"Back To The Future Part II"

Title: "Back To The Future Part II"
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: S. Spielberg, K. Kennedy, and F. Marshall
Editing: H. Keramidas and A. Schmidt
Composer: Alan Silvestri
Starring:
- Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly
- Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown
- Lea Thompson as Lorraine McFly
- Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen
- Jeffrey Weissman as Marty McFly (1955)
- James Tolken as Mr. Strickland
- Elisabeth Shue as Jennifer Parker

Plot and Critical Review: On October 26, 1985, Doctor Emmett Brown arrives from the future and tells Marty McFly and girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, he needs help to save their future children. As they depart, Biff Tannen accidentally witnesses their departure. They arrive in the future on October 21, 2015 where Doc electronically hypnotizes Jennifer and leaves her incapacitated in an alley. Doc has Marty pose as Marty McFly, Jr., Marty's future son, to refuse an offer from Biff's cybernetically-enhanced grandson, Griff Tannen.

Marty successfully switches places with his son and refuses Griff's offer, but Griff goads Marty into a fist fight, which only ends in Griff and his gang crashing into the local courthouse and getting arrested, thus saving Marty's future children from the same fate. On his way back to meet Doc, Marty purchases Gray's Sports Almanac, a book detailing the results of major sporting events for the second half of the 20th century. Doc discovers the purchase and warns him about attempting to profit from time travel, but before Doc can adequately dispose of the almanac, they are forced to follow the police who have found Jennifer incapacitated and are taking her to her future home. Old Biff, overhearing the conversation and recalling the DeLorean from 1985, follows with the discarded book in a taxi.

Jennifer wakes up in her future home and hides while the McFly family has dinner together. She overhears that Marty's life, as well as their life together, is not what they had expected due to a car accident involving Marty. Jennifer witnesses the Marty of 2015 being goaded into a shady business deal by his friend, Needles, causing their supervisor to fire Marty from his job, as announced by numerous faxes (one copy of which Jennifer keeps). While escaping the house, Jennifer meets her older self and they both faint. As Marty and Doc run to retrieve the younger Jennifer, Biff uses the DeLorean to travel back to 1955, gives his teenage self the sports almanac, then returns to 2015. Marty, Doc, and an unconscious Jennifer return to 1985, unaware of Old Biff's previous actions, and Jennifer is left on the porch at her home.

Marty and Doc soon discover that the 1985 to which they returned has changed dramatically. Biff has become wealthy and corrupted, and changed Hill Valley into a chaotic dystopia. Marty's father, George, was murdered in 1973, and Biff has forced his mother, Lorraine, to marry him instead. Doc has been committed to an insane asylum, and Dave, Linda and Marty are away at boarding schools. Doc finds evidence of the sports almanac and Biff's trip to the past in the DeLorean and tells Marty he needs to learn when the younger Biff received the almanac so they can correct the time line. Marty decides to confront Biff regarding the almanac. Biff explains that he received the book from an old man on November 12, 1955 who told him that he would never lose as long as he bet on every winner in the almanac. He was also told to eliminate anyone in particular who questioned him about the almanac in case of any attempt to change the past so Biff attempts to kill Marty during which time he reveals that he killed George, and allowed Hill Valley to be taken over by crime to prevent being caught. However, Marty escapes with Doc and, with the new information, returns to 1955.

Marty works undercover to trail the Biff of 1955. Marty is present when the Biff of 2015 arrives to give the Biff of 1955 the almanac, but Marty is unable to retrieve it. Marty is forced, with Doc's help, to try to get the book back during the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance, being careful to avoid undoing the events that he had already corrected in his previous visit. Eventually, Biff leaves the dance as Doc and Marty follow him silently. After a struggle, Marty takes the almanac from Biff and Doc and Marty fly away in the DeLorean.

With the storm approaching, Marty burns the almanac and restores the previous (improved) time line. However, the DeLorean is struck by lightning and disappears. A courier from Western Union arrives minutes later and gives Marty a seventy-year-old letter. It is from Doc, who became trapped in 1885 after the lightning strike made the DeLorean go back to January 1, 1885. Marty races back into town and finds the Doc of 1955, who had just sent the original Marty back to 1985 seconds earlier at the courthouse. Doc is shocked by his friend's sudden re-appearance and faints.

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"Part II" made praiseworthy progress in visual effects and ventured a script that took viewers through four "temporal displacements" (1985 > 2015 > 1985 > 1955) and into an alternate timeline! Zemeckis' decision to keep the visual style and direction as close to "Part I" as possible paid off; the two films feel seamless. This was somewhat necessary as many parts of the movie had to be literally "cut into" scenes from the first film. "Part II" made less at the box office than its predecessor but still grossed many times more than its budget. It ended up the third highest grossing film in 1989, coming in behind "Indian Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Batman."

Keep in mind that 15% (i'm guessing, but it seems reasonable enough) of "Part II" had already been seen in the first film! How many film series use that much recycled material outside of flashbacks? Here we enter the "flashback" and are treated to the experience of an established timeline through a different "lens." Noteworthy and praiseworthy!

My Rating: 6/10

Content to Caution:

V-2 - Fist fights and gun violence. One instance of spousal abuse (physical violence.)

L-2 - "Son of a b..." persists.

DU-2.5 - Several instances of smoking, drinking, and abuse of "recreational drugs."

RT-1 - No comment.

H/S-1.5 - No comment.

CH-2 - No comment.

S/N-2 - Lorraine wears skimpy clothing in the 2015 timeline. Women are seen in a bathtub, but no nudity is shown.

The "Reel Revelation": "An Ignatian Adventure Through Time - Part II"

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a pioneer in the discipline of creative spiritual meditation. In founding the Jesuits he, among other things, desired to develop a method of prayer and discernment by which both laity (regular folk) and religious (priests, monks, nuns, etc.) might seek the will of God through solitude and deep prayer. One of his chief "inventions" (and one of my favorites) is the Imagination Prayer. In this method of prayer one reads a scene or set of scenes from the Bible and places themselves "in the moment", observing and even interacting with those in the scene. I'd like to propose we utilize this special method of prayer in the three reviews for the "Back to the Future" films. We'll use a different passage for each reflection. Here's the general break-down of how the Imagination Prayer works:

1) A passage from Scripture is read aloud slowly.

2) Silence is observed for general reflection; get a sense of the "scene", the big picture.

3) The passage is read again, silently or aloud.

4) Silent is observed once more.

5) A series of questions are asked about the scene and how we interact within it.

6) Silence is kept for meditation and prayer. We listen for how God speaks to us through His Word.

7) A final prayer is spoken.

Let's enter into God's presence together and meditate upon His Word.

1) The following passage is read aloud slowly.

"Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “That is a good idea.” So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made. It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.” So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water. At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.” (1 Kings 18: 21-39)

2) Keep silence for a while. Reflect on the scene and try to get the big picture. Consider the following:

- What does this day look like?

- What color is the sky?

- Is the air still or windy?

- What does the mountainside look like?

- What do the 450 prophets look like in your mind's eye?

- Are you close to Elijah or observing from afar?

3) Read the passage again, aloud or silently.

4) Keep silence for a while. This time think about the specific details of the scene. Consider the following:

- What does Elijah look like? What's his mood?

- The people are all there to see what Elijah (and his god) will do. Are they patient? Angry? Expectant? Hopeful?

- How large is the altar that Elijah builds? What does it look like once the wood, water, and ox meat have been piled on?

- What does Elijah's voice sound like as he prayers? When he challenges the prophets? When he speaks to the people?

5) Meditate upon the following questions. Ask these questions honestly and search for honest answers:

- Do you believe Elijah's claims? Do you really believe one prophet can be greater than 450?

- How do you react to Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal? Do you also think it's a "good idea"?

- Are you on Elijah's side?

- How does Elijah look as the day drags on? Does he tire? Does he rest?

- What do the prayers of the prophets of Baal sound like?

- How do they respond when Baal doesn't respond to their cries?

- What is the sound of the LORD's fire? What does it look like? Can you feel the heat?

- What is the scene when the fire disappears and the altar is gone?

- Are the prophets of Baal afraid when the burnt offering is consumed?

- Do they run away? Do they run to join Elijah?

- Do you also say “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God”?

6) Keep silence and slowly step out of the scene. Come back to the present moment.

7) We pray together: "Jesus, Elijah stood against many opponents and was mocked for his faith in God. In challenging the prophets of Baal to a duel he also challenged their entire religious system and way of life; he challenged their indecision to believe in Baal or the God of Israel. Have we ever been so bold? Have we ever felt such courage in our hearts? Jesus, grant that the Holy Spirit give us such courage so that we would testify to your holy name wherever we go and in whatever we do. We don't know what you'll ask us to do to show your love, even your tremendous power, but we want to do whatever it takes to bring people to you; to help people to come to know you as we have. Help us to follow Elijah's example of bravery and humility as we seek to serve you and our neighbors each and every day. We humbly pray in your most precious name. Amen."

The tale of Elijah (including the scene at Mt. Carmel) was set to music by Felix Mendelssohn in the oratorio, "Elijah." Here's a clip of a very capable baritone performing the musical rendition of Elijah's great prayer, "Lord, God of Abraham...": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVEi-018Lsc

See you tomorrow - E.T.