Video Codec help - Brightness problems

I have recorded some movies and without knowing, they have been recorded in almost total darkness. Now with many codecs, programs and misc tools, i have tried to make the movies light enough to see what is happening but i havent really succeeded.
I know this can be done because when i play the movies in windows media player, it has built in options to increase brightness and other controls - I have found a very good setting for the movies but i havent found a permanent solution.
What i would like to know is what program, codec or tool i should go looking for to increase the brightness of my movies so that everyone who views them can actually see what is going on.
Since media player has the ability to make the movies viewable, whilst other, more powerful video editing programs cannot, i know it IS possible. The trouble is that i cannot find one that (1) doesnt make the screen all white (2) doesnt stuff the colors up and (3) makes the improvements permanent.
Any help would be appreciated.

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