I saw this film in the theater and it became a lifelong favorite. Louise Fletcher’s heart-attack scene is pro-longed and gut-wrenching. She was spectacular as Lillian Reynolds. Of course Natalie Wood was luminous and so natural in her scenes with Walken. It truly is a masterpiece and was ahead of its time.
Didn't know payphones had that much bandwidth. I can see him standing there numb from the experience, then suddenly it goes black and a "please wait, loading content" progress bar appears. And he's all like, this is BS man, I was in the middle finding some answers to existence and the afterlife, but the connection is too slow to keep it going. Next, a commercial from comshaft begins about high speed internet access. "Don't let this happen to you."
Underrated film for all the reasons you describe - great story, casting, score, cinematography, special effects and direction. Really glad Trumbull pushed to have the film complete after Wood's tragic death.
I was 8 when this came out and saw it at the drive in. This movie has stuck with me all these years. Probably seen it 10 times, but I cannot get anybody to sit through more than half the movie.
Nearly at gunpoint I forced my 17 year old daughter to watch this with me, and guess what, she loved it. She told me the next day in class she was thinking about the movie. Considering this movie was made 40 years ago, to be able to capture a teenage girls TikTok infected brain for almost 24 hours, is a modern miracle. Pretty special for me too, to have have moment to share with my lovely daughter. It's a great movie.
I remember watching this on TV when I was a kid. Great movie. And btw it was way more than virtual reality, it was a technology for recording a person's (or monkey's) experiences and then playing them back directly into someone else's brain. Way, way ahead of its time.
When this came out the theater played this on the big 21:9 screen like Starwars. Most of the movie was in 16:9 mono track, until they went under the device then it popped open to the full 21:9 with full stereo. Quite the effect that added a lot to this movie. I haven't ever watched it again why bother after that theater experience.
I felt this and "The Dead Zone" the same year showed Walken's depth in acting. Also because of this, "Brainscan", "Virtuosity" "Lawnmower Man" and "Strange Days" were made. Great video! 👍
I work in VR because of this film! I was 13 when it came out, snd knew what I wanted to do! (imagine my dissapointment with Nintendo's 'VirtualBoy' 12 years later! LOL) Now I am making the world (in VR) of another great mid-80s movie: _The GOONIES!_
I saw this little jewel back in cinema in 1983, loved it instantly for it's fantastic atmosphere and sfx, and it's soundtrack just perfect. The big daddy of Oculus rift, visionary when you think about it.
This is a great movie, I dont know why it didn't get more recognition. Love the idea of a complete recording life experiences(smells, touch, feelings, etc) and then being able to play it back for anyone to experience as if they were there experiencing it for themselves.
This scene in the film is perfection: I made that for you. It's a gift. What is it? It's me. In spite of the limitations caused by Natalie Woods accidental (?) death the film is one of my favorites.
A while after this came out, I was getting a haircut at a new place and had time to check out a dungeon like Video Cassette rental shop in the basement of a tiny shopping "Mall" in the suburbs. I noticed this new Video Cassette and wanted to rent it for Natilie Would (but I wouldn't). There were maybe 2 others looking at the videos. I was late getting the movie back, and just before the shop closed, I made it with minutes to spare. I was shocked to see at least 20 people jammed into the basement shop. All of them were looking at me as I walked down the stairs, and when they saw that I had this cassette to return, they started to Riot !!! A guy grabbed it out of my hand and spoiled the fun. Will Never Forget That day.
Brainstorm is incredible! such deep, interesting, well executed ideas. I had no idea about the tragedy surrounding this film. I can also see how other great films like "Strange Days" (directed by Kathryn Bigelow) and Nolan's "Inception" were influenced by it. And great video about the film Jonny. Thanks for the information.
I work in VR ... YOU JUST GAVE ME AN IDEA... Just as we (as fans) were able to get the 7 or so missing scenes put back into a Goonies release, this seems like it coukd be turned into a VR theater experience, changing not just the film rate for the 'immersive scenes', but making them 3D and 360° VR (you can turn your head and see the whole world). Using AI it would be actually easy now, to extrapolate the 'missing world' with CGI help... HMMM.. BRAINSTORM: The VR Experience. The studio would make new money on an old property!
I've always loved this movie. The score is indeed amazing, especially for Lillian's death. The main title was used as a temp track for The Abyss rough cut, hence the similarities in the themes. I guess Cameron was hoping to get Horner over Silvestri. Speaking of Cameron; Strange Days has always been my headcanon Brainstorm sequel.
@@catherinebirch2399 Yes. Shocking and threatening because it starts out so harmless and ordinary and through the music and the incredible acting performance you can see and feel that she is going to die. How she first fights and wants to call for help, but then realizes it's too late. That is the most moving scene.
I saw it in a theater when I was 14. I really enjoyed it but the odd thing for me was that I don't ever remember seeing a trailer for it at the time. In fact I was kind of tepid towards seeing it. My mother was the one that I had seen it with, and she was really excited about seeing it. To this day, I have no idea about how she had heard about it.
It was a great movie! So under-rated. I remember "Ms. Wood" died just before movie was finished. There was some worry that the movie would be dropped. It was one of the first movies filmed in North Carolina, the "lab" was in the "Research Triangle Park." As a matter of fact, I believe the "lab" building was the IBM lab. The ending of the movie was not the planed ending. It had to be re-written when Ms Wood died. Always wondered what the ending would have been.
Just watched this again this morning for first time since I was in 3rd grade in 1983. It was on TCM. I'm from NC so to my surprise I see them drive a bronco up to a big white hotel. It's the Pinehurst Hotel and Country club. She's also seen wearing the Duke University sweatshirt in one scene. When he goes to visit his friend on the golf course he's working on a golf cart. He's in front of these bungalows on stilts you rent along the Pinehurst Golf Course. Gotta ride by there and find these locations now. It was filmed in 1981. She drowned (allegedly murdered by Husband Robert Wagner) on a boat that also included her Co Star Christopher Walken... I'ma bet Robert Senses something going on between her and Walken which was the reason for their on deck fight that led to her winding up in the water and dying. Watch the movie again and you can tell she looked seriously into Walken in this film.... The film was pieced together by the director as most of Woods filming was complete. Then release 2 years later in 83.
the lab in NC/RTP was the just destroyed burroughs-wellcome HQ, designed by Paul Rudolph. that rabbit hole led me to this movie which I need to see now
This movie was so great for the time it came out. The funny thing about it was what would happen if the technology evolved that it became a black market tech. Because you could record events from the wearers point of view. Even the recording apparatus got smaller and the recording media evolved. And that's where the movie Strange Days comes into the picture and that movie set the stage for a great cyberpunk esque movie which I still love to this day and will watch it over and over again. Even though it came out in 1995.
Why did they cut the scene where the dead scientist's spirit pays a visit to hell in the DVD, yet it made it to television? It had very disturbing imagery that the video playback scene in Event Horizon obviously got inspiration from. It was also of hell.
I am very happy to see the praise and appreciation for Brainstorm in the comments. I felt that I was very alone in liking this film when none of the friends I showed the VHS to shared my enthusiasm for it. I particularly enjoy the production design.
What I most remember about this movie was how they depicted the technology shrinking over time. Now that I'm an engineer it annoys me to see some supposed "prototype" device all miniaturized, clean, and gleaming white. Prototypes look like they do in this movie: big, ugly, and pushed around on a cart by some poor intern
This movie scared the hell out of me when I saw it in the theater as a kid. I learned what terror was that day. I pray a technology that can directly access the brain like that is never created.
@dewfall56: The scariest movies to me are the ones that seem closest to being plausible. That said, the original THE MUMMY (or whatever was the title of the 30s movie with Lon Chaney) scared me for the longest time. As an 8-9 year old, the idea that dead people could be revived with tea and that being dead already these people were immune from most causes of death, well...it didn't help that my maternal grandfather looked like the mummy without the bandages. But to date, THE scariest movie in my opinion is Alien Resurrection. It scares me to think that governments and scientists would be so foolish and be so steeped in hubris as to "bring back" a deadly monster, and even worst...think that they will be able to control an extremely alien species when they really can't even "control" humans. But the icing on the cake, so to speak was that room full of failed Ripley clones. That scientists would attempt over and over, AND FAIL, and so hideously. Then they would keep their failures alive to be further experimented on.
@@stever507 How so? VR? That's only two senses affected, and no emotion. And you can shut your eyes and plug your ears. The movie is about a machine that can send a full experience that seems completely real right into your brain, and there is nothing you can do to stop it or shield yourself from it. Imagine skydiving for the first time, or being tortured.
This was also a comeback for Cliff Robertson, who had been blacklisted by the studios for exposing the embezzlement and forgeries of executive David Begelman. There is a great quote by Kirk Douglas on David Begelman's wiki page. You should check that out.
I remember watching this film, but it was most likely on a rented VHS tape. I really remember very little about it. But maybe it's worth a rewatch sometime. Double feature with Miracle on 34Th Street?
Saw this in theater when I was 9 I'll never forget becuz right towards the end the film burnt up in the projector and I didn't get to see the end till home video.
You neglected to mention that the idea to promote Showscan was to have the views from the device, which are shown in an extreme widescreen view projected with the Showscan process to heighten the realism. When you watch the movie you can pretty well see that that was the whole idea.
Excellent video! This is SUCH an underrated movie! I saw this as a very young child at the theater and have loved it ever since. They thought of so many ramifications of what a technology like that would be capable. Also, great performances by everyone in the film.
Jonny, you forgot to mention that the SHOWSCAN high definition viewing system was not allowed by MGM to be implemented, resulting in lack luster box office performance.
I saw this when I was 9 in 1984. Loved it! My mom had told me that Natalie Wood died while it was being made, I remember being quite sad about that. It was on VHS so I had no idea it switched frame rates. That is a really cool idea!
Seeing this movie in my late teens sparked an interest in the human mental potential. It launched a multi-decade long, private, personal research into this aspect. From hard science research and experimentation to informal "outside the lab" experiences I studied the peer reviewed, published and recounted reports of scientific researchers and involved individuals. While not finding the "definitive" body of research leading to an answer for which I sought, I am convinced there is much more to be discovered.
I work in VR because of this film! I was 13 when it came out, snd knew what I wanted to do! (imagine my dissapointment with Nintendo's 'VirtualBoy' 12 years later! LOL) Now I am making the world (in VR) of another great mid-80s movie: _The GOONIES!_
I loved this movie and always wondered why it doesn't get referenced with today's technology being the "future" projected in the film. This film's concept blew me away and I found this YT video because once again - I thought of this film. Thanks for the vid!
This does make me wonder how difficult it would be to do a new transfer of Brainstorm with the 60fps footage to digital 4K HFR (high frame rate) video now that today's video and screen technology is more ubiquitous.
Yeah, what happened that night on the yacht? They had a few drinks, Natalie flirted with Christopher Wslken, Robert Wagner didn't like it and voila, Natalie has an accident and the film doesn't get finished.
If anyone is interested I left a copy of my screenplay "Penal Colony" at an agency in Hollywood in the late 70's I believe my story was ripped off as the main plot centered around a device to record all the 5 senses, and have them played back as real experiences using the device. The government also wanted to use the device in military espionage. Oh well shit happens. I hope the screenwriter credited with the story conscience bothers him.
I would relate other elements of my story "Penal Colony" but I would probably be "ripped off " again. My advice to any writer: do not put your stories in people hands that you have never done business with.
He hit on the problem then that theaters were having, putting butts in seats. This is about the time we saw small theaters pop up, the big screen theaters being divided in half. He went bigger and more frames per second. I feel sorry for the people today telling me how they enjoy going to the movies on the big screen. I laugh at them. I have nice sound at home with a 60 some inch screen it’s just not worth going to the theater. Bring back the 70 mm film experience you just can not compare the experience between the 2. The large formate and in this film case the more frames bigger screen just is a world ahead of the little screen movies. I will watch from home.
I remember loving this movie as a teen. Studios want movies that hit the pulse of now rather than the pulse of the future, but it takes media to look at the future to help give some vision to the public, even if it's seen as a failure in the present. That's my opinion anyway.
one of my fav movies of the 80s-groundbreaking in every way...really sad that this left such a bad taste in Trumbull's mouth that he moved away from directing....but, such is the nature of the politics of directing a movie...
Apparently Gabe Newell and Valve Studios is cooking up something that'll interact with the brain to a degree in VR, it was mentioned in a recent review. They're still hiring for the Research and Experimental division, including opportunities for psychologists.. the way this video ended reminded me of that.
This what I hoped/thought that Virtual Reality would be, instead of the obviously artificial "computerized worlds" of today. MGM's last second pulling out of the film should have enough to have their name removed from this amazing movie.
Good movie, it's difficult to get the average audience into an intelligent work, the dialogue has to be dumbed down. The acting was superb, what killed the movie was the inability to make reshoots due to Wood's death. Most movies have scenes that need to be re-shot or an extra scene added, it really tied the hands of the director. I think the whole concept was great and so futuristic, with the actors and such a good story this movie could have been amazing. Just the luck of the draw I guess. So many movies and TV shows had potential yet never reached it because of one reason or another, many times it's the bean counters that kill it.
Ya a truly under-rated film. I saw it in its theatrical release and loved it. The studios screwed over Trumball and I don't blame him a bit for his reaction.
I saw this movie when it first hit the theatres, it was sort of controversial because of the behind the cameras events that necessitated in unfortunate editing. (Probably this is explained here, I haven't watched the video yet.)
"VR devices that become dangerous and deadly when the researches bring their own personal problems into the program. The film would address how dangerous technology can be even used with the best of intentions." AI anyone? 😏
I saw this film in the theater and it became a lifelong favorite. Louise Fletcher’s heart-attack scene is pro-longed and gut-wrenching. She was spectacular as Lillian Reynolds. Of course Natalie Wood was luminous and so natural in her scenes with Walken. It truly is a masterpiece and was ahead of its time.
The heart attack scene is one of the scariest death scenes I've ever seen.
That scene gives me an anxiety attack. It's very effective.
Natalie Wood was kind of pointless in her role. I didn't really get why she had to be there at all.
Absolutely agree.
It is, isn’t it?
Still sends chills down my spine when Walken experiences the heart-attack playback! 😱
I remember that. Wow.
Didn't know payphones had that much bandwidth. I can see him standing there numb from the experience, then suddenly it goes black and a "please wait, loading content" progress bar appears. And he's all like, this is BS man, I was in the middle finding some answers to existence and the afterlife, but the connection is too slow to keep it going. Next, a commercial from comshaft begins about high speed internet access. "Don't let this happen to you."
Brainstorm will never be forgotten. The movie is a masterwork.
Brainstorm was terrific. The love scenes with Walken and Wood were touching. The James Horner musical score was spectacular.
Underrated film for all the reasons you describe - great story, casting, score, cinematography, special effects and direction. Really glad Trumbull pushed to have the film complete after Wood's tragic death.
I really hated that character who was the "stunt brain". I was so glad he died at the end. : )
I loved this film.
The ending is truly spectacular.
I was 8 when this came out and saw it at the drive in. This movie has stuck with me all these years. Probably seen it 10 times, but I cannot get anybody to sit through more than half the movie.
This movie needs a special edition on 4k with extras and deleted scenes.
3D glasses option too
Nearly at gunpoint I forced my 17 year old daughter to watch this with me, and guess what, she loved it. She told me the next day in class she was thinking about the movie. Considering this movie was made 40 years ago, to be able to capture a teenage girls TikTok infected brain for almost 24 hours, is a modern miracle. Pretty special for me too, to have have moment to share with my lovely daughter. It's a great movie.
This film was amazing. When Natalie died, the studio just buried it.
I remember watching this on TV when I was a kid. Great movie. And btw it was way more than virtual reality, it was a technology for recording a person's (or monkey's) experiences and then playing them back directly into someone else's brain. Way, way ahead of its time.
Yeah VR is baby stuff compared to this.
A really complex and sophisticated movie for a young boy.
Would be very interested to know how the images and ideas presented to such a young child?
So true.
Light years away from the technology today, I would think.
@@carolreid4821 Not so. Valve is a hop skip and a jump from adding mind read (and mind write), using their Brain Computer Interface.
@@carolreid4821Google, OpenBCI.
When this came out the theater played this on the big 21:9 screen like Starwars. Most of the movie was in 16:9 mono track, until they went under the device then it popped open to the full 21:9 with full stereo. Quite the effect that added a lot to this movie. I haven't ever watched it again why bother after that theater experience.
I felt this and "The Dead Zone" the same year showed Walken's depth in acting. Also because of this, "Brainscan", "Virtuosity" "Lawnmower Man" and "Strange Days" were made. Great video! 👍
I work in VR because of this film! I was 13 when it came out, snd knew what I wanted to do! (imagine my dissapointment with Nintendo's 'VirtualBoy' 12 years later! LOL) Now I am making the world (in VR) of another great mid-80s movie: _The GOONIES!_
I didn’t know about these other movies… thank you!
I thought he was much better in Dead Zone
"Look at the stars!"...... I love this film and the sense of wonder it inspires. Can't believe that no one has reacted to it yet!
I considered "Brainstorm" and "Runaway" the two most plausible science fiction movies since "On The Beach" 1959.
On the Beach....a classic
Great film, deals with the great taboo of death and the after life, fascinating movie and anything with Natalie Wood in was always watchable! RIP
I would really like that machine for recording my dreams and replaying them when I'm awake.
I saw this little jewel back in cinema in 1983, loved it instantly for it's fantastic atmosphere and sfx, and it's soundtrack just perfect.
The big daddy of Oculus rift, visionary when you think about it.
This is a great movie, I dont know why it didn't get more recognition.
Love the idea of a complete recording life experiences(smells, touch, feelings, etc) and then being able to play it back for anyone to experience as if they were there experiencing it for themselves.
Um, the video did a fine job explaining that, maybe you need to watch it again?
This scene in the film is perfection:
I made that for you.
It's a gift.
What is it?
It's me.
In spite of the limitations caused by Natalie Woods accidental (?) death the film is one of my favorites.
A while after this came out, I was getting a haircut at a new place and had time to check out a dungeon like Video Cassette rental shop in the basement of a tiny shopping "Mall" in the suburbs. I noticed this new Video Cassette and wanted to rent it for Natilie Would (but I wouldn't). There were maybe 2 others looking at the videos. I was late getting the movie back, and just before the shop closed, I made it with minutes to spare. I was shocked to see at least 20 people jammed into the basement shop. All of them were looking at me as I walked down the stairs, and when they saw that I had this cassette to return, they started to Riot !!! A guy grabbed it out of my hand and spoiled the fun. Will Never Forget That day.
Brainstorm is incredible! such deep, interesting, well executed ideas. I had no idea about the tragedy surrounding this film. I can also see how other great films like "Strange Days" (directed by Kathryn Bigelow) and Nolan's "Inception" were influenced by it. And great video about the film Jonny. Thanks for the information.
Best line in the movie: "I never thought I could do this."
Shame they haven't released this in the intended frame rates.
I imagine this movie was an influence on Strange Days.
I work in VR ... YOU JUST GAVE ME AN IDEA... Just as we (as fans) were able to get the 7 or so missing scenes put back into a Goonies release, this seems like it coukd be turned into a VR theater experience, changing not just the film rate for the 'immersive scenes', but making them 3D and 360° VR (you can turn your head and see the whole world). Using AI it would be actually easy now, to extrapolate the 'missing world' with CGI help... HMMM.. BRAINSTORM: The VR Experience. The studio would make new money on an old property!
Its one of my favourite movies.. that death scene sequence.. give me chills. I’d love you to do a video on “The Dead Zone” another Walken Classic.
I feel with Douglas, the immense pressure and the unfair way the studio treated him
I've always loved this movie. The score is indeed amazing, especially for Lillian's death. The main title was used as a temp track for The Abyss rough cut, hence the similarities in the themes. I guess Cameron was hoping to get Horner over Silvestri. Speaking of Cameron; Strange Days has always been my headcanon Brainstorm sequel.
The music during Lillian's death is very appropriate. You can almost feel her pain.
@@catherinebirch2399 Yes. Shocking and threatening because it starts out so harmless and ordinary and through the music and the incredible acting performance you can see and feel that she is going to die. How she first fights and wants to call for help, but then realizes it's too late. That is the most moving scene.
I saw it in a theater when I was 14. I really enjoyed it but the odd thing for me was that I don't ever remember seeing a trailer for it at the time. In fact I was kind of tepid towards seeing it. My mother was the one that I had seen it with, and she was really excited about seeing it. To this day, I have no idea about how she had heard about it.
prb had a full/half page ad in the newspaper
It was a great movie! So under-rated. I remember "Ms. Wood" died just before movie was finished. There was some worry that the movie would be dropped. It was one of the first movies filmed in North Carolina, the "lab" was in the "Research Triangle Park." As a matter of fact, I believe the "lab" building was the IBM lab. The ending of the movie was not the planed ending. It had to be re-written when Ms Wood died. Always wondered what the ending would have been.
Stop abusing quotation marks.
Just watched this again this morning for first time since I was in 3rd grade in 1983. It was on TCM. I'm from NC so to my surprise I see them drive a bronco up to a big white hotel. It's the Pinehurst Hotel and Country club. She's also seen wearing the Duke University sweatshirt in one scene. When he goes to visit his friend on the golf course he's working on a golf cart. He's in front of these bungalows on stilts you rent along the Pinehurst Golf Course. Gotta ride by there and find these locations now. It was filmed in 1981. She drowned (allegedly murdered by Husband Robert Wagner) on a boat that also included her Co Star Christopher Walken... I'ma bet Robert Senses something going on between her and Walken which was the reason for their on deck fight that led to her winding up in the water and dying. Watch the movie again and you can tell she looked seriously into Walken in this film.... The film was pieced together by the director as most of Woods filming was complete. Then release 2 years later in 83.
the lab in NC/RTP was the just destroyed burroughs-wellcome HQ, designed by Paul Rudolph. that rabbit hole led me to this movie which I need to see now
The movie did an outstanding job of exploring the positive and negative applications of that technology.
Natalie Wood's last film.
Was really great.
This movie was so great for the time it came out. The funny thing about it was what would happen if the technology evolved that it became a black market tech. Because you could record events from the wearers point of view. Even the recording apparatus got smaller and the recording media evolved. And that's where the movie Strange Days comes into the picture and that movie set the stage for a great cyberpunk esque movie which I still love to this day and will watch it over and over again. Even though it came out in 1995.
I saw this film in theater when it first dame out & was impressed and stunned with the concept and the storytelling!
Poor and lovely natalie Woods... How we miss her. She never truly got what she deserved for what she gave us.
Why did they cut the scene where the dead scientist's spirit pays a visit to hell in the DVD, yet it made it to television?
It had very disturbing imagery that the video playback scene in Event Horizon obviously got inspiration from. It was also of hell.
" You knocked my Socks off ! " Great concept and story supported by a great cast.
I am very happy to see the praise and appreciation for Brainstorm in the comments. I felt that I was very alone in liking this film when none of the friends I showed the VHS to shared my enthusiasm for it. I particularly enjoy the production design.
couldn't wait to borrow another vcr to dub this sci-fi masterpiece
Very good review, I can't believe I was 30 when this came out...
Louise Fletcher was so good.
Is this the same actress who played Kai Winn in Star Trek DS9?
I really enjoyed Brainstorm! I thought the idea itself was brilliant!
Thanks
Still one of the best sci-fi films of the 80,s
What I most remember about this movie was how they depicted the technology shrinking over time. Now that I'm an engineer it annoys me to see some supposed "prototype" device all miniaturized, clean, and gleaming white. Prototypes look like they do in this movie: big, ugly, and pushed around on a cart by some poor intern
The Loise Fletcher heart attack scene is chilling and powerful!!
I have never seen this film. Interesting plot. Got me thinking about "Strange Days" from 1995 which also had a brain recording and playback device.
Christopher was Natalie’s friend.
A good friend.
Another great actor.
Oh i 100% agree with you i really hope and pray she gets justice real soon!!
I never thought of this movie as showing technology was dangerous. It showed that government bureaucracies are dangerous. Also people make mistakes.
This movie scared the hell out of me when I saw it in the theater as a kid. I learned what terror was that day. I pray a technology that can directly access the brain like that is never created.
I grew out of most of the things that scared me as a child. I would love it if a technology like this was created.
@dewfall56:
The scariest movies to me are the ones that seem closest to being plausible. That said, the original THE MUMMY (or whatever was the title of the 30s movie with Lon Chaney) scared me for the longest time. As an 8-9 year old, the idea that dead people could be revived with tea and that being dead already these people were immune from most causes of death, well...it didn't help that my maternal grandfather looked like the mummy without the bandages.
But to date, THE scariest movie in my opinion is Alien Resurrection. It scares me to think that governments and scientists would be so foolish and be so steeped in hubris as to "bring back" a deadly monster, and even worst...think that they will be able to control an extremely alien species when they really can't even "control" humans.
But the icing on the cake, so to speak was that room full of failed Ripley clones. That scientists would attempt over and over, AND FAIL, and so hideously. Then they would keep their failures alive to be further experimented on.
Well its here
The heart attack scene is so scary!
@@stever507 How so? VR? That's only two senses affected, and no emotion. And you can shut your eyes and plug your ears. The movie is about a machine that can send a full experience that seems completely real right into your brain, and there is nothing you can do to stop it or shield yourself from it. Imagine skydiving for the first time, or being tortured.
Love this movie! I first watched it on HBO when I was a kid and became really spooked from the death scene.
Me too!
I absolutely love this film. I saw it in the theater. It "knocked my socks off".
You have a real knack for digging up Sci-Fi gems from my youth. Thanks Jonny!
EPIC EPIC movie, masterpiece, music, effects, story, concept...everything
I saw it on the TV and was blown away and could not understand how I didn't know about it. !
Saw this in the theater. That roller coaster got me seriously dizzy. Thought I was going to be sick.
I saw this when I was 13, beautiful and haunting film. I love the afterlife scenes.
Natalie Wood
will never be
forgotten she
will live on
memories of
everyone she met
in life and Natalie will
always be with us.
wagner killed wood. walken saw it and wagner threatened him to keep him quiet. brainstorm was amazing.
This was also a comeback for Cliff Robertson, who had been blacklisted by the studios for exposing the embezzlement and forgeries of executive David Begelman. There is a great quote by Kirk Douglas on David Begelman's wiki page. You should check that out.
I remember watching this film, but it was most likely on a rented VHS tape. I really remember very little about it. But maybe it's worth a rewatch sometime. Double feature with Miracle on 34Th Street?
I saw gem in a theater and the effect was everything I love this film
A great film. Cable TV also helped this film get fans.
Saw this in theater when I was 9 I'll never forget becuz right towards the end the film burnt up in the projector and I didn't get to see the end till home video.
You neglected to mention that the idea to promote Showscan was to have the views from the device, which are shown in an extreme widescreen view projected with the Showscan process to heighten the realism. When you watch the movie you can pretty well see that that was the whole idea.
Excellent video! This is SUCH an underrated movie! I saw this as a very young child at the theater and have loved it ever since. They thought of so many ramifications of what a technology like that would be capable. Also, great performances by everyone in the film.
Jonny, you forgot to mention that the SHOWSCAN high definition viewing system was not allowed by MGM to be implemented, resulting in lack luster box office performance.
I've always felt there was some connection between the film " The Anderomeda Strain " at least on a future tech / female scientist basis.
Once I saw it as a kid, I could never forget it.
First saw it on BetaMax when I was young. Still makes my top ten of flicks to take to a desert island.
I saw this when I was 9 in 1984. Loved it! My mom had told me that Natalie Wood died while it was being made, I remember being quite sad about that. It was on VHS so I had no idea it switched frame rates. That is a really cool idea!
I was 10 , i was obsessed with this movie 🍿watched it on HBO
How millions of young people are addicted to virtual reality along with drugs, disgusting.
If only Natalie was recording at the time.
Giggity giggity ooh la la!
@@slappy8941 Robert Wagner would nor want that recording played
Seeing this movie in my late teens sparked an interest in the human mental potential. It launched a multi-decade long, private, personal research into this aspect. From hard science research and experimentation to informal "outside the lab" experiences I studied the peer reviewed, published and recounted reports of scientific researchers and involved individuals. While not finding the "definitive" body of research leading to an answer for which I sought, I am convinced there is much more to be discovered.
I watched it in the 80's and I loved it. Thank You for this interesting review.
JAMES HORNERS score is Fantastic!!
" She (Natalie) disappeared following a midnight dinghy ride". You're kidding, right?
& accidently hit her head? yea right🙄
I work in VR because of this film! I was 13 when it came out, snd knew what I wanted to do! (imagine my dissapointment with Nintendo's 'VirtualBoy' 12 years later! LOL) Now I am making the world (in VR) of another great mid-80s movie: _The GOONIES!_
Virtual reality before virtual reality was thought of.
I loved this movie and always wondered why it doesn't get referenced with today's technology being the "future" projected in the film. This film's concept blew me away and I found this YT video because once again - I thought of this film. Thanks for the vid!
This does make me wonder how difficult it would be to do a new transfer of Brainstorm with the 60fps footage to digital 4K HFR (high frame rate) video now that today's video and screen technology is more ubiquitous.
wanna see a 3D remaster if possible
I was a theater projectionist ran this film in 70 mm six track Dolby stereo
But...But....
You have ZERO input on your channel ?
Yeah, what happened that night on the yacht? They had a few drinks, Natalie flirted with Christopher Wslken, Robert Wagner didn't like it and voila, Natalie has an accident and the film doesn't get finished.
The moment you do a U.F.O. review, I will support you on Patreon.
I love this film.
If anyone is interested I left a copy of my screenplay "Penal Colony" at an agency in Hollywood in the late 70's I believe my story was ripped off as the main plot centered around a device to record all the 5 senses, and have them played back as real experiences using the device. The government also wanted to use the device in military espionage. Oh well shit happens. I hope the screenwriter credited with the story conscience bothers him.
I would relate other elements of my story "Penal Colony" but I would probably be "ripped off " again. My advice to any writer: do not put your stories in people hands that you have never done business with.
He hit on the problem then that theaters were having, putting butts in seats. This is about the time we saw small theaters pop up, the big screen theaters being divided in half. He went bigger and more frames per second. I feel sorry for the people today telling me how they enjoy going to the movies on the big screen. I laugh at them. I have nice sound at home with a 60 some inch screen it’s just not worth going to the theater. Bring back the 70 mm film experience you just can not compare the experience between the 2. The large formate and in this film case the more frames bigger screen just is a world ahead of the little screen movies. I will watch from home.
UFO theme brought back a torrent of memories. Wow.
I remember loving this movie as a teen. Studios want movies that hit the pulse of now rather than the pulse of the future, but it takes media to look at the future to help give some vision to the public, even if it's seen as a failure in the present. That's my opinion anyway.
one of my fav movies of the 80s-groundbreaking in every way...really sad that this left such a bad taste in Trumbull's mouth that he moved away from directing....but, such is the nature of the politics of directing a movie...
Apparently Gabe Newell and Valve Studios is cooking up something that'll interact with the brain to a degree in VR, it was mentioned in a recent review. They're still hiring for the Research and Experimental division, including opportunities for psychologists.. the way this video ended reminded me of that.
Just discovered this movie ,wish they'd do a remake a good remake for 2023
I always loved that film. Thought it was totally intense. Amazed it did bad at the box office
i loved this movie. Natalie Wood is one of the most beautiful women of cinema. So sad about what happened to Natalie Wood.
Great movie, missed it back in the day. Recently viewed it and had a kind of poltergeist vibe to it.
This isn't everything you need to know about Brain Storm. It's everything you already know about Brain Storm.😢
I wonder if this Trumble is related to Dalton Trumble? Dalton was a screenwriter during the red scare. I think he was imprisoned too.
This what I hoped/thought that Virtual Reality would be, instead of the obviously artificial "computerized worlds" of today. MGM's last second pulling out of the film should have enough to have their name removed from this amazing movie.
This is an amazing film.
Good movie, it's difficult to get the average audience into an intelligent work, the dialogue has to be dumbed down. The acting was superb, what killed the movie was the inability to make reshoots due to Wood's death. Most movies have scenes that need to be re-shot or an extra scene added, it really tied the hands of the director. I think the whole concept was great and so futuristic, with the actors and such a good story this movie could have been amazing. Just the luck of the draw I guess. So many movies and TV shows had potential yet never reached it because of one reason or another, many times it's the bean counters that kill it.
Ya a truly under-rated film. I saw it in its theatrical release and loved it. The studios screwed over Trumball and I don't blame him a bit for his reaction.
I saw this movie when it first hit the theatres, it was sort of controversial because of the behind the cameras events that necessitated in unfortunate editing. (Probably this is explained here, I haven't watched the video yet.)
"VR devices that become dangerous and deadly when the researches bring their own personal problems into the program. The film would address how dangerous technology can be even used with the best of intentions." AI anyone? 😏