Back to the future, a timeless gem

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to listen. My name is Vicente Deiros, and I am here
today to talk about “Back to the future, a timeless gem”

As the actor Tom Hanks said, “At the end of the day it's got to be a good movie, it's got to be a
funny movie, and it's got to make people think, 'Hey, I couldn't have spent my time any
better.”

Who knew that the story of a boy, a scientist, and a time-traveling DeLorean would still have
the affection of the public after so many years? In fact, the movie still broadcasts on TV and is
available on streaming platforms. 1985's Back to the Future is a classic of the eighty’s
blockbuster filmmaking, which combines genres and elements of sci fi, romance and comedy
to become an endearing and eternal piece of entertainment. It is so good, that I am confident
in calling it the best science fiction movie of the century.

To begin with, I am going to talk about the story itself and the script. It carries its premise
perfectly. Executing a great idea for a movie premise is not as easy as one might think. So
many movies have squandered a great premise with bad execution. Despite having the over-
used theme of time traveling that countless high-concept movies have wasted, “Back to the
Future” pulls it off. The audience is behind Marty all the way. Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s
screenplay for “Back to the Future” is one of the most masterfully crafted scripts ever written.
It is used as a sample in screenwriting classes because it gets everything about how a story
should be told. There is not a scene or even a single line that is wasted

On top of that, “Back to the future” has a great cast. Eric Stoltz was initially cast as Marty
McFly. Still, when it started showing its true self of a more dramatic character he was fired and
replaced with Michael J. Fox, who proved to be born for the part. From Doc Brown´s
interpretation by Christopher Lloyd homaging every classic mad scientist to Thomas F. Wilson’s
hilariously hateable turn as Biff Tannen, every role in “Back to the Future” seems to have fallen
into the right hands.

All this makes for great entertainment. Nevertheless, the movie touches on philosophical
aspects and there is a deeper meaning in the story. “Everything happens for something” That
is the strongest message of the story when Marty changes events that occurred in the past and
that leads to his future-self disappearing, teaching us that sometimes things occur for a reason.
In addition, the value of friendship is also shown, with the relationship between Marty McFly
and Doc. They create a bond that shows the importance of a friend backing you up
unconditionally.
“Back to the Future” succeeds in being a comedic movie by being funny but still having the
seriousness of each situation. Comedy makes a movie lovable same as well as its characters.
The jokes in the film never age, I keep laughing over and over at the same jokes. They are good
comical situations, thought out and meaningful, they add to the story and characters while
causing the audience to laugh.

A good and successful movie leaves a mark in general culture. Icons like the DeLorean are
recognized by anyone and transcend movie culture. It also left us with the memorable duo of
Marty and Doc, a perfect team.

Moreover, there is that great finale. The first and second acts of Back to the Future are all
about the build-up to the finale. Doc and Marty devise a meticulous plan to make sure Marty’s
parents get together and he is born, then use the lightning bolt that destroys the clock tower
to send the DeLorean back to 1985. By the final scene, the stakes are sky-high, and the
audience is fully invested in the story.

The music score of a movie is key to its success. Alan Silvestri’s musical score for Back to the
Future is one of the most memorable ever composed. The main theme stands out as iconic,
but the whole score breathes life into the on-screen action. The movie also has a couple of
great original songs, like Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love” and “Back in Time,” while Marty’s
cover of “Johnny B. Goode” is an unforgettable movie music moment.

All things considered, “Back to the future” is an iconic piece of cinema. It has a perfectly
structured script, a cast so well chosen, left icons in culture and a fun, entertaining story
combining genres. Back to the future is a perfect film, a timeless gem.

My dad once told me that he never got tired of Marty’s interactions with his father in Back to
the Future, because, although the situations and dialogue were the same over and over, HE
was a different person each time. First a child, then a teen and, later on, a father himself.

I know that I will keep watching Back to the Future through the years and that it will continue
to grow in me. Time may not change the movie, but it will change us.