Back to the Future

“i guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet… but your kids are gonna love it!” happy halloween y’all! got a double feature on this spooky night starting with this absolute masterpiece. in the same vein as jaws, this is another timeless (pun intended) film that is quite literally perfect. it is one of those films when you watch it, you just know. i have seen this film over a dozen times at this point and it was awesome seeing it again for its 40th anniversary in dolby cinema with my girlfriend who hadn’t seen it before! just truly captivating, hilarious, iconic, and masterfully composed and will always be one of my top recommendations to anyone. robert zemeckis has a funny mix of bangers and flops in his filmography but back to the future stands apart from the rest by a large margin. his direction is so superb, with every scene feeling exciting, funny, and most importantly, necessary. the screenplay here is just so tightly written with witty and smart dialogue. it dances so elegantly through the runtime with the perfect amount of time travel mumbo jumbo, keeping the focus on its characters and the heart at the center. so many moments are just so iconic, from the dinner at lorraine’s family’s house to the enchantment under the sea dance sequence, just such an iconic and enjoyable film. the score was particularly wonderful with the dolby atmos soundscape. the memorable theme is still ringing in my ears upon leaving the theater and i got goosebumps whenever it started booming during the action set pieces. silvestri’s score just slaps and there is a reason it is still recognized by everyone today. colors and cinematography also stood out to me immensely. i’ve only ever watched this film on a laptop or tv at home so it was really cool to see it in such high fidelity on the big screen! the colors were so vibrant and i loved the visual distinctions of the different time periods and characters. everything felt done with intent and care which seems to be lost in a lot of films nowadays. same goes for the cinematography as every shot felt distinct and they were done in unique and cool ways. the grand return drive at the end and the shots during the “johnny b. goode” performance are highlights for sure! i haven’t even mentioned performances with michael j. fox absolutely owning the role of marty mcfly. he nails the 80s teenager vibe perfectly, sharing the screen with an equally brilliant performance from christopher lloyd as doc brown. lloyd is so expressive and fun to watch in this film and their dynamic is so fun. fun is a word i keep saying because it perfectly encapsulates my feelings about this film. the premise and execution here are just so fun and well done. i could continue to yap but what a film and i am so glad i could see it again on the big screen!