User reviews

'Back in Time' is a documentary about 'Back to the Future' and the everlasting imprint it has left on society in the last 30 years. Going into this documentary, I was really looking forward to gaining a lot of new information about what went into making this trilogy of films, but there wasn't really much there of interest, for a Back to the Future fan. They did go into the pre-production of the first film for about 20 minutes, speaking to Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Bob Gale and providing some somewhat interesting information about the complications they had with getting the film made. They also spoke a little about the second film and its representation of the future but not enough to really give us any insight into why they decided to show the future in the way they did. And when it came to talking about the third film, i think Christopher Lloyd mentioned it once and that was pretty much it. So in terms of going in depth about the making of the films and providing any new information that was previously unknown, it was a bit of a let down.

I would have to also say that the overall structure of the documentary was a little off. It wasn't really broken into sections and instead it kind of began talking about something and going off on a tangent before then bringing it back to what it was initially talking about and certain portions felt out of place. A better and more organised structure would have really helped to maintain interest. The tone of the film was something that i was unsure of what i was going to get. And i have to say i liked the tone they were going for, it definitely wasn't a fun and exciting tone but it worked as more of a slower, slightly more emotional tone. I'm not sure if they were actually trying to evoke those emotions or if it was just my reaction to seeing things that i recognise from the film and thus my childhood. But either way it was a nicely paced documentary that had a few moments where they were able to crack a quick joke to lighten the mood a little which was nice.

But where the documentary really excelled and where i was really loving what it was showing was when it began talking about the fans, and the imprint 'Back to the Future' has had on society and our culture over the last 30 years. Getting an insight into the many types of events that are aimed at bringing together fans of BTTF from all around the world was endlessly fascinating. Seeing people interact at BTTF fan conventions, and things like the DeLoreon Car Show really shows the love for this series even today. They even go into a few more personal stories talking about how BTTF inspired people to fight through their illnesses and how they found connections between the characters and were able to learn from the film to be stronger and help others. These were very heartwarming stories that i was happy to see the documentary put quite a bit of focus on.

In the end, for BTTF fans, a lot of the information about the films themselves and what went into the making of them is stuff that has already been featured in past interviews and DVD behind the scenes that you have probably already checked out. So if that is what you are looking to get out of this you may be disappointed. But for new BTTF fans, i think you can get a good kick of info that you might not have previously known. If there was a better overall structure and more of a focus on all 3 BTTF films this would have been very worthwhile, but apart from the fan stories and witnessing the films legacy over the last 30 years there's not much else to really pick out. - 6/10

As a die hard BTTF fan I was pretty excited for this. I contributed to the Kickstarter campaign based off the trailer, which looked amazing. With all the coverage the trilogy was getting this year and especially in October, I thought finally viewing this would be a great way to cap it all off. Unfortunately, it left me pretty disappointed.

The marquee names involved are obviously great, but way too much time is spent on random fans and contributors. It's hard to believe that what we see in the final piece is the best they got out of the interviews with Fox, Lloyd, and Thompson; all of which appear on screen for a total of maybe 10 minutes total.

There are a few nice anecdotes and facts sprinkled throughout but overall the surface barely gets scratched on the depth of not only the movies themselves, but also the incredibly devoted subculture that has been generated over the years. To be fair, I am an above average fan so I know or am at least aware of the more behind the scenes stories and facts. However, even for the regular person with just basic knowledge of the films the documentary leaves a lot of holes.

Storywise the editing is not good at all and very fragmented. For example, the first part (it's split into 2 very unequal parts for some unclear reason. Part 1 is about the move getting made) ends on the topic of the iconic delorean. Then we see a title card for "Part 2: The Fans", and for a minute or 2 they talk to some people, but then somehow the topic gets back to the delorean and into a pretty long exposition about people replicating the cars etc. Now sure, technically this is fans who build the cars, but there is so much of it there really should have been an entire section just about the car. Then, another part about the subculture of fans. I really saw no point at the attempt to segment the film into actual parts, of which there are only 2.

There are some really nice nuggets and stories in there—like the private owner who actually owns the delorean from part 3 and 4x4 from part 1. But overall this really fell flat for me which is a big shame. I contributed because of my love for the movies. And although I'm sure the director is a passionate fan, it may have been better left in the hands of experienced story tellers.

Greetings again from the darkness. Thirty years is an eternity in the filmmaking world. Only a few dozen movies even get a cable run in year two. So, it's worth noting, and maybe even magical, when a movie is beloved and worshiped by a rabid fan base some three decades after release. Such is the case with Back to the Future, the story of Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown and their time-traveling escapades. First time director Jason Aron offers up a look at the BTTF community of fans, and some behind-the-scenes scoop from those involved.

Talking heads abound in the first part of the movie, as we see and hear from the masterminds of the classic: Robert Zemekis and Bob Gale, as well as Michael J Fox, Lea Thompson, Steven Spielberg, Huey Lewis, Christopher Lloyd, Claudia Wells, Alan Silvestri, Dean Cundey, Dan Harmon, Frank Price and others. Very little new information is served up, and in fact Mr. Zemekis doesn't seem especially excited to be involved, whereas Mr. Gale seems quite pleased and comfortable with his role in film history. The best "making of" anecdotes come from Michael J Fox, though it is interesting to note just how difficult it was for the film to get studio backing – "time travel" movies didn't have a successful box office track record.

The middle third of the movie is dedicated to the iconic Delorean car, and all that entails. This sequence would have been effective were it completed in 10 minutes, but instead it brings the film's flow to a dead stop. Sure, it's amazing that this many have a hobby related to this obscure car and its role in a classic film, but enough already!

Fan-based clubs and the accuracy of the film's "future" predictions for 2015 make up the final third of the run time, as we get a glimpse of how close we are to real hover boards and flying cars. The question that seems unanswered is just who is this film aimed at? Most of the insight has been long ago discussed in DVD "bonus" coverage or previous interviews with the key players. The fan communities are certainly of interest if one is part of it, but the vast majority of those who have held the film close to their heart for 30 years care little for the obsessive fringes, and only for the emotions and imagination delivered by the film that needs no roads.

"Back in Time" seems to proceed from the best of intentions, and I kinda feel bad for expressing any disappointment. There's certainly a lot of material crammed into this thing, but the movie-intensive stuff seems to be at odds with the fan adulation. I approached this as a fan, so I'd heard the commentaries, read the book, heard Bob Gale tell the same making-of story a hundred times, so a great deal of this doc was a retread. Nobody's fault, but it did seem to tease a behind-the-scenes angle that never really materialized.

On the plus side (and this is primarily if you're fairly new to "Back to the Future"), like I said, there's a lot of stuff here. Michael J. Fox had some good anecdotes, the restoration of the A-car was kinda cool, as well as the Secret Cinema portion. And some of the fan-based material is genuinely touching, particularly the cerebral palsy guy and the cancer survivor.

But really, this is for the general fan, and there's nothing wrong with that. Have at it.

6/10

When this documentary came out (right around 10/21/2015, the date corresponding to when Marty explores his future in BTTF2), it was kind of touted as THE documentary to watch for BTTF fans. If you go into the experience with those kind of expectations, you will probably be disappointed, as that never seems to be the goal here. Instead, to really get the most out of the experience, you have to just sit back and relax, enjoying the fun little moments along the way.

What could have (and almost should have, to be honest) destroyed this documentary is the fact that it severely lacks any sense of focus. It meanders here and there, trying to cram in as many BTTF angles as possible. It wants to seriously evaluate the legacy of the film, and does a number of interviews with key cast/crew/writers...but then it also follows around a Delorean rider for awhile...and looks at some BTTF fan events...and takes time to ponder the overall significance of the film's legacies. There are a lot of irons in the fire, to put it mildly, and usually that is a recipe for documentary disaster.

Where "Back In Time" is able to pull through, however, is that many of those "odd little moments" are truly special and touching. For example...

-An interview with Donald Fullilove, who played Goldie Wilson in the first movie. Just seeing him again will bring a smile to your face! The same for James Tolkan (Mr. Strickland). -A scene in which a man proposes to his girlfriend at a BTTF showing...then is serenaded with "Earth Angel" by none other than Harry Waters Jr. himself. -A couple who restored an old Delorean and are now using it to raise money for the Parkinson's Foundation (the disease that currently afflicts Michael J. Fox).

Moments like that are why "Back In Time" is worth watching. It was never supposed to be a "comprehensive review" of the films, even if it seemed to be advertised as such. Instead, it's more of a peek into a few of the ways that the film trilogy has touched and inspired the lives of others.

Much like Star Wars (though not at quite that level, obviously), Back To The Future has becoming a cultural institution all its own. The films are watched, re-watched, and then passed on to the next generation to do the same. Even though we are now further into the future than Marty McFly himself actually traveled, it hasn't dulled their value whatsoever. "Back In Time" acknowledges of all that...and then takes "the back roads" in a search for unique and interesting ways in which the films have taken on a life of their own.

As such, once you realize what this documentary is/isn't supposed to be, you'll probably be able to enjoy it.

Cast, crew, and fans explore the classic time-travel trilogy's resonance throughout our culture 30 years after Marty went Back in Time.

This is a hit and miss documentary, though it is a lot more hit than miss. Some of it, like the fan segments, are not that great. Do we care about a man proposing to his girlfriend or a miniature golf course? Not really. But the background information on how no studio wanted the film, and hearing from just about everyone involved, this is great and this film should be included on all future releases of the trilogy.

And that is what strikes me as the most impressive -- that the series was never intended to be a trilogy, but only a single film. The way the three weave in and out of each other, it seems brilliantly intentional, but perhaps it is even more brilliant because of the way it looks natural. Maybe Dan Harmon thinks the sequels stink, but the general population loves them.

I was looking forward to an interesting and in-depth celebration of this great movie trilogy but this has one of the weakest plays from a strong hand I've ever seen. Boy did it drag and dwell on uninteresting aspects. It felt like it was 6 hours long. So some guy bought one of the deloreans and proud of it, cool, but does it really need that much screen time when you've got Doc and Zemeckis, and Michael J Fox and crew. What a wasted opportunity. What a waste of the viewers time. Instead of invigorating my love for the movies it made me wary of watching things like this again. Who do we blame for this? Directors mistake?

I was super excited to see this film being a kickstarter backer being a back to the future fan since seeing it as a teenager. (We will ignore the total failure to deliver digitally and physically the movie on time for backers for this review else it would loose another 4 marks).

The film is an enjoyable romp through the film but is decidedly flat in what it delivers. The first half like all these films just trawls over the making of etc. that has been done a thousand times over and seen in countless TV programs. I was hoping for more in depth analysis but that did not occur.

The second half of the film however is better talking to the fans, it's great to hear from other people with the same passions as you.

Overall it is worth a watch, but not something to keep going back to.

I was looking forward to putting my feet up and watching this bad boy while winding down the October 21st 2015 celebrations. It was to be the icing on the cake. I was saddened by the realization that it was little more than a re-hash of other, better documentaries and simply didn't pack that big a punch.

I was hoping for an in depth look at the trilogy but what I got was a skimmed version of the events that lead up to the production of the film with a few new anecdotes thrown in. They had most of the main players, who were all on top form of course but they didn't get into the nitty gritty. Questions STILL remain unanswered. Also, it would have been great to have included interviews with Eric Stoltz and Crispin Glover, so they could at least give their side of the story. It also irked me that they talked very little about the sequel and glossed over the third film entirely.

The music left me with a sense of melancholy and was, in my opinion, a poor choice. Lastly, there were no titles, which is fine in some instances but I noticed that when names and job titles were shown under the interviewees as they spoke it was via Netflix's subtitles interface - they weren't part of the film itself. The closing credits were missing all together. All you get is two minutes of music on black. This may be limited to the Netflix version but even still, this is a shoddy move.

It's worth a watch if you're new to the mythology surrounding the films but if, like me, you are a fan, give it a miss.

This has been a long anticipated work which took nearly three years from start to finish.The documentary is very well laid out and has a smooth flow throughout. You could not have assembled a better cast of characters including all the big names yet not leaving out the people most important to the film. These are the fans! It's very interesting to see many of the stars as they look today thirty years after the first film was released. You can tell an enormous amount of leg work and thought went into the process and the results show it. The visuals and sounds were extremely clear and entertaining. It's a film for all ages and will definite motivate and perpetuate the love far into the future!

Is a pity that after 30 years they haven't realized the great mistake as McFly and Doc worked so hard in the second film ... Biff stole McFly, s book on sports statistics and they come to 1985 where everything is completely anarcy and biff is the king of the town ..... They realize what has happened and have to go to 1955 to fix the alternete timeline that have been created .... But they do not realize that they are alredy in an alternate timeline from the end of the first movie when McFly, s dad stood up to biff and beet him up and now biff is the coward instead . Back to the future is a cool series but to bad that they didn't se that blunder but i guess that will never be fixed...

Any documentary covering such a great franchise automatically has lots of potential, especially since they were able to interview most of the greats behind the trilogy. While I felt it opened strong, about halfway through it felt unfinished. I attribute this to editing that could have been improved. Of course you're going to have mounds of interview footage, but it's the job of the editor to prioritize, summarize, and excite for the sake of telling a well-defined story. It could have been about 30 minutes shorter than it was, and certain tangents (like the hoverboard and Delorean restorations) could have been summarized more concisely. It was also a bit distracting that interviews with the stars was interspersed with fans and others whom the audience has never heard of. I'm glad fans were interviewed, but their footage could have been more separate and not given equal screen time with the celebrity interviews. I mean if you have these exclusive big-name interviews that are hard to get that people want to see, why spend less time on them? Oh, and the part where Dan Harmon said parts II and III sucked could have been taken out altogether. On that note, Harmon's screen time should have been severely cut. Most of his comments were either sexual or overly negative in nature and didn't really fit with the tone of any of the other interviews.

I was also surprised that nothing was mentioned about the amazing score Alan Silvestri wrote for the trilogy, considered by many to be the best film score ever written, especially after all the fuss they made about Huey Lewis's role with the first film. It was also quite strange that all the interviews they included about Alan Silvestri had nothing to do with his role with BTTF. As a musician I felt this was a huge missed opportunity to hear about his composing process for the trilogy. And I have to agree that the guitar cover of Silvestri's score that was featured was too somber in tone and was overused.

My father, fiancé and I had the opportunity to go to a special screening of Back in Time in NYC on 10-20-2015. In attendance were Jason Aron, Louis Krubich, Lee Leshen as well as Bob Gale and Don Fullilove. It was awesome to be able to share this fantastic documentary in the presence of the film makers as well as BTTF legends! The film is extremely well done and is an absolute must see for any fan of the trilogy. It has a fantastic mix of stars, behind the scenes personnel and fans that really works. I cant wait to see it again! They are doing a nationwide tour also where they will be screening the movie. The tribute band The Flux Capacitors will play a show at each screening and some of the movie stars will attend as well. Gotta see that too! Congrats to all involved.

The movie was nice. But back in 2015 I assume even the producers of this home video heard about Wikipedia. And they probably took some of the data right from there. Only there is nothing new. Apart from the footage with the fans with customized cars. Which makes quite a few families interested in this movie. And that is about it. Uninteresting.

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