Back to the Future 2 (1989) and how it envisioned 2015

Sigh! Back in 1989 when I first saw the movie Back to the Future, Part 2, the year 2015 seemed like such a long time off. Now it's here! Sigh!! 

Even though many of the future ideas are meant for laughs, it's still kind of amazing how much the filmmakers got right about what life would be like in 2015; some examples below. (Flying cars and hoverboards are still a way off, though!)

Flat-panel, widescreen televisions

Watching multiple channels simultaneously
Video conferencing

Employers monitoring employees

Playing video games without using controllers

Outdoor video advertising

Drone cameras 

Making a payment using fingerprint 

Fingerprint scanning

Plastic surgery craze

Robotic fueling systems

Point and shoot digital cameras

Face detection cameras

Voice recognition for electronics

Operating computers without push-keys

Wearable computer glasses

Mobile tablets

A review of the new Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy DVD set

A new 25th Anniversary DVD set of the Back to the Future series is now available to purchase online or at a store near you.

I bought my copy this week at Best Buy, and watched most of the new features. There's so many I may have missed a few. My verdict: this DVD set does not disappoint.

The last time the trilogy came out on DVD (in 2002 I think), the films were not in widescreen, a bummer. Nonetheless those discs had some excellent features: commentaries on all three movies (in widescreen, at last), some cool "making of" docs, and Q and A with director Robert Zemekis. These tracks have (almost) everything you've ever wanted to know about the movie.

The new pack has all the same features, but a ton more. Most of them are on the 4th disc, which is the crown jewel of this new package. It has original storyboards from scenes not filmed, music videos ("Power of Love" and "Double Back"), trailers, new documentaries with new interviews from Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and others. There's even a TV special from 1990 (promoting Part 3) hosted by Kirk Cameron. Another special with Leslie Neilsen is also included.

The actors who played Jennifer (Claudia Wells) and Mr. Strickland (James Tolkan) were also snagged to say a few words for this new 2010 release, and they added some interesting tidbits about how they were chosen to be in the film. But there were no new interviews from Thomas F. Wilson who played Biff nor from Crispin Glover who played George McFly. I am sure Wilson was asked; too bad he couldn't come back to share some memories. But, Glover I don't think was asked; he had a real falling out with the producers (as you will hear in the commentaries) so its not surprising that he's not back to reminisce.

Also, I don't think Eric Stoltz is giving any interviews these days about his time on the film. As you may have heard he was the first actor to be filmed playing Marty McFly. There are a few snippets of deleted scenes showing him as Marty. Though it would be fun to see all the footage he filmed, its best that he was let go; I think he would have been awful as Marty. He has a really bad 80s haircut and jacket. I'm glad they pushed to have MJ Fox, their original choice.

Stoltz never really did have a hit film, did he? It must have been really a blow to the ego to get fired off of a major film. I'd really love to see all those scenes with Stoltz, even though he would have been a bad choice. If only this DVD set could have had more of those. I'm not sure if those will ever be released, but that would be neat to at least see. Overall, a good set, and I'd give it 4 out of 4 stars. The Blue Ray version I understand has all the same features.