Posts Tagged ‘back to the future’

Film Review: “9″

9-1Before we begin, a brief warning to all parents considering taking the wee ones to see Focus Features’ latest, 9. Be certain that whatever kids you’re taking are stout of heart, because there are some creatures within this film–and the actions they take against the main characters–that may seriously frighten younger children. The film’s rated PG-13 for a reason, so consider yourself duly noted.

As for 9 itself–only the second animated film from Focus following their highly successful Coraline–the movie is amazingly entertaining and visually striking. In spite of its ending, which left me sort of flat, it’s very possible this film might make it onto my Top 5 list at the end of the year.

9 takes place in a not-too-distant future, wherein humanity has been betrayed and destroyed by the highly intelligent machines they’ve built. Any similarities to the Terminator franchise end there however, immediately upon the introduction of the titular hero (voiced by Elijah Wood)–a stitchwork figure only inches tall, brought to life by an infusion of part of the very soul of its creator…the scientist who created the machines’ A.I., ironically to usher in an age of peace. The peace has been achieved, all right: the peace of the grave, brought to vivid life via scenes of ruined landscapes and brief glimpses of dead bodies, among them a mother still clutching her child.  (more…)

Revival House: Back in Time

The first thing you need to know about me is that I like to watch movies multiple times. Given the choice between watching something again or watching something I’ve never seen before, I’ll often choose to rewatch a movie I love even though I can damn near quote every line.

With that in mind, I’d like to start things off with a look back at a little something called Back to the Future (1985). Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it tells the story of … oh, never mind the plot summary — you’ve all seen it, right?

I first saw it at the Solano Drive-In in Concord, California. It was double-billed with The Last Starfighter (1984), another one of those movies I enjoy watching multiple times. (Which reminds me — I’m about due for another viewing of Starfighter.) Like most drive-ins, the Solano eventually closed down, but the good news is that it reopened in 2007. So if you miss the drive-in and you live in the Bay Area … You know what? Revisiting the drive-in sounds like a good topic for another time.

The thing I’ve always found most impressive about Back to the Future is Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s near-perfect screenplay. The setup, which takes place in 1985, is so beautiful. Within a span of 17 minutes we learn everything we need to know to enjoy the rest of the show: the high school dance in 1955 where George (Crispin Glover) kissed Lorraine (Lea Thompson) for the first time; Uncle “Jailbird” Joey; the flux capacitor; and of course the clock tower. All of these things are masterfully established. Exposition isn’t an easy thing to pull off gracefully, but Zemeckis and Gale handle it in clever ways, such as Jennifer (Claudia Wells) writing her phone number on the back of a “Save the Clock Tower” flyer for her boyfriend, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a passing van that says “Re-elect Mayor Goldie Wilson,” and even Marty skateboarding through the Lyon Estates gateway that leads to his home.

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