Back in Time Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Back in Time Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 8, 2015

2015 is shaping up to be a big year for the “Back to the Future” franchise. Not only is the original film celebrating its 30th anniversary, but fans were recently treated to trilogy screenings around America theaters to help explore the wild future world of 2015, as created by 1989’s “Back to the Future: Part II.” Helping to goose excitement for the brand name is “Back in Time,” a documentary directed by Jason Aron that sets out to understand the depth of love for the movie series, paying special attention to its influence on pop culture, collection, and engineering. It’s an uneven ride, but Aron gets the basics right, diving into an abyssal corner of cinematic obsession to understand creative appeal and inspiration, managing major “gets” with an impressive roster of interviewees, most willing to share memories and impart wisdom concerning the construction and impact of the time-traveling comedies.

There’s really no place to gracefully begin a dissection of “Back to the Future,” and Aron doesn’t show patience with introductions, launching the viewer into a brief history of the first film, exploring how creators Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis dreamed up the story while struggling with their early careers in the industry, and how their script was kicked around Hollywood for years, eventually saved by executive producer Steven Spielberg and studio executive Frank Price, who knew they had something special. The opening of “Back in Time” covers only the basics in terms of production, perhaps fearful that DVD and Blu-ray supplements have already walked through the “Back to the Future” creative process, trying to avoid repeating the same stories. It’s understandable, but it’s also frustrating, especially when talk turns to Eric Stoltz’s aborted turn as Marty McFly, with brief footage provided to spotlight his six weeks of work on the feature before he was fired and replaced by Michael J. Fox. Gale is mindful of curiosity, promising that one day the full Stoltz shoot will be unleashed on the public, but he doesn’t explain why there’s a vague delay to some unspecified release date. There’s a big question mark there. The first of many.

“Back in Time” isn’t a straight making-of documentary, but the list of interviewees is impressive, with Zemeckis, Gale, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Steven Spielberg, Claudia Wells, Huey Lewis, James Tolkan, Donald Fullilove, cinematographer Dean Cundey, and composer Alan Silvestri joining the conversation (sadly, no Thomas F. Wilson and Crispin Glover). There’s a degree of BTS information, anecdotes, and memories of the shoot, but “Back in Time” doesn’t linger anywhere for very long. And aside from an inspection of the futuristic elements of “Part II,” there’s basically nothing shared about the sequels besides fan appreciation. The documentary feels a little short-sheeted in this regard, and those hunting for new nuggets of information concerning the creation of the trilogy are bound to be disappointed. However, just seeing many of these personalities commenting on their work is exciting and humorous, with Gale emerging as the gatekeeper for the series, keeping tabs on all franchise developments as well as shutting down any talk of a fourth film.

“Back in Time” is primarily devoted to the fans, investigating their zeal for the trilogy and how the movies have influenced creative ambition. Appreciation is common, with T.V. guys Adam F. Goldberg and Dan Harmon (whose own “Rick and Morty” is a homage to “Back to the Future”) sharing their thoughts on the beauty of the original film. However, the bulk of Aron’s concentration is placed on DeLorean worship, tracking the ambition of a select few who’ve spent countless hours and dollars on restoration projects, trying to capture a chunk of the feature for private use. The documentary inspects the insane level of detail on the time machines, and visits elaborate car shows where owners gather to compare efforts and pal around, allowing the public to experience “Back to the Future” up close. Fandom also extends to music, greeting cover band The Flux Capacitors, and collection, with Bill Shea owning automobiles from all three chapters, including a DeLorean actually used in “Future III.”

Inspiration arrives in many forms, including an overview of Marco Pasqua and life lived with cerebral palsy, with Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s disease battle acting as a beacon to the young man, electing to encourage others through difficult days. There’s also a significant amount of time devoted to the development of the flying car and the hoverboard, with some ingenious minds determined to make a thrilling prop from “Future II” a reality. These asides are interesting, but they tend keep “Back in Time” in wandering mode, unable to generate a flow of information that builds to a satisfying conclusion. Aron cherry picks ideas and subjects for the documentary, leaving the effort episodic, with some asides far more appealing than others.

Back in Time Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot in HD, "Back in Time" boasts a bright AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation, offering decent clarity that emphasizes commercial-grade camera use. Detail is satisfactory, identifying age and enthusiasm on the interviewees, along with prop textures and interior decoration. Colors are certainly digital in appearance, offering solid primaries and some wonky skintones. There are big reds and blues here to help identify true "Back to the Future" merchandise and marketing. Delineation is consistent and always open for inspection. Banding is periodically detected throughout the viewing experience, while aliasing is a common problem, along with a few noisy encounters. Also of note: this is BD-R release.

Back in Time Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix isn't sophisticated, forgoing a larger range to concentrate on the basics. Interview audio is crystal clear, dominating with a full sense of personality and emotional response. Voices are weighted, pleasingly balanced with the rest of the track. Scoring is mellow but secure, setting an acoustical mood early that respects instrumentation. Atmospherics are preserved, getting a feel for outdoor bustle and interior echo.

Back in Time Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Rob Klein Props" (3:00, HD) takes a look at some of the finds collectors have discovered while hunting for anything "Back to the Future."

• "A Vegas Story" (3:01, HD) visits a Nevada car show to explore fandom out in the open air, discussing passions and replications with hardcore trilogy admirers.

• "The Fans Talk DeLorean" (8:38, HD) concentrates on the special "Back to the Future" car, detailing restoration projects and love for the time machine.

• "More from the Cast" (10:15, HD) collects a few more anecdotes from the stars, exploring careers before the trilogy and ensuing fame, even for supporting players.

• "Mick Smith" (4:33, HD) chats up the pyrotechnician for "Part III," who shares a few tales from the set, with emphasis on the climatic train explosion.

• "Bit BTS" (6:38, HD) follows director Jason Aron and his crew as they travel around America gathering interviews for the documentary, highlighting on-camera mischief and awkward small talk with the talent.

• And a Trailer (2:31, HD) is included.

Back in Time Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

For die-hard, my-first-born-is-named-Marty fans of "Back to the Future," "Back in Time" may have little to offer, as many of the stories and visual evidence is already found elsewhere, creating some déjà vu for those who've devoted their lives to the trilogy. Aron's documentary is more of a casual affair, leading with warmth for the subject matter, not dogged journalism. Details are missing, but "Back in Time" is an engaging summary of cultural impact and endurance. It's amazing to consider that 30 years after its debut, "Back to the Future" has evolved from a summer blockbuster to one of the all-time great films. It's even more amazing to see how fans are inspired to move the world and drain their bank accounts due to such idolatry.