Back to the Future

Rating: 5/5

An absolute classic from its' decade, Back to the Future is a film that never ceases to entertain.

Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a so-called "slacker" by his principal, is the typical 80's teenager. He skateboards, plays guitar, and is more focused on his girlfriend than his schoolwork. What sets him apart from the rest, is his friendship with the eccentric Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd). When Doc Brown asks Marty to meet him in the mall parking lot, Marty knows something strange is going on.

At the mall, Marty learns that Doc Brown has invented a time machine out of a DeLorean. Originally only there to video tape Brown's monumental invention, Marty finds himself inside the time machine and heading back to the year 1955. It is there that Marty must not only discover how to get back to his own time, but how to get his parents together so his future isn't completely erased.

The 80's was one of the best decades for film, and Back to the Future plays a crucial part in that concept. The story itself is very unique, and probably wouldn't have had the same impact had it been made today. There were so many developments to be seen between the 1950's to the 1980's, that even if you look at just the clothing and technology, the changes a character would experience by traveling back in history during that time frame would be much more drastic than it would be if someone in present day 2019 went back thirty years. It's like Robert Zemekis discovered a cinematic sweet spot by making the film in the decade he did, and because of that it was a hit movie turned into an icon.

For me, I would love to go back to the 1950's, as it is a decade that has always fascinated me, but Marty's situation proves to be quite the harrowing experience. This movie shows its' cleverness as Marty tries to adapt to the decade he has been transported to. Such a small notion like mentioning a rerun seems like it's so insignificant it needn't be included, but by adding it in, Back to the Future inserts a believability and humor to the character and the story.

Given the time in which this film came out, it should be commended for the age makeup work that was done for all the characters that were supposed to be adults in the 80s and then teens in the 50's. Specifically Crispin Glover's portrayal of Marty's father. His transformation looked the most natural in comparison to the others who had to age backwards. In the beginning of the movie when he is home and laughing at the old reruns on the TV, you can see the age lines on his forehead, and for all intents and purposes, he looks like a middle aged man. Then in the 1950's when Marty meets his teenaged father at the diner, there is an obvious yet realistic change in Glover's appearance. Glover's character looks like he belongs in high school, unlike many mainstream movies where adults play teenagers. The fact that the film can have him go from playing 18 to 38 and make it appear fairly realistic says a lot about why Back to the Future has remained as popular as it has for all these years. Even though some of the age makeup may not be as great as Glover's, it still adds an authenticity to the overall film experience.

The subsequent Back to the Future films really can't hold a candle to the original, especially if you look at the second one, but in their defense, it is practically impossible to live up to the greatness of this movie. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who can't find something to love about Back to the Future.

Winner- 1985 Best Effects, Best Sound Editing- Charles L. Campbell & Robert R. Rutledge