The Age of Commercialism

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

When this documentary came out (right around 10/21/2015, the date corresponding to when Marty explores his future in BTTF2), it was kind of touted as THE documentary to watch for BTTF fans. If you go into the experience with those kind of expectations, you will probably be disappointed, as that never seems to be the goal here. Instead, to really get the most out of the experience, you have to just sit back and relax, enjoying the fun little moments along the way.What could have (and almost should have, to be honest) destroyed this documentary is the fact that it severely lacks any sense of focus. It meanders here and there, trying to cram in as many BTTF angles as possible. It wants to seriously evaluate the legacy of the film, and does a number of interviews with key cast/crew/writers...but then it also follows around a Delorean rider for awhile...and looks at some BTTF fan events...and takes time to ponder the overall significance of the film's legacies. There are a lot of irons in the fire, to put it mildly, and usually that is a recipe for documentary disaster.Where "Back In Time" is able to pull through, however, is that many of those "odd little moments" are truly special and touching. For example...-An interview with Donald Fullilove, who played Goldie Wilson in the first movie. Just seeing him again will bring a smile to your face! The same for James Tolkan (Mr. Strickland). -A scene in which a man proposes to his girlfriend at a BTTF showing...then is serenaded with "Earth Angel" by none other than Harry Waters Jr. himself. -A couple who restored an old Delorean and are now using it to raise money for the Parkinson's Foundation (the disease that currently afflicts Michael J. Fox).Moments like that are why "Back In Time" is worth watching. It was never supposed to be a "comprehensive review" of the films, even if it seemed to be advertised as such. Instead, it's more of a peek into a few of the ways that the film trilogy has touched and inspired the lives of others.Much like Star Wars (though not at quite that level, obviously), Back To The Future has becoming a cultural institution all its own. The films are watched, re-watched, and then passed on to the next generation to do the same. Even though we are now further into the future than Marty McFly himself actually traveled, it hasn't dulled their value whatsoever. "Back In Time" acknowledges of all that...and then takes "the back roads" in a search for unique and interesting ways in which the films have taken on a life of their own.As such, once you realize what this documentary is/isn't supposed to be, you'll probably be able to enjoy it.

I was able to view this mostly documentary film on Netflix streaming. It was made to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the movie BTTF, and also the 30 years into the future from 1985 that is represented in BTTF 2.It includes interviews with most of the principals involved, actors, writers, producers, etc, notably missing Crispin Glover who abandoned the franchise shortly after BTTF.Bob and Bob (Gale and Zemeckis) share stories of how inspiration first came for BTTF (seeing an old yearbook showing his dad was class president and wondering what his dad was really like) and how many stops they needed to make to have a studio agree to the project. It is funny, Disney wouldn't touch it because it had a mild "incest theme", when Marty's mother falls for him as a teen in 1955.The film also features many of the BTTF fringe groups that have sprung up, the many owners of deLorean cars and their restorations, etc. There is a good discussion of why Stoltz was removed and replaced by Fox for the Marty role and the re-filming issues that created. I am a big fan of the BTTF movies, always have been, and while this documentary film isn't great it does offer many new insights into the BTTF lore.I enjoyed spending the 90 minutes viewing this. Lea Thompson is still a doll!

I got the impression that this documentary wanted to produce new material that the countless other BTTF docs haven't. Sadly, I have not seen any of the previous, so I just got fed the leftovers.I'm a fan of the original and the second is one of the most exciting movies I've ever seen in a theatre experience. But, I have somehow stayed away from all the background of the commentaries, documentaries, behind the scenes, etc. Maybe I will someday, and this movie makes me want to.For, it did show how much more I would like to know about the trilogy, but didn't tell me. It's not the worst documentary made about a film I've seen – and I've seen plenty, but it's one of the most blah. That said, I might change my opinion if I get a chance to see all the others. I'm just starting late.So, if you've seen the rest, maybe this new perspective might help. But, if you haven't…I would strongly suggest beginning with anything on the old Blu-ray boxset or the new one that just came out last month. This is coming from someone who hasn't seen them, but longs for more substance than just a grand majority of fans talking.

I was looking forward to an interesting and in-depth celebration of this great movie trilogy but this has one of the weakest plays from a strong hand I've ever seen. Boy did it drag and dwell on uninteresting aspects. It felt like it was 6 hours long. So some guy bought one of the deloreans and proud of it, cool, but does it really need that much screen time when you've got Doc and Zemeckis, and Michael J Fox and crew. What a wasted opportunity. What a waste of the viewers time. Instead of invigorating my love for the movies it made me wary of watching things like this again. Who do we blame for this? Directors mistake?