BLU-RAY REVIEW

Back To The Future Part III

Featured In Issue 152, December 2010

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
61112394
(MPAA Rating):
PG
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$79.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
118
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
1990
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
10/26/10
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Robert Zemeckis
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
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(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
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(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
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(Italian Language):
(German Language):
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"They've saved the best trip for last... But this time they may have gone too far." The trilogy concludes with a trip to the Old West. Marty (Fox) travels back to 1885 Hill Valley in an attempt to prevent Doc Brown (Lloyd) from being shot to death, since Doc is the only man who can help Marty get back to the future. Meanwhile, Doc gets involved in a romance with schoolteacher Clara (Steenburgen) and decides to stay in the Old West. The trio get help from the most advanced technology of the time, the locomotive, to help Marty and the Delorean time machine return to 1985. "Back To The Future Part III" offers a rousing conclusion to this entertaining series of movies. Look for appearances by ZZ Top, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea, and cinematographer Dean Cundey as, what else, the Hill Valley photographer. (Michael Coate)

The third film in the Back To The Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy, special features on "Back To The Future Part III" include Q&A commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale; feature commentary with Producers Gale and Neil Canton; a deleted scene with optional commentary by Gale; the following featurettes: "Tales From The Future: Third Time's The Charm" (HD 17:07) and "Tales From The Future: The Test Of Time" (HD 17:00); the following archival featurettes: "The Making Of Back To The Future Part III" (SD 07:32), "Making The Trilogy: Chapter Three" (SD 16:20), and "The Secrets Of The Back To The Future Trilogy" (SD 20:41); "Behind The Scenes," which includes the following: outtakes, "Designing The Town Of Hill Valley" (SD 01:08), "Designing The Campaign" (SD 01:18), and five photo galleries; ZZ Top's "Doubleback" Music Video; FAQs About The Trilogy, the theatrical trailer; "Back To The Future: The Ride" (SD 31:06); My Scenes; D-BOX Motion Code; BD-Live; U-Control™; up-front previews; and a digital copy.

The 1080p VC-1 picture more closely resembles Part II (parts "II" and "III" were shot back to back) with richly saturated colors, natural fleshtones, and deep, solid blacks. The picture is sharp and detailed, with good contrast and shadow delineation. The color exhibits a similar warmth with rich hues that make for a very pleasing picture. Blacks are deep and solid. Dimensionality is excellent as well. This is the most impressive of the three picture presentations, with strikingly dynamic imagery. (Gary Reber)

The repurposed DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is the most refined of the series in terms of spatiality. There's a selective yet engaging sense of immersion. Also notable is an increased presence in the low end over the first two movies, with significant 25 Hz .1 LFE, at times, and even some sub-50 Hz extension in the surrounds. The fidelity, while still dated, is nonetheless respectable, resulting in dialogue that sounds quite natural and with abundant clarity and spatial integration. The surrounds seem to figure most effectively in the rendering of atmosphere, but do become substantially enlivened on occasion. D-BOX Motion Code efects are reserved in Part III but still enhance the overall engagement during action scenes. And Alan Silvestri's orchestral score is as lushly energized and spacious as ever. This is a wonderful soundtrack. (Gary Reber)