The 'Back To The Future' Appreciation Thread

[danoyse]

Doc changed history when he initially ended back in 1885, because he volunteered to pick up Clara from the train station. That was in place before Marty ever arrived in 1885. So she never went over the cliff in that timeline. True, Doc was still killed shortly after, but with no Marty around and no need to worry about making the Delorean run in front of a train, their short time together was presumably enough for Clara to leave that inscription on his tombstone. Take it as love at first sight.

 

[Travesty]

I knew danoyse would chime in. t:

 

[Marx]

As many times as I've watched these movies and as much as I love them, I've never been so confused.

 

[Travesty]

They're still my favorite movies.

 

[Marx]

Doc changed history when he initially ended back in 1885, because he volunteered to pick up Clara from the train station. That was in place before Marty ever arrived in 1885. So she never went over the cliff in that timeline. True, Doc was still killed shortly after, but with no Marty around and no need to worry about making the Delorean run in front of a train, their short time together was presumably enough for Clara to leave that inscription on his tombstone. Take it as love at first sight.

Doc said in Part II (after leaving Jennifer on the porch swing in the alternate 1985) that she would be fine because everything would "transform" around her. If that's the case, one would assume that if Clara never went over the cliff, the "Clayton Ravine" name never would've existed and Marty would never have known the story about it because Doc saved Clara.

 

[danoyse]

In Part III, Marty took a picture of the tombstone in 1955 before heading back to 1885. Clara had to have gone over the cliff several days prior to Doc's murder yet the tombstone in the picture says it was "erected in memory by his loving Clara". That's not possible.

When Doc and Marty were out by the bridge, that's when Clara came rushing by on the runaway carriage with all of her belongings. (The event that caused "Clayton Ravine".) If you take Doc and Marty out of the equation, she'd have gone over as it intended.

In the original timeline (before Marty or Doc started time travelling), Clara went over a cliff and died, which is why the ravine is called "Clayton Ravine" and why Marty knows about the history in timeline he comes from.

When Doc initially ended up in 1885, he altered history because he volunteered to pick Clara up from the train station, so that accident wound up never happening. It's like how Marty altered history by getting hit by the car instead of his father in the first movie.

Doc didn't realize that Clara's accident was where the ravine got its name. At least not until afterwards. And I guess he figured it was ok to fall for her, since she wasn't supposed to be around anymore anyway. Plus he was crazy in love with her from the start. Then Buford killed him and Clara had that tombstone made up for him

That didn't change when Marty showed up in 1885, because even though Doc didn't pick her up at the train station, they still ended up saving her.

 

[danoyse]

Doc said in Part II (after leaving Jennifer on the porch swing in the alternate 1985) that she would be fine because everything would "transform" around her. If that's the case, one would assume that if Clara never went over the cliff, the "Clayton Ravine" name never would've existed and Marty would never have known the story about it because Doc saved Clara.

Well, if the movies totally followed that, Marty wouldn't have been so shocked when he saw his family so different because he never would remembered what they were like before he changed history in 1955.

Where Marty originally came from, Doc hadn't altered history yet.

 

[Immortalfire]

As many times as I've watched these movies and as much as I love them, I've never been so confused.

I don't think it's possible to watch them without getting a little confused, or to ponder the endless hows and whys. Just about all time travel stories seem to have that effect.

 

[Marx]

That's very true 'Fire.

 

[danoyse]

I knew danoyse would chime in. t:

Of course.

 

[Hush]

I never get confused because i'm just so damn smart.

 

[DyeLorean]

Doc changed history when he initially ended back in 1885, because he volunteered to pick up Clara from the train station. That was in place before Marty ever arrived in 1885. So she never went over the cliff in that timeline. True, Doc was still killed shortly after, but with no Marty around and no need to worry about making the Delorean run in front of a train, their short time together was presumably enough for Clara to leave that inscription on his tombstone. Take it as love at first sight.

Understood... so without Marty in 1885, Doc saved Clara from falling into the ravine anyway?
That's how I always thought about it.

 

[danoyse]

Understood... so without Marty in 1885, Doc saved Clara from falling into the ravine anyway?
That's how I always thought about it.

Yes, because had volunteered at a town meeting to pick her up at the train station. He picked her up and the accident never happened, so he wound up altering history.

When Marty showed up and Doc was reminded that he had volunteered to pick her up, he told Marty (after seeing her name on the photo of the tombstone) that they would have find her "other transportation". Looks like they never did - when they're looking at the map of the raving, you can see Clara waiting on the platform for someone to pick her up.

Since no one did, she presumably hired a wagon...which ended up nearly going over into the ravine. Doc and Marty were there, so they both wound up rescuing her.

 

[DyeLorean]

Oh God, I love this trilogy.

 

[Immortalfire]

I never get confused because i'm just so damn smart.

Why don't you make like a tree and get outta here?

 

[bullets]

There's a hilarious review of Back to the Future animated series on Cinemassacre. I liked BTTF as a kid but never bothered with the cartoon.

 

[Travesty]

I used to watch the cartoon when I was younger.

 

[Immortalfire]

I watched a few of the toons, but was largely unimpressed. Even as a kid, I'd rather watch the movies.

 

[R3M3D1]

Yes, because had volunteered at a town meeting to pick her up at the train station. He picked her up and the accident never happened, so he wound up altering history.

When Marty showed up and Doc was reminded that he had volunteered to pick her up, he told Marty (after seeing her name on the photo of the tombstone) that they would have find her "other transportation". Looks like they never did - when they're looking at the map of the raving, you can see Clara waiting on the platform for someone to pick her up.

Since no one did, she presumably hired a wagon...which ended up nearly going over into the ravine. Doc and Marty were there, so they both wound up rescuing her.

really??

mind blown.


Watched this trilogy countless times and never spotted that. Need to re-watch them!!

 

[danoyse]

really??

mind blown.


Watched this trilogy countless times and never spotted that. Need to re-watch them!!

Yup, she's there. Her back is to the camera, but it's definitely her.

In the novelization of BTTF 3, Doc actually suggests pushing Clara over the cliff to keep history intact...but within the same sentence realizes that's a terrible idea.

 

[steintym]

I just realized how long it has been since I've seen Part 3. I can barely remember anything that's been discussed on the last page or so (my head was about to explode). I need to watch that one again.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I barely remember the cartoon. In fact the only thing I remember about it was the ending segment which was usually a science experiment done by Bill Nye the Science Guy that was narrated by Christopher Lloyd.

 

[Dave McFly]

on a side note today is the 57th anniversary of the famous Hill Valley lightning storm that took out the clock tower .

also I would LOVE to have the BTTF animated series on DVD even though I was 16 when it first came out over 20 years ago .

 

[bullets]

That's kinda funny. I was about nine but after watching the review I do remember watching some of the Bill Nye stuff.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

all i really remember from the cartoon series is Bill Nye and at certain times Doc Brown in the intro or the end of the cartoon episode

it was a pretty decent cartoon. i even remembed McDonald's had toys from the cartoon series.