After recently watching ‘Back To The Future’ in one of those late night – too much coffee, too many cigs kind of nights - myself and Yodasnoog noticed all the clever coincidences that are involved in all three films. Now, in my opinion, this is the second best trilogy series ever made. ‘Star Wars’ was made with sequels in mind just like ‘Back To The Future’.

After Eric Stoltz was dropped for “not being teenage enough”, Michael J.Fox signed to become my hero, Marty McFly. Now McFly was not cool for just time travel, the boy gave me so many childhood ideas like skateboarding, puffer-coats and skipping school. I even remember I once slept in my clothes, just so I could be as hard and cool as him. He is my teenage icon of the 80’s. Michael J. Fox plays the part with perfection and easily makes it his own although if the DVD disc contains the deleted Stoltz material it will be interesting to see the outcome.

The McFlys

The movie made a rather brash car into a movie phenomenon. It placed the car inside film history. The car would now immediately make you think of the film. Even the classic 88mph theory would have, at the time, made the few drivers of the car, complete speed freaks. Now I think the producers had deals with computer game companies, when they came up with the idea of the ‘hover board’. It is so brilliant, but yet so simple. A skateboard that just levitates. Wonderful. Now every single Back to the Future computer game of the 80’s contained Marty on the board. Brilliant thinking guys.

Marty and Doc Brown

Robert Zemeckis created an enjoyable action/fantasy comedy, which, at times, becomes a complex construction of multi-narrative storytelling. The films explain the dangers of time-travel and the consequences of knowing your own fate. The film could be seen as heavy but, thanks to Zemeckis and cast, is always light-hearted.

The film series or trilogy, which was originally, titled ‘Paradox’, has some of the best references and clever coincidences in movie history. Considering Part 2 and 3 were filmed together, the coincidence in the first movie still shines through into the second and third. All made with superb detail. Like, for instance, near the end of the first film, Doc Emmett Brown is trying to fix up the cable to the clock tower. He is just checking a few last minute weather problems. Now if you look in the background you can see the future doc riding past on his bike like he does in the second movie. Watch carefully. Another scene is when the ‘Twin Pines Mall’ becomes the ‘Lone Pine Mall’ after Marty runs over one of the palm trees in 1955 – You have to be like a hawk to spot that one.

Alternate 1985 Biff Tannen (Thomas F Wilson) in Back to the Future 2

Original cast member Crispin Glover, who played peeping tom loser George McFly and once tried to kick David Letterman in the head during an interview, pulled out of work on the sequels due to mental problems – (He probably tried to follow the plot a little too seriously…ahem!) Although we are not sure if he is better, as he was last seen in ‘Charlie’s Angels’. Also lets not forget a little appearance from one Lea Thompson. The part of playing Marty’s mother could have ended up being absolutely awful had it not been for her brilliant comedy acting. She is also one of Yodasnoog’s favourite women ever! (*This is true this is* - Yodasnoog)

Alternate 1985 Lorraine McFly (LeaThompson) in BTTF 2

No one knows what is happening with a DVD release? There is so much rubbish being released on DVD at the moment it is depressing to think this is collecting dust. It should have been released straight away. Let’s just hope it’s packed with extras and the trilogy is nicely packaged. It should contain Interviews; making of… subtitles; photo gallery; section on the actors; deleted scenes and an audio commentary with Zemeckis, Fox and Lloyd. Deleted scenes should include 50’s doc looking in 80’s doc’s bag and finding a hairdryer and playboy. In the second movie, the school is burnt down and when old biff stumbles out of the car, after he visits his young self and hands over the sports book, he then lies down and disappears.. Hurry up and release these fantastic films, and release a fourth installment? No….that will never happen?

BACK TO FRONT