Back To the Future Part III
Back to the Future Part III
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Thomas F. Wilson
Written by: Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Released in: 1990
The finale of a wonderfully filmed trilogy, it has slowed a bit and isn’t quite the film I is but is definitely on par with the sequel and thus at the very least, an enjoyable flick to watch.
In truth there is very little new about it. That is to say the producers don’t stray too far from the feel of the first two which is both a benefit and a detriment. Certainly it was a winning formula, but at the same time, the third time through it seems a bit more forced. The jokes are stretched a LITTLE thin (the Marty waking up with his “mother” gets more of a smirk than a genuine laugh)
They do try to shake it up a bit by giving Marty some growth started in the sequel with regards to people calling him chicken, but it’s pretty shallow and seems sprinkled on almost as an afterthought.
Another problem is that as in Part II they are relying on more technobabble and explanation to tell the audience how the time travel is affecting the world and times they are visiting and it gets worse now to the point where it’s hard to buy that Marty is that thick.
What it does improve on from Part II is a much more streamlined storyline making it far less confusing to watch. 95% of the movie takes place in 1885 rather than jumping around.
It is also fun to really get to explore the old west with the familiar fun characters and when Doc decides to stay back in 1885 and Marty gets back to 1985 to watch the time machine get destroyed it seems like the perfect ending.
So of course they have to Hollywood it up a bit and have Doc fly in on a time traveling train. As cheesy as it was though, it made me smile still just like the rest of the trilogy.
Despite what most people I’ve talked to would say, I still find Part II to be a superior film – I actually preferred the mania to a degree but Part III is still a fun ride and good end of the series.