Back to the Future

It's been almost thirty years, but this sci-fi adventure comedy still holds its place among the genre's elite, and there's no sign of that changing. After all, it's not every day that such an original, entertaining and perfectly thought-out script is born in the minds of screenwriters, even under the guidance of directorial wizards like Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. Just great, I can't but praise it. The visuals are stunning even after all these years, the unravelling of the story is simply flawless, and the duo of M.J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd were probably born for this legendary three-part series, and the way the creators dealt with the bar they set for the second part is truly incredible. 100% (29/09/2012)

Once again, I went back in time to remind myself, after about thirty years (since the last time I saw the film), how Marty McFly went thirty years back in time and then returned thirty years into the future. The fact is, the movie didn't have the same impact on me as it did decades ago, and I blame that mainly on the passing of time, which changes my perception of the world. And even though I must admit that one of the reasons I like the movie is nostalgia, it's true that I still thoroughly enjoyed it today because Michael J. Fox portrayed the main character brilliantly. I much prefer Christopher Lloyd as a slightly unhinged visionary rather than Uncle Fester. To sum it up, the film has flaws, given its age, but there aren't enough to spoil my overall impression. / Lesson learned: Always put your name on your underwear. 5* (24/06/2023)

Had I seen it for the first time in my teenage years when I enjoyed similar stories, I would probably give it a definite five stars. Unfortunately, I watched Zemeckis' legendary sci-fi for the first time last week, which killed a bit of my enthusiasm. The story is very entertaining, some of the gags and situations are very nice, but I don’t really care for the "teenage spirit" and the unmistakable aesthetics of the 80's. Both of the title characters are really good, and the game with the influence of past actions on future things is also fun. This is a very successful hybrid with a great idea and a quality script. But aging… what can you do? (19/09/2006)

I like the admitted value connection here between the 50s and the 80s, where you're actually fighting for position in the bourgeois suburbs, not breaking out of it. Back to the Future is actually a Reaganesque ode to neighborhood and conservative certainties, where one can twist one's entire life in the right direction with a well-timed punch, while keeping one's integrity in check, and if there's one thing to rely on, it's science. Oh, and they're taking the invention of rock 'n' roll away from black people, which is actually fucking hilarious nowadays. I totally understand how seductive it must have been at the time and actually is now, especially since the movie has such perfect sequences (the concert!), exuberant acting (Lloyd!), and a great script. Value-wise, though, it's as much a guilty pleasure for me to watch the film as it is to be entertained by constructivist or normalization films. (10/05/2021)

The 1980s and the golden era of Spielberg / Zemeckis collaboration... Back to the Future is entertaining, imaginative, intelligent and sophisticatedly funny, with sensitively expressed deep thoughts. It is a film for which the terms “popcorn” and “(ultra)happy ending” are not used as insults. Why do they no longer make such movies? Why do we live in such a depressing era? Had I been a movie virgin and rated this at the time of its release, I would have given it five stars. (03/11/2008)