It just struck me today when I read a comment somewhere that we are now further away in time from Marty McFly’s 1985 (35 years) than he was from the distant 1955 he travelled back to (30 years).
Which led me to ponder Back To The Future and how good it is. I saw it when I was 12 and it came out in the cinema, and even then I could sense it was something special. It has remained a firm favourite ever since. From a technical standpoint, it is an absolute tour de force, and (as many have pointed out) there is not one once of fat on the script at all. Every scene drips with meaning and later relevance, and the whole plot fits together like clockwork. The humour and sense of joy bursts out of every scene. The opening (wordless) panning shot is a masterclass in setting up all a set of plot strands and setting the tone (a schoolboy with a guitar, a machine for feeding a dog, the missing plutonium, the ticking clocks, the mad scientist….).
It hasn’t even dated like many other 80s movies, with an incomparable orchestral soundtrack and very little 80s sleaziness or questionable politics. Despite his materialistic aspirations, Marty McFly is still recognisably a “nice guy” and someone you can trust.
Anyway, it also made me wonder. Is there anyone who doesn’t like Back To The Future? Does such a person exist? I find it hard to believe anyone could watch it and not be totally won over. And I can’t see there is anything at all to criticise on a technical level. Anyone brave enough here to admit they don’t like it and want to say why? It’s okay, I won’t tell you to make like a tree and get out of here.
Chrisf says
I would concur that it is one of the most perfect films and has aged reasonably well.
Which got me thinking……. after the 2000s poll fest has concluded, is it time for the AW top 10 films of all time……….
moseleymoles says
Yesss thisss.
salwarpe says
For some reason, I think it’s been 5 years since the last poll.
Arthur Cowslip says
Ooh, I would take part in another poll…
I have no recollection of that poll and I seem to have chosen Blade Runner as my favourite film (as well as being known by my real identity for some reason – I totally forgot that as well….)….
mikethep says
Well, I haven’t seen it since 1985, so maybe it’s time to revisit it.
Adam Smith seems to agree with you: “To put it bluntly: if you don’t like Back To The Future, it’s difficult to believe that you like films at all.”
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/back-future-review/
Arthur Cowslip says
“To put it bluntly: if you don’t like Back To The Future, it’s difficult to believe that you like films at all.”
I would definitely agree with that! Which is why I am very interested to see if anyone has an argument that they don’t actually like it….
Rigid Digit says
My brother loved that film at the time.
In line with sibling rivalry rules, I didn’t – on the basis that he did.
No comment on the film, it’s just those are the rules.
See also Star Wars.
In the film (set in 1955), Marty invents Rock n Roll by playing a Gibson guitar – a 1958 Gibson ES345.
These things are important …
paulwright says
Its ruined for me now
Billybob Dylan says
I read years ago that Norm’s Rare Guitars rented that guitar for the movie. Norm told them that it wasn’t period correct but they didn’t care. It was red! And they extended the rental to the point where they could have bought that guitar twice over.
robert says
https://reverb.com/uk/news/the-true-story-of-the-time-traveling-gibson-in-back-to-the-future?locale=en-GB
NigelT says
Spot on Arthur. The first is the best of the three obviously, although 2 and 3 are immensely enjoyable too.
I have the same feeling for American Graffiti and have watched it endless times, but some friends have been a bit underwhelmed after I have enthusiastically recommended it. Personally I cannot understand how anyone could resist it, but clearly I’m wrong!
dai says
“Most perfect film of all time”? A bit hyperbolic. I might say Casablanca. I remember watching it with an old school friend at the time who had a degree in film studies. After about 30 mins he whispered to me “This is great”
I think if made today they may not have his mother fancying him otherwise holds up pretty well despite the inevitably flawed view of the future (which was 5 years ago). An extremely well scripted film with decent effects and good performances. Certainly one of the best from the mediocre 80s. Not the most perfect film ever made though.
Was considering starting a film poll actually in a week or two.
Sewer Robot says
Mom fancying him – while an unsavoury thought – is just a quirk of the time travel plot.
Dad being a peeping tom on the other hand..
(I think there are rumours in the wind of a re-make btw)
dai says
Yes it was fine in the original film, but not sure they would do that today,
Peeping Tom, yes I forgot about that.
Arthur Cowslip says
Hyperbole is my middle name. But I stand by my statement!
I would heartily agree with Casablanca – however the difference is I can contemplate someone not really enjoying Casablanca. (Maybe thinking it is slow? Or too hammy?) I can’t get my head around someone not enjoying Back To The Future.
chiz says
Not only hyperbolic, but redundant too, ‘perfect’ being an absolute
Arthur Cowslip says
Redundant is my other middle name.
Arthur Cowslip says
Oh, and the “flawed view of the future” was the sequel, not the original. I don’t deny the sequels have maybe a few problems (although I stand by them as well).
Slug says
If nothing else, it marks the high water mark of the padded gilet in cinematic costume design. We will always have that.
dai says
OK. Part 3 > Part 2 I think. And not just because of Mary Steenburgen (swoons).
Gatz says
I’m sure there is some clever explanation for this, but as Marty grew up wouldn’t his parents notice the remarkable resemblance to that Calvin guy who helped them get together on prom night?
Sewer Robot says
It hasn’t gone unnoticed:
Next, you’ll be asking how many cousins called Marvin does Chuck Berry have..?
GCU Grey Area says
Possible spoiler alert.
There’s a similar paradox in Terry Pratchett’s truly great novel ‘The Night Watch’, in which Sam Vimes goes back in time to the pivotal moment in the City Watch’s past. He is accepted as ‘John Keel’ – a sergeant at that time – who mentors the young Constable Sam Vimes. Noone* seems to notice as time goes by that ‘Keel’ is/was Vimes.
*Except Vetinari, of course. Oh, and the History Monks.
paulwright says
Possibly Pratchett’s greatest
Kid Dynamite says
Here’s a man who has never seen Aliens
Arthur Cowslip says
Seen it, thought it was decent but not stellar. I find the military vibe too kitsch and macho, although tempered a bit by having a female lead and a slight satirical tone. Good movie, but it’s no Back To The Future!
Slug says
Are you sure you’re not thinking of one of the Alien sequels rather than the original? There is a military vibe about the follow-ups, but hardly in the first movie. The original is still the best.
True, it’s no BTTF but that’s because its an entirely different type of movie and not aimed mainly at kids.
Black Celebration says
Saw it recently with my 11 year old twins – they loved it. It has aged really well too – even the Huey Lewis number.
BFG says
Agree. Watched it recently with my 3 aged 11, 9 and 5. They all sat still throughout & loved it. As did I.
Barry Blue says
I was so offended by a privileged white male claiming to invent rock n roll that I invented ‘cancel culture’ on the spot. The film is dead to me.
slotbadger says
It’s definitely one of my favourite films of all time, it’s sheer joy. The sequel is not bad too – the prescient prediction of a Trump like maniac running the city is creepy
DrJ says
I rewatched it recently and, well, I’ll hand over to John Mulaney…
Arthur Cowslip says
They don’t explain how Marty and Doc are friends…. He goes back in time and almost sleeps with his mum… It’s called “back to the future” not “back to the past”…. He’s just pointing out what makes the film so good!
Tiggerlion says
Back To The Future is great fun. However, I prefer Time Bandits, which is even funnier (if less complicated). My favourite of the eighties is Bladerunner. Brazil, another dystopian future movie is almost as good.
Mike_H says
I think I would go with Brazil.
Mike_H says
..or quite possibly The Blues Brothers.
dai says
Not Blues Brothers. Not especially funny, overlong and relies on cars crashing all the time to sustain interest.
Best of the 80s? Withnail and I.
Twang says
That’s how I remembered it too but a few years ago watched it with the boy and it’s a lot funnier than I thought. Almost every line is funny.
Mike_H says
For years I kept catching either the beginning or the end of Withnail & I on late-night TV. It was a long, long time before I saw it all the way through in a single sitting. Meanwhile just about everyone was raving about how amazing it was.
I thought it was merely OK. Haven’t had any desire to re-watch it since.
Arthur Cowslip says
Are you me?
Tonnes of brilliant throwaway lines and little touches in Time Bandits. “Stinking Kevin!”
Gatz says
If one of your criteria is quotability I would have to put Ghostbusters above either (along with Tap of course).
You disagree?
Back off man, I’m a scientist.
Arthur Cowslip says
That’s one big Twinkie.
Billybob Dylan says
I read somewhere that a course in film making at some US university uses ‘Back to the Future’ as its exemplar of the perfect movie script.
salwarpe says
Even with Andie McDowell, I rate Groundhog Day as the perfect film – so much in it. How many decades does he spend reliving the same day?
Arthur Cowslip says
Another good one.
I actually love Four Weddings And A Funeral as well, which makes me worryingly close to being an Andie McDowell fan.
Slug says
“He’s in every film, sometimes wearing a towel
And if it isn’t him, you get Andie McDowell”
Tiggerlion says
I absolutely adore Groundhog Day. I could watch it forever. A nineties film, no less.
Black Celebration says
There’s a joke in there somewhere- I love Groundhog Day. I could watch it again and again.
dai says
Groundhog Day really is a true masterpiece and the fact it reaches that status even with McDowell is unbelievable. Her best performance I think though (not saying much).
Twang says
I read an article about this. Based on the skills he develops it something like 15 years I recall.
Sewer Robot says
Bonus: without Doc and Marty, we don’t get Rick and Morty
Arthur Cowslip says
I notice that even though some naysayers have taken issue with my “most perfect film of all time” declaration, no one yet has been brave enough to suggest they don’t actually like the film. Is there anyone out there who genuinely doesn’t like it and is willing to say so?
I can’t imagine we would ever get this level of consensus with a band!
Gatz says
In my student days when it was released a few of us went as an afternoon outing. It was Raz’s first viewing, but the rest of us had seen it before. As we left Raz said, ‘Well, it’s official! I’m the only person who doesn’t like Back to the Future.’ He has issues with the science it seems.
So there we have it. I haven’t seen him in decades, so he may have ch aged his mind, but do remember knowing a guy who didn’t like it 35 years ago.
Rigid Digit says
I can’t say I genuinely dislike it – just don’t care for it
(see the sibling rivalry argument above).
Wife and kids love it, but me – if I hadn’t been such a daft bugger at 14 disliking stuff my brother liked, then I can see the attraction.
Simpering wreck says
I may be the closest you’ll get, Arthur. I don’t like it, because I can’t like it, because I’ve never actually seen it! Its release coincided with our starting a family, and more or less overnight, I gave up going to the cinema. On the few occasions I’ve been back since, I’ve quickly become irritated by the adverts and the other punters and vowed never to go again. I’ve never bothered to seek out Back to the Future on TV or DVD because I’m not that interested. I may just be the curmudgeonly living proof of that quote further up the thread that if you don’t like this, you don’t like cinema. Sorry!
Arthur Cowslip says
You must be missing out on a lot! Have you seen Star Ward, Jaws, Indiana Jones? Casablanca? One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest?
Arthur Cowslip says
“Star Ward”! Sorry, I have a cold.
davebigpicture says
“A second class return to Nottingham please”
Kaisfatdad says
Hilarious, Dave! You can’t beat a good vintage ad.
Twang says
Watched it numerous times with Twang Jr when he was younger. It’s great, though The Godfather, When Harry Met Sally, Room with a View and Blazing Saddles beat it easily.
DanP says
There’s a real joyousness about it. And a sense that, like much great art, so much technical skill and craft combines to make it seem effortless and generous. Michael J Fox was always watchable, and the music is vibrant. Might show the kids tonight.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I don’t dislike BTTF but it’s pretty far from being a masterpiece. Groundhog Day on the other hand is indeed a masterpiece.
Marwood says
The trilogy was on hard rotation on ITV 2 (or3 or 4) for years, and we’d often stumble across one of them when channel surfing. A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
However it wasn’t until it was shown on C4 or Film 4 that I saw the uncut version of BTTF for the first time since the 80s.. Blimey, the terrorist scene is pretty brutal and the Biff’s thwarted assault on Marty’s mum is disturbing. Biff comes across a sneering bully for much of the time, but he is horribly malevolent in that scene.
count jim moriarty says
Of course, the entire premise of this thread is invalid, because perfection is an absolute, nothing can be ‘most perfect’.
The perfect film? The correct answer is obviously Some Like It Hot.
Thread closed.
Arthur Cowslip says
Nope, I don’t care for it and yes, I’ve watched it. I don’t remember much but I remember the humour being really corny, and I remember a scene (or series of scenes) with Tony Curtis doing an impression of Cary Grant that was unfunny and went on for AGES. Hardly the taut, lean Back To The Future… In My Humble Opinion!
As for perfection being an absolute, I say “pah”. “Most Perfect” makes linguistic sense if not logical sense. I think Blade Runner is a “perfect” film, but I think Back To The Future is “more perfect” because I think its perfection is more universally accepted….
dai says
Some Like it Hot is funnier, has at least as good a script (Wilder/Diamond) has superb acting (Curtis’ Grant impression is a hoot), it has Marilyn Monroe and the finest last line in a film ever, FACT!!
Of course The Apartment is superior but that’s a different type of film.
Gatz says
The Apartment and His Girl Friday are both way ahead of Some Like It Hot for me, and if I want to see Cary Grant in a film involving drag (never mind my reasons) I could always watch I Was a Male War Bride.
Kaisfatdad says
I watched His Girl Friday a week ago and found it extremely entertaining. Rosalind Russell is on fire.
The dialogue just bristles with one-liners and rumour has it that both Grant and Russell were improvising with gusto.
To go off piste for a second, this evening SVT showed Animal House which I loved when it was released in 1978. I hadn’t planned to watch it. but soon got hooked.
The wits of 78 looking back on 1962: it is very much of its time. But I thought it was a hoot.
I loved Back to the Future. but I do have a weakness for fast-moving, sassy, Hollywood movies.
I am sure there are Afterworders whose idea of a wonderful evening at the cinema is a three hour, black and white epic about rural poverty in Albania in the Middle Ages with an ambient soundtrack by Jan Garbarek and other ECM luminaries.
I really enjoy that kind of film too. But there are not many jokes.
retropath2 says
O I don’t know, I am sure the makers and distributors will be having a sly laugh around getting away with it again….
Hamlet says
It’s perfect and I love it.
retropath2 says
Just watched Parasite. OK, nowt special.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Best Film according to the Oscar. Oscar knows nowt.
retropath2 says
Happen.
dai says
Presumably not on the big screen? I thought it was brilliant, incredibly cinematic and knowing nothing of the plot beforehand I was never sure where it was going. And really a huge surprise that it was awarded Best Film instead of some lesser English speaking effort (like 1917 which was also good)
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Pretty big – 42 inches at least. Not sure how watching in a cinema with six other people (all of them eating popcorn and looking at their phones) would take it from “ok nae bad nothing special” to “brilliant”.
dai says
Only 42 inches? Well I watched on a huge IMAX screen with many others, none of whom were looking at their phones, popcorn may have been consumed though.
You have to like it anyway but I would say all films are best experienced in the cinema.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
It’s years since I’ve been in a proper cinema but in the UK at least I found multiplexes thoroughly depressing. The film I wanted to watch was always in Cinema 8 which wasn’t that much bigger than my living room. The screen was much bigger but the sound was usually dreadful and, most importantly of all, there was no pause button available.
Franco says
Has anyone seen the Russian sci-fi movie Hard To Be A God. Human scientists visit the distant planet Arkanar that is trapped in its own medieval era. I thoroughly agree with the critical consensus that it is visually a masterpiece. ” Astonishing, almost tactile recreation of an unnervingly recognisable alternative universe, drenched in blood, mud and the tears of the oppressed”. However, it is the most tedious, boring movie I have ever attempted to sit through. Perfect but poor. Is that even possible?
Arthur Cowslip says
I think the same applies to Barry Lyndon. Luscious visuals, achingly authentic period detail, crafted to perfection… but you’ll be bored to tears.