Back to the Future..again!!!

[davejames]

Not me. 2 is my favorite. 3 is a western, so that alone puts it at the bottom (although it DOES have some good stuff in it, the non-western parts, for example.) And yes, 1 is good, but not as good as 2.

I'm not a big western fan either, I just thought the third movie had a lot more heart and charm and humor than the second one.

The only thing I wish is that they somehow worked the Delorean into the story more. My favorite scene in the trilogy is the Delorean being chased through the desert by the indians-- just for the crazy imagery of a 1980s sports car, on big 1950s tires, in the Wild West-- and I would have loved to have seen them have a lot more fun with that idea.

 

[DarkProphet]

#2 is definitely the best, followed by #1 and then #3.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ I prefered #3 to the other two.

#2 was too gaudy, like "BTTF meets Willy Wonka". I suspect this may have been on purpose, though. No one seriously believes now, or even when the film was made, that the real 2015 would ever have been like that. It must have been all a big goof. Hell, it could have been one *within the context of the story* - perhaps in the new, revised timeline, 2015 won't turn out so silly looking. (I mean, come on....flying cars? Cafe 80's? Jaws 19? )

 

[DeafPoet]

II is the worst, but that's relative of course. BTTF is an example of a movie trilogy that just front-to-back doesn't suck. The worst elements of II are the 2015 stuff, but on the other hand the 1955 stuff is great.

BTTF I is a classic, of course. One of the most perfect popcorn flicks ever made. It rivals Star Wars in that way. And III has a place in my heart as one of the first flicks I ever saw on the big screen. Also, it's just funnier and has a better emotional center to it than II did.

 

[Trekker4747]

I think BTTF 2 is second best, behind 1 of course.

I just like the paradox time-travel story, the changing of the past, it's a much more "thought-provoking" take on the time travel tale.

That's not to diminish 3 but 3, for me, is mostly just a retread of 1, although with Marty and Doc essentialy switching roles and the ending for me is just too silly.

I think 3 was hurt by being made at the same time/back to back with, 2. I think such a process hurts alot of sequels.

I think 2 could've been much better if they weren't also having to split their time/rush into doing 3 and I think 3 would've been much better if it was made a year or so later on its own as well.

 

[Small White Car]

From Best to Worst:

1) Part I

2) Part II: 1955

3) Part III: 1955

4) Part II: Alt 1985

5) Part III: 1885

6) Part II: 2015

Gee, you guys didn't put enough thought into this!

That said, my "worst" up there (2015) is still a 9 out of 10. So it's all relative! (And in case you want the simple version, yes, it's 1, 3, 2.)

 

[Rowan Sjet]

And here I was thinking this thread would be about the Bollywood remake.

Do tell!!

Rob

http://io9.com/5122010/back-to-the-future-bollywood-style

 

[RobertScorpio]

And here I was thinking this thread would be about the Bollywood remake.

Do tell!!

Rob

http://io9.com/5122010/back-to-the-future-bollywood-style

That chic is hot, and I would see it. I actually lived in INDIA for a year during my friends wedding ceremony (which lasted and ENTIRE year)...his uncle was a camera man and we got to visit a filmset...was real fun there...friendly people who know their history quite well..and Chess too!!!

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Trekker4747]

She's good looking but no Lea Thompson.

 

[Honorable Ensign]

What's with all the 2015 dislike? Yeah, it's not that realistic, but...a Delorean time machine is?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

What's with all the 2015 dislike? Yeah, it's not that realistic, but...a Delorean time machine is?

I never thought the time machine was that realistic (a real DeLorean by itself is not exactly a looker), but at least it's not quite so...flashy. The 2015 depicted in BTTF II is really just a big joke. It's like somebody threw up My Little Pony. It's so ridiculously over-the-top, with gaudy, bright colors, flying cars, hoverboards, and all this overt 'futurism' that we're not even likely to get in 2115, let alone 2015.

Hasn't anybody here read The Gernsback Continuum?

 

[Trekker4747]

Zemeckis' intent was to make 2015 over-the-top as he really didn't want to do a future setting so it was mostly done as "a joke" and the future setting was done quickly to get on with the story.

Eh, it kind of works. The future is over-the-top, now, but in 1989/1990 it could have been possible.

 

[davejames]

What's with all the 2015 dislike? Yeah, it's not that realistic, but...a Delorean time machine is?

I don't think any of us really hate the 2015 stuff. As gaudy and over the top as it is, it's still a decent amount of fun (I love Doc's ridiculous outfit, all the flying cars, the hoverboard, and some of the goofy technology in Marty's clothes, for instance).

But it still feels like the movie series takes a detour into complete and total farce at that point, especially coming after the fairly realistic and grounded portrayal of 1955 in the original movie. There was an authenticity to characters like George McFly or Lorraine's family (watching their first TV) in that movie that the 2015 scenes didn't even try to emulate.

It was almost like watching a cheesy SNL skit or something.

 

[Small White Car]

But it still feels like the movie series takes a detour into complete and total farce at that point, especially coming after the fairly realistic and grounded portrayal of 1955 in the original movie. There was an authenticity to characters like George McFly or Lorraine's family (watching their first TV) in that movie that the 2015 scenes didn't even try to emulate.

Well said.

Both Back to the Future I and Ghostbusters are perfect examples of fantastic stories that start in reality and then gently lead us into an amazing yet believable adventure. They never push the fantasy so hard as to take you out of the story. They stay "real" all the way through.

BTTF II, as you point out, just blows right by this and gives us a live-action cartoon.

There's nothing wrong with that, I like part II a lot! But it is what it is and it will never rise to the level of the first film because of it.

EDIT: You want proof? Look no further than the fact that Michael J. Fox played his daughter. Why didn't they have the actress playing Jennifer play the daughter? Well, because that wouldn't have been as funny, which is the reason they did it; just for a laugh. Pretty much ALL of 2015 is done with this mindset.

 

[davejames]

Well said.

Both Back to the Future I and Ghostbusters are perfect examples of fantastic stories that start in reality and then gently lead us into an amazing yet believable adventure. They never push the fantasy so hard as to take you out of the story. They stay "real" all the way through.

BTTF II, as you point out, just blows right by this and gives us a live-action cartoon.

There's nothing wrong with that, I like part II a lot! But it is what it is and it will never rise to the level of the first film because of it.

EDIT: You want proof? Look no further than the fact that Michael J. Fox played his daughter. Why didn't they have the actress playing Jennifer play the daughter? Well, because that wouldn't have been as funny, which is the reason they did it; just for a laugh. Pretty much ALL of 2015 is done with this mindset.

Agreed. Instead of really developing and exploring the world of the future, they just played the whole thing for laughs (although to be fair, Doc showing up at the end of the first movie in that wacky outfit probably DID limit Zemekis somewhat in developing the right tone. lol).

Part III definitely plays up the laughs a bit too much too (with the bar fights and other western movie cliches), but thankfully also finds time to develop characters like Clara and build a fairly believable romance with her and Doc. Plus the Old West setting is just naturally a lot more grounded and believable anyway.

 

[Sephiroth]

on the 2015: yes the flying cars and ridicoulous outfits were there but there was also alot of stuff in the background that kind of felt grounded, but alot of the flash you saw was in the middle of a shopping center, the neighborhood and future marty's house scenes were alot more realistic(the fax machine in every room not withstanding), and on the cafe 80's? who here has ever been to a '50's or '60's themed cafe or diner?

 

[Small White Car]

the neighborhood and future marty's house scenes were alot more realistic

See my comment on Marty's daughter.

Face it, the whole thing was SUPPOSED to be ridiculous. Like I said, I like the film, but it simply has to be "the worst" of the 3 because of this. ("Worst" still being a 9 out of 10, mind you.)

 

[RandyS]

She's good looking but no Lea Thompson.

True, but then, Lea Thompson is no Lea Thompson anymore.

 

[Trekker4747]

She's good looking but no Lea Thompson.

True, but then, Lea Thompson is no Lea Thompson anymore.

It's called aging. It happens.

But, THIS photo was taken a year ago. I dunno, I'd still hit it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

But, THIS photo was taken a year ago. I dunno, I'd still hit it.

Oh lordy, yes.

I'd hit that...at 88 miles per hour!