I doubt I will be able to do Steven Spielberg's trilogy justice but here goes anyway. These films which date back to 1985, with the first offering being Back to the Future, were so much of the day. I have tried not to include any plot spoilers for the uninitiated.

BACK TO THE FUTURE I
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Marty McFly, played by Michael J Fox, in his heyday is still at high school in America. His best friend is the local ageing and eccentric scientist, come loveable nutcase, Doc. Doc has been experimenting with time travel using an adapted De Lorean car. De Lorean cars were the ultimate in modern travel back in the 80's but all too soon died a death. After money troubles I think the manufacturer disappeared from the scene and the cars became history.

After a series of events Marty ends up back in 1955, in his hometown with his parents, to name a but few, back in their teen years. His presence looks set to destroy any romance they may have and in so doing jeopardises many things, including his birth and very existence . This film has Marty trying to put things right whilst eventually getting back to his reality in 1985.

This film is clever, funny and great entertainment. It is possibly past it's sell by date now for me, but only just and I have seen it millions of times, or so it seems. For the new viewer it should still have plenty of appeal as it has almost become a classic. Among the stars there is a cameo performance of Huey Lewis , and music from Huey Lewis and the News. You will probably have to be over thirty to have heard of them.

BACK TO THE FUTURE II
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Back to the Future II seemed to be a long time coming. Four years in all. It had much the same cast and the same magic. This time though, after Marty has finally got home from the first episode, he is off again but to the future to sort out his children, those of his future marriage with his childhood sweetheart. This time we are in 2015.

The plot has enough clever twists to have more than just a comedy appeal. It is intriguing trying to suss where the plot is leading. We see a future where all has not gone well for the adult Marty and his family. Throughout these films there is a family acquaintance who plays a big part in their lives, Biff. He was the school bully of the 1950's.

Here the De Lorean, in common with traffic of the day, flies. Skateboards have become Hover boards and there have been many changes. Marty has a few things to put right before he can return to 1985.

BACK TO THE FUTURE III
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Finally Back to The Future III has Doc Emmett Brown stuck were BTTF II left off for him. This time we share the pairs exploits back in the wild west. When we first watched BTTF II at the cinema and we saw clips of this film we just could not wait to see it. Suffice to say a year later when this film was released we were somewhat disappointed. As usual with follow ups it did not live up to the hype. It fits fairly well with the other two films but is, to my mind, the weakest of the three.

The plot is as amusing and intriguing as ever but it just seemed to fall a little short. Whether this was because this winning combination had already had their day or the plot was a little more predictable than the others I don't know. However we have still watched it a few times and still watch I and II back to back occasionally.

They are the sort of films that you can still laugh at after seeing a fair few times. Be it Einstein, Doc's shaggy dog with it's automatic feeding contraption, the characters or strange little happenings, you can still spot something new after you have seen the films before.

All three films are good all round family entertainment and as such I cannot find anything offensive or even slightly scary for youngsters. We bought the trilogy for £9.99 at Virgin within the last year. You can watch any as a stand alone film but I think it is best if you watch them in order the first time around.

There is another disc included which I think will be various extras. As we are still a little upside down from the floods I cannot actually find the set at the moment. When it comes to light I shall list the extras, if I remember .

Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Produced by Steven Spielberg
Written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale.

Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, Marty McFly Jr.(son of Marty, Marlene McFly(daughter of Marty), and Seamus McFly (great-great-grandfather of Marty). It took me a while to spot that Michael J Fox was playing the daughter as well as others.
Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown
Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen, Griff Tannen (grandson of Biff) and Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen(great-grandfather of Biff). The additional characters were from the second and third films.
Lea Thompson as Lorraine Baines (McFly/Tannen- in both cases Marty's Mum) and Maggie McFly (Seamus' wife, Marty's great-great-grandmother)
James Tolkan as Mr. Strickland and Chief Marshal James Strickland (grandfather)
Claudia Wells and Elisabeth Shue as Jennifer Parker (McFly), Marty's sweetheart.
Crispin Glover and Jeffrey Weissman as George McFly, Marty's Dad.
Mary Steenburgen as Clara Clayton in BTTF III. She plays Doc's love interest.

RECOMMENDATION
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These three films are exceptionally entertaining with great performances from all. The theme of time travel which runs through them all is confusing but is portrayed in such a way that it is believable, plausible and almost understandable, but not quite. Recommended with a 10/10.

Thanks for reading
Copyright Eiley 2008