Back to the Future Part III

 Back to the Future Part III 

Back to the Future Part III is so much fun. It is a sweet and entertaining finale to one of the best science fiction trilogies to exist. The first two films have similar ideas and themes, but Robert Zemeckis and company switched things up here. They created an homage to old-school Westerns, a very risky movie considering how westerns were not popular with moviegoers at the time. I loved the references to the westerns of old. Of course Marty would have to say the line, “uh..Mar..Clint Eastwood.” That line gets me every time. There is a really sweet love story between Doc Brown and Clara Clayton. It surprises me that people seem to dislike their romance. I thought the chemistry existed between the two characters. Furthermore, the film took risks with this romance because it involved middle-aged characters falling in love, and that is never seen in movies. All things considered, Zemeckis took filmmaking risks and they all paid off. In addition, the visuals and special effects stand out. Cinematographer Dean Cundey used the bright desert colors to his advantage. The final action sequence was exhilarating. Marty and Doc had to come up with a way to get the DeLorean to 88 mph without using gasoline. That made this sequence very fun to watch. Even though I believe Part II to be a fun, entertaining film, Part III is better made and a great sendoff.

Part II and Part III were shot back-to-back, which was a rarity in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Filming was a grueling process for Zemeckis. He would be shooting scenes for the third film on location (in places like Monument Valley) then would fly to California to edit the second film. He would repeat the process day after day. While most of the crew found the shoot exhausting, the cast found being away from civilization mostly relaxing. Cundey was also excited about shooting scenes in the barren Western landscape because he was able to take advantage of it. It is not like Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale ran out of time travel ideas when creating the movie. Michael J. Fox actually told the director he always dreamed of making a western. Alas, here we are. There are homages to Westerns everywhere. There are three veteran actors from these films like Harry Carey Jr. making appearances. The set design, of course, is beneficial to creating the Western landscape. There are even cowboy and Indian scenes! My favorite part is seeing the ancestors of modern-day characters during this era, such as Marty’s ancestor, Seamus. Zemeckis’s approach was to think about the film as a spiritual human journey. He did succeed.

When Marty (Michael J. Fox) destroys the sports almanac, all seems to be well. But that is really not the case. Dr. Emmett Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) and the time machine were struck by lightning leaving the doctor in 1885. Marty receives a letter from Doc essentially telling Marty he is okay and to leave him alone. Marty and Doc’s 1955 version find the DeLorean still able to work. Marty finds a gravestone with Doc’s name engraved on it, apparently killed by Biff’s great-grandfather, Buford Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson). Marty takes the DeLorean to save his friend, but the car’s gasline is ruptured leaving them both stranded in 1885. They have to figure out how to get out of 1885 which will be very hard considering gasoline did not exist, and by the fact that Doc has his eyes set on the pretty schoolteacher Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen).

Through three movies, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd continue to have a natural chemistry with one another. I love their characters so much, so it was cool to see them work magic in a different setting. Lloyd likewise had great chemistry with Mary Steenburgen. Steenburgen took the role because she was hounded by her kids. Her character had such a sweet romance with Lloyd’s character. Believe it or not, their kiss was Lloyd’s first onscreen kiss. Thomas F. Wilson became a true villain when he stole the almanac last movie, so he made sure to embellish that in Buford. Buford is the best “Biff” villain. Lea Thompson did return in a rather thankless performance as Maggie McFly.

People generally claim that Back to the Future Part III is the worst of the franchise. It really is not. It has a lot of heart, yet it takes risks. In a time where westerns were not popular, Zemeckis created one…and a good one at that. The romantic scenes between the middle-aged characters are believable. The ending is fantastic. Be prepared to have a tissue or two because tears may be shed. It is clear how much Zemeckis loves this franchise. He went all out on the visual effects to cap the series with an exhilarating end involving a train trying to power a DeLorean. In addition, Alan Silvestri created another powerful score. This is a poignant ending to a monster franchise.

My Grade: A-