Although, for me, the ending to part II redeems the movie even more for me. It is absolutely positively shockingly brilliant, and some of the best written dialogue of all time. Doc dissappears in the Delorean just getting struck by lightning, and then suddenly a guy drives up from the post office. Hillarity ensues.
Then, back at the end of the scene from the first movie, just as Marty drives off in a flash of light and leaving the trails of flame, he then suddenly runs up to Doc and confusion abounds. I love it, love it, love it!
So yeah, the end of Part II is really fantastic (and I haven’t even really gotten into all the clever interweaving of the main events of the first movie).
Part III is also a great one, and used to be my favorite for a while.
But overall, 1 is the best. II could have easily been the best if the first half of the movie had been better. and III ain’t bad at all.
III is my least favorite because that period of history is my least favorite (for U.S. History, anyway). The 1st is a great stand alone flick, and I also agree that Biff used the almanac the way we all would if we could.
Well, both of his kids were in trouble after all, since if Marty Jr. went to jail, his sister would have been caught trying to get him out, and she would have been put in jail as well.
That whole climax in the very rain storm from the first film, on the empty road in front of Lyon Estates, with Doc trying to maneuver the DeLorean… Then gets struck by yet another bolt of lightning which sends him randomly through time.
The disquieting silence of Marty trying to contact him, but knowing full well he’s gone.
Then… The headlights in the distance. I had no idea where it was going the first time around, so when it turned out to be a guy from Western Union with a letter from the Doc, 70 years prior, I was giddy.
Then the ending with Marty saying “There’s only one man who can help me now.” Cut to 1955 Doc just celebrating his success after his long arduous ordeal of getting Marty back to 1985… and here he comes again, running down the street… “But I’m back. Back from the future!”
“Greatt Scott.” then he faints.
I especially love how the Doc is so wrapped up in his success, he looks at Marty in a “Oh, hey there” way, then turns back to his car, and then it dawns on him like a bolt of lightning.
None of them are a disappointment and all three are worthy of re-watching, but 1 is a classic of 1980s cinema. There’s really no contest.
#2 is fun for all the time-travel, especially the revisit of 1955 and the alternate 1985 dystopia. #3 is a fun western adventure with a touching love story and the best action sequence of the series (the train ride). But #1 is still the best.
Not to mention, you know, trying to rape Lorraine in 1955 before getting punched out by George. Edit to add, and trying to run over marty several times with the car.
The 1st film wasn’t necessarily written as a set up for sequels (despite the way it ended). The 1st film holds the entire backbone that inspired the story to begin with: The idea of going back in time, meeting your parents at your age, but in their era, and of course, altering the course of events that endangers your very existence.
This was all resolved by the time they got to writing and producing the sequels. It was only by the strength of the characters (including the Delorean itself), and the world and rules of time travel they had fleshed out that was fortunately able to sustain further chapters.
Even the shot of Marty, standing in the Lone Pines Mall parking lot, pointing his camcorder at the cargo trailer as it opens revealing the Delorean, with Einstein next to him is one of my favorite cinematic shots of all time. The other two films seem to lack this sense of unfolding awe and anticipation, because it can only be explored once. And the first film did it so well it was magical.
I did like that they made Biff senior wiser than his younger self, especially when he admonishes his younger self in '55, saying “It’s ‘leave’ you idiot! You sound like a moron when you say it like that!”
I want a cane with a little bronze fist when I get that age.
And Mad Dog Tannen was an awesomely hysterical character; the best incarnation of Biff IMHO.
Part one probably is the best but I wasn’t thinking three dimensionally and voted part three. The Old West ambience does it for me, and the locomotive and of course Mary Steenburgen!
Actually, II is my least favorite because of that. He’s such a complete asshole that he makes the entire film unenjoyable for me. Not that Mad Dog was much better, but they were such over-the-top villains that they made the films actively annoying. Give me the softer, gentler Biff of I anyday.
