Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Review

THE MOVIE — 4/5

Note: Portions of this review were copied from my 2009 DVD reviews for the individual releases. At the end, I’m providing my thoughts after my most recent re-watch.

Back to the Future (1985) — 4.5/5
Back to the Future is known as one of the quintessential 80s movies but for my money, it’s one of the best, well at least most entertaining, movies of all-time. I have probably seen it a dozen times through my movie-watching life because, simply, I have fun. For that reason alone, this film is in my movie hall of fame, right there with, yes, The Godfather.

Back to the Future is the reason why movies are so damn fun to watch. You can have your “thinking” movie, those projects that present social issues or reveal historical aspects of American or World history, but in a time when things will get much worse before they get better, we need Back to the Future to help alleviate the pressure.

Ok, enough of the philosophical reasons for why Back to the Future belongs with the rest… You have two reasons why, after 24 years, the movie still resonates with audiences (and why, despite the “To Be Continues” tag at the end even though the filmmakers never intended for one) two sequels were produces and released back to back. Michael J. Fox’s career had just taken off with the hit show, “Family Ties”, and he was tailor made for the part of Marty McFly, a slacker but cool kid with a beautiful girlfriend. McFly has an unusual friendship with Doc Brown, played by the brilliant Christopher Lloyd, a mad scientist who has discovered a way to travel through time (what could go wrong?). We go from 1985 to 1955 and back (wait to you see the sequel, 1985 to 2015 to alternate 1985 to 1955).

Fact is, without Fox or Lloyd, Back to the Future would not be as fun as it is. While the story is great – especially in the time traveling genre which can be hazardous in the logic department (which this movie does suffer some if you stop and think about it) – director Robert Zemeckis’ hits all the right notes. Even the supporting cast is pretty much irreplaceable (exception being Crispin Glover who was ultimately replaced), everyone from Lea Thompson to Thomas F. Wilson is also pitch perfect for their roles.

Not sure how many out there still have not seen this classic but if you’re one, go out now and at least buy the first one. Although I enjoyed the sequels, you can go without them, but at the very least give this one a shot.

Back to the Future Part II (1989) — 3.75/5
And here comes the sequel, appropriately entitles, Back to the Future Part II. This entry takes a big step in the doo-doo known as time travel implausibility as Doc Brown (LLOYD) takes Marty (FOX) and his girlfriend (now played by ELISABETH SHUE) to the year 2015 because Marty and Jennifer’s son, Marty Jr. gets into deep trouble thanks to Griff Tannen (THOMAS F. WILSON).

Of course, does this not go against everything Doc Brown railed against about using the time machine for personal use in such a way? What about destiny? Would it not serve Marty Jr., the idiot he is, to pay for his stupidity? Brown ignores all the perils of time travel to save Marty’s kid… Really??? Or could it be the writers tried to force a sequel to cash in on the original’s success? Not like that hasn’t happened before or since…

Well, as noble as Brown’s intentions were, no good deed goes unpunished as Marty discovers a get rich quick scheme involving the Sport Almanac which he planned to take back to 1985 and use the scores inside to make some dough. After Brown discovers this, he throws the Almanac into the trash where it is picked up by Old Biff Tannen. He seizes the opportunity to steal the DeLorean and go back to 1955 and give it to his younger self, and the younger Biff uses it to gain wealth and power thus altering the 1985 Doc Brown and Marty (and Jennifer) return to. So now, Doc Brown and Marty must go back to 1955, risking running into their other selves, and stop Older Biff from giving Younger Biff the Almanac.

Get all that? Here’s the shorter version: Brown and Marty go from 1985 to 2015 to an alternate 1985 to 1955 and finally back to the correct 1985.

Back to the Future Part II is, despite such gigantic loop holes, this is a movie that’s actually grown on me over the years. First, the set design of the future is both visually pleasing but also laughable as the year comes closer. But the highlight is going back to 1955 where Zemeckis and company use different angles and some nifty visual effects to place BTTF1 Marty with BTTF2 Marty in the same area (ditto on Doc Brown).

Sure, the story made little sense and will make your brain explode, but between visual effects and the natural chemistry between Doc Brown and Marty, it makes this a sequel despite so many flaws worth watching.

Back to the Future Part III (1990) — 4.0/5
Back to the Future Part III ends the trilogy on a good note, but much like Part II, it does not come close to the originals magic. That being said, Part III is still a fun sequel on par with the second one.

The final chapter begins, like the first sequel, directly after the previous installment finding Marty McFly (FOX), stuck in 1955, once again needing the help of Doc Brown (LLOYD) (again) to get back to the future after the old Doc Brown accidentally time travels to 1885. The 1885 Doc Brown buried the DeLorean in an old mine shaft so in ’55 Marty can use it to get back to 1985… until Marty discovers that old Doc Brown actually dies only from a gunshot wound by Bufford Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) in 1885 and thus Marty goes to that time to save him.

Along the way, driving through the Old West, Marty runs into a battle between the Cowboys and Indians and even runs into his great-great grandfather, Sheamus McFly and his family. He then manages to get into the fledging town of Hill Valley, meet up with Doc who falls for the town’s new school teacher, Clara Clayton (MARY STEENBURGEN).

Back to the Future Part III is actually not that bad of a movie and it’s great to see the series come to a nice conclusion that also wasn’t as far-fetched or puzzling as Part II. And the addition of Mary Steenburgen as the love interest to Christopher Lloyd was yet another brilliant piece of casting by co-writer/director Robert Zemeckis and co-writer/producer Bob Gale. She brings charm to the series and adds a bit of dimension to the Doc Brown character that was needed.

Parts II and III was, if I remember correctly, the first movies to be filmed back to back, now made famous with the filming of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3. If only they had done that with the first one to avoid a pretty inane story (the movie itself was good).

On the whole, the Back to the Future Trilogy ends on a good note, with a fun story and all the actors – minus Elisabeth Shue who only appears at the end – back for one last round. My only qualm with Part III is the ending with the emergence of Doc Brown and his new family, I guess once again Doc Brown has not learned his lesson (after taking Marty to the future to save Marty’s dumb-ass kid).

In any case, Back to the Future manages to become one of the best trilogies ever made — as if Anaconda, Mimic, Major League could compete anyway and certainly The Matrix fell off in quality by the third outing which proves BttF3 pulled off something special…

SPECIAL FEATURES

This 7-disc set is housed in a digibook which side-slides into a glossy, title-embossed slip case. Inside is a single redemption code for the Digital HD copy of all three films. All features from the 30th Anniversary Edition has been ported over and includes a few new extras.

BACK TO THE FUTURE — 5.0/5

• Deleted Scenes (10:44) – Eight scenes here, including an extended one, and includes an optional commentary with Producer Bob Gale.
• Tales from The Future (TRT 1:03:00) is three of the six-part documentary: “In the Beginning” (27:24), “Time to Go” (29:54), “Keeping Time” (5:42) and includes interviews with Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Bob Gale, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and more.
• Archival Featurettes:
  • The Making of Back to the Future (14:28) is from circa 1984/85 with on-set/location and interviews with the filmmakers and cast.
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapter One (15:30) is from 2002 and pretty much covers the same material from other featurettes.
  • Back to the Future Night (27:10) footage from an NBC Special hosted by Leslie Nielsen and “sneak preview” of Back to the Future: Part II. I actually remember watching this when it aired in 1989…
• Michael J. Fox Q&A (10:20) is a series of interviews covering various topics on getting the role, working on the film and TV series, the Deloreans, etc.
• Behind the Scenes is a collection of Original Makeup Tests (2:17), Outtakes (2:49), Nuclear Test Site Sequence (4:12) storyboards and Photo Galleries including Production Art, Storyboards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits.
• Music Video (6:27) for “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News.
• Theatrical Teaser Trailer (1:24)
• Join Team Fox (6:04) for Michael J. Fox’s charity to raise money to fight Parkinson’s.
• Audio Commentaries:
  • Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale, which was recorded following a screening of the film, so this is not scene specific.
  • Feature Commentary with Zemeckis and Gale which is scene specific, so you get a bit more information on the various scenes, actors, etc.

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II — 4.5/5

• Deleted Scenes (5:45) – There are seven scenes here, three extended, and includes an optional commentary with Bob Gale.
• Tales from the Future: Time Flies (28:37) is another chapter in the documentary, this one specifically covering the sequel and delves a bit into the dispute with Crispin Glover.
• The Physics of Back to the Future (8:25) is a great featurette with Dr. Michio Kaku discussing time travel and how BTTF perhaps got it the most right.
• Archival Featurettes:
  • The Making of Back to the Future Part II (6:40) is from 1988 or so and includes on-set interviews with the cast and crew.
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Two (15:30) – A continuation of the featurette from 2002, this one focusing on the sequel.
• Behind the Scenes includes Outtakes (0:49), Production Design (2:55), Storyboarding (1:29), Designing the DeLorean (3:31), Designing Time Travel (2:41), Hoverboard Test (0:58), Evolution of Visual Effects Shots (5:42) and Photo Galleries for Production Art, Storyboards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits.
• Theatrical Trailer (2:21)
• Audio Commentaries:
  • Q&A Commentary is the same as for the first movie, Gale and Zemeckis discuss the film following a screening.
  • Feature Commentary is scene specific with Gale and Zemeckis breaking down various scenes and sequences.

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III — 4.0/5

• Deleted Scene (1:18) – Single scene with Bufford Tannen killing Marshal Strickland. Comes with an optional commentary by Bob Gale.
• Tales from the Future: Third Time’s the Charm (17:07) – Retrospective featurette, and the third chapter of the “Tales from the Future” documentary, on the development of the final film and having it taking place in the Old West.
• Tales from the Future: The Test of Time (17:00) – Final part of 4-chapter doc delves into how the trilogy has held up over the years.
• Archival Featurettes:
  • The Making of Back to the Future Part III (7:32) – Featurette from 1989 (or thereabouts) with on-set interviews with behind-the-scenes footage.
  • Making the Trilogy: Chapter Three (16:20) – A continuation of the featurette from 2002, this one focusing on the finale.
  • The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy (20:41) – TV special made to advertise the third film. Hosted by Kirk Cameron. *snicker*
• Behind the Scenes includes some Outtakes (1:35), Designing the Town of Hill Valley (1:08), Designing the Campaign (1:18) and Photo Galleries of Production Art, Storyboards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits.
• Music Video (4:09) – “Doubleback” by ZZ Top
• FAQs About the Trilogy (20:01) is a text feature with Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis answering, well, frequently asked questions.
• Theatrical Trailer (2:18)
• Back to the Future: The Ride (31:06) – You can watch the Lobby Monitor and The Ride itself.
• Audio Commentaries:
  • Q&A Commentary – Gale and Zemeckis discuss the film following a screening.
  • Feature Commentary is scene specific with Gale and Zemeckis breaking down various scenes and sequences.

BONUS DISC:

• The Hollywood Museum Goes Back to the Future (10:17) – Tour of the museum which houses many artifacts and sets from some classics, including Back to the Future Trilogy which has props and other items.
• Back to the Future: The Musical Behind the Scenes (TRT 33:47) – I think they just made musicals out of anything. This is some sort of special presentation with a Q&A with Bob Gale and a look at two songs.
• An Alternate Future: Lost Audition Tapes (3:45) – Here we get to see some young actors who auditioned for various parts like Billy Zane as Biff Tannen; Kyra Sedgwick as Jennifer Parker; C. Thomas Howell, Jon Cryer and Ben Stiller as Marty McFly.
• Could You Survive the Movies?: Back to the Future (19:47) – This was originally a YouTube Original that is sort of a Mythbusters episode.
• 2015 Message from Doc Brown (0:45) is a short clip with Christopher Lloyd “reprising” his role.
• Doc Brown Saves the World (9:38) – Short film of sorts with Lloyd as Brown trying to prevent a nuclear holocaust in 2045.
• Outatime: Restoring the DeLorean (22:00) – Shortened version of Outatime: Saving the DeLorean documentary which I reviewed in 2016.
• Looking Back to the Future (45:42) are nine featurettes delving into various topics from the script, casting, the time machine, score, etc.
• Back to the Future: The Animated Series are two episodes from the show.
• 2015 Commercials (2:34) for the Jaws 19 Trailer and the Hoverboard Commercial.

4K VIDEO – 5/5, BD VIDEO – 4¾/5

4K AUDIO – 4½/5, BD AUDIO – 4½/5

OVERALL – 4¾/5

The Back to the Future Trilogy is still fantastic even after watching it for probably the tenth time and holds up in its entertainment value, though the 2015 future setting takes on an all-new cheesiness, it’s still lots of fun. Universal once again releases the movies on a new format and it does feature great video and audio and a few fine new features alongside a slew of others ported over from previous sets.