Back to the Future Part III
1990 · Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Original language: English
- adventure
- comedy
- science fiction
The story
The final installment finds Marty digging the trusty DeLorean out of a mineshaft and looking for Doc in the Wild West of 1885. But when their time machine breaks down, the travelers are stranded in a land of spurs. More problems arise when Doc falls for pretty schoolteacher Clara Clayton, and Marty tangles with Buford Tannen.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-baked Western daylight with wide open vistas of dust, scrub and distant mountains, then warm saloon interiors lit by lamplight and firelight; the 1885 frontier is all ochre, dusty gold and pale blue sky, while the 1955 and 1985 scenes stay in familiar Spielberg-era suburban warmth. Zemeckis frames the Western landscapes generously, with long establishing shots, sweeping horseback chases and a locomotive that gives the film its big set-piece energy. Alan Silvestri's score is orchestral and buoyant, with a galloping rhythm and a pleasing swell of sentiment. The vibe is light, cheerful and nostalgic, a Saturday-matinee adventure with a sweet romantic streak. Pacing is brisk and playful, with comedy and gentle danger alternating, and the emotional arc follows a restless inventor softening into love and a young man learning to stay put and trust his heart. Violence is mild and cartoonish: a few bar-room brawls, a shootout and a runaway train, with no gore and little real menace. It suits a family movie night, a comfort rewatch, or anyone who wants a pure, uncomplicated romp through the old West with a mad-scientist twist.
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