Back to the Future Trilogy

Granted, it's just common marketing sense to package all three Back to the Future films in one boxed set, but that doesn't do the vastly superior first film any favors. The 1985 original is an irresistible primal fantasy in which '80s teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox in his signature screen role) travels back in time and interacts with the two teenagers who will become his parents. While the disappointing sequel is, to quote Marty, too "heavy," the third film regains a bit of the original charm as Marty travels back to the Old West, and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd, this franchise's most valuable player) finds the love of his life with the ideally cast Mary Steenburgen as schoolteacher Clara Clayton. Among the set's numerous extra features are rote audio commentaries by writer Bob Gale and producer Neil Canton on all three films, more enlightening and entertaining live Q&A sessions with Gale and director Robert Zemeckis, the requisite production segments, deleted scenes and outtakes, and BTTF trivia that viewers can access while watching the films. Due to the second and third discs having some mis-framed shots in the original boxed set that were later corrected, those who have waited are more likely now to receive a set with the proper framing. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)[DVD/Blu-ray Review—Oct. 26, 2010—Universal, 344 min., PG, DVD: 7 discs, $49.98, Blu-ray: 6 discs, $79.98—Making its latest appearance on DVD, and first on Blu-ray, 1985's Back to the Future, 1989's Back to the Future Part II, and 1990's Back to the Future Part III all feature stunning transfers and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound on the DVD version, and DTS-HD 5.1 on Blu-ray. Back to the Future extras include audio commentary by producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, a Q&A commentary with director Robert Zemeckis and Gale, deleted scenes with optional commentary (11 min.), and the retrospective featurettes “Time to Go” (30 min.), “In the Beginning…” (28 min.), and “Keeping Time” (6 min.). Back to the Future II extras include audio commentary by Gale and Canton, a Q&A commentary with Zemeckis and Gale, the retrospective featurette “Time Flies” (29 min.), “The Physics of Back to the Future with Dr. Michio Kaku” featurette with the physicist (9 min.), and deleted scenes with optional commentary (6 min.). Back to the Future III extras include audio commentary by Gale and Canton, a Q&A commentary with Zemeckis and Gale, “Back to the Future: The Ride” footage from the Universal Studios attraction (31 min.), the retrospective featurettes “Third Times a Charm” (17 min.) and “The Test of Time” (17 min.), and a deleted scene with optional commentary (2 min.). A bonus disc includes archival extras from Back to the Future such as a “making-of” featurette (15 min.), a “Making the Trilogy: Chapter One” featurette (15 min.), a Q&A with star Michael J. Fox (11 min.), “Nuclear Test Site Sequence” original storyboards (4 min.), and original makeup tests (2 min.); archival extras from Back to the Future II include a “Making the Trilogy: Chapter Two” featurette (15 min.), a “making-of” featurette (7 min.), “Evolution of a Visual Effects Shots” (6 min.), “Designing the Delorean” (4 min.), a production design featurette (3 min.), “Designing Time Travel” (3 min.), storyboards (2 min.), brief outtakes, and a brief hoverboard test; archival extras from Back to the Future III include a “Making the Trilogy: Chapter Three” featurette (16 min.), a “making-of” featurette (8 min.), outtakes (2 min.), and brief segments on “Designing the Town of Hill Valley” and “Designing the Campaign.” Also included are “The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy” TV special hosted by Kirk Cameron (21 min.), the music videos for “Power of Love” performed by Huey Lewis and the News and “Doubleback” by ZZ Top, text FAQs, stills galleries (including photos, production art, additional storyboards, marketing materials, and character portraits), bonus digital copies of the films, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are the U-Control features “Setups & Payoffs” on connecting key scenes throughout the trilogy, a storyboard comparison, a trivia track, and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: an excellent anniversary edition and impressive Blu-ray debut.][Blu-ray/DVD Review—Nov. 3, 2015—Universal, 344 min., PG, DVD: 5 discs, $39.98, Blu-ray: 4 discs, $49.98—Making their latest appearance on DVD and Blu-ray, 1985's Back to the Future, 1989's Back to the Future II, and 1990's Back to the Future III all feature fine transfers and DTS-HD 5.1 sound on the Blu-ray release. This edition carries over previous special features (listed above), and adds an all-new bonus disc with a retrospective featurette (47 min.), two episodes from Back to the Future: The Animated Series (46 min.), an “Outatime: Restoring the DeLorean” featurette (22 min.), the new short film “Doc Brown Saves the World!” starring Christopher Lloyd (10 min.), a new brief message from “Doc Brown,” and commercial spoofs. Bottom line: if you don't already own the trilogy on Blu-ray, this is the best version available.]