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Back to the Future - The Complete Trilogy (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (22 - 24 of 65 Reviews)

You built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?
If you were high school age and could go back in time to when your parents were high school age... would you like them? That basic concept eventually grew into the wildly entertaining BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY. Director Robert Zemeckis (WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT) does an amazing job relaying a complicated, technical story without sacrificing heart, intelligence and humor.

Although the films are not all perfect, this set gets the full five star treatment for the loaded materials in addition to the gorgeous transfers. BE AWARE that Universal messed up on earlier printing. Avoid disc sets that have a "FIRST TIME ON DVD" sticker! They have framing problems on the second two discs.

In the first film (5 STARS) Precocious Marty McFly joins his inventor friend, wildly intelligent Doctor Emmett Brown in a bit of time travel. But what starts as a scientific experiment becomes a desperate rush to restore the already written past. The first film is itself a true classic, plenty of heart and plenty of humor.

In the Second film (3 STARS) Zemeckis takes a different approach. Both the follow-up films had doubled the production budget and it shows on the screen. The second film is filled with special effects and expensive settings: Not only do we return to 1955 Hill Valley Courtyard Square again, but also 2015, and an alternate universe 1985, each a total re-design of familiar landmarks in the film. Due to the complex nature of the time travel concept introduced for this film, we see similar alternate views of Marty's neighborhood and even an extra reproduction of the "Enchantment under the Sea Dance". The second film is definitely lacking in the heart department, but its time travel concepts are surely entertaining.

In the Last film (4 STARS) we learn that Doc Brown, now living in the old west, is soon to be killed, shot in the back by an early generation of Tannen. Marty heads back in time to rescue his inventor friend. But what starts as a simple rescue becomes a desperate rush to restore the already written past.

Michael J. Fox is quite a physical performer in these films. He runs, skateboards, rides a horse, jumps a train, and executes several pratfalls like a pro. His FAMILY TIES comedic timing is put to use as Marty, replacing an unexciting few days of shooting with Eric Stoltz in the role. Christopher Lloyd puts in the finest, funniest performance as he becomes Doc Brown, a role he would continue for all three films, an animated series, and even a theme park attraction introduction.

Several performers in the films portray their characters at different ages and under different circumstances. Lea Thompson (CAROLINE IN THE CITY) is Lorraine Baines at 17, Lorraine Baines McFly, slight alcoholic at 47, Lorraine Baines McFly, hip, awesome mom also at 47, and Maggie McFly, wild west woman. Crispin Glover (RIVER'S EDGE) has a similar call sheet, although his performance as the young George Mcfly is borderline genius and creepy and is only in the first film. Thomas Wilson plays various villains, all part of the Tannen family tree. He puts in his best performance in the third film as the earliest of Tannens.

To be nit-picky, some of the make-up work is the biggest detraction of the films, or possibly the performers work while in that make-up. It is a constant reminder that there are actors on screen. But in such a well-oiled time machine, it doesn't weigh on the success.

Time Travel is a staple of science fiction, and Back to the Future fits the bill, however, these films are not special effects machines. Fewer than 40 Special Effects shots pepper the entire first film, and there is nothing futuristic about 1950s Hill Valley. Rather, this is a science fiction story that works off of character and emotion. The second film doubled the budget and the special effects also blossom, but the third film again tones them down.

One unappreciated high point of the film are the musical scores by Alan Silvestri! They are rich orchestral tracks, successfully making a small film huge. His orchestral work is joined by some pop songs including two by Huey Lewis. Lewis, who has a cameo in the first film also created the Oscar nominated POWER OF LOVE. The third film features DOUBLEBACK, a song by ZZTop that the band performs during the festival.

Back to the Future is Hollywood at its best: sinking its teeth into a concept that floated around Hollywood for years with nobody able to grasp the potential. That is until it came to a guy named Steven Spielberg.

Great Scott!


Greatest Trilogy Ever! (next to Star Wars)
This is one of the greatest trilogies ever to come to DVD. I love the time travel stuff and it was well thought through. Though after watching all 3 a million times I do tend to find discrepancies in the time travel and the history it changes.
The photo in 1955 shows Emmitts tombstone mentions Clara on it. This is before Marty goes back and the revene is still called Clayton revene. Emmitt doesn't rescue her until Marty shows up. So how did he meet her previously (as stated on the tombstone) if she was dead in the revene?
In 1885 if Emmitt is there via the time machine shouldn't there be 2 time machines then if Marty comes back to 1885 as well? Thus Emmitt could have replaced the fuel line and had leftover gas. (maybe)
In part 2 when Old Tannen steals the time machine in the future goes back and gives the Almanac to himself in the past then how did he make it back to his future? I did notice the extras does show him come back and disappear but was not in the main Movie.
Reguardless, the movies rock. I can watch all 3 over and over.

Great Timing
You sent the movie really fast, even though I choosed super saving shipping

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