Every time I change channels on my TV and Back to the Future appears, I cant change channel and I have to watch it until it finishes. This movie is so rewatchable and never get tired of it
@@JacksMovieReviews George MCFLY’s laugh is sooo iconic and Biff Tannen is also iconic I wasn’t born in 1985,but I know that the film and the series itself is iconic
Personally, I think the entire trilogy should be watched together... that's when the real genius comes out. While the first BttF is great as a stand alone film, when combined with parts 2 and 3 it becomes so much more !!!
I just introduced my daughter to BttF 3 days ago. I was struck by how tight it was. She got impatient & immediately watched part 2 the next day, and we just finished the 3rd today. I 100% agree that it should be viewed as a whole. Shit is dope.
One reason why I loved bttf (probably my favorite movie) was that no matter how much technology changes, we don't have as much differences between us and our parents as we think. The general concepts of fitting in, being yourself, self confidence, etc are pretty timeless. Also George McFly is a badass
It truly is one of the most perfect films ever made. When considering all of the aspects that could go wrong or fall short....BTTF just sticks the landing in every way. It rides such a tight line and juggles so many threads and themes...it's a miracle of filmmaking.
I actually came here after seeing the movie (again) last night, and coming away thinking it is literally a perfect film. Wanted to see if others saw it the same way. It is, just as you say, "a miracle of filmmaking". I have never seen a film in which not a single second was wasted or out of place; where the entire cast realized each of their characters so vividly, and where such an elaborate story handled with an effortlessly light touch, and indeed charm. If there is a more perfect film than this I'm yet to see it.
Looking back I'm even more amazed at Christopher Lloyd's performance. I forgot that we don't see Doc until the end of Act One. But by the start of Act Two we as the audince feel like he's shared as much screen time as Marty. That short scene explaing time travel and the Flux Capacitor tells us nearly everything to know about the characterof Dr. Emmett Brown. Good stuff. Nice work, really insightful review!
I was thinking that as I watched it last night. There's sooo much exposition, but it never feels forced. The film naturally works it in and it feels like part of the story.
@@reeceperry8152 the only bit that feel a little force is in bttf 2, when doc lectures marty about the almanac, he then explains making the time machine which is not very necessary, it is only there so that old biff would understand wtf is happening
@@haveidonethisbefore BTTF2 is overall much weaker in handling exposition than the first film. For instance, the story of Old Biff giving Young Biff the sports almanac is basically told three times, once by Doc, once by Alternate Biff and once in real life.
while I'm not always the biggest fan of films that follow the straight forward Hollywood studio structure, when it's done well, like in back to the future, it can make the film endlessly rewatchable
Some people's insistence on the three act structure is clearly a weak and limiting way at looking at film making. It's not a bad structure at all, and probably the best template for teaching storytelling. It's simply not the only or necessary structure for it either.
Well I love this movie even more now than when I first watched it in 1985. The casting of all main characters is spot-on. The comedic timing (together with the screenplay, editing and direction obviously) of both Michael J. Fox and Christoper Lloyd is just perfect - and Alan Silvestri nailed the music score which is such a huge part of this movie IMHO. Great dissection as always!
It is brilliant how they made exposition fun in this movie. That's how exposition should feel ... like it's just another part of the integrated story, to where you only realize it even is exposition when in retrospect. The exposition in this film is beautifully embraced and integrated into the central action ... something I wish could be said for some other films these days.
I totally agree, people have this notion that all exposition is good, when it reality, it all depends on how well it is used. Good exposition is good, bad exposition is bad.
I usually divide movies in genres... for the adventure genre, can't get any better than this! This movie is a complete experience, romance, adventure, thriller, sci-fi, etc
Back to the future may be my favorite movie of all time , it's a shame that nobody recognizes how well the storytelling is most focus on other things of this movie.... (wich are also great)
Miguel Roldán i bet you havent seen ghostbusters (1984) either. Too overrated? Check it out if you haven't already. The 80's had a alot of great films.
The movie had great crescendos and beats. When I saw this movie I just wanted an emotional vehicle to ride on throughout the film. Seeing Marty face his trials spoke to trials I was concerned about facing. To me, it wasn't just a story - but at that age, every movie I saw wasn't just a story. And this movie was by far one of the best I had seen at the time.
Personally, I don't think the act structure of the film follows the shifts in time periods. As I look at the film, I would say that Act 2 starts when Marty wakes up in Lorraine's bed, and act 3 starts when we see the Enchantment Under the Sea dance for the first time.
I like the definition of the break between acts as being moments where the protagonist cannot go back. So, literally, because Marty is stuck in the past, him leaving the 80s is the beginning of the 2nd act, creating the conflict: going back to the future. Then there's extra conflict when he erases himself out of existence (the scene you mention), creating a need vs a want. But Act 2 still starts when he goes to the 50s. Your 3rd act definition sounds right though because it's the last showdown, when going back to the 80s is just a denouement.
Act 3 begins when the character has learned to overcome his flaw, and use his new-found knowledge to walk a new path toward success. Thus, Act 3 starts WAY before 1985. But where, exactly, is difficult to say. At some point, the protagonist (Marty) is so closely linked to his father's success that I'd say Act 3 happens the moment his fist knocks out Biff.
Act 2 starts when Marty goes back in time up until finishing Enchantment under the Sea Dance. Act 3 starts when Marty tells the Doc about his future and refuses to be informed about it.
I actually just watched this movie for the first time the other day. Thought people were overrating it but i actually really liked it. Such a good screenplay.
It's one of the few movies I believe EVERYONE should like. And I mean everyone. Young, old. Male, female. Black, white. Sci fi fans or not.Whatever other demographics you can think of. It is just a pitch perfect, feel good movie with heart and brains. Likable characters. Great music. Fun premise. A cool car. It's funny. Well written. Original. Has good effects that still hold up. There are many great movies but most I can understand not appealing to old ladies or screamish people ir people against violence or what have you. BttF has it all and appeals to everyone and is about as perfect as 2 hours of cinema can get. If someone doesn't like it I have no choice but to question their sanity and will definitely never listen to their opinions on movies again.
I'm 37 so I didn't really get in to this movie until 2 and 3 came out. The merchandising around BTTF2 is what hooked me. Pizza Hut had the glasses, there were toys and the Back to The Future ride at Universal with the car sitting out front. Every kid wanted a hoverboard, back then. We wanted so bad for hover to be a real thing or at least a possibility in the near future. I appreciate how well these movies were made, how funny they were and the attention to detail, now that I'm older.
While most movies have one show-down in the end this movie has 3 of them! (the concert where Marty starts disappearing, the lightning scene, and the scene where Doc gets shot again) And yes, all the little details that seem meaningless and all come into play later. Just genius. For me, this is one of the best movies of all time.
Another great example of the setup is not only the fact that the lady is shaking changed to save the clock tower, but she hands out a flyer. Normally this flyer would be thrown away, but Jennifer had to write down her phone number on the flyer because she was saying with her grandma, which gave Marty a reason to hang on to the flyer
I love how Back to the Future managed to be a successful and memorable film trilogy without even having any A-list actors in its main cast. Speaking of its cast, have you seen Cyberchase? Christopher Lloyd makes a great The Hacker. He was also in Over the Garden Wall with Elijah Wood, who had a cameo in Back to the Future Part 2 at 8 years old. March 27, 2020, 2:50pm
I love the movie and this analysis is almost perfect. I would just add a very hidden "link" between initial 1985 and when Marty came back to the future. Before start filming Doc Marty says "Are you wearing a...", then Doc interrupts explaining "No, this is not important right now"... Clearly if Marty realize Doc was wearing anything bullet proof in that moment, maybe he would never thought about writing a letter to Doc an do on... It is very quick, but for me, is a key moment in the movie :D Thanks for the video
Ah Back to the Future. I absolutely love this movie, but never really recognized how good it was on a filmmaking aspect. The set up stuff reminds me of Edgar Wright films, and the movie Groundhog Day.
I always say that this movie is perfect, every scene has a reason and a purpose. There's not a single scene just for filler, like you said. Great video, you earned a sub!
I find BTTF 1 2 and 3 wonderful and well done from a technical standpoint. They are such an indescribable source of pleasure that can be re-watched endless times. That being said they fall into a rather formulaic cinema school, but then again when it's truly done well it has the charm of good literature, especially poetry that we re-read though we know the plot and even the words. I end my comment with the best time-travelling fiction, in fact best sci-fi around, that goes beyond BTTF or BR2049: Continuum. It is deep, thrilling, critical, political, sociological, and is food for thought. It deserves a video-analysis like this one. Anyone?
Very impressive and interesting view on one of my favorite films from my childhood. I own this classic film and never get tired of watching it! Thanks for your thoughtful analysis! 😊
7:06 Marty fixing his problems also ties into the theme of love. Not only does romantic love matter as George demonstrates with Lorraine towards the end when he saves her from Biff, but also Marty demonstrates love by saving George from the Lorraines fathers car and from Biff in the skateboard chase. even if Marty had a self interest in hooking up his dad and mom he demonstrates an unconditional love for his family in these scenes, and ultimately he like his dad changes for the better bc of this selflessness
Best part was Marty didn’t intend to time travel in the first place, he accidentally bumped the switches that turned on the added equipment. He was trying to outrun terrorists
I love this film, and I really enjoyed your video essay on it! There's so many reasons why I love this film, but you pointed out in this video one which I think gets overlooked by people: And that is its use of "Chekhov's Gun" (the idea of introducing something into the story early on as either a gag or something unimportant, and then later make that element important later on in the story). I love stories that use Chekhov's Gun because it's a sign that the writers put a lot of time, effort, and planning into the story (unlike other films that sometimes feel like the writers are just making stuff up as they go along).
More than a Chekhov's Gun, it's a full on Chekhov's Armoury. The only movie I can think of that does that even MORE than BTTF is Hot Fuzz, which was absolutely mind-bending in how dense it managed to be.
A) I'd say the clock tower scene is in the 3rd Act. B) there is a part of the movie that doesn't add anything: Johnny B Goode. But it's awesome so everyone forgives it
Why does everyone think all scenes need to advance the plot? I HATE that way of thinking. Some of my favorite moments in films are scenes that add NOTHING to the plot, but the movie wouldn't be the same without them, not every scene needs to connect to the plot, and the third act starts when Marty and his mom pull up in the car at the dance.
It’s a callback to the start of the movie where Marty’s band audition for the dance but don’t get it “for being too loud” but here in the 50s where music taste and opinions are different they love it as it’s something new but in the 80s it’s been done a million times and they’re sick of rock
Thank you! Everything you taught me about Setup, Revelation and Resolution, I will use to craft a new trilogy of films in the 21st century, that will hopefully also be perfect and popular enough to teach in film schools by the time they are 20 years old. After seeing all 8 Harry Potter films, I have always wanted to write a trilogy of fantasy movies about another wizard school focusing on a girl wizard who loves doing magic, but also has concerns about using magic to cheat in life and that is why she is worried if there are any career choices for magic people like her, because it could limit them from having any ordinary non-magic careers. 😢 The Critical Drinker always taught me that it is okay to create your own IP with a diverse cast (instead of compromising a pre-existing IP) as long as you have more positive entertainment value to show for it beyond the diversity. In that regard, it is very easy to do much better at writing diverse stories than The Rings of Power. November 24, 2022, 11:20pm
I feel like a lot of the points presented about this movie can be said about the trilogy as a whole. There is a lot of great and subtle setup to all of the major character events in the trilogy.
Jack! Love the in depth discussion. I was JUST saying that Robert Zemeckis is one of the all time directors for this generation! His story telling ability is beyond. Such attention to detail and all with rewards for his audience with call backs. FANTASTIC! Great dissection!!
You know what? In my English class, we had to pick a film to write a paper on how it relates to the classic hero's journey. Back to the Future was my choice, my professor was very pleased with my choice and I got a really good grade on it! I wrote how Marty Mcfly was an example of the hero's journey.
I completely agree with you about the first movie. Unfortunately they no longer their consistent rules in the second film. I mean, I enjoyed the second film too, probably a bit more than the first because I enjoyed the twists and alternate realities more, but you're right that first film was a better done film.
It is a great movie. However I do think Glover has a point in his criticism of the ending. Marty's parents becoming richer and happier, and slightly cruel employers to bif isn't a satisfying conclusion for me. Plus Marty has done what he spent the whole movie trying to avoid, he changed the future. He has a family who he will have no shared memories with, and is lucky to even exist. I would have rewritten act one and made his family and home life good, and his parents loving and functional. So in the final act he returns to find he's back home with his loving family again.
All the possible timelines and fractured-off multiple alternate verses created by Marty's jumping around time and changing things to the point there are two Martys and the paradox of a pair of docs! What makes this film go, truely, next-level bonkers and into meta territory is when you factor in the fact behind the scenes in real life they shot to-almost-completion the entire movie with a different lead and all that footage still exists in a vault somewhere. But our reality got the recast Marty and, thus, we in our universe only know Micheal J. Fox in the role. However, in some other parallel-universe, they stuck with that original actor and first draft version of the film and in alternate Earth 2.0, Marty McFly is remembered as played by Eric Stolz. BTTF is transcendant in and of itself. This is heavy....
One of the most re - watchable movies and trilogies ever. Check out the movie someone made out of the game if ur a huge BTTF fan. Then, explain that. Part 4 and 5. It leaves a paradox and loopholes that could rip apart the very thing we love 😉😄
My idea for a Backtothefuture sequel trilogy is as follows: It is fourty years since the events in the three movies. DocBrown's house have been abadonned for fourty years and is in a shabby state.Three youths who live nearby goes there to clean up the place and make it ready for a sale. While they are cleaning the house they find the scematics for the delorean and how the fluxcapasator makes timetravels possible. They also find a video which shows one of the youths mother(possible Jennifer Parker)and she looks totally different than she looks today. the youths also sees DocBrown holding a newspaper where Biff has the Grey's sport allmanac in his pocket from 1955. They decide to build a new Delorean from DocBrown's scematics. When they are finnished they decide to bring the Grey's sport allmanac(which is in common sale in 2022) with them. They goes back to 1955 and knows allready that MartyMcFly detained JenniferParkers father when he took the caseboard apart in the first movie to use it as a regular board.The youths prevent this from happening by giving MartyMcFly another board to stand on while flying away from Biff. They also gives their fathers the Grey's sport allmanac. When they comes home they all live in wealth and luxury and JenniferParker looks like she looked in the first movie(played by ClaudiaWells or a lookalike)and it gives a happy ending to the first movie xD In the second movie three neighbours to the first movies aganoists who are envious discover videos that show everything was different just a few days ago.They start stalking the three youths and finds out about the Delorean timemachine.They also finds out about the Grey's sport allmanac.They decide to steal both the delorean and bring with them the Grey's sport allmanac.In 1955 they gives the Grey's sport allmanac to their grandparents.They then goes home to a life in wealth and luxury. In the third and last movie,our three antagonists suddenly wakes up and see everything has changed around them.They see the three neighbour youth now living in wealth and luxury and suspect that they has stolen the delorean and gone back to 1955. They decide to go back themselves and change the events that the three neighbours have caused. But there they meet a young DocBrown that warns them about making any more changes.He tells them he was contacted by his future selves and that he told him to warn eventual other timetravellers.
Example If Marty had returned to October 26, 1985 12:27 am before The Libyans find doc brown, and stop them from killing him in the first place, and if doc brown would have never been killed and the other Marty hasn't departed for 1955, the other Marty hasn't altered history by crashing into one of the two twin pines at Old Man Peabody's ranch, and the ripple effect hasn't happened, the sign still say "Twin Pines Mall" Trippy, right?
Another great video keep it up man, could you look into the film Stay (2005) and the Usual Suspects. Also can't wait for the next video on Seven one of my favourite films ever.
Thanks! I would love to talk about the Usual Suspects one day, but I don't think I'll be discussing Stay any time soon. I think it is a poorly constructed movie that tries to pretend it is something bigger than it actually is.
The writer of the movie was A child prodigy, born in Logan Utah. In Logan Utah: DMC, Bluebird Restaurant, The Clock Tower Plaza and Twin Pines Condos In the movie: LMC, Bluebird Motel, The Clock Tower and Twin Pines Mall John Delorean owned both DMC and LMC. The writer's birthday is Nov. 16, 1976. 88 MPH or 8+8=16 76 MPH lingers on the speedo when Marty goes to 1955. The time at Twin Pines Mall 01:16 A.M. Also the writer's initials are A.M. His father's twin is named Dave, Linda is the writer's aunt, Toby is his cousin and Mary is his grandmother. The yellow poster in Marty's school says Bulldogs VS Indians. Which refers to the North Cache Bulldogs and Preston Indians. Preston and Logan are Bill and Ted's last names. The writer was very prolific and wrote his first screenplays before the age of one. As Star Wars has secrets as well. A.M. can be found in the background symbols, when Darth Vader lifts up the guy by the neck. Porkins is an inside joke for Perkins, which is the mother's middle name. Also Anthony Perkins the actor is the writer's great uncle. Or course there are many other things in his multiple movies that make it mathematically impossible for anyone else to have written these works. Even BTTF and Star Wars have more stuff that I left out, due to the time it takes to write all this crap. Anyone care to figure out the odds? Anyways he has written hundreds of movies, TV series, books, video videogame concepts and is now retired. With Hollywood set to run out of his screenplay stockpile in A certain amount of years.
Like when I saw The Matrix in theatre I knew nothing about what Back to the Future was about going in. All I knew is I liked the two main actors. Saw it five times in theatre. Fox's career went stratospheric from there.
I’m sorry man but if you’re trying to say that the 3rd act of the film starts only 10 minutes before the ending than you fundamentally don’t understand back to the futures structure
Act three starts when the dance happens. You clearly have no understanding of what a 3 act structure is. The third acts has to contain a climax and resolution. While you understand act 1 and 2s distinction. You clearly don’t understand what act 3 is.
Best actor: Thomas F. Wilson Worst actor: Michael J. Fox. Now, despite this, Fox is still the perfect actor to portray Marty McFly. Who could really imagine anyone else in the role? Great movie, almost perfect and without flaws. But a few did creep in...jigawatts as opposed to gigawatts, for example, lol.
Hm .. the true genius is that, from the 2020s Perspective, the 80s Parts are very much like the 50s Part as seen from the 80s. So... zemeckis created, either by temporal circumstance or intentionally, another time capsule.
Every time I change channels on my TV and Back to the Future appears, I cant change channel and I have to watch it until it finishes. This movie is so rewatchable and never get tired of it
It has that endless rewatchability to it!
yeah, I lost count of how many times Im in the edge of my seat on the scene where the Doc is trying to fix the wires before the Lighting strikes.
Same in my house. My wife will text me if it on to get home and watch it 😂
@@JacksMovieReviews I hope they make a 4th Back To The Future film
@@JacksMovieReviews George MCFLY’s laugh is sooo iconic and Biff Tannen is also iconic I wasn’t born in 1985,but I know that the film and the series itself is iconic
Personally, I think the entire trilogy should be watched together... that's when the real genius comes out. While the first BttF is great as a stand alone film, when combined with parts 2 and 3 it becomes so much more !!!
I agree. 2 and 3 were filmed so closely together it almost benefits from doing ths.
I just introduced my daughter to BttF 3 days ago. I was struck by how tight it was. She got impatient & immediately watched part 2 the next day, and we just finished the 3rd today.
I 100% agree that it should be viewed as a whole. Shit is dope.
There's that word again, "dope"!
Why are things so dope in the future? Is there something wrong with the earth's intellectual pull?
@@MrParkerman6 Maybe you should express yourself more respectful
Excatly!
"That's Strickland? Jesus. Didn't that guy ever have hair?"
Then the 3rd one happened
King Kagle isn’t he the kid in the third one?
@@mineturtleanimations2988 the sherriff (played by the same actor) has long, flowing hair
@@mineturtleanimations2988 he couldnt be the kid, that would make him 100 in 1985.
One reason why I loved bttf (probably my favorite movie) was that no matter how much technology changes, we don't have as much differences between us and our parents as we think. The general concepts of fitting in, being yourself, self confidence, etc are pretty timeless. Also George McFly is a badass
It truly is one of the most perfect films ever made. When considering all of the aspects that could go wrong or fall short....BTTF just sticks the landing in every way. It rides such a tight line and juggles so many threads and themes...it's a miracle of filmmaking.
I actually came here after seeing the movie (again) last night, and coming away thinking it is literally a perfect film. Wanted to see if others saw it the same way. It is, just as you say, "a miracle of filmmaking". I have never seen a film in which not a single second was wasted or out of place; where the entire cast realized each of their characters so vividly, and where such an elaborate story handled with an effortlessly light touch, and indeed charm. If there is a more perfect film than this I'm yet to see it.
The nature of the universe does not understand perfect. It never will
Looking back I'm even more amazed at Christopher Lloyd's performance. I forgot that we don't see Doc until the end of Act One. But by the start of Act Two we as the audince feel like he's shared as much screen time as Marty. That short scene explaing time travel and the Flux Capacitor tells us nearly everything to know about the characterof Dr. Emmett Brown. Good stuff.
Nice work, really insightful review!
We do see doc in act 1, act two doesn't start until the exact moment Marty goes back in times so not sure what the hell you are talking about!
@@MrParkerman6 That's what he said. We don't see Doc until the end of Act 1.
This is one of the best films at naturally handling plot exposition.
Emmett is basically Doctor Exposition in the first two films, constantly breaking down complex ideas in the simplest ways.
I was thinking that as I watched it last night. There's sooo much exposition, but it never feels forced. The film naturally works it in and it feels like part of the story.
@@reeceperry8152 the only bit that feel a little force is in bttf 2, when doc lectures marty about the almanac, he then explains making the time machine which is not very necessary, it is only there so that old biff would understand wtf is happening
@@haveidonethisbefore BTTF2 is overall much weaker in handling exposition than the first film. For instance, the story of Old Biff giving Young Biff the sports almanac is basically told three times, once by Doc, once by Alternate Biff and once in real life.
while I'm not always the biggest fan of films that follow the straight forward Hollywood studio structure, when it's done well, like in back to the future, it can make the film endlessly rewatchable
exaclty, it dosnt have to be most genius and realistic but if it does everything well what it is trying to, its enjoyable.
What works works.
I totally agree, most studio formulaic films turn out to be average or below average, but every once in a while, a great one comes out!
The reason I feel that way is because I walk out a lot of studio films enjoying the film quite a bit, then forgetting so much about it the next day
Some people's insistence on the three act structure is clearly a weak and limiting way at looking at film making. It's not a bad structure at all, and probably the best template for teaching storytelling. It's simply not the only or necessary structure for it either.
Well I love this movie even more now than when I first watched it in 1985. The casting of all main characters is spot-on. The comedic timing (together with the screenplay, editing and direction obviously) of both Michael J. Fox and Christoper Lloyd is just perfect - and Alan Silvestri nailed the music score which is such a huge part of this movie IMHO. Great dissection as always!
I love the movie, it works on so many different levels, the actors all
do a great job, and as you mentioned, the score is phenomenal.
It is brilliant how they made exposition fun in this movie. That's how exposition should feel ... like it's just another part of the integrated story, to where you only realize it even is exposition when in retrospect. The exposition in this film is beautifully embraced and integrated into the central action ... something I wish could be said for some other films these days.
I totally agree, people have this notion that all exposition is good, when it reality, it all depends on how well it is used. Good exposition is good, bad exposition is bad.
Best movie ever...
I'm not sure if I would call it the best, but it certainly is one of my favorites!
I usually divide movies in genres... for the adventure genre, can't get any better than this! This movie is a complete experience, romance, adventure, thriller, sci-fi, etc
Raimar Lunardi
I totally agree, I love this movie a lot!
Me too, keep the good stuff!! loved the channel!
Raimar Lunardi
Will do and thank you!
Back to the future may be my favorite movie of all time , it's a shame that nobody recognizes how well the storytelling is most focus on other things of this movie.... (wich are also great)
ha i had never noticed the hanging figure in the clock at the beginning...
There are A LOT of details like that in the scene!
Miguel Roldán i bet you havent seen ghostbusters (1984) either. Too overrated? Check it out if you haven't already. The 80's had a alot of great films.
The movie had great crescendos and beats. When I saw this movie I just wanted an emotional vehicle to ride on throughout the film. Seeing Marty face his trials spoke to trials I was concerned about facing. To me, it wasn't just a story - but at that age, every movie I saw wasn't just a story. And this movie was by far one of the best I had seen at the time.
Personally, I don't think the act structure of the film follows the shifts in time periods. As I look at the film, I would say that Act 2 starts when Marty wakes up in Lorraine's bed, and act 3 starts when we see the Enchantment Under the Sea dance for the first time.
I like the definition of the break between acts as being moments where the protagonist cannot go back. So, literally, because Marty is stuck in the past, him leaving the 80s is the beginning of the 2nd act, creating the conflict: going back to the future. Then there's extra conflict when he erases himself out of existence (the scene you mention), creating a need vs a want. But Act 2 still starts when he goes to the 50s.
Your 3rd act definition sounds right though because it's the last showdown, when going back to the 80s is just a denouement.
Act 3 begins when the character has learned to overcome his flaw, and use his new-found knowledge to walk a new path toward success.
Thus, Act 3 starts WAY before 1985. But where, exactly, is difficult to say. At some point, the protagonist (Marty) is so closely linked to his father's success that I'd say Act 3 happens the moment his fist knocks out Biff.
Act 2 starts when Marty goes back in time up until finishing Enchantment under the Sea Dance. Act 3 starts when Marty tells the Doc about his future and refuses to be informed about it.
@dash, wrong, dumbass! Act 2 starts the exact moment Marty goes back in time as the commentor above me has said.
We wouldn’t have had Rick and Morty without this masterpiece
I actually just watched this movie for the first time the other day. Thought people were overrating it but i actually really liked it. Such a good screenplay.
Indeed. In terms of #2 and #3, I don't really like them as much .. not to say they were bad, but #1 was brilliant.
It's one of those movies that doesn't sound like it would work on paper, but in reality, it does.
It's one of the few movies I believe EVERYONE should like. And I mean everyone. Young, old. Male, female. Black, white. Sci fi fans or not.Whatever other demographics you can think of. It is just a pitch perfect, feel good movie with heart and brains. Likable characters. Great music. Fun premise. A cool car. It's funny. Well written. Original. Has good effects that still hold up.
There are many great movies but most I can understand not appealing to old ladies or screamish people ir people against violence or what have you. BttF has it all and appeals to everyone and is about as perfect as 2 hours of cinema can get.
If someone doesn't like it I have no choice but to question their sanity and will definitely never listen to their opinions on movies again.
Jared Kunish Can't call something overrated unless you've seen the movie yourself. I made that mistake with The Godfather.
@ jackmoviereview, I totally disagree! If read the script and it completely works on paper! Don't know why you would think otherwise.
I'm 37 so I didn't really get in to this movie until 2 and 3 came out. The merchandising around BTTF2 is what hooked me. Pizza Hut had the glasses, there were toys and the Back to The Future ride at Universal with the car sitting out front. Every kid wanted a hoverboard, back then. We wanted so bad for hover to be a real thing or at least a possibility in the near future. I appreciate how well these movies were made, how funny they were and the attention to detail, now that I'm older.
This is how you do product placement!
Just rewatched BTTF and this video made me appreciate the story structure even more. I really enjoyed it!
While most movies have one show-down in the end this movie has 3 of them! (the concert where Marty starts disappearing, the lightning scene, and the scene where Doc gets shot again)
And yes, all the little details that seem meaningless and all come into play later. Just genius. For me, this is one of the best movies of all time.
Another great example of the setup is not only the fact that the lady is shaking changed to save the clock tower, but she hands out a flyer. Normally this flyer would be thrown away, but Jennifer had to write down her phone number on the flyer because she was saying with her grandma, which gave Marty a reason to hang on to the flyer
This may be the best movie that came out in the 1980s.
Stand by me is right there with it
Why is it that they just don't make movies as good as this anymore?
They do, I'd say a movie like Baby Driver has the same tone, is a lot of fun, and also tells a great story!
Watched this trilogy over 100 times since I was a child and still could rewatch it until death.
For me, Back To The Future is the best structured film ever made! The setup, The ending, Everything!!!!!!! I love it!
I love how Back to the Future managed to be a successful and memorable film trilogy without even having any A-list actors in its main cast. Speaking of its cast, have you seen Cyberchase? Christopher Lloyd makes a great The Hacker. He was also in Over the Garden Wall with Elijah Wood, who had a cameo in Back to the Future Part 2 at 8 years old. March 27, 2020, 2:50pm
I love the movie and this analysis is almost perfect. I would just add a very hidden "link" between initial 1985 and when Marty came back to the future. Before start filming Doc Marty says "Are you wearing a...", then Doc interrupts explaining "No, this is not important right now"...
Clearly if Marty realize Doc was wearing anything bullet proof in that moment, maybe he would never thought about writing a letter to Doc an do on... It is very quick, but for me, is a key moment in the movie
:D
Thanks for the video
Ah Back to the Future. I absolutely love this movie, but never really recognized how good it was on a filmmaking aspect.
The set up stuff reminds me of Edgar Wright films, and the movie Groundhog Day.
That's a great comparison between the three!
I always say that this movie is perfect, every scene has a reason and a purpose. There's not a single scene just for filler, like you said. Great video, you earned a sub!
Thank you!
“Better get used to these bars kid” is such a great movie detail
the soundtrack brings on nostalgia SO HARD
I find BTTF 1 2 and 3 wonderful and well done from a technical standpoint. They are such an indescribable source of pleasure that can be re-watched endless times. That being said they fall into a rather formulaic cinema school, but then again when it's truly done well it has the charm of good literature, especially poetry that we re-read though we know the plot and even the words. I end my comment with the best time-travelling fiction, in fact best sci-fi around, that goes beyond BTTF or BR2049: Continuum. It is deep, thrilling, critical, political, sociological, and is food for thought. It deserves a video-analysis like this one. Anyone?
This movie is undoubtedly my favorite movie of all time.......
Very impressive and interesting view on one of my favorite films from my childhood. I own this classic film and never get tired of watching it! Thanks for your thoughtful analysis! 😊
7:06 Marty fixing his problems also ties into the theme of love. Not only does romantic love matter as George demonstrates with Lorraine towards the end when he saves her from Biff, but also Marty demonstrates love by saving George from the Lorraines fathers car and from Biff in the skateboard chase. even if Marty had a self interest in hooking up his dad and mom he demonstrates an unconditional love for his family in these scenes, and ultimately he like his dad changes for the better bc of this selflessness
It's so wonderful to watch a video like this and be reminded of how great this movie is.
Best part was Marty didn’t intend to time travel in the first place, he accidentally bumped the switches that turned on the added equipment. He was trying to outrun terrorists
One of my favorite 80$ movies to five I’ve seen all three over 100 times
I love this film, and I really enjoyed your video essay on it! There's so many reasons why I love this film, but you pointed out in this video one which I think gets overlooked by people: And that is its use of "Chekhov's Gun" (the idea of introducing something into the story early on as either a gag or something unimportant, and then later make that element important later on in the story). I love stories that use Chekhov's Gun because it's a sign that the writers put a lot of time, effort, and planning into the story (unlike other films that sometimes feel like the writers are just making stuff up as they go along).
It's hard to do, in some cases it can be seen as cheap reincorporation, but it is balanced almost perfectly in BTTF!
More than a Chekhov's Gun, it's a full on Chekhov's Armoury. The only movie I can think of that does that even MORE than BTTF is Hot Fuzz, which was absolutely mind-bending in how dense it managed to be.
just saw it again and came too look for this
Im a big fan of yours man. Honestly one of the real quality channels on yt. Keep up the good work man. I really enjoy all of your videos.
Thanks Brennan!
These movies are a master piece.
I really enjoyed this video, dude. Make more back to the future!!
I love this movie I got the 4K release it is the best way to see the film I love the music in this film and the story
I ABSOLUTELY love this movie.
This movie is perfection! The whole trilogy!
A) I'd say the clock tower scene is in the 3rd Act.
B) there is a part of the movie that doesn't add anything: Johnny B Goode. But it's awesome so everyone forgives it
Why does everyone think all scenes need to advance the plot? I HATE that way of thinking. Some of my favorite moments in films are scenes that add NOTHING to the plot, but the movie wouldn't be the same without them, not every scene needs to connect to the plot, and the third act starts when Marty and his mom pull up in the car at the dance.
It’s a callback to the start of the movie where Marty’s band audition for the dance but don’t get it “for being too loud” but here in the 50s where music taste and opinions are different they love it as it’s something new but in the 80s it’s been done a million times and they’re sick of rock
*S T O R Y T E L L I N G*
Act 3 sure is short then. Personally I think George punching out Biff and the dance is the resolution, the more important one anyway
Thank you! Everything you taught me about Setup, Revelation and Resolution, I will use to craft a new trilogy of films in the 21st century, that will hopefully also be perfect and popular enough to teach in film schools by the time they are 20 years old. After seeing all 8 Harry Potter films, I have always wanted to write a trilogy of fantasy movies about another wizard school focusing on a girl wizard who loves doing magic, but also has concerns about using magic to cheat in life and that is why she is worried if there are any career choices for magic people like her, because it could limit them from having any ordinary non-magic careers. 😢 The Critical Drinker always taught me that it is okay to create your own IP with a diverse cast (instead of compromising a pre-existing IP) as long as you have more positive entertainment value to show for it beyond the diversity. In that regard, it is very easy to do much better at writing diverse stories than The Rings of Power. November 24, 2022, 11:20pm
Man I love this movie so much
Gotta say though, biff seems like a real chill guy when he grows up in the third act.
I feel like a lot of the points presented about this movie can be said about the trilogy as a whole. There is a lot of great and subtle setup to all of the major character events in the trilogy.
Good stuff
I am the biggest back to the future fan. My heart is shaped like a Delorean.
Jack! Love the in depth discussion. I was JUST saying that Robert Zemeckis is one of the all time directors for this generation! His story telling ability is beyond. Such attention to detail and all with rewards for his audience with call backs. FANTASTIC! Great dissection!!
Thank you!
You know what? In my English class, we had to pick a film to write a paper on how it relates to the classic hero's journey. Back to the Future was my choice, my professor was very pleased with my choice and I got a really good grade on it! I wrote how Marty Mcfly was an example of the hero's journey.
The last time I saw this favorite trilogy of mine was oktober 21, 2015.
We didn’t get flying cars but how about a Cafe 80s. It would be an 80s Theme exactly as the film.
This is the *BEST* movie ever...
Back To The Future is the BEST movie ever!
No one can change my mind
5:04 marty got clock-blocked 😆
I completely agree with you about the first movie. Unfortunately they no longer their consistent rules in the second film. I mean, I enjoyed the second film too, probably a bit more than the first because I enjoyed the twists and alternate realities more, but you're right that first film was a better done film.
I watch this at the cimema , best film ever , I lived this
It is a great movie. However I do think Glover has a point in his criticism of the ending. Marty's parents becoming richer and happier, and slightly cruel employers to bif isn't a satisfying conclusion for me. Plus Marty has done what he spent the whole movie trying to avoid, he changed the future. He has a family who he will have no shared memories with, and is lucky to even exist.
I would have rewritten act one and made his family and home life good, and his parents loving and functional. So in the final act he returns to find he's back home with his loving family again.
All the possible timelines and fractured-off multiple alternate verses created by Marty's jumping around time and changing things to the point there are two Martys and the paradox of a pair of docs! What makes this film go, truely, next-level bonkers and into meta territory is when you factor in the fact behind the scenes in real life they shot to-almost-completion the entire movie with a different lead and all that footage still exists in a vault somewhere. But our reality got the recast Marty and, thus, we in our universe only know Micheal J. Fox in the role. However, in some other parallel-universe, they stuck with that original actor and first draft version of the film and in alternate Earth 2.0, Marty McFly is remembered as played by Eric Stolz. BTTF is transcendant in and of itself. This is heavy....
One of the most re - watchable movies and trilogies ever. Check out the movie someone made out of the game if ur a huge BTTF fan. Then, explain that. Part 4 and 5. It leaves a paradox and loopholes that could rip apart the very thing we love 😉😄
Movies back then were much better then movies now
I'm very much looking forward to your October video. I would love to see your take on Se7ven.
I've been working on them, and I think it is going to be a good month of looking at great movies!
My idea for a Backtothefuture sequel trilogy is as follows: It is fourty years since the events in the three movies.
DocBrown's house have been abadonned for
fourty years and is in a shabby state.Three youths who live nearby goes there to clean up the place and make it ready for a sale.
While they are cleaning the house they find the scematics for the delorean and how the fluxcapasator makes timetravels possible.
They also find a video which shows one of the youths mother(possible Jennifer Parker)and she looks totally different than she looks today.
the youths also sees DocBrown holding a newspaper where Biff has the Grey's sport allmanac in his pocket from 1955.
They decide to build a new Delorean from DocBrown's scematics.
When they are finnished they decide to bring the Grey's sport allmanac(which is in common sale in 2022) with them.
They goes back to 1955 and knows allready that MartyMcFly detained JenniferParkers father when he took the caseboard apart in the first movie to use it as
a regular board.The youths prevent this from happening by giving MartyMcFly another board to stand on while flying away from Biff.
They also gives their fathers the Grey's sport allmanac.
When they comes home they all live in wealth and luxury
and JenniferParker looks like she looked in the first movie(played by ClaudiaWells or a lookalike)and it gives a happy ending to the first movie xD
In the second movie three neighbours to the first movies aganoists who are envious discover videos that show everything was different just a few days
ago.They start stalking the three youths and finds out about the Delorean timemachine.They also finds out about the Grey's sport allmanac.They decide
to steal both the delorean and bring with them the Grey's sport allmanac.In 1955 they gives the Grey's sport allmanac to their grandparents.They then
goes home to a life in wealth and luxury.
In the third and last movie,our three antagonists suddenly wakes up and see everything has changed around them.They see the three
neighbour youth now living in wealth and luxury and suspect that they has stolen the delorean and gone back to 1955.
They decide to go back themselves and change the events that the three neighbours have caused.
But there they meet a young DocBrown that warns them about making any more changes.He tells them he was contacted by his future
selves and that he told him to warn eventual other timetravellers.
Here's what I'd do for a sequel trilogy:
I wouldn't 😝
Example
If Marty had returned to October 26, 1985 12:27 am before The Libyans find doc brown, and stop them from killing him in the first place, and if doc brown would have never been killed and the other Marty hasn't departed for 1955, the other Marty hasn't altered history by crashing into one of the two twin pines at Old Man Peabody's ranch, and the ripple effect hasn't happened, the sign still say "Twin Pines Mall" Trippy, right?
Another great video keep it up man, could you look into the film Stay (2005) and the Usual Suspects. Also can't wait for the next video on Seven one of my favourite films ever.
L.A. Confidential is better than Usual Suspects ;P jk
But seriously: L.A. Confidential is awesome.
Thanks! I would love to talk about the Usual Suspects one day, but I don't think I'll be discussing Stay any time soon. I think it is a poorly constructed movie that tries to pretend it is something bigger than it actually is.
You should also look at it's sequel, as it was shot at the same time as the first movie (If i'm not wrong), and talk about how that works.
You are in fact wrong. 2/3 we're shot at the same time
make it a Good one Martie!
Great video
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!
Terrific video - thanks!
Thanks Mark! I'm glad you enjoyed!
History repeats itself
The BTTF trilogy is the greatest of all time. My favorites!
actually the whole trilogy is a masterpiece in storytelling allthough part III is a little boring
The writer of the movie was A child prodigy, born in Logan Utah.
In Logan Utah: DMC, Bluebird Restaurant, The Clock Tower Plaza and Twin Pines Condos
In the movie: LMC, Bluebird Motel, The Clock Tower and Twin Pines Mall
John Delorean owned both DMC and LMC.
The writer's birthday is Nov. 16, 1976.
88 MPH or 8+8=16
76 MPH lingers on the speedo when Marty goes to 1955.
The time at Twin Pines Mall 01:16 A.M.
Also the writer's initials are A.M.
His father's twin is named Dave, Linda is the writer's aunt, Toby is his cousin and Mary is his grandmother.
The yellow poster in Marty's school says Bulldogs VS Indians. Which refers to the North Cache Bulldogs and Preston Indians.
Preston and Logan are Bill and Ted's last names.
The writer was very prolific and wrote his first screenplays before the age of one. As Star Wars has secrets as well. A.M. can be found in the background symbols, when Darth Vader lifts up the guy by the neck. Porkins is an inside joke for Perkins, which is the mother's middle name. Also Anthony Perkins the actor is the writer's great uncle.
Or course there are many other things in his multiple movies that make it mathematically impossible for anyone else to have written these works. Even BTTF and Star Wars have more stuff that I left out, due to the time it takes to write all this crap.
Anyone care to figure out the odds?
Anyways he has written hundreds of movies, TV series, books, video videogame concepts and is now retired. With Hollywood set to run out of his screenplay stockpile in A certain amount of years.
Like when I saw The Matrix in theatre I knew nothing about what Back to the Future was about going in. All I knew is I liked the two main actors. Saw it five times in theatre. Fox's career went stratospheric from there.
The writers were thinking fourth dimensionally when they plotted sequels!
It's also one of the easiest film to analysis in college.
Best. Movie. Ever.
I’m sorry man but if you’re trying to say that the 3rd act of the film starts only 10 minutes before the ending than you fundamentally don’t understand back to the futures structure
Correct, that is not an act that is an epilogue
Act three starts when the dance happens. You clearly have no understanding of what a 3 act structure is. The third acts has to contain a climax and resolution. While you understand act 1 and 2s distinction. You clearly don’t understand what act 3 is.
When Marty returns to the future, that is not an act, that is more an epilogue
it's 5 act
Because of the setup what I mean by set up is like in a joke where you have a set up
iT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER!
I wish the sequels were as strong. I love them, but I admit that they're a bit wonky and rely too much on the predessecors to stand on their own feet.
Originally there wasn't going to be a sequel until people kept asking for one, hence why it took 4 years!!
The sequels are great. They enhance the first film
my own personal ranking of the films go
#1 Part 3
#2 Part 1
#3 Part 2
Doc Brown looks like Bernie Sanders.
while this is true
back to the future 2 & 3 were the perfect sequals
Well, this just made me subscribe. Great work, keep it up!
Thanks you! I'm glad you enjoyed!
3:06 Marty's foot
Best actor: Thomas F. Wilson Worst actor: Michael J. Fox. Now, despite this, Fox is still the perfect actor to portray Marty McFly. Who could really imagine anyone else in the role? Great movie, almost perfect and without flaws. But a few did creep in...jigawatts as opposed to gigawatts, for example, lol.
can you do alien analysis a another new one
in short, Zemeckis was not a slacker on this movie. compare it to the latest Terminator, which is a mess!
Definitely not. It's great to see someone put such care into the projects he does-this and Roger Rabbit are my favorites.
The Terminator series ended when James Cameron was no longer involved (though T3 doesn't deserve all the shit it gets)
we don't get this kind of movies anymore.
Hm .. the true genius is that, from the 2020s Perspective, the 80s Parts are very much like the 50s Part as seen from the 80s. So... zemeckis created, either by temporal circumstance or intentionally, another time capsule.
So this movie is basically a 3 paragraph essay