It's Just Movies

— by JOSUE SANCHEZ —

The “Back to the Future” 25-year anniversary celebration is under way. The franchise was released on Blu-ray today and everywhere you look right now has all kinds of Back to the Future bits — there’s a video game coming and the original actors are being interviewed.

Yes, this is a great celebration. Oh, and we are getting word on all extras there will be in the Blu-ray release (some which are included below).

The movie is so memorable and special to me personally. But its plot is not to be dismissed as just another comedic science fiction movie. Actually, in my opinion, “Back to the Future” set the bar for all other movies that wished to explore the realm of time-travel. They may even try to copy it or use it as a guideline.

Whether it is a serious movie or comedy, I see a lot of the “Back to the Future” influence in recent movies. I felt its influence in “The Butterfly Effect” and its sequels, and (don’t kill me) I felt it in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”

“Back to the Future” is a unique movie. If we put the actual movie and its time twisted plot — which are just plain brilliant — aside for a moment, there is still so much else that went right with this film.

For one thing, the chemistry between the stars of the movie is undeniable. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox were a perfect match. They worked so well together, and to this day remain great friends.

Another powerful aspect of the movie is the score and soundtrack. John Williams did not treat this as a mere science fiction comedy. He scored it powerfully and memorably. The theme song has become recognizable around the world, and it deserved to be. The soundtrack included songs by Huey Lewis and the News, Eric Clapton and even Michael J. Fox playing “Johnny B. Goode” as Marty McFly.

The next thing that’s memorable to me are the movie’s lines. I must admit, I know the first movie by heart and know the others pretty well.

Lines like:

Mr. Strickland: You don’t have a chance: you’re too much like your old man. No McFly ever amounted to anything in the history of Hill Valley.
Marty McFly: Yeah, well, history is gonna change.

And

Doc: Then tell me, Future Boy, who is President in the United States in 1985?
Marty McFly: Ronald Reagan.
Doc: Ronald Reagan? The actor? Who’s Vice President? Jerry Lewis?

And

Doc: I’m sure in 1985, plutonium is available at every corner drugstore, but in 1955 it’s a little hard to come by.

In the sequel (“Back to the Future II”), we all got our wish fulfilled to see the future to which Doc (Christopher Lloyd) took Marty (Michael J. Fox) at the “to be continued” ending of the original film.

The sequel is full of fun, action and imagination. It spanned three different time zones, the future (2015), the past (1955) and the present (1985). It also has its own complicated time travel theme, and the chaos that it can cause. A hard lesson to be learned, and by the end, Doc had realized he needed to destroy the time machine. But before he could destroy it, he is zapped back to the old west (1885).

The trip to the old west brings the time travel adventure to a full circle and everything is finally set into its place and order is brought to the universe.

As you can see, I can talk about this movie forever. But I would really like to read your thoughts on this special movie. Share you excitement with me and sound off in the comment section.

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Follow Josue Sanchez on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Josue_can.