BACK TO THE FUTURE

US, 1985, 111 minutes, Colour.
Michael J.Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Elizabeth Shue.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.

The most popular film at the American Box office in the summer of 1985. It was popular the world over. It is a story about teenagers, about time machines, about the comparisons between the past and the present and the influence of the past on the present.

Michael J. Fox of Family Ties, Poison Ivy is the lively teenage lead. Christopher Lloyd, a strong character actor (Star Trek 111, The Lone Ranger, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) enjoys himself as the eccentric mad scientist Dr. Brown. A group of up and coming actors and actresses play parents, and then because of the time travel, play themselves as teenagers. There is a lot of humour, a lot of technology and scientific experiment, the popular ingredients for a entertainment.

The film was co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis whose previous credits include I Want to Hold Your Hand, Used Cars, and the very popular Romancing the Stone. The film was made under the auspices of Steven Spielberg.

1. Enjoyable popular entertainment? for the American audience, universal audiences, teenagers, adults, the popular ingredients for box office success?

2. Science fantasy and its popularity? the appeal to the imagination? the move to the past and the future, comparisons with the present? the visualising of changes, hopes, optimism, the appeal of films with technology, time travel?

3. Themes of time travel, the possibility of moving backwards and forwards in time, scientifically, philosophically, the importance of going back to the past, the possibility of changing the future, the jokey ending with people from the present going to the rescue in to the future?

4. The view of America, the 80's, life styles, the comparisons with the 50's, the changes, family life, business and careers, school, teenagers, values, scientists, terrorists, the view of the 50's, a period of comparative quiet, calm, but human nature remaining the same, the film's picture of the small town in America in the 1800s, comparisons
with the 50's, detail, decor, costumes, manners, musical styles, the jokes about cinema, the X rated movie of the 80's, the Ronald Reagan western of the 50's, the film's use of special effects, the de Lorean car, the details of travel, technology, the end?

5. The musical score, the songs, the music of the 80's, the music of the 50's and the jokes about Marvin Berry learning about rock and roll from Marty and telling it to his cousin Chuck?

6. The screenplay and the contrasts between the knowing 80's and the innocent 50's, the bad memories of the 50's, television and re-runs, affluence? political changes and the comments on Reagan's America? technology, videos, films and the anticipation of the future ?

7. The character of Marty McF1y?, lively teenager, at school, the teacher ticking him off, at home with his brother and sister and there idiosyncrasies, his weak kneed father being bullied by Biff? his Mother drinking, their clashes and his wondering whatever they could have been like at his age, their life style, his frustrations?

8. Marty and his friendship with Professor Brown? the humour of the opening, the music, the explosion? his going to meet Professor Brown, the car, the possibilities of time travel, the Libyan terrorists, the Professor's death? the escape through time?

9. Marty in the 50's - wandering the town, recognising the various buildings, shops, milk bars? the town clock and his knowledge of what was to happen - his American Jargon for the 80's and the puzzle of the 50's? finding a place to stay, the friendliness of the people, the family taking him in? the manners and mores of the time? the teenagers school (and the same teacher)? outings, dances, kissing and romance? his worry about his parents, the strange experience of meeting them, his wonder about his father and his weakness, Biff and his bullying, his Mother and her flirtation? at her home? and the sex farce sequences and the humour? his decision to help his Mother and his Father meet?

10. The possibility of Marty shaping the future? looking at the photo, his brother and sister gradually disappearing as time ran out? his sense of mission?

11. The Professor and his inventions, his looking forward to the future, sharing knowledge with Marty? the humour of the character of Professor Brown? the car, hiking it, the knowledge of the lightning strike and the clock, the set up for Marty's return to the 80's, the dangers, the storm, the accidents, the timing? his changing the time of return to save the Professor? his writing the note, the Professor reading the note?

12. The return and the different family, his parents much more capable, Biff not bullying people but serving the McFlys? - 80's affluence, his brother and sister and their life style? the possibility of Marty changing his destiny - his girl friend, Professor Brown turning up and his inviting them to go and shape the future?

13. The irony about the 80's - and the need for 80's teenagers to go and change the 21st century teenagers?