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Film opening analysis back to the future

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The opening scene of Back to the Future establishes many important plot elements through visual cues and props. Marty McFly's orange jacket and skateboard identify him as a cool teenager and the protagonist. Clocks seen in the first shot set up the film's focus on time travel. Newspaper clippings about Doc Brown's house being destroyed introduce the eccentric scientist character. Items in Doc's laboratory like a plutonium container and inventions of famous scientists establish him as an inventor experimenting with dangerous technologies. The untidy laboratory and a news report of stolen plutonium hint at mysteries that will drive the plot. The mostly single take scene reinforces the sense of chaos in Doc's life.

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Film Opening Analysis Back to the Future (1985) Director: Robert Zemeckis The costume that Michael J. Fox wears in Back to the Future shows that he is young, cool and the audience point-of-view character by wearing clothes that were cool at the time. The orange jacket that he wears is also used because it is incongruous and will make him stand out later when he travels back in time as well as letting him remain recognisable throughout the film. The plutonium box is coloured yellow to make it stick in the audiences minds when it becomes important to the plot later. The props used for Marty McFlys character are all used to make him look cool the skateboard and the guitar. The props also set up many plot elements later in the film. The first image seen is a collection of clocks which sets up the time motif that is a crucial part of the main narrative. There are newspaper clippings about a Doc Browns house being destroyed, providing important information on his character before he appears. There are pictures of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison as well as numerous devices that set up that Doc Brown is an inventor. Lots of rubbish scattered around the set tells the audience that he is untidy and unsuccessful, while the TV features a news report stating that plutonium has been stolen, which coupled with the plutoniums appearance in shot later sets up a mystery of why he has it. Michael J. Fox also acts like he is used to this situation showing that he is friends with Doc Brown. The opening is almost enti rely one shot, which reinforces the sense of anarchy in the house and that these events happening in sequence are routine in Doc Browns life. There is no music in the scene, but underscoring it is the sound of ticking clocks, that reinforces the time motif. I like the long shot that was used to set up many of the plot elements and would like to include that editing pace in my film.

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Film opening analysis back to the future

  • 1. Film Opening Analysis Back to the Future (1985) Director: Robert Zemeckis The costume that Michael J. Fox wears in Back to the Future shows that he is young, cool and the audience point-of-view character by wearing clothes that were cool at the time. The orange jacket that he wears is also used because it is incongruous and will make him stand out later when he travels back in time as well as letting him remain recognisable throughout the film. The plutonium box is coloured yellow to make it stick in the audiences minds when it becomes important to the plot later. The props used for Marty McFlys character are all used to make him look cool the skateboard and the guitar. The props also set up many plot elements later in the film. The first image seen is a collection of clocks which sets up the time motif that is a crucial part of the main narrative. There are newspaper clippings about a Doc Browns house being destroyed, providing important information on his character before he appears. There are pictures of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison as well as numerous devices that set up that Doc Brown is an inventor. Lots of rubbish scattered around the set tells the audience that he is untidy and unsuccessful, while the TV features a news report stating that plutonium has been stolen, which coupled with the plutoniums appearance in shot later sets up a mystery of why he has it. Michael J. Fox also acts like he is used to this situation showing that he is friends with Doc Brown. The opening is almost enti rely one shot, which reinforces the sense of anarchy in the house and that these events happening in sequence are routine in Doc Browns life. There is no music in the scene, but underscoring it is the sound of ticking clocks, that reinforces the time motif. I like the long shot that was used to set up many of the plot elements and would like to include that editing pace in my film.