Watched an old sci-fi flick today,
Brainstorm from 1983, starring Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood. Quite an eerie movie really delving into the shady world of experimental brainwave recording and the inevitable misuse by the baddies, in this case, the Military. It was clearly a reaction to the new technology of Video and it's possibilities as VHS and Betamax battled it out for our disposable mental space and income at the start of the Eighties. The subject of brainwave manipulation isn't original. I can think of
The Sorcerers late on Karloff's career in the Sixties for starters with Ian Ogilvy trashing London on his behalf. The central idea of a lethal tape recording also has a long film history, with the ultra-creepy
Stone Tape from the 70's [possibley one of the scariest things to ever feature on UK TV], Cronenberg's
Videodrome from the same year as Brainstorm and bringing us right up to date we had the Japanese death-tape shocker
Ring. I'm sure you can think of more? The advent of Computers had a similarly paranoic effect on society and therefore film too -
Tron, Terminator, Lawnmower Man, War Games, Demon Seed, The Forbin Project and latterly
The Matrix. Wonder if newer technologies like Mobiles have influenced sci-fi and horror films or literature?
I couldn't help noticing in Brainstorm there appears an US Estate Agent sign for
Century 21 real estate. Do they really exist?
PS. Wote informed me that Brainstorm was in fact Natalie Wood's last film. Wikepedia describes the film as being posthumously released as she died whilst on leave from it's production in 1983. One thousand people attended her funeral.
Century 21 Real Estate is quite real. I have a photo somewhere of me holding a Thunderbird 2 model while standing in front of one of their signs.
ReplyDeleteA quick Google search will turn up the Century 21 real estate sign, which is nearly ubiquitous here in the States. There's also a Century 21 department store chain:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cityknown.com/Cities/Shopping.aspx?ShoppingID=27
They offer great bargains on men's clothing, but don't stock the Ed Straker-like turtlenecks and Nehru jackets you'd hope for. Also, the branch near me doesn't seem to have a toy department.
A Century 21 Department store. Now that's cool. I suppose it was simply a common phrase way back for describing a bright and glorious future. Is there a new phrase these days? Our we still so enamoured with Science and it's possibilities now?
ReplyDeleteThere's André 3000, the singer from Outkast, but that's about it so far afaik. And Century 21 real estate operates on the Continent too.
ReplyDeleteNatalie woods last film i believe too
ReplyDeleteAs for mobiles and SF, Russell T. Davis used them in various ways in Nu Who. Wasn't there one story when ear-worn phones were used as a way to control people?
ReplyDeleteI like "The Sorcerers"...remember seeing it for the first time on one of those long lost Friday "pop and crisps" nights!
ReplyDeleteMight not be exactly the same genre, but did anyone see and 1978 film "The Medusa Touch", starring Richard Burton?
I rather enjoyed it but it's been a few years since I last saw it.
The Gene Rodenberry pilot 'The Questor Tapes' (elements of which later became Data on Star Trek TNG) features a set of tapes containing advanced technology info that allowed the creation of a super android.
ReplyDeleteAlso I always thought of Brainstorm as a kind of prequel for 'Strange Days'
Not seen Medusa Touch Ed. One for my LoveFilm list as are Questor Tapes and Strange Days Portland! Cheers! Just come across another 'tapes' film, the intriguingly titled Anderson Tapes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anderson_Tapes. Anyone seen that?
ReplyDeleteShurely shome mishtake Woodster...I thought you might have seen "The Andesron Tapes". It's been on the telly quite a few times.
ReplyDeletePretty enjoyable robbery/caper film....very 70s-ish.