Back to the Future Part II

• Title:  Back to the Future Part II
• Director:  Robert Zemeckis
• Date:  1989
• Studio:  Universal
• Genre:  SF, Comedy
• Cast:  Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  NTSC, Region 1

"You're not going to believe this!  We've got to go back to 1955!"  -- Marty McFly

"I don't believe it." -- Doc Brown

The second part of  the Back to the Future Trilogy actually improves with repeat viewings.  The first film in the Trilogy ended with Doc Brown showing up in a futuristic outfit, and telling Marty he needed to help his kids in the future.  Marty, Jennifer, and Doc Brown head to 2015 -- a very futuristic 2015.  There Marty has to prevent his son from getting involved in a robbery that will send him to jail for 15 years.  Also, the Marty of the future is a broken man (like George McFly in the beginning of  the first film) - all because he cannot stand to be called "chicken" - this point will be returned to later.  Having rescued Marty Jr., Doc Brown and Marty (our Marty) are ready to pick up the sleeping Jennifer and return to 1985, when Jennifer is picked up by the cops and brought home.  However, while picking her up -- old 2015 Biff  steals a 50-year sports' almanac from our Marty (the 1985 Marty) and goes back to 1955, giving it to his younger self, which starts a chain of events including the destruction of  Hill Valley into a cesspool of  violence, the murder of  George McFly, Lorraine McFly's forced marriage to Biff, and Doc Brown being committed.  Marty must prevent this from happening -- without old Biff  knowing, and without interfering with his slightly younger self's time travel mission to get his parents together.  He barely succeeds, but is stranded in 1955 when Doc Brown and the DeLorean are sent back to 1885 (the Old West).

The second Back to the Future movie is a great deal grimmer than the first - showing awful events happening to good people.  And whereas the first movie ended with our Marty's life being much better - this film ends with him being stranded.  However, there is a preview of  the next film prior to the closing credits.  (NOTE:  Yes, I've seen it.  I like it.  But, unfortunately, I don't own it -- bit of a mix-up getting DVDs of  these films!)

However, one important thread is Marty's knee-jerk reaction to being called "chicken" -- this will cost him dearly again and again (it's the reason he's so broken when we meet him in 2015).

One thing I didn't like was Jennifer being under-used to the point of  ridiculousness!  She goes with Marty in the Doc's time machine -- then is knocked out, and left various places to sleep.  Also, by the Doc's own explanation -- when Doc Brown and Marty arrived in the alternate 1985 - they can't go back to 2015 because of the time-line split, so they have to go back to 1955, wait for Old Biff to give Young Biff the Almanac - then take the Almanac from Young Biff.  But how did Old Biff get to the original 2015 - if  it had already changed, for Marty and the Doc to have the DeLorean back? Old Biff should have arrived in a different 2015 -- just like Marty, at the end of  the first Back to the Future film arrives back in a 1985 that's different for the better.  (And Doc's explanation for leaving Jennifer and Einstein where they are - the time stream will change around them and they won't notice - also makes little sense.  How does the Doc know he left them someplace safe and stable?)

However, the inter-cutting between the new events happening in 1955; and the events of  the first film is extremely well done.  I also had to wonder -- did Marty tell Doc Brown about him dying at the mall in the first film?

But still, a good movie - and it adds to the mythos of  the trilogy.

Recommendation:  See it!
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Next Film:  The Band Wagon