Brainstorm (1983) July 10, 2012

[Quad]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

Brainstorm might be interesting as a Blu-ray Disc release if MGM and Sony can find good enough quality film elements to scan and master for 1080p.

Portions of Brainstorm were filmed in 5-perf 65mm format. Some of the movie posters used the "Filmed in Super Panavision" tag line.

Generally, anything filmed in 65mm and stored well should be great for adapting to Blu-ray. I'd like to see other 65mm filmed movies like Tron and Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet given high quality scans and digital intermediate treatment for Blu-ray release.

I remember seeing it on one of the biggest screens in NY (Ziegfeld Theater) where I watched some great films. Apocalypse Now being my favorite. I didn't know that this film was shot (partially) in 65mm. Interesting stuff. I wholeheartedly agree about Tron. It should look sick in 1080p.

[bhampton]

I love brainstorm.

I thought I had the DVD... now I'm not sure... I have to go check.

-Brian

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I love brainstorm.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8416

[bboisvert]

Well, that came out of nowhere... cool.

I'd love to know the logic behind catalog decisions at studios. I applaud this release, but it's a real headscratcher...

[willbfree]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

Well, that came out of nowhere... cool.

I'd love to know the logic behind catalog decisions at studios. I applaud this release, but it's a real headscratcher...

The Natalie Wood drowning was in the news a few months ago, so that likely prompted the decision to find a print and make a BluRay.

Brainstorm switched aspect ratios in the theatre, going to widescreen whenever the brainstorm process was underway. I hope they do this properly.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by willbfree

Brainstorm switched aspect ratios in the theatre, going to widescreen whenever the brainstorm process was underway. I hope they do this properly.

It also went from 2-channel stereo to 6-channel surround. I remember seeing it at the Charles Cinema in Boston, back when the Charles was the best cinema north of NYC.

This is a difficult film to transfer to video. Because of the way the film image expands and becomes sharper during the brainstorm sequences, the only way to duplicate the intent in days past was to windowbox the 1.66:1 35mm sequences and expand out to the edges of the screen for the 65mm sequences. The trouble was that back in the day when 4:3 TVs were the norm, the change in width wasn't significant enough to really bring Trumbull's intent across.

These days, on HDTV screens, it should look closer (even if you don't consider the 1080p resolution) to the way it's intended to look, but it still won't (in my opinion) come close to seeing it properly projected in 70mm on a big cinema screen. This film was always my #1 choice for a movie that really needs to be seen on a big theater screen to really appreciate it.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by jayembee

It also went from 2-channel stereo to 6-channel surround. I remember seeing it at the Charles Cinema in Boston, back when the Charles was the best cinema north of NYC.

The brainstorm audio jump to 6-channel on this release is frequently startling jayembee, which is what I remember both theatrically and on Laserdisc. Huge dynamic range and boost in presence.

Originally Posted by jayembee

This is a difficult film to transfer to video. Because of the way the film image expands and becomes sharper during the brainstorm sequences, the only way to duplicate the intent in days past was to windowbox the 1.66:1 35mm sequences and expand out to the edges of the screen for the 65mm sequences. The trouble was that back in the day when 4:3 TVs were the norm, the change in width wasn't significant enough to really bring Trumbull's intent across.

No such complaint here. If anything, the opposite is true. While the 65mm brainstorm sequences are transferred full width and look great, the 'reality' scenes now appear orphaned...quaintly windowboxed in the middle of your screen. Considering the first half predominantly consists of 'reality' scenes, many viewers will be tempted to hit the old Zoom button. Of course, doing that will blunt the effect of the brainstorm sequences when they do kick in.

As weird as this severe windowboxing effect looked, I chose to go with it, eventually getting used to the look because it really enhanced the contrast between reality and brainstorm, just as Trumbull intended. Nevertheless, I can't imagine anyone other than the most dedicated geek willing to watch the entire movie this way. Some might even be tempted to return their disc, thinking its defective.

Originally Posted by jayembee

These days, on HDTV screens, it should look closer (even if you don't consider the 1080p resolution) to the way it's intended to look, but it still won't (in my opinion) come close to seeing it properly projected in 70mm on a big cinema screen. This film was always my #1 choice for a movie that really needs to be seen on a big theater screen to really appreciate it.

Agreed. But even on the best HD screens, unless you're projecting at 100" or more, you're bound to feel 'pinched' watching those severely windowboxed 'reality' scenes*.

* ironically, one of the points of the film, and reasons for this technique.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8416

Thanks!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Quad

I remember seeing it on one of the biggest screens in NY (Ziegfeld Theater) where I watched some great films. Apocalypse Now being my favorite. I didn't know that this film was shot (partially) in 65mm. Interesting stuff. I wholeheartedly agree about Tron. It should look sick in 1080p.

Ah, the great days of single-screen movie-palaces in pre-Giulani NYC! (During college.)
it's a bit goofier than it wants to be, but an underrated little piece of 80's sci-fi, and one of Christopher Walken's closest roles to a "normal" character, although it's helped considerably by James Horner's score--He did his best stuff in '83.

Trumbull wanted this to be the movie that introduced hi-speed Showscan, but projection technology wasn't ready yet, so he just settled for the "Partial ratio vs. Widescreen" gimmick. (Which could never be used before on the VHS and TV prints of the movie.) We wouldn't notice it again until it was used on Galaxy Quest, but Trumbull invented it first.
And as for "why"?--Why not? All MGM's got left is a great old catalog to clean up.

[dvdguru]

I LOVED this movie as a kid and will definitely preorder! The "trip through Hell" scenes scared me to death...

[Maggot]

Day one for me. This film is something of a guilty pleasure for me. As has been said, it really wasn't very good, but the premise is excellent and perhaps that's what holds it together enough.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by dvdguru

I LOVED this movie as a kid and will definitely preorder! The "trip through Hell" scenes scared me to death...

Er.... ?
(Do you mean the

[Show spoiler]"Psychotic episode"

, or are we confusing it with Robin Williams films?)

It is nice to see that they remembered it in last Oscar's lifetime-acheivement award to Douglas Trumbull, however.

[dvdguru]

[Show spoiler]No, from my memory Nurse Ratchet dies while wearing the headset. Walken finds it later and plays back her memories and sees her pass through Hell and then on to Heaven.

[amoergosum]

@dvdguru

You should use spoiler tags.

[dvdguru]

Umm, no. This is an 80's movie. Did you not know who Luke's father was either?

[willbfree]

Originally Posted by amoergosum

@dvdguru

You should use spoiler tags.

I agree, spoiler tags. This film is old and overlooked, so most people here will be hearing about it for the first time.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Trumbull wanted this to be the movie that introduced hi-speed Showscan, but projection technology wasn't ready yet, so he just settled for the "Partial ratio vs. Widescreen" gimmick. (Which could never be used before on the VHS and TV prints of the movie.) We wouldn't notice it again until it was used on Galaxy Quest, but Trumbull invented it first.

Actually, the same aspect ratio change trick was used a year before Galaxy Quest in The Horse Whisperer (1998)...which is coincidentally getting a Blu-ray release a week before Brainstorm.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by lemonski

Actually, the same aspect ratio change trick was used a year before Galaxy Quest in The Horse Whisperer (1998)...which is coincidentally getting a Blu-ray release a week before Brainstorm.

and for 'Brother Bear' too

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Ah, the great days of single-screen movie-palaces in pre-Giulani NYC! (During college.)

The Ziegfeld is still alive and kicking as one of the last single screen commercial theatres in Manhattan. It's frequently used for premieres. There's also the East 85th street and the Paris. Everything else is gone.

Disney wanted to buy the Ziegfeld from Clearview, but Clearview keeps it as a showplace. It's very unlikely that it's profitable. I supposed Disney wanted to use it the same way they use the El Capitan in Hollywood. And although not used much these days, the Ziegfeld still has their 35mm projector and I believe they can even still show 70mm, should the need arise.

[Deciazulado]

Brainstorm Blu-ray