zkonedog 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.

Mark Turner The trilogy of films BACK TO THE FUTURE 1-3 have captured the love and admiration of a generation. It was the perfect combination of writing, directing and acting that brought to life the tale of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a 17 year old high school student who gets caught up in traveling back in time in his friend Dr. Emmett Brown's (Christopher Lloyd) time machine, a hopped up DeLorean. He ends up meeting his parents in their high school years as well and comedic results follow.One of the things found in the series of films, in particular the second where they went into the future, was predicting what the world would be like in 2016. So as the year arrives many have wondered what did and did not occur in those predictions. It garnered a new interest in the films for many who remembered them fondly and a new generation that wondered what the allure was. In short, a new interest in a classic set of films that hold up today as much as they did during their initial releases.So it's no surprise that a documentary about the films has been in the works for some time and now arrives on that well known year. BACK IN TIME gives us a look back at the original films along with interviews with those involved in the making of the movies as well as the lives of the fans that it touched. In so doing the homage gives us a chance to reminisce and to discover just how deep the world of fandom goes when it comes to movies.One would expect to find glowing memories coming from those behind the scenes. For Fox it was the movie that catapulted him from TV series star to mega-movie box office success. Lloyd did much the same having gotten his first major notice in the series TAXI. Director Robert Zemekis cemented his standing in Hollywood with this film, a follow up to his successful ROMANCING THE STONE. Any documentary about these films would have to include all of them and they do so here, showing not only how the films were made but how grateful all involved were for the opportunities it provided them.What makes this film a bit different than the standard documentary on these movies is the look at the fandom that surrounds it. There are people who have recreated replicas of the car that was the time machine in the film. There are others who dress as the characters they love when they gather together for various events and conventions. None of these seems too over the top infatuated with the film but there is definitely a love affair with the movie going on here.The few complaints of those who didn't seem to enjoy this documentary revolve around the disjointed way in which the story is told at times. I found that to be on the plus side. When you gather together with friends to discuss a movie or an event it is rare that you do so in a straight timeline. You talk about one item and that reminds you of another so you discuss that topic and then maybe return to the initial subject. This film is like that, as if you're sitting with a friend talking about these great movies going back and forth and bringing back the excitement they instilled in you at the time. Its comfortable feeling.Documentaries about movies should have that sense of wonder and appreciation rather than being made as if the topic at hand were as important as say the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Those fact based documentaries are about things that will change the world and the history of it. Documentaries on movies are about those things that may have changed a few lives personally but not the history of the world. They are the things that dreams are made of, things that might inspire but that don't actually make it happen.This film is a love story to all of those who found the original films to be fantastic. It is a documentary that will inspire some to seek out the original three movies and to watch them. It will renew interest in movies that were a part of their time, which captured the imagination of a generation. That's a good thing. To get young people to discover something great from the past is something that needs to happen more often. Let's just hope it doesn't inspire Hollywood to place this on their far too lengthy list of past hits they think need remade. A must see for fans of the films.

MovieHoliks Okay, yes I'm getting pretty sick of all the BTTF hoopla going on since last week; but still managed to watch this documentary off Netflix over the weekend. This movie interviews the film's stars, director Robert Zemeckis, writer/producer Bob Gale, the countless fans of the movies, and those who were inspired by the movie, such as the creator of TV's "The Goldbergs"! LOL I will say the first act of the movie, which goes into the history behind BTTF, I was surprised to find was more the dull part of the film. I think it was for me having known most of this already, but the second act which is taken over by the fans, is really where the movie hits it's mark. I had no idea there was this fandemonium thing going on with BTTF like there is w/ "Star Wars", "Star Trek", etc.. Including countless DMC's converted to time machines! But I will definitely say this doc is worth a watch, even if you're getting sick of all the BTTF stuff going on like I am- maybe good closure..?? LOL

mickyal86 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.