tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post8345361503242980215..comments2024-03-17T18:53:56.416-07:00Comments on Cosmic American Blog: 4. Back To The Future (Zemeckis, 1985) [LE]yoggothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233852251148460524noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-23685472519863690682007-10-24T16:26:00.000-07:002007-10-24T16:26:00.000-07:00Well my mum owns the Thriller vinyl, so maybe I di...Well my mum owns the Thriller vinyl, so maybe I did have a clue who he was... (Like I didn't know about his sordid past, ha!) But I definitely had no clue about most of the other references. Indeed, it seems almost everything I know about the 80's is dictated by the Internet.jin-hurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05787411103120274765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-16187645849133190012007-10-23T23:28:00.000-07:002007-10-23T23:28:00.000-07:00I remember that game on the original Nintendo (wow...I remember that game on the original Nintendo (wow, that was a long time ago). I could always make it to the very end when you try to get the car to hit the wire exactly when the lightning strikes. The bitch thing was that you got multiple lives to get through the entire game, but only one chance to do the lightning thing ... Yadda yadda yadda, I never beat the game.<BR/><BR/>On a sadder note, penguin is making me feel old.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-33926663235355779032007-10-23T21:50:00.000-07:002007-10-23T21:50:00.000-07:00But he does it two more times! And it works then ...But he does it two more times! And it works then too! The consequences of the Doc bringing ice-making technologies to the Wild West were not properly dealt with at all. <BR/><BR/>I didn't notice that tree-mall thing either. My favorite time related plot detail is the deus ex machina of lightning striking the clock tower. It's a pretty good way of keeping Marty in the past for just the right amount of time.<BR/><BR/>There was a decent but quarter-intensive arcade game based on BTTF.yoggothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233852251148460524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-63815873062423212512007-10-23T20:28:00.000-07:002007-10-23T20:28:00.000-07:00Even Michael Jackson?Anyway, yeah I'm probably rea...Even Michael Jackson?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, yeah I'm probably reaching a bit on some of this, but I do think the modus operandi of the movie is basically "Don't try this at home." Sure, Marty and Doc get away with altering the time-space continuum THIS time around, but in general, it's probably best to leave it alone.Little Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415022026000282965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-58430586974274922842007-10-23T18:00:00.000-07:002007-10-23T18:00:00.000-07:00I had to look them all up. Sorry.I had to look them all up. Sorry.jin-hurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05787411103120274765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-11367542205988715762007-10-23T17:32:00.000-07:002007-10-23T17:32:00.000-07:00"The name of the mall in the beginning is the 'Twi..."The name of the mall in the beginning is the 'Twin Pines' mall. When Marty goes back to 1955 he runs over on of the pine trees in the 'future' parking lot and at the end of the movie, the mall name has been changed to the 'Lone Pine' mall."<BR/><BR/>Damn, never noticed that. Pretty cool.<BR/><BR/>I think it's interesting this idea of what people thought the future would be like in the past, because at the end of the movie, and definitely the second, we have this interpretation of what 1985 thought their future would be like. From the 'Mr. Fusion' on the back of the Delorean, to Cafe 80's, and the flying cars, hoverboards, etc. It was funny to us/Marty when he visited 1955, but now 1985's version of 2015 also looks sorta funny, cause they were looking at it with an 80's perspective. Sure the Michael Jackson and Reagan from Cafe 80's would still make sense, but other cultural phenomena like Max Headroom or Gadaffi wouldn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-39030072442082314802007-10-23T14:46:00.000-07:002007-10-23T14:46:00.000-07:00I think the jokes about what the past people thoug...I think the jokes about what the past people thought about the future were always my favorite part of this movie. There are so many of them, and Spielberg does such a good job of planting them in inconspicuous places that you have to watch it several times closely to even see or hear them all.<BR/><BR/>The name of the mall in the beginning is the 'Twin Pines' mall. When Marty goes back to 1955 he runs over on of the pine trees in the 'future' parking lot and at the end of the movie, the mall name has been changed to the 'Lone Pine' mall.<BR/><BR/>I think we have reached that point in our civilization where we won't be inventing any new things, but merely improving the things we already have. At least for the next 150 years or so. Sorry time machines and flying cars. Maybe next millennium. <BR/><BR/>Footnote: I did like the 'Slaughter House Five' reference though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-37596478264459251332007-10-23T13:20:00.000-07:002007-10-23T13:20:00.000-07:00But all of the consequences are eventually good in...But all of the consequences are eventually good in BTTF.yoggothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233852251148460524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-50430279463424254742007-10-23T12:27:00.000-07:002007-10-23T12:27:00.000-07:00I know I should've watched the laserdisc version o...I know I should've watched the laserdisc version of BTTF but I never really had a chance. Too bad I didn't exist (TIME SPACE CONTINUUM!) when the movie came out, but it's definitely true, now that I look back on it, that BTTF was pretty ...philosophical? Guess it was just the child-like entrancement I had while watching that damned DeLorean fly through the sky, but I'm damned sure I didn't think about consequences or anything burdening like that.<BR/><BR/>@Yoggoth: Getting in touch with your inner child, no?jin-hurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05787411103120274765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-29564786922034537632007-10-23T11:29:00.000-07:002007-10-23T11:29:00.000-07:00It's funny when you mention Marty's mom drinking/s...It's funny when you mention Marty's mom drinking/smoking. I feel like I know this film so well, yet I feel I can't recall the beginning at all, like I always turn the movie on 15 minutes in. I think his brother is in jail or something, and you say his mom is an alcoholic? It's strange how I never seem to see the beginning, yet it's significant cause when he returns to the present everything is for the better, and he's always flabbergasted.<BR/><BR/>And yes, Marty's mom is indeed smokin' hot, hubba hubba, let's go park!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161694830669099204.post-63332586699838148632007-10-23T10:43:00.000-07:002007-10-23T10:43:00.000-07:00"The filmmakers do a really great job of taking th..."The filmmakers do a really great job of taking the reins out from under this scene" contains one of the more impressive mixed metaphors I've read. <BR/><BR/>While I agree with the first half of your review, I start to diverge when you talk about science. There isn't any science to BTTF. It also doesn't serve as a warning about the misuse of technology because everything is improved by the technology! BTTF, along with Star Trek, is one of the biggest tech boosters of the 80s. Compare it to Blade Runner or even Star Wars. <BR/><BR/>I find BTTF almost cartoonishly optimistic about human agency and luck. But that's why I like it so much.yoggothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233852251148460524noreply@blogger.com