Hackers

The mid-90s saw a rush of movies cashing in on the birth of the internet, most of them hamstrung by the fact that a) their target audiences knew far more about virtual reality than the filmmakers, and b) there's nothing very exciting about watching people type anyway. Hackers avoids the second pitfall by incorporating lots of comic-book action, but IT consultants may be crying into their coffee at the risible plot.

Teenage hacker Dade (Miller, just prior to Trainspotting) aka 'Crash Override' aka 'Zero Cool' (isn't the latter a bit insulting?) breaks into the files of evil genius 'The Plague' (Stevens) - it not what his mother calls him - and discovers plans for a multi-million dollar fraud. Furthermore, Plague has created a virus intended to wreak environmental havoc by sinking oil tankers. Cue a race against the clock as Dade tries to foil Plague, shake off the authorities and impress feisty skate-punk Kate (Jolie, then a newcomer) aka 'Acid Burn'.

Backbeat and later K-PAX director Iain Softley draws on War Games and Bond but it's MTV that exerts the greatest influence. It's largely down to Miller and Jolie - fantastically cool, or at least a mid-90s Hollywood producer's idea of it, in their skate gear and piercings - that the film succeeds. Matthew Lilliard is great as wise-ass hacker 'Cereal Killer'. The kids' interaction is nicely observed and there are plenty of decent gags. As a convincing thriller however, it's baggier than a pair of skater's pants.