BACK TO THE FUTURE?!
Just under twenty three years ago, Back To The Future was released and quickly became the biggest film of 1985.
Granted this wasnt exactly a vintage year for film, but its $210 million gross at the US box office is impressive nonetheless. The films popularity led to two sequels, filmed back to back and released in 1989 and 1990, which led to us being given one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. In spite of its incestuous tinges, that Disney had deemed too risqué, the original film was a runaway success and is responsible for some great scenes; who can forget Martys performance of Johnny B. Goode to introduce the kids of 1955 to rock n roll - or the vision of Doc Brown hanging from the Hill Valley clock tower, not to mention one of the 80s cult images; the time travelling DeLorean?
The appropriate question is WHEN the hell are they
Michael J. Fox
as Marty McFly, Marty McFly Jnr., Marlene McFly and Seamus McFly
Marty McFly, the embodiment of the teenage hero - the bewildered time in our lives where we move from adolescent into adulthood. In the movie, Michael J. Fox gives one of the most charamastic young leading performances of all time and people like Shia LaBeouf should take note of what he did in this movie. A short time after he shot the two sequels, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease but remarkably continued acting and managed to hide Fox his illness until 1998 and continued to star in big movies, including The American President, Mars Attacks! and his last major starring role in Peter Jacksons 1996 release The Frighteners.
Roads? Where were going, we dont need Roads
Christopher Lloyd
as
Doctor Emmett L. Brown
THEN: Anyone whos seen Back To The Future has at some point probably attempted an lame impression of Doc Brown. Christopher Lloyds distinctive, gruff voice and brilliantly offbeat performance make Doc Brown one of the most memorable movie characters of all time, as evidenced recently in Knocked Up when Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen make several references to Back To The Future and the Doc, including some of those lame Doc impersonations. He was eccentric, lovable... Albert Einstein if he were on crack and his chemistry with Michael J. Fox has given the film the awesome longevity it still has today. NOW: Christopher Lloyd will be 70 this year. Following his role as Doc, Lloyd starred in another much loved 80s family smash hit, playing Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. Christopher Lloyd returned for both Back To The Future sequels, even having his first screen kiss in Part 3, with the Docs love interest Clara, played by Mary Steenburgen. In the early nineties, Christopher Lloyd continued to appear in family comedies including the dire Hulk Hogan vehicle Suburban Commando, Dennis the Menace in which he played the villain and both Addams Family films as Uncle Fester.
Why dont you make like a tree And get out of here.
Thomas F. Wilson
as
Biff Tannen, Griff Tannen and Bufford Mad Dog Tannen
THEN: Back To The Future was Wilsons big break and first major screen role, his performance as the various Tannen family members is arguably the turn of the trilogy, especially his portrayal of Biff, the character that fans love to hate, the greatest bully in screen history, you can always bank on him getting his comeuppance in an unpleasant way, usually at the hands of a pile of manure.
Wilson returned for both sequels and has even appeared with Christopher Lloyd for Back To The Future: The Ride at Universal Studios theme park, as well as providing voices for various Tannen family members in Back To The Future: The Animated Series.
Lea Thompson
as
Lorraine Baines-McFly and Maggie McFly
THEN: Lea Thompson carried the vulnerability needed to play Lorraine Baines-McFly, both the mother and at times love interest of Marty McFly in Back To The Future and after roles in All the Right Moves and Red Dawn prior to the movie, it seemed like she was going to stay around for a while.
Last night, Darth Vader came down from Planet Vulcan and told me that if I didnt take Lorraine out hed melt my brain
Crispin Glover/Jeffrey Weissman
as
George McFly
THEN:Crispin Glover played the goofball George McFly to perfection, often stealing scenes in the movie from his co-stars. As I have aged, I have come to appreciate his performance here more and more, such a great actor.
Claudia Wells
as
Jennifer Parker
THEN: Claudia played Marty's first girlfriend but her limited acting ability meant short screentime anda forgettable throw-a-way performance.
(pictured sourced via Marty Edwards - http://dmcme.blogspot.com/2006/06/sight-for-sore-eyes.html)
NOW: After her big break in 1985 with Back to the Future, Claudia Wells went on to star in the short lived TV series Fast Times that was derived from Fast Times At Ridgemont High, however this was to be her last screen appearance until 1996s indie Still Waters Burn. She declined the chance to return for the two Back To The Future sequels due to personal reasons and all but quit acting all together.James Tolkan
as
Mr. Strickland and Marshall Strickland
THEN: James Tolkan was first choice when it came to casting the hard-nosed disciplinarian Mr. Strickland. As principal of Marty McFlys high school, Strickland had a rather acute dislike of all things McFly, stemming back to Georges time at the school. Tolkan returned as Strickland in Part 2 and in Part 3 played Marshall Strickland, sheriff of Hill Valley 1885 and grandfather of the Strickland of 1955/1985. NOW: Other than Back To The Future, his most recognised role is that of take-no-shit Commander Tom Stinger Jordan in Top Gun. As well as returning for both Back To The Future sequels, Tolkan also appeared (memorably) in Masters Of The Universe as a hard nosed and pissed off detective, Dick Tracy, Woody Allens Love & Death and somewhat less impressively, Problem Child 2.