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Back to the Future: Made today.

Trekker4747

Boldly going...
Premium Member
What if Back to the Future were made today? Not a remake but genuinely made for the first time today and, for fun, we'll say it's released in 2015. Same story, plot, characters all of that just a change in the time. Could the movie still work?

I think the biggest problem is that, well, there's not as huge a difference between 1985 and 2015 as there is between 1955 and 1985. Sure there's some style and technology differences but in societal lines things aren't too much different. Well, at least not so vastly.

Tell someone in 1985 that in 2015 we have a mixed-race president they'd probably believe and accept it. It's not that far-fetched.

In the movie the very first thing we see in 1955 is the mall is a farm when Marty arrives. Chances are pretty good that where your local mall is 30 years ago what was there; probably that same damn mall.

There's some funny moments with the 1955 versions of his grandparents marveling over a TV, I guess in 1985 it could be desktop computer or something while our Marty marvels about having an iPad.

"Our first computer! Do you have a computer Marty?"
"Of course, you know I have an i...Pad."

I think it'd be hard to make a lot of the jokes and the new time setting to work. A lot of what'd have to be done to make the 1980s "stand out" is going overboard on 1980s fashion and design trends. Which they might have done to some degree or another for 1955 but at the same time we're talking about a the generation before Rock 'n' Roll when people WERE pretty polite and formal.

Hell, speaking of Rock 'n' Roll what would be the "oldie" Marty would play at the dance that'd shock the students and faculty. (As Marty does when his guitar playing goes from classic early rock they're a few years away from to over-the-top harder rock Marty's into in the 1980s.)

What music do we have now that would shock the kids of 1985? Hell, I'd argue nothing unless Marty started twerking on the stage and started tonguing a wrecking ball.

So what do you think? In what various ways would the movie change by making the past setting 1985?
 
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Hmmm.... just spitballing ideas here of changes between 1985 and 2015...

End of communism, break up of the Soviet Union, collapse of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany

Rise of terrorism, 9/11, 2 Gulf Wars

End of VCRs, we're now past DVD and onto BluRay. HD television, 3D television and movies

In 1985 a Walkman could play a 90 minute tape (that you had to still flip over). Here in 2013 (2 years before 2015) we have iPods with DAYS worth of music, videos, etc...

My desktop computer now has more processing power than the entire Apollo moonshot computer. Plus, as you mentioned, pads, tablets, thumbdrives instead of floppies, etc...

My smartphone is a bit more enhanced than the 1985 state of the art cordless phones or bag phones or car phones

End of the Space Shuttle Era, launch of the Space Station, still no shuttle replacement in 2015 and we've still not gone back to the Moon, let alone onto Mars.

Gay liberation

Further decline in morals and traditional family values, rise of "baby daddies," shorter skirts, scantier clad clothing, saggy pants

Tattoos, tatttoos as far as the eye can see, and piercings

Freakin reality TV shows and their stars that are famous for nothing more than being famous. Snooki, Kardashians, etc...

Not only the Computer, but the internet. chat, email, texting, youtube, viral videos, facebook, twitter, social media, watch any show you want anytime you want

Back in 1985 cable tv was limited and much sparsers than today. In fact, I think in 1985 we still had TV networks and channels that went off the air at midnight. Kids today have never seen a test pattern on a real TV.
 
Not quite what I was asking, obviously a lot of the technologies and some world events have occurred in the last 30 years but would it cause a 2013(15) teen to be as out of place in 1985 as Marty was in 1955?
 
What if Back to the Future were made today? Not a remake but genuinely made for the first time today and, for fun, we'll say it's released in 2015. Same story, plot, characters all of that just a change in the time. Could the movie still work?
No, for all the reasons you so correctly gave... But it could make a pretty great viral short/skit:

"So, you're from 2013, eh, future boy? Who's your favorite band?"
"The Beatles."
"Oh, still? Okay... what movies are you looking forward to?"
"Bond, Star Wars, Batman..."
"Those things persist too, huh? Hey, what are those strange pants you're wearing?"
"We call them jeans."
"Er, yes, so do we, actually. Okay, who was the first person to walk on Mars?"
"Hasn't happened."
"For God's sake, Marty, tell me something surprising!"
"Well, some states let people marry people of the same sex."
"Multiple marriages?!"
"No, still just one at a time."
"Oh. Uh... okay. Let's just get you home, because you're boring the crap out of me."
 
What if Back to the Future were made today? Not a remake but genuinely made for the first time today and, for fun, we'll say it's released in 2015. Same story, plot, characters all of that just a change in the time. Could the movie still work?
No, for all the reasons you so correctly gave... But it could make a pretty great viral short/skit:

"So, you're from 2013, eh, future boy? Who's your favorite band?"
"The Beatles."
"Oh, still? Okay... what movies are you looking forward to?"
"Bond, Star Wars, Batman..."
"Those things persist too, huh? Hey, what are those strange pants you're wearing?"
"We call them jeans."
"Er, yes, so do we, actually. Okay, who was the first person to walk on Mars?"
"Hasn't happened."
"For God's sake, Marty, tell me something surprising!"
"Well, some states let people marry people of the same sex."
"Multiple marriages?!"
"No, still just one at a time."
"Oh. Uh... okay. Let's just get you home, because you're boring the crap out of me."

Yeah pretty much it.

"So do we get our flying cars in 2015?"
"Nope."
"Nuclear power as an abundant power source?"
"Not if the Democrats have anything to say about it."
"So who's the president of the United States?"
"Barack Hussein Obama. Our first black president."
"Well that's good!"
"Er... well it's been a struggle and many still don't accept it, in fact some doubt he's even a citizen, look it's a long story."
"Sigh, fine. Is there anything you can tell me that will surprise me?"
".... Nope not really. We're pretty much the same. Some better technology and stuff, sure; we just have less enthusiasm for denim."
 
There's some funny moments witht he 1955 versions of his grandparents marveling over a TV
In 1985 a TV was still a large box with a screen on the front of it, my parents 25" was nearly a hundred pounds. The 37" TV in my living room hangs on the wall and is as thick as two of my fingers. People in '85 would be impressed by things like netflicks.

While the cold war was on going, otherwise it was a peaceful time in America, today we've been at war for a dozen years.

In what various ways would the movie change by making the past setting 1985?
Maybe the new movie should be in Detroit, set in a 1985 prosperous neighborhood, in contrast to the same neighborhood a 2013 abandoned horror story.

speaking of Rock 'n' Roll what would be the "oldie" Marty would play at the dance that'd shock the students and faculty.
Marty could perform some Eminem.


:)
 
I get the feeling that if BTTF were made today it would be a lot darker and bleaker. It just feels like we're heading towards a dystopia future, unlike prior to 9/11 when people might have been more optimistic. I guess one of the nice things about BTTF was how fun it was. Not sure it would be that fun if made today.
 
"Doc! Are you saying you built a time machine... out of a Prius?!"
"The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine... uh, yes. Might as well get good mileage to the gallon."


"Nuclear power as an abundant power source?"
"Not if the Democrats have anything to say about it."
"Well, then we definitely have coast-to-coast high-speed rail, right?"
"Are you kidding? Republicans will barely stand for food safety inspections."
 
"Doc, you built a time machine.... out of a Fisker Karma???"

Marty could play Marilynn Manson at the ball - in full get up..

You obviously have to rework the jokes to find the the new contrasts between 85 and 2015.

Do a riff on the vcr, or cd player instead of a tv.

"what's that, your purse?"
"No, its the newest thing - a cellular phone!. It's portable! I can take it anywhere!"

"I suppose everyone has robots where you're from, Future Boy?"
"Only as pets"

"Wow, MTV showing music videos!"

Have to fudge the years a little for this one, but not a great stretch:
"Hey, Will Smith! I love his movies!"
"Movies? he's a rapper"

"There's a shuttle launch tomorrow!"
"Cool, I saw one in a museum once!"
"huh?"

"give me a Coke Zero"
"Zero?"
"ok, how about a Pepsi One?"
"Just one?"
"um, do you have coffee?"
"Sure!"
"Great! I'll take a double grande half-caff-mocha latte with a shot of cinammon light on the foam"
"....."


 
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Some TV or film screenwriter or producer I follow on twitter (not necessarily Damon Lindelof but it might've been somebody of that ilk) said that if Back to the Future were made today the problem would have to be of the world-saving variety. Making sure you were born is just too small a problem nowadays.
 
Some TV or film screenwriter or producer I follow on twitter (not necessarily Damon Lindelof but it might've been somebody of that ilk) said that if Back to the Future were made today the problem would have to be of the world-saving variety. Making sure you were born is just too small a problem nowadays.

And then it would be just as generic as every other movie out there. Lovely.
 
Some TV or film screenwriter or producer I follow on twitter (not necessarily Damon Lindelof but it might've been somebody of that ilk) said that if Back to the Future were made today the problem would have to be of the world-saving variety. Making sure you were born is just too small a problem nowadays.

Sounds like a pretty piss poor screen writer.
 
I get the feeling that if BTTF were made today it would be a lot darker and bleaker. It just feels like we're heading towards a dystopia future, unlike prior to 9/11 when people might have been more optimistic. I guess one of the nice things about BTTF was how fun it was. Not sure it would be that fun if made today.

Agree. :weep:
 
If it was made today JJ Abrams or Michael Bay would be directing it, and Orci/Kurtsman would write it. The cast would be

Shia LeBeouf as Marty McFly
Megan Fox as Jennifer
Benedict Cumberbatch as Biff
Kristen Stewart as Loraine McFly (both versions)
Elijah Wood or Seth Green as George McFly (both versions) (I suppose you could use someone like the guy from Kick-Ass for George, I'm not too sure about who to put in this role to be honest)
Harrison Ford as Doc Brown

The story would have lots of explosions, sex/offensive jokes, Megan Fox being a moron and Shia LeBeouf making you wish he'd just fail and never exist. Cumberbatch would play Biff as a sneaky and clever mind games kind of bully. Overall, it would be poorly done and not match the awesomeness of the original movies.

Also, instead of a deLorean the time machine would be whatever car the car company sponsor wants, and it would be powered by energy drinks.
 
If it was made today JJ Abrams or Michael Bay would be directing it, and Orci/Kurtsman would write it. The cast would be

Shia LeBeouf as Marty McFly
Megan Fox as Jennifer
Benedict Cumberbatch as Biff
Kristen Stewart as Loraine McFly (both versions)
Elijah Wood or Seth Green as George McFly (both versions) (I suppose you could use someone like the guy from Kick-Ass for George, I'm not too sure about who to put in this role to be honest)
Harrison Ford as Doc Brown

The story would have lots of explosions, sex/offensive jokes, Megan Fox being a moron and Shia LeBeouf making you wish he'd just fail and never exist. Cumberbatch would play Biff as a sneaky and clever mind games kind of bully. Overall, it would be poorly done and not match the awesomeness of the original movies.

Also, instead of a deLorean the time machine would be whatever car the car company sponsor wants, and it would be powered by energy drinks.

Elijah Wood was in BK2FUT2 (1989) .:biggrin:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000704/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
 
DOC: Marty, what's it like in the future?

MARTY: (Produces smartphone) This let's me access the entire sum of human knowledge, watch videos on any subject, let's me play hours of music, takes photos, can tell me exactly where I am anywhere on the planet and will plot driving directions to any location I can tell it. Plus, it's all voice activated.

DOC: Great Scott! Demonstrate how it works!

MARTY: Sure, you got wi fi?

(I'd hate to see how Doc Brown reacts when he finds out Marty just uses it to watch videos of cats and arguing with strangers on Facebook.)
 
Its a n excellent point that any main movie car today is product placement and promotion. Its so remarkable that they used a Delorean. It was company that was out of business and no longer producing anything.

After the release of BTTF John Delorean sent Zemckis and Gale a thank you letter. Making the car look good. Little did he know how muchthose movies are the reason his name will be remembered.
 
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