Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future (1985)
If you were having discussions about what is the most popular film from the 1980’s, I can guarantee that 1985’s massively popular Back to the Future will be one of the names floated around. Not only was it a massive hit with critics and audiences alike, I absolutely adore the movie. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Romancing the Stone) and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, this film is a near-perfect blend of science-fiction, comedy, romance, and action. It is also one of those rare films that children and adults will love. I fell in love with the movie as a wee child, and my father loves this movie himself. Maybe it is the intense charm and chemistry of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, or the excellent set design of what the town looks like in 1955, or perhaps that famous Johnny B. Goode scene-but whatever it is, this movie never grows old no matter how many times you watch it.
Zemeckis and producer Bob Gale came up with this film’s idea around 1980. It was floated around many studios, but they refused because they considered it too “family-friendly.” Films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High were all the rage because of the new, more risqué way they delivered teenage films. After the box-office success of Romancing the Stone, Zemeckis now had the clout to get this film made. He teamed up with Spielberg, who also produced The Goonies, to get this film made. Zemeckis’s screenplay was considered controversial and actually was refused by Disney because there was a scene where Marty McFly’s mother had the “hots” for her son, but in different time periods of course. After all, Disney had its family-friendly image to protect. Luckily, Universal came to the rescue!
The behind-the-scenes casting stories are well-known. Michael J. Fox was their first choice, but was committed to the popular television show, Family Ties. The producers were forced to look elsewhere, and they settled on Eric Stoltz. After several weeks of shooting, Zemeckis realized Stoltz was dreadfully miscast. His performance was too dramatic. Luckily, Fox had an opening in his schedule and signed up to do the movie. He was able to inject his own personality into the role of Marty McFly. Great Scott!
It is the year 1985. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is a skateboard-loving, guitar-playing teenager. One morning, he and his doggy companion go to Dr. Emmett Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) laboratory to play with an amplifier. He gets the call to meet the doctor at the empty parking lot of a local shopping mall where he confesses he discovered time travel…and his DeLorean is the time machine. Before Doc Brown can show off his discovery, he gets gunned down by some Libyan nationals. McFly barely escapes and only does so using the DeLorean…and ends up in 1955. He meets the younger versions of both his parents, Lorraine (Lea Thompson) and George (Crispin Glover). The problem is Marty interrupts their first meeting, which drastically changes the future. Marty needs to find the younger Doc Brown to help him set things right.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd show an amazing amount of chemistry with each other, and each of their individual performances are nothing short of fantastic. Fox really had a fun time and “fun” is the key word. He exhibited himself in Marty McFly. Lloyd is well known for his one-liners such as the constant use of “Great Scott!” and his wide eyes as well. Thompson and Glover also deliver in their performances. Finally, I really loved Thomas F. Wilson’s best performance as Biff Tannen, the film’s main antagonist. Gale mentioned that Tannen was modeled after Donald Trump, and yes I can see that comparison.
In terms of special effects, they really hold up by today’s standards. The visual effects team worked many, many hours to make the film look realistic as possible. The scenes with the DeLorean still blow me away. Or the ending scenes with the lightning and the tower…just fantastic. If you like musical scores, then you shall instantly recognize Alan Silvestri’s renowned score. The theme is one of the most hummable ones out there. Spielberg actually disliked Silvestri’s score in Romancing with the Stone, so Zemeckis told the composer to be grand. And we cannot talk about Back to the Future without Huey Lewis and the News. “The Power of Love” is one of the most popular songs out there no thanks to this movie.
Back to the Future had many running jokes, most of which worked. When the DeLorean is mistaken as a flying saucer in the farmer’s shed or people in the diner believing that Marty’s vest is a life preserver is just several examples. Or I love to see how Marty’s town looks different thirty years earlier. Anyhow, this movie is so much fun. It’s a science-fiction movie, but it has enough humanity to it where it receives comparisons to It’s A Wonderful Life. Robert Zemeckis went on to have an excellent career, but this is his masterpiece. It is a film for all ages. An unforgettable picture that knows how to have fun.
My Grade: A
If you were having discussions about what is the most popular film from the 1980’s, I can guarantee that 1985’s massively popular Back to the Future will be one of the names floated around. Not only was it a massive hit with critics and audiences alike, I absolutely adore the movie. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Romancing the Stone) and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, this film is a near-perfect blend of science-fiction, comedy, romance, and action. It is also one of those rare films that children and adults will love. I fell in love with the movie as a wee child, and my father loves this movie himself. Maybe it is the intense charm and chemistry of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, or the excellent set design of what the town looks like in 1955, or perhaps that famous Johnny B. Goode scene-but whatever it is, this movie never grows old no matter how many times you watch it.
Zemeckis and producer Bob Gale came up with this film’s idea around 1980. It was floated around many studios, but they refused because they considered it too “family-friendly.” Films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High were all the rage because of the new, more risqué way they delivered teenage films. After the box-office success of Romancing the Stone, Zemeckis now had the clout to get this film made. He teamed up with Spielberg, who also produced The Goonies, to get this film made. Zemeckis’s screenplay was considered controversial and actually was refused by Disney because there was a scene where Marty McFly’s mother had the “hots” for her son, but in different time periods of course. After all, Disney had its family-friendly image to protect. Luckily, Universal came to the rescue!
The behind-the-scenes casting stories are well-known. Michael J. Fox was their first choice, but was committed to the popular television show, Family Ties. The producers were forced to look elsewhere, and they settled on Eric Stoltz. After several weeks of shooting, Zemeckis realized Stoltz was dreadfully miscast. His performance was too dramatic. Luckily, Fox had an opening in his schedule and signed up to do the movie. He was able to inject his own personality into the role of Marty McFly. Great Scott!
It is the year 1985. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is a skateboard-loving, guitar-playing teenager. One morning, he and his doggy companion go to Dr. Emmett Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) laboratory to play with an amplifier. He gets the call to meet the doctor at the empty parking lot of a local shopping mall where he confesses he discovered time travel…and his DeLorean is the time machine. Before Doc Brown can show off his discovery, he gets gunned down by some Libyan nationals. McFly barely escapes and only does so using the DeLorean…and ends up in 1955. He meets the younger versions of both his parents, Lorraine (Lea Thompson) and George (Crispin Glover). The problem is Marty interrupts their first meeting, which drastically changes the future. Marty needs to find the younger Doc Brown to help him set things right.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd show an amazing amount of chemistry with each other, and each of their individual performances are nothing short of fantastic. Fox really had a fun time and “fun” is the key word. He exhibited himself in Marty McFly. Lloyd is well known for his one-liners such as the constant use of “Great Scott!” and his wide eyes as well. Thompson and Glover also deliver in their performances. Finally, I really loved Thomas F. Wilson’s best performance as Biff Tannen, the film’s main antagonist. Gale mentioned that Tannen was modeled after Donald Trump, and yes I can see that comparison.
In terms of special effects, they really hold up by today’s standards. The visual effects team worked many, many hours to make the film look realistic as possible. The scenes with the DeLorean still blow me away. Or the ending scenes with the lightning and the tower…just fantastic. If you like musical scores, then you shall instantly recognize Alan Silvestri’s renowned score. The theme is one of the most hummable ones out there. Spielberg actually disliked Silvestri’s score in Romancing with the Stone, so Zemeckis told the composer to be grand. And we cannot talk about Back to the Future without Huey Lewis and the News. “The Power of Love” is one of the most popular songs out there no thanks to this movie.
Back to the Future had many running jokes, most of which worked. When the DeLorean is mistaken as a flying saucer in the farmer’s shed or people in the diner believing that Marty’s vest is a life preserver is just several examples. Or I love to see how Marty’s town looks different thirty years earlier. Anyhow, this movie is so much fun. It’s a science-fiction movie, but it has enough humanity to it where it receives comparisons to It’s A Wonderful Life. Robert Zemeckis went on to have an excellent career, but this is his masterpiece. It is a film for all ages. An unforgettable picture that knows how to have fun.
My Grade: A
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