comes to a head at a wild, tremendous -- and turbulent -- New Year's Eve party that will usher in the new millennium.

Virtuosity [VHS] In the near future, control of the police has unwisely been given over to computer-driven technology, and both the programming nerds and their cold-blooded bosses are out of control. Ex-cop and current convict Washington is the only one who can track down a computer-generated bad guy who's been ``sampled'' from the world's worst serial killers! Ugly, to say the least, although it's built on a foundation of some interesting ideas.

The Fifth Element [DVD] [VHS] [WIDE] A visual feast combining ancient mysticism, cyberpunk sensibilities, flamboyant entertainment personalities, and gun-toting alien mercenaries. In the 23rd century, Korben Dallas, an ex-special forces agent who now practices as a down-and-out cabbie, finds himself caught in a struggle to defy a prophesied Evil from destroying the Earth when a mysterious woman falls into the back seat of his cab. Pursued by both the government and a powerful magnate enlisted by the forces of Evil, the woman is the key to Earth's salvation, known only as the Fifth Element.

Judge Dredd [DVD] [VHS] [WIDE] It is the 22nd Century, and Mega City One (formerly known as New York City), replete with flying vehicles, armored lawmen and 65 million citizens, has become a violent and anarchic land. As a result, the law enforcement consists of men known as judges, and each one serves as cop, judge, and occasionally executioner, allowed to mete out "justice" as he sees fit. Judge Dredd (Stallone) is caught in a conspiracy much bigger and more insidious than he realizes.

Total Recall [DVD] [VHS] [WIDE] Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this super-violent sci-fi action extravaganza set mostly on Mars, circa 2084. Schwarzenegger plays Quaid, a happy earthling whose comfortable life on the home planet is disrupted by recurring nightmares about Mars. In these dreams Quaid is a secret agent aiding a band of revolutionaries in their war against Cohaagen, the evil industrialist who controls Mars' air reserves. When Quaid begins to suspect that these dreams may, in fact, be memories that have been erased from his consciousness and replaced by artificial ones -- that his blue-collar job on earth and beautiful wife may be part of a scheme to keep him out of the way -- Quaid hightails it back to Mars to find out the truth.

Heavy Metal [VHS] This animated feature pokes fun at the drug culture, rock music, businessmen, politicians, criminals, robots, science fiction, and medieval fantasy in several flashbacks, which manifest themselves as episodes in the story of an evil green orb as it remenisces to its next victim. Adolescents will love this, but be aware there is some nudity (albeit animated), and most of the women are ridiculously buxom.