As a child of the ’80s, I have to say that the Back to the Future trilogy holds a special place in my heart and in the hearts of countless other fans. The first movie was a revelation when it came out, with its unique blend of humor, adventure, and science fiction. It’s not often that you find a film where the special effects are just as impressive now as they were back then.
Greetings…McFly! It’s widely acknowledged that the Back to the Future series is not only one of the most memorable science fiction movie franchises, but also one of the most iconic in any genre, across all time. In these 1980s movies, a DeLorean car equipped for time travel takes a teen and an eccentric scientist on adventures through time, with the potential to change history along the way.
In 2007, the Library of Congress chose “Back to the Future” for preservation in the National Film Registry. This film catapulted Michael J. Fox into national fame, with fans finding it hard to imagine anyone else embodying Marty McFly or Christopher Lloyd as Emmett “Doc” Brown. Now, you can revisit the magic of “Back to the Future” and introduce a new wave of fans to the series since all three movies in the franchise are now available on NBC’s Peacock streaming platform.
What Is Back to the Future About?
In 1985, Marty McFly (Fox), a young man, finds himself at a crossroads in life, feeling disillusioned about his future. One fateful evening, he encounters a scientist named Emmett “Doc” Brown (Lloyd) in a shopping mall parking lot. Remarkably, Doc reveals to him a time machine, which he has ingeniously designed by modifying a DeLorean car – an iconic vehicle that has become synonymous with the movie ever since.
30 years ago, in 1955, a thought sparked within me about creating this extraordinary machine. Excited to experience it firsthand, I punched in that date and time into the device. However, just as I was about to embark on my journey, a group of terrorists appeared, possibly the same ones who had been after the plutonium I’d used to build this very machine. In a heart-pounding twist, Marty manages to flee in the DeLorean mere moments before disaster struck. Yet, with the time travel function already engaged, he found himself transported back to 1955.
In that predicament, Marty encounters the adolescent iterations of his parents and discovers their past lives. Strangely, his mother Lorraine (played by Lea Thompson) becomes smitten with him, mistaking him for a charismatic new student rather than her future son. However, Marty soon recognizes that his presence might be impeding his mother’s romantic involvement with his father, George (portrayed by Crispin Glover). If this romance transpires, it could lead to the non-existence of Marty and his siblings.
Initially, Marty performed rock ‘n roll concerts before the genre became famous, had dialogues with his past and future selves, and experienced lightning strikes, ultimately returning home. Indeed, he altered everyone’s lives, but for the best. Now, Doc cautions him that there are dreadful occurrences in the future requiring Marty’s assistance to rectify. Notably, these events will significantly affect his future child.
How Back to the Future II And III Continue the Story
Four years after its initial release in 1985, Back to the Future II picks up where we left off with Marty and Doc, but this time they’re not going back to the past. Instead, they find themselves traveling to the year 2015 to prevent Marty’s son from making a mistake he’ll regret. In the future, Marty has to pose as his son, Marty Jr., who bears a striking resemblance to him (and is portrayed by Fox too). His mission is to stop his son from carrying out a harmful deed.
However, Marty (Sr.) and Doc find themselves in a predicament when Biff, having learned about the time machine, decides to steal it and journey back in time. This self-serving act leads to a chain reaction of terrible occurrences that significantly alter their lives and those around them. Consequently, they are compelled to return to 1955 once more to prevent Biff from his past actions and the devastating consequences they’ve wrought.
After Back to the Future II, came Back to the Future Part III, which was filmed simultaneously with the second film and hit theaters a year later in 1990. In this movie, we find Marty picking up from the storyline of the second film, as he discovers that Doc has journeyed even further back in time and is stranded in 1885. Unfortunately, Doc meets his demise at the hands of Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen, who happens to be Biff’s great-grandfather. Given the circumstances, it’s only natural that Marty decides to travel back to 1885 in an effort to save his friend. However, complications arise when Marty learns that Doc has developed feelings for a woman named Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen).
In this film, you’ll encounter fresh adversaries such as pursuing cavalry, Native Americans, a menacing bear, and Buford’s ominous gang – it’s reminiscent of the Wild West, or in other words, has a distinct cowboy vibe. Amusingly, Marty adopts the moniker Clint Eastwood, seeing as no one from that era would recognize this figure. Interestingly, he portrays his great-grandfather, Seamus McFly, in this story. Fortunately, it concludes on a positive note, which is fortunate given that this film serves as the final installment of what would eventually evolve into a trilogy.
Why Do People Love Back to the Future?
In simple terms, all three films in the Back to the Time Trilogy deliver wholesome entertainment suitable for everyone. The narrative jumps between different time periods, giving viewers a peek at the past and speculations about what writers believed the future might be like 25 years ahead. What modern audiences will find fascinating is that the movies, particularly Back to the Future II, seem to have accurately predicted some aspects of the present. Some even argue it foreshadowed the future.
In this film, several technologies shown in it are already available today, such as fingerprint identification, voice control technology, 3D cinema, tablets, video conferencing, augmented and virtual reality, drones, digital cameras, flat-screen TVs mounted on walls, and even mobile credit card readers. However, the self-lacing shoes that Nike tried to develop with the Nike Mag remain a promising innovation for the future.
To put it simply, Fox was an ideal selection for the role, managing to authentically portray a lovable, adolescent 17-year-old despite being in his twenties when the movie first came out. Initially, he wasn’t the first choice for the part, but after writer and director Robert Zemeckis found that Eric Stoltz didn’t suit the role, Fox stepped in. This was surprising given his busy schedule on Family Ties and Zemeckis’ initial doubts about his ability to play the clumsy McFly character. At the time, Fox was primarily known for his strict role as Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom, but now he and his distinctive red vest have become synonymous with the iconic Back to the Future series.
Critical and Commercial Reception
Regarding supporters, they’ve made it abundantly clear about their feelings towards the movies. In particular, “Back to the Future” has garnered significant acclaim with a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an even more impressive 95% audience score. As CBR’s Hannah Rose puts it, “It’s a timeless tale of a hero’s journey, exploring the growth of a character discovering his true power.” Victoria Luxford from the BBC describes the movie as “meticulously crafted, a true classic…a creative and heartwarming story filled with wit and humor.
Regarding the sequel film, “Back to the Future Part II”, both critics and fans didn’t shower it with as much praise as they did the original. Some criticisms pointed towards similarities in plot ideas from the first movie and an excess of technological gadgetry. Interestingly, these same aspects that drew criticism are also what many fans appreciate about the film. For instance, Rachel Wagner, a critic, found the “likeable cast and references to the first movie” enjoyable, while Tom Tunney from Empire Magazine deemed it simply “entertaining.
The third installment of the series has received quite positive feedback, boasting an 81% critics’ approval rating and 78% audience satisfaction. This indicates that although both sequels are excellent, they can’t compare to the original. In essence, critic Danielle Solzman describes it as a “revisit to the formula for a fulfilling end to the trilogy and an enjoyable adventure in the Old West.
In today’s world, it’s hard to come across someone who hasn’t watched the initial “Back to the Future” movie. Almost everyone on earth is familiar with its existence. What’s even more uncommon is encountering someone who has already seen it and doesn’t enjoy rewatching these films repeatedly. Luckily, a subscription to Peacock provides an excellent opportunity for a marathon viewing of “Back to the Future,” making such an evening a tantalizing prospect.
Stream Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II, and Back to the Future Part III on Peacock.
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2024-11-08 01:32