Back to the Future at 35

Not many movies get my pick for being the best of all time or best of the decade they were in. But something like Back to the Future deserves it. It is a summer blockbuster from 1985, but it holds up despite networks heavy censorship of it over the last 15 years. But what makes it still beloved long after it's release?

Like many teen films of the 80s, it's about the range of characters you have. But you see more of a development of them with Marty McFly and his family. Romantic angles were part of many films, but it's not anywhere raunchy compared to earlier material. The stereotypes are there, but not grossly exaggerated. Tightly written so that the outcomes by the end of it are put together and everything is clear. A lot of care was put into developing into and not being a popcorn flick.

That being said the sci-fi elements bring something different to what is essentially a high school comedy. You got the crazy scientist in Doctor Emmett Brown. People being cool with the idea of a time machine being built around a car. Heck, that's the reason why DeLorean is still remembered. But it's not overused. It's integral to the plot of Marty getting home to this timeline, but the balance between the high school parts and the time travel parts is not heavily favored in one side over the other.  And this was all done on a decent budget and several revisions. One concept was a refrigerator that was powered by Coca-Cola. Other concepts with the DeLorean included an ending that involved an atomic bomb for the nuclear reaction to generate 1.21 gigawatts of electricity.

Of course, there's the catchphrases and the dialogue that is quotable. Songs that fit the eras. An amazing score that builds up the atmosphere. The direction that director Robert Zemeckis had. There's no huge flaws and that is critical to a time travel film. Paradoxes and other things that could destroy the universe. But if you're looking for some fun, Back to the Future is the film for you. Just try to get a Blu-Ray or DVD version of it as it is butchered badly on cable TV.