Well, first, just like Gizzmoe I watched the "Stranger" movie, and the brightness seem just fine.
So considering these video problems, and your topic about exposure
here, I see that you definitely have a problem viewing stuff with your PC, because the first image isn't so dark to me, you actually over exposed the second one. Proof that you don't see things the way you should.
Second, I downloaded the "Stranger" movie and processed it and it worked for me.
Here is an image showing the difference of both.
And here is a little clip I made and recorded with my digital camera, you can see the movies playing simultaneously side by side, on the left the original, and on the right the one I brightened up with VirtualDub. Therefore, if it works for us, it must work for you.
Simultaneous Video
I also made a live "ON SCREEN" demo of how I do it:
Watch it.
I hope it helps, somehow... Because at this point I do not know what to do or say?:hmm: