Concept Fixing Back to the Future

[Kyng]

I decided I should try my hand at one of these 'Fixing' threads . And I'm going to start with an absolute classic: Back to the Future!

To be honest, I don't think there's a lot that needs changing here: it was a terrific film when it came out, and it's still a terrific film today . However, there are a few things I'd modify - as follows:

• I'd significantly change the opening scene. I'd have a lot less emphasis on the clocks that are all 25 minutes slow - because, they're never mentioned again after this scene. I'd still have an unusually large number of clocks present (maybe a dozen or so), but they'd just be background scenery, and they'd be showing the correct time.
  
  Instead, I would have the amplifier powered by a flux capacitor. After all, it's been 30 years since Doc invented it, so he probably found other applications for it beyond just time travel . And this would be a great introduction to a mysterious device that's important later on. So, I'd have Marty wonder what it is... and then notice all the clocks say 8:25 and he has to dash.
  
  
• Maybe make George less of a creep? For example: perhaps have him walking down the street, then have him see an attractive girl walking past on the other side - and have him approach her very awkwardly . He gets so besotted with her that he doesn't pay attention to the traffic - and wanders right into the middle of the street when a car is coming!
  
  
• Have William McFly (Marty's great-grandfather) make an appearance somewhere. We see him as a baby in the third film (in 1885), so he'd only be 70 years old in 1955, meaning he'd likely still be alive. And having him appear as an old man in the first film would make it feel more meaningful when we see him as a baby in the final instalment of the trilogy!
  
  
• Now, the ending. People sometimes ask: "Shouldn't Marty's parents have recognised him as 'Calvin Klein' when he went back to 1985?". And I think they should have done... a year or two previously, when he started to look like 'Calvin'. Therefore, they shouldn't be suddenly having that realisation in 1985. Still, it might be nice to see a picture of 'Calvin' and Lorraine in the background, alongside a set of other mother-and-son pictures, to show that this matter has been addressed (or maybe that would just raise even more questions ).
  
  
• Finally: Biff is working for a woman whom he sexually assaulted... why is she happy with that arrangement? I'm not sure how to resolve this: having him keep his distance from her would destroy the feel-good factor of seeing him subservient to Lorraine and George, whereas having him be punished for what he did would be inconsistent with the 1955 setting (in which Lorraine would, sadly, almost certainly not have been believed ). But, I'll leave this as something for others to offer their own suggestions for .

And that wraps up my thoughts on the first film: I intend to create two further threads for my thoughts on how to fix Parts II and III . But, do you have any thoughts on these points - or any further suggestions on fixing the first film?

[JHG]

I did not expect this one to get fixed-mostly because I’m not sure what could be done better.

[Kyng]

I did not expect this one to get fixed-mostly because I’m not sure what could be done better.

TBH, that's kind of why I started with it: it's excellent as it is, so there's not a lot that I would change. (Indeed, the few things I have changed are either bits that didn't age well, or are just minor nit-picks!)

I'll probably have more when I come to fix Part II, though .

[JHG]

Well, this is still a fun list of fixes to read!
Also, have William Mcfly have a "I killed both a Soviet and a Stormtrooper" T-Shirt because Wynaut.

[Kyng]

Well, this is still a fun list of fixes to read!
Also, have William Mcfly have a "I killed both a Soviet and a Stormtrooper" T-Shirt because Wynaut.

Either that, or William's son (and George's father), Arthur. He doesn't appear in any of the films, but does show up briefly in the novelization.

I think William would've been a bit old to be killing Soviets and Stormtroopers (he would've been in his late 50s during World War II), but Arthur would've been the right age!