Trilogies, hmm? You either love ‘em or you, errr, love ‘em methinks. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Alien (okay, I am ignoring resurrection) and Back to the Future. This trilogy reeks of my childhood and I could not think of a better set of films to make use of DVD’s excellent extra stuff.
The films What do you mean you haven’t seen them? Are you mad?!!?
Back to the Future
Marty McFly (Michael J Fox), a slacker in 1985, gets transported back to 1955, in a time machine built into the shell of a DeLorean (Well if you’re going to build a time machine why not do it with style), to escape some Libyans who have killed his best friend and inventor of the time machine, Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd). In 1955, he meets his mum, dad and an earlier version of Doc Brown and gets himself into a whole heap of trouble including having to go on a date with his mum, whilst trying all the time to put right all the paradoxes he has created along the way. Full of in-jokes and incredible subtleties that make this film a treat. The acting is superb if not a little excessive and the ideas inherent
in this film including the social differences between 1985 and 1955 make it a great film.
Back to the Future Pt. 2
You thought the first one was confusing; wait till you see the second one. Straight after the events of the first film, Doc Brown turns up to tell Marty McFly that something has to be done about his kids in the future. So to 2015 they go in an attempt to put right ‘future history’. But it doesn’t stop there, oh no. When the future version of Biff (the bully from the first movie) steals the DeLorean to make his 1955 self rich, Marty and Doc have to put right even more problems than they had to first time out. Zipping between 2015, 1985 and 1955, including alternate versions of these years makes for a very confusing film, (my mum still doesn’t get it). Mistaken identities and an 80’s look on the world of the future gives this film a great comedy edge. The acting is as good, if not better than the first and the ideas for the future are superb. Also, the events of this film are very cleverly interwoven with the events from the first film, which adds an extra wow!
Back to the Future Pt. 3
After finding out that Doc Brown has been transported to 1885, the old west, Marty heads back to rescue him and gets caught up in a pseudo-western adventure under the guise of Clint Eastwood. Again he finds himself in trouble (He never learns!) meeting Biff’s great great granddad, Buford ‘Mad Dog’ Tannon and creating some more paradoxes that need resolving. Although not as confusing as the second one this is still a Back to the Future Film and no mistakes. There are the same in-jokes and recurring themes, Manure, Skateboarding and of course that DeLorean.
It is suprising that even now they don’t look dated and the effects look as fresh now as they did when I saw these in the cinema (well, I saw 2 and 3 in the cinema)
The Extras The films are enough to warrant the purchase of this box set, but if you want more, then as they say at BK, You Got It. There are loads of extras on these three disks including trailers for all three movies as well as storyboard to movie comparisons. A commentary for Pt 1 only leaves you a little miffed but the Three-part documentary (a part on each disc) and a featurette for Pt 1 and 2 more than make up for it. In these you get to learn a hell of a lot of behind the scenes stuff. Also there are production archives, including photos and props and deleted scenes (drool) and out-takes. Deleted scenes and out-takes are an important addition to DVD releases I think because they can actually give you a extra view of the charactors that doesn’t come across in the final cut. All this and more (Hover board test footage, make up tests, ZZ Top music video, interesting fact from Universal Videos and even an ET DVD trailer) make this an essential addition to anybody’s collection. There are some bad points to these though and that is that they don’t last as long as you expect, especially the deleted scenes and out-takes and you left felling that you want some more or am I just being critical. No, I am just being critical, GET IT!!!
The packaging for this product is really good, with the fold out inside a cardboard sleeve. Back to the Future on the front in it traditional red and yellow lettering and the back of the DeLorean leaving flaming trails as it goes. You can’t miss it.
How Much? All this for a bargain £29.97 from ASDA, how can you say no?
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
The price is good and the films I remember fondly. I'm glad to hear you don't think they have dated.
Lancashire_Angel 17.08.2003 23:22
Sorry - to be a bit more specific - things like who played George & Lorraine McFly and the fact that Jennifer is played by 2 different actresses, taken over by Elisabeth Shue in film 2 who is a very popular actress of the time.
Cabron xx
Lancashire_Angel 17.08.2003 23:19
I love these films. Back To The Future was the very first movie I ever saw at the cinema and made a lasting impression! The extras sound good and I think I'll be getting this one. Just a point if readers have never seen these films before (I know, I know, sacrilege, but it is possible) they might want to know who plays the main parts in the film as this can help you decide :-)Great op though!
Cabron xx
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Eighties accidentally sent back to 1955 in a plutonium-powered Delorean time machine invented by mad scientist Christopher Lloyd. During his hysterical, amazing ...
Advantages: A hilarious and easy to watch set of films that are withstanding the passage of time well... Disadvantages: Directors commentary only available for part one...
very helpful by (100%):
