And so was "The Lawnmower Man," the 1992 sci-fi/horror cyber-thriller that came out one year after "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) blew open the door on the cinematic revolution for CGI special effects. Speaking of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "The Lawnmower Man," with its themes of out-of-control scientific progress and the physical/mental transcendence of humans into beings of pure electronic data, could very easily have been the next project for the techno-phobic James Cameron. Or maybe another one of his contemporaries, like David Cronenberg?Who knows.Either one of them probably would have been ideal for this film, but director Brett Leonard, despite some occasional missteps in his direction, is a capable presence behind the camera. Leonard, with co-screenwriter/producer Gimel Everett (from a short story of the same name by Stephen King, but the two works are unrelated and King sued to have his name removed from the project, and the film actually has more in common with the 1968 film "Charly"), have fashioned a cyber-thriller, that while it received mixed reviews upon its release, now seems ahead-of-its-time (or maybe it came out at the right time?), and would pre-figure ideas in science fiction, computer technology, and the mainstreaming of cyberpunk for pretty much the rest of the decade - "The Matrix" (1999) would pull all of it together just seven years later."The Lawnmower Man" was probably most-regarded at the time for its computer-generated visual effects (and was the first film ever to deal with the concept of virtual reality), which marked yet another major step in the progression of CGI effects in the early '90s after "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." But other aspects proved to be problematic, like its story and editing. So that's why this review is based on the unrated director's cut version, which seems like a more-fully-realized film production, like the kind of film that the filmmakers really wanted to release to the public in 1992.In the film, Dr. Lawrence Angelo (Pierce Brosnan) is using experiments in virtual reality to enhance the intelligence of his primate test subjects. "The Shop," the malevolent corporate entity overseeing the project, wants to use Angelo's technology for war, while Angelo, whose humanitarian interests conflict with those of his employers, believes in the original intent of increasing the intelligence capabilities of the mind.So far, all of his experiments with primates have failed, which is why he soon catches the attention of Jobe Smith (Jeff Fahey), the simple-minded, kind-hearted gardener who is a local fixture around town. Jobe agrees to become Dr. Angelo's newest test subject, but soon Jobe begins learning about the history of human civilization and new languages at an exponential rate. Eventually, along with his increased intelligence and comprehension, Jobe begins exhibiting astonishing superhuman mental abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis. Jobe, who is now a full-fledged superhuman psychopath, concludes that virtual reality has opened the door to the next stage of human evolution, and he's going to complete the process by transforming himself into a being of pure electronic energy."The Lawnmower Man" is a much-better film than I remember it, even though it's not perfect. Like I said earlier, its mainstay is its CGI effects, which are pretty laughable now but were state-of-the-art at the time. Yet, that is no reason to discount the film, its performances, or its complex themes about the role of technology in humanity's evolution. Pierce Brosnan is the film's human center and voice of reason in all this technological chaos (even if he is slightly mad himself), but Jeff Fahey, who often doesn't get the respect he deserves as an actor, is this film's real star. He's incredible as Jobe Smith. It's nice to see Jobe's progression from a simpleton to a superhuman genius - and we do sympathize with him to a degree, even if we know that ultimately he's supposed to become a monster the likes of which mankind has never seen before.As a film that's rapidly approaching 25 years in age, I found myself nostalgic and wanting to go back to a far simpler time in the movies - yet to a time when the movies were definitely changing. "The Lawnmower Man" came out at the right time - because it was caught in the middle of Hollywood's gradual transition from practical effects to nearly all-CGI. It's an amazing film to watch on a Friday afternoon in early March.8/10P.S.: And don't worry about all the phones ringing in your house at the same time...

The Shop is at it again. Who is The Shop? The same clandestine government organization that was responsible for the Firestarter. Their goal is the same though the technology is slightly different: create a weapon from a human subject.The Lawnmower Man was Flowers for Algernon mixed with Tron. Dr. Angelo (Pierce Brosnan) developed a drug and virtual reality technique to increase intelligence. After his experiments failed with a chimp he decided to tweak things a bit and try again on Jobe (Jeff Fahey), a mentally challenged lawnmower man. The experiments worked to increase Jobe's intelligence but it also awakened another side of him as well.Initially I was attributing this movie to Stephen King, but after reading more on this site I found that Stephen King sued because this movie had almost nothing to do with his self-same titled short. I watched this initially in the early 90's and wasn't impressed. In the attempts to be futuristic Lawnmower Man came off as cheesy. In their attempts to apply virtual reality technology and effects on screen it made for terrible graphics. I know that virtual reality was all the buzz in the early 90's as we were rapidly progressing in the computer field as a people, but the graphics and special effects were still a ways off. What were supposed to be riveting, scary or jaw dropping scenes-were no more than cartoonish. I'm not saying this because CGI today is so breathtakingly real, I mean even in 1992 this movie never moved the needle on the scales. Consider that in 1991 we had T2 which was revolutionary as far as on screen effects, and in '93 (a year after Lawnmower Man) we were treated to Jurassic Park, another titan in the CGI department.The movie ended with an opening for a part 2 (which was done though I never saw it) but why? It would seem that a remake would make this movie so much better but the concept of virtual reality yet again wouldn't go over well. That drum has been beat too many times I'm afraid it's lost its effect.

Dr Lawrence Angelo (Pierce Brosnan) is working on using virtual reality in conjunction with 'neutropic drugs' to produce enhancement of intelligence. A chimpanzee on the project manages to use its new intelligence to pick the lock on his cage and kills someone before he is shot. Angelo decides he needs a human test subject. His wife, Caroline (Colleen Coffey) promptly leaves him.Jobe Smith (Jeff Fahey) works for Terry McKeen (Geoffrey Lewis) mowing lawns. Jobe isn't that bright - he has been raised and abused by Father Francis McKeen (Jeremy Slate). His best friend is a young boy named Peter (Austin O'Brien) who he reads comics and plays games with. Angelo thinks Jobe would be a perfect test subject. It works and soon Jobe has changed completely. He finds a girlfriend named Marnie Burke (Jenny Wright) and becomes more assertive.However there are unforeseen side-effects as the process starts to unlock hidden psychic powers and Jobe starts to have odd episodes. Angelo's boss Sebastian Timms (Mark Bringleson) finds out what has been going on and has sinister plans for Jobe. Meanwhile Jobe has sinister plans of his own.The script is by Brett Leonard & Gimel Everett and bears little resemblance to Stephen King's novel. It is reasonably paced and well directed by Leonard. The graphics are very 1990s and you accept that. Camera-work and sound are fine if a bit Hammer Horror. Brosnan is great in his role and most other actors give passable performances.The main problem with the film is Fahey. As the lead he needs to be spectacular, as he needs to be convincing as a simpleton, a genius and ultimately a psychopath. He isn't up to it. I don't remember saying this about another film, but this is one occasion where a remake could be better than the original, if you could find the right actor.

A scientist performs experiments involving intelligence enhancing drugs and virtual reality on a simple-minded gardener. He puts the gardener on an extensive schedule of learning, and quickly he becomes brilliant. But at this point the gardener has a few ideas of his own on how the research should continue, and the scientist begins losing control of his experiments.....1992, when this film was released, I remember the posters saying, Better effects than Terminator 2. As a fourteen year old, it sold me, I went to see it and remember the VR scenes, nothing else.Now, being a little more wiser to movie quotes, that poster quote was put there because obviously at the time, no one had anything good to say about it. and this was quite a big release back in 1992.21 years later, and the film hasn't aged well, frankly it looks awful, and those groovy effects I saw when VR was a big thing, look terrible.As for the plot and narrative, it's basically Fahey combing his hair and dressing like Eastwood in his movies with Clyde, and Brosnan holding his head and shaking, and smoking in bed.Some say the directors cut makes it more worthwhile, filling in important plot holes, believe me it doesn't, it makes the film more of an ordeal.But it's still watchable in the car crash sense of the word. it's an unmitigated disaster, but there are a few funny scenes.But it really hasn't held up well.