First released on July 3 in 1985, Universal Studios’ Back to the Future went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year, as well as the first film in a successful trilogy. Since its release, Back to the Future has seen two sequels, a ride at Universal Parks and Resorts, and tie-in material including video games, comic books, and an animated series.
The films follow the story of Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox in one of his defining roles, as he travels through time in a DeLorean built by his friend Doctor Emmett Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd. Over the course of the trilogy, Marty must ensure his parents stay together, save the Doc from death in the Old West, and ensure the protection of his own future bloodline.
Matthew Lanouette, a senior in Parks, Recreations and Tourism Management, shared his opinion on why the movies have gained such popularity.
“Back to the Future is a classic,” Lanouette said. “It has just about everything anyone would want in a movie, and Marty McFly is a loveable character. I liked how the movie showed the consequences of changing the past.”
Now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, the Back to the Future franchise is seeing a renewed level of interest. For long-time fans of the series as well as people discovering the films for the first time, it is a busy year for the Back to the Future universe.
The biggest release to come for most fans this year is the new anniversary edition box set, which collects the entire trilogy with new special features not included on the previous set released in 2005. The new features will include a six-part retrospective look at the series, with new interviews with both the cast and crew. Also included are music videos, commentaries, and all the extras included on the previous DVD releases.
The new box-set will also come in a Blu-ray format, allowing viewers to experience the series all over again in re-mastered high definition. The new anniversary edition will be available near the end of October.
Another new release comes from Looney Labs, makers of the popular card game Fluxx. Earlier this month, they released Back to the Future: The Card Game, in which players take on the roles of descendants of characters from the films. The goal for each player is to use the various time travel cards to go back in time and change key events in the film to ensure that they are born.
The game’s selling point is the “Time Line,” a series of cards that span the key moments of the franchise in chronological order. By changing these events, characters can both save themselves and doom the other players. Once the timeline is set up in a player’s favor, they must stop Doc Brown from ever inventing time travel before another player can make a change.
Video game fans also have a new release to look forward to, as Telltale Games announced a new game at last month’s Penny Arcade Expo. Set for release later this fall, the new Back to the Future video game will be released in episodes, and will be an adventure game featuring the further adventures of Marty and Doc Brown.
Telltale has made a name for itself in recent years by reviving classic franchises with new releases. Tales of Monkey Island, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures, and the Sam & Max games have all been similar episodic adventure games, all of which have received high praise from gaming critics.
For Back to the Future: The Adventure Series, the developer has gone the extra mile to guarantee the games have an authentic feel. Christopher Lloyd has been brought on to voice his character, and Bob Gale, screenwriter for all three films, has worked closely with Telltale to make sure the story of the games rings true.
“I’ve been having story meetings and exchanging emails and phone calls with the folks at Telltale to make sure that what they develop feels like Back To The Future,”Gale said in a recent interview.
Another plus is the art style, which strikes a balance between realism and cartoon, giving an air of familiarity to the characters and the world. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox are both allowing for their likenesses to be used in the game.
Melissa Dalena, a sophomore in animal science, has always been a fan of Christopher Lloyd’s character.
“I’ve always liked Doc Brown,” Dalena said. “His crazy white hair makes him seem like a hilarious version of Einstein.”
Even N.C. State is getting in on the celebration. This Friday night, the Witherspoon student cinema will be airing the first Back to the Future for freeat midnight. Students are welcome to come and enjoy the first film in the franchise, one that has managed to remain popular over the past twenty-five years, as it was originally intended.
