DVD Review: Back to the Future Trilogy (Widescreen)

da3dAlus writes "The Back to the Future trilogy has probably been one of the most highly anticipated DVD releases, mainly due to the age and enduring popularity of the movies. No matter how many times the movies have been shown on TV, I guarantee that nobody has seen the Back to the Future series like this before." da3dAlus gives the Robert Zemeckis-directed trilogy a 9.8 out of 10; read the rest of his review below, as well as a warning about the transfer quality.

All 3 movies have undergone audio and video re-mastering. Audio was updated to the de-facto 5.1 digital surround, and all film was not only digitally transferred, but cleaned up and rendered crystal clear. The bonus material not only gives additional value to the DVDs, but also helps to answer numerous questions about the movies, including time travel, plot lines, and the characters themselves. My intentions here are to generally review the DVD, but not reveal any of the specific deleted scenes, for those that still want something to remain a surprise.

To begin, the movies themselves are intact, as originally shown in the theaters. Unlike recent DVD releases of 80s classics (ie. the gun-to-walkie-talkie edits in E.T.), there were no political corrections made. While this is not usually something of concern, there were TV edits made that removed "the Libyans" from the first movie, shortly after the 9-11 events. All that aside, the DVDs are a pretty standard affair, with each one being themed after the respective movies: Part 1 in the 50s, Part 2 in the future, and Part 3 in the old west.

For a DVD box set that has been over 15 years in the making, Zemeckis and team definitely deliver. This set has all that you would expect of any feature-packed DVDs, including deleted scenes, outtakes, original trailers, and behind the scenes features. The movies themselves contain additional commentaries, and an option that pops up an icon for additional production notes and factoids during viewing. Even the deleted scenes have an option for viewing with commentary by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale.

The larger behind the scenes features include a "Making of" for each of the three movies, and an overall "Making of the Trilogy" that spans all three DVDs. Among the smaller behind the scenes features are the evolution of special effects, production Q&A's, making of the DeLorean time machine, and the original discussion of the time-travel plot lines.

Among the only drawbacks I noticed were a few minor flaws in the DVD menus. While viewing the bonus material, some features returned to a pure black menu. However, the problem isn't critical, as pressing the Menu button on your DVD remote will eventually take you back to the main menu. It's just distracting to have such a flaw that appears on each of the DVDs.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the conversion of the movies to DVD format, and even more so with the additional material on the DVDs. Personally, I know I've had questions about what I thought were plot holes in the whole time travel theory, and Zemeckis made sure to include plenty of notes, FAQs, and Q&As to clear up any confusion, or add to it, depending on your acceptance of his answers. Bottom line: if you've ever waited for an answer to your "whys" or "what ifs" --- or if you just want to enjoy the movies as they are, then look no further than the Back to the Future trilogy.

However, hang on a second: NetGyver writes with a reason to hold off on buying this trilogy:

"The Digital Bits is reporting that the widescreen matting has been done in error on the BTTF Part II and III discs in the trilogy box set. The results very from minor to extremely irritating. Here is a side by side frame comparison between the full-screen DVDs/Laserdisc/and widescreen DVDs for you to view.

The widescreen DVD set is considered defective and Universal has an exchange program on the way where you can mail in discs II and III for replacements. But that won't roll out until late February 2003. There is no word for disc replacements for other regions besides North America, at least for now. This a fix for those who already own the widescreen DVD set. The corrected DVD batch will arrive in U.S. stores in late February according to Universal Studios."

Slashdot welcomes reader-submitted features and reviews, and thanks da3dAlus for this one.

Comments

Noticeably misframed shots in the WS edition...

[antdude]

From this story:

"Back to the Future redux - 12:43am

Thinking about picking up that Back to the Future trilogy box set this week for a stocking stuffer? You may want to hold off on that. Amid numerous consumer complaints over noticeably misframed shots in the widescreen edition of Parts II and III of the trilogy, Universal Studios Home Video announced yesterday that they will be repressing the discs with corrected framing, and these repressed versions will be included in all future runs of the box set.

While the shots - some of which ruin crucial jokes and visual gags - may be relatively minor to some, what to do if you've already picked up the set and want the corrected versions? A Universal spokesperson has told us that consumers unhappy with the current version (widescreen only - the full frame edition is not affected) can call the Universal Studios Home Video Consumer Hotline at (888) 703-0010 to request an exchange. While repressed versions of discs 2 and 3 (disc 1 remains unaffected) won't be available until February, Universal will provide corrected versions to those who have already purchased the set. Consumers will need to send the discs back to Universal at their own expense. Stay tuned for any further updates as the story develops..."

E.T. modifications

[Zathrus]

Unlike recent DVD releases of 80s classics (ie. the gun-to-walkie-talkie edits in E.T.)

You know that the ET DVDs have both the original, unedited version released in 1982 and the modified 2002 release on them, right?

No, I didn't think you did.

Unfortunately misframed...

[Obiwan Kenobi]

Universal, in an astounding display of audacity, is planning on leaving the BTTF's last two films mis-framed until February.

Check out the Home Theater Forum for evidence.

Here is Universal's official response, as found on The Digital Bits:

Thank you for your email. Universal Studios will exchange Back to the Future parts 2 and 3 for copies with the updated framing in late February 2003. You may send the DVDs back now or wait until February. Please send Back to the Future disks 2 and 3, without the case, and a letter with the following information: Name, Full Mailing Address, Daytime Phone Number, Reason for Return and Return Address. Send to:

Back to the Future DVD Returns
PO Box 224468
Dallas, Texas 75260

Thank you,
Universal Studios Customer Service

Those in Canada can call 866-532-2202.

As for me, I'm waiting until February to get a correct version of all three films. The fanboy who reviewed this got a bit carried away.

plot holes

[Satai]

Well, I am a card carrying member of the BTTF fan club, and I remember from one of the four magazine issues I recieved a Q&A section, where the magazine was given the question of why did the future family exist, when Marty and Jennifer were brought forward -- the future they traveled to should have been a future where they disappeared in 1985. The answer was a blunt "we messed up," with an explanation that the future HAD to exist, because the ending of the first movie had the statement "Something's gotta be done about your kids!" and they couldn't very well go back on that, eh?

Re:plot holes

[SomeoneGotMyNick]

They didn't mess up....

In order for them to exist in the future, they would have eventually needed to make it back somewhere between 1985 and 2015. Preferably no later than 1995 in order to have time to have kids that would be as old as they were in the future. They had a whole 10 year window to return to. Having an existence in that particular future proves that they eventually made it back to their proper time.

An analogous example would be when Bill and Ted told themselves to remind themselves to leave the keys, tape player, and garbage can in the appropriate spots so things could have gone the way they did (what a paradox if they failed, though)

Re:1.21 JIGAWATTS!?!?!?!!?

[AriesGeek]

Actually, Doc Brown is the only person that I've ever heard pronounce "giga" correctly. Yes, it's true. Look it up some time.

For those curious about the widescreen misframing

[Dimensio]

You can find comparison shots here, here and here, with more to be seen here (warning, that site is very intensive and not the best designed. It's also in German, but the pics are right in one of the frames if you let it load completely and scroll down a bit).

Keep in mind that those screenshots are just examples. The framing for ALL of BTTF 2 and BTTF 3 is messed up in the same way EXCEPT for special effects shots (those were hard-matted on the print, so there was no need to apply any matting to the transfer).

I've already called Universal and arranged my return, but the screwup is inexcusable given that it's been known for four months and Universal didn't acknowledge the issue until Wednesday.

Re:What really annoys me,

[Dimensio]

There is a means of adding in 'pan and scan' cues so that a DVD player can 'zoom' and pan around a widescreen image to produce a panned and scanned image, however those cues must exist within the datastream or you just get the entire picture. Only a handful of DVDs actually support that feature (I believe, but I am not certain, that Brotherhood of the Wolf supports it). Also, the DVD must be anamorphic (ie, 'enhanced for widescreen TVs'), and 2.35:1 movies will still have little black bands at the top and bottom.

BTTF wouldn't work with that, though, because it was filmed at 1.37:1 and then matted down to 1.85:1 for the theatrical presentation. Most 1.85:1 movies are filmed that way, so you actually get 'more' picture on 'fullscreen' transfers of those movies. Mind you, that 'extra' information is usually not intended by the director and it can make the composition of a scene look less professional as a result (sometimes even showing set equipment where it shouldn't be visible). Also, most special effects are done on a hard-matted 1.85:1 frame, so they are still panned and scanned.

Re:What the MPAA did RIGHT

[xamel]

Since when does blockbuster edit its movies/games/etc? I had a friend blab on about this the other day. I rent things from BB and have NEVER noticed a cut / edit / etc that wasn't in the full movie, and I rent a variety of films (Gladiator, SPR, Kite, etc.)

Another rumor going around is that Blockbuster doesnt rent out "M" rated games, because it cuts down on customers, which is also total bullshit. I rent M rated games (every Resident Evil game ever made,Eternal Darkness) all the time. So before you people go bashing blockbuster, how bout you actually RENT something from them?