80s Movie Review - Back to the Future

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Genre: Action. Comedy/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 1985
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson, Claudia Wells, Billy Zane

Description: Marty McFLy (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.

Review: “Back to the Future” is an original film that used several elements from various movie genres, like science fiction, comedy and adventure, to create a great whole. The story is well executed and deals with something almost every person secretly wants: travel back in time to relive some moments or do things differently. “Back to the Future” also shows us the danger of time travel. Like how Marty changes the course of history, where his parents don’t fall in love the way they are always telling him. The makers of the film succeeded to avoid plot holes, which is wonderfully done because “Back to the Future” is pretty complex.
Michael J. Fox is great as Marty McFLy. As a kid I had a huge crush on Marty, he is the everyday hero. A hero that we can easily relate to, without being extremely brave or with superpowers. Marty is a somewhat insecure teenager, with dreams. Christopher Lloyd is probably one of cinema’s most beloved professors. Emmet Brown is eccentric and a bit unworldly. With his big eyes and his frizzy hair Lloyd is perfect for the role. Crispin Glover, as Marty’s dad George, and Thomas F. Wilson, as bully Biff, deliver a good performance as well.
The soundtrack is great, with songs from Chuck Berry and Huey Lewis and the News for instance. It adds to the authenticity of the film.
The special effects still look amazing, it’s not dated at all. With that, the movie isn’t filled with them either, only when it’s really needed and to support the story.
“Back to the Future” is an original film that reaches a broad audience. It still holds up and it one of my all-time favorite films.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 153: Some Kind of Wonderful

Director: Howard Deutch

Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Drama

Runtime: 95 minutes

Year: 1987

Starring: Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson, Mary Stuart Masterson, Craig Sheffer, Elias Koteas, Candace Cameron, John Ashton

Description: A young tomboy, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith (Eric Stoltz), run deeper than just friendship when he gets a date with the most popular girl in school (Lea Thompson). Unfortunately, the girl's old boyfriend, who is from the rich section of town, is unable to let go of her, and plans to get back at Keith.

Review: An ‘80s movie written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch. They worked together before, on “Pretty in Pink”. And a year later the duo released “Some Kind of Wonderful”, a fun teen film. We follow Keith, who has a crush on the most popular girl in school. But what he doesn't know, is that his best friend, tomboy Watts, has been in love with him for quite some time.

Off course, something like this is relatable to teens or for anyone who was a teen. The movie is very predictable, but that’s almost every movie in this genre. But the acting is fresh and it’s a fun movie to watch. And unlike a lot of other teen movies, Deutch really paid attention to the characters. They have depth and you get to know them. This way it’s easier to identify with them.

“Some Kind of Wonderful” is a film with a good mix of comedy, drama and romance. Don’t you just love eighties movies like this?

Rating: 3,5/ 5