I need more cowbell… err… Brainstorm
Probably one of the more disturbing films that came out of the 80s was Brainstorm. Not so much because of the content, but rather because of the warning that it heeded about depending too much on technology and essentially getting addicted to the experience. Keep in mind, this is before the Internet as we know it, before the emergence of mainstream personal computers, before World of Warcraft or Everquest; this is before we knew what we were getting ourselves into. The film told of our addictions way before they developed and it’s quite frightening to see the accuracy of the storyline. Sure it’s a story about a group of honest scientist trying to better the world while making a buck. Sure it has the evil government waiting in the wings to strip such an experience away from the good folks. Sure it’s predictable, but under the all of it it’s a message.
If you’re not familiar with the setup, you have Dr. Michael Anthony Brace (Christopher Walken) who is a successful scientist dealing mostly with the subconscious experience of the human brain, but a failed father and husband. He and his cohorts develop a way to share experiences from around the world, with sensations included, that will allow people to be in places they never imagined (and situations). Basically, fooling the brain into thinking it’s in that situation without actually being there. His sorta-ex-wife, Karen Brace (played by the very beautiful, and tragic, Natalie Wood), works with him to design a better style of device for the everyday consumer to wear. Though they work together they don’t do anything else, they just work together. On the flipside to the coin, the military has funded and knows of the project and wants it to train their soldiers how to kill (as the extreme goes) without having to be a part of the battlefield. You see how this ends up.
Ultimately, there is little hope that springs forth from the movie. It starts on a disturbing note and ends up on a disturbing note. The only redeeming factor is the relationship between the Brace’s (I’m sure you didn’t see that coming). The clear message about the evils of technology and the wicked pleasure of the human brain is right there in front of the audience. It’s literally telling the viewers that the future is ahead of us, exciting things lie there, but remember the real world before you go into the virtual one. Again, very powerful message for a movie that couldn’t possible have seen what’s coming.
Scary accurate.
Remastered indeed
I watched this film on HBO when it debuted in the 80s (yes, I am old). It was dated back then. This DVD looks spectacular for a 1983 film. Simply put, it is truly remastered. It also comes with some sensational audio that pierces through your 5.1 system and relaxes nicely into your ears. Too over the top? Maybe.
As for features, you only get a theatrical trailer. Disappointing, but since this was Natalie Wood’s last film I can see why people don’t want to revisit it too much. Still, I wish there was something released for it.