I think that Gibson was actually involved in the adaptation. A lot of the stuff that was added was taken from other Gibson novels -
Virtual Light was heavily cannibalized, for example.
I think the movie suffered from trying (understandably) to be topical and relevant to the time it was made and it's audience...I think it was misguided. I think choosing
Johnny for a full length film was misguided.
*shrug*
Of course, I may be biased.
Johnny Mnemonic is possibly my favorite short story of all time, and Gibson is my patron saint. The man has paradoxically inspired me to be a writer and caused me to despair of ever being worthy of being so. Heh.
Gibson can say more with less than anyone. Hemmingway? Pfah! Amateur.
-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist