Back to the Future Trilogy 4K UHD (1985-1990)

[Geoff D]

Yep. And Dolby Vision on UHD disc always carries a 1920x1080 enhancement layer regardless of it being FEL or MEL.

[aiman04]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yep. And Dolby Vision on UHD disc always carries a 1920x1080 enhancement layer regardless of it being FEL or MEL.

Thanks Geoff, still learning about UHD and HDRs.

[Cognoscente]

Originally Posted by emailking

Given that they were almost done, I wonder what the movie would have been like if they had just stayed with that. Maybe it would have been even more popular. Or would it have even been a hit at all? Probably would have become a cult classic if nothing else. Who knows?

Google BTTF 1984 script. If the tone of that script is anything to go by, BTTF was originally going to be a PG-13 teen movie with edgier jokes and more drama. Marty McFly was initially more churlish.

[tdl797]

Did Universal ever respond to anyone about the weird video spot in this new release that people were talking about when it first came out?

[moviebuff75]

What weird spot?

[Geoff D]

The 10-minute reel where the chroma resolution drops down to like VHS quality.

[aiman04]

Originally Posted by Cognoscente

Google BTTF 1984 script. If the tone of that script is anything to go by, BTTF was originally going to be a PG-13 teen movie with edgier jokes and more drama. Marty McFly was initially more churlish.

Did they shoot with Eric Stoltz with this version of the script? He was playing his role too intensely if I remember correctly.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Cognoscente

Google BTTF 1984 script. If the tone of that script is anything to go by, BTTF was originally going to be a PG-13 teen movie with edgier jokes and more drama. Marty McFly was initially more churlish.

Maybe that's what Stoltz thought they were making?

[jerclay]

Originally Posted by tdl797

Did Universal ever respond to anyone about the weird video spot in this new release that people were talking about when it first came out?

No, unfortunately. I wonder if they’re in denial, or they will fix that quietly, with the reprint of the box set in a year or two. Kinda like Sony did with the mono track on The Bridge On The River Kwai...

[chewbabka]

Just finished the trilogy. They all look great, but Part III is the undeniable star. Now for some actual Technicolor Westerns on 4K, please!

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

Originally Posted by chewbabka

Just finished the trilogy. They all look great, but Part III is the undeniable star. Now for some actual Technicolor Westerns on 4K, please!

Completely agree; the first two are definitely improvements over the BDs. But I finally watched Part III the other night and it was stunning. One of the best 4K discs I've seen yet, picture-wise.

[Cognoscente]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Maybe that's what Stoltz thought they were making?

The circumstances of the movie's initial production reflect the slightly more grown-up tone. Remember, the movie took a long time to get greenlit because it wasn't an R-rated sex teen comedy but it wasn't exactly a perfect PG for Disney either. In 1984, Spielberg set forth a chain of events that led to the creation of the PG-13 rating.

Even looking at the stills for BTTF, you've got darker lighting, Eric wearing darker clothes, Doc Brown not being all that goofy, and even Biff looks more menacing. If you google BTTF drama, you will find an article that has unusual comparison shots and a quote from Zemeckis that sort of gives the game away: "We wanted a science fantasy to support a dramatic and emotional story about characters."

Going by everything that's been said about Eric's firing, that quote should have been: "We wanted a science fantasy to support a funny and exciting story about characters."

Eric's agent, Helen Sugland, claimed that his firing was totally out of left field because they had heard nothing but positive feedback about his performance during those six weeks.

[dbach690]

Originally Posted by SuperFlyHighGuy

Completely agree; the first two are definitely improvements over the BDs. But I finally watched Part III the other night and it was stunning. One of the best 4K discs I've seen yet, picture-wise.

Yes, the picture is stunning. I just watched the first one last night. I'm looking forward to II and III, which I haven't seen in ages. I noticed two new things last night that I hadn't noticed earlier. There is a XXX porno theater in the background playing "All American Orgy."! That's crazy. Can't believe I didn't notice that before. And Billy Zane is one of Biff's goons. I had to go back and identify him.

[dmwc]

Even looking at the stills for BTTF, you've got darker lighting, Eric wearing darker clothes, Doc Brown not being all that goofy, and even Biff looks more menacing. If you google BTTF drama, you will find an article that has unusual comparison shots and a quote from Zemeckis that sort of gives the game away: "We wanted a science fantasy to support a dramatic and emotional story about characters."

The original score was darker as well. The original Intrada Records release of the complete score in 2009 had a 2nd disc with the original score recordings, which were all redone for the finished film. I'm not sure if this version of the score was written and recorded for the Eric Stoltz version of the movie, and I don't remember if that was specifically mentioned in the CD booklet. But the original score was certainly more ominous sounding in many places and a lot less comedic and light-hearted overall. Certain parts of the score sound more like they belong in a Terminator movie than in the Back to the Future we've all seen. It would make sense that Alan Silvestri wrote this original score to fit a somewhat darker, more serious movie than the finished film.

[pigmanjoe]

Originally Posted by Cognoscente

Going by everything that's been said about Eric's firing, that quote should have been: "We wanted a science fantasy to support a funny and exciting story about characters."

Eric's agent, Helen Sugland, claimed that his firing was totally out of left field because they had heard nothing but positive feedback about his performance during those six weeks.

Even ignoring Stoltz misfiring on the comedy, which was apparently Spielberg's biggest concern, there were other problems. His method acting was annoying Lea Thompson, and injured Tom Wilson. There's also Dean Cundey, who had this to say: "There was an awkwardness, always a separation between (Eric Stoltz' interpretation of) the character and those of us trying to make an engaging movie." Zemeckis, Gale and Neil Canton all said even harsher criticisms right before he was fired. Stoltz was a fine actor back then, but he just didn't work for the role, which is why he was never even second choice for the filmmakers. In the theme of the film, you have to wonder what would have happened if Johnny Depp or Fisher Stevens had been cast.

[zepol]

Now how can these BACK TO THE FUTURE 4k look and sound so much better than RAMBO 1,2,3 when they were from the same era?

[1924]

From what I remember they always wanted Michael J Fox from the beginning even when I assume the script was a bit different. Wonder what led them to make the supposed tone changes because it wasn’t just the recasting

[pigmanjoe]

Originally Posted by 1924

From what I remember they always wanted Michael J Fox from the beginning even when I assume the script was a bit different. Wonder what led them to make the supposed tone changes because it wasn’t just the recasting

The script went through years worth of changes influenced by plenty of rejections. The first draft was finished in February 1981, with a second in April, at which point Columbia passed on the movie because it was too soft. Every other studio said it wasn't edgy enough, so they finally tried Disney, who said it was too risque because of Lorraine loving her Calvin Kleins. It wasn't until Romancing the Stone was so well received a few years later that they were able to make the film. Spielberg had long loved the story, and suggested they go to Sid Sheinberg at Universal. According to the Bobs, Sheinberg was enamored with Stoltz, Fox was busy with Family Ties, Zemeckis wasn't convinced by C Thomas Howell, and they were getting short on time, so that's who they got.

I'd also argue that the film still has a dark tone, despite how much fun it is. There's the wrecked car/Popov scene at the beginning. Then, we get Doc's murder, followed almost immediately by seeing him as a desperate failure 30 years prior. The dance climax is incredibly dark, especially knowing Lorraine may have been raped by Biff in the original timeline. There's a lot of gravity to the storyline that's easy to ignore when we know how it all ends.

[Mr. Sasquatch]

Originally Posted by zepol

Now how can these BACK TO THE FUTURE 4k look and sound so much better than RAMBO 1,2,3 when they were from the same era?

Robert Zemeckis is such a tech-head perfectionist control freak, he probably demanded the best quality video and audio. He's like the Hollywood version of Steely Dan.

[mikey horror]

Anyone think there any chances of these being released individually? This trilogy has been bundled together since dvd. The original is one of my favorite movies of all time, but to be honest, I was never too crazy about the sequels. Especially Part II. Going into the future to prevent an event from happening is probably the most nonsensical plot point ever developed.