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Back to the Future, relaxation, humor, horror and satire in the mid-80s

Ts

(Romanian)

1985 brought us Back to the Future, a film that captured the imagination of generations and remains a classic of sci-fi cinema, becoming a benchmark for the time-travel subgenre, and continuing to influence popular culture.

It is notable for the concept of time travel using a modified car, the DeLorean, with its capacitor flux, which has become a symbol of time travel in popular culture, cleverly exploring the concept of temporal paradoxes (such as the grandfather) and the effects that small changes in the past can have on the future (Marty McFly’s interactions with his teenage parents create a series of comical and tense situations).

The success of this “idea” later attracted “sequels” via Back to the Future II (1989), Back to the Future III (1990), and even an animated series Back to the Future (1991–1993, with 26 23-minute episodes) or a Back to the Future: The Game video game.

Another movie that captivated me with its idea was “Enemy Mine,” a sci-fi film with an interesting premise and a strong message about tolerance and understanding.

Set in the distant future, in an intergalactic war, the story focuses on the relationship that forms between two enemies, a human pilot and an alien, after they are forced to survive together on a hostile planet. An interspecies “friendship” that explores themes of prejudice, empathy, and the ability to see beyond differences, while also being a powerful critique of war and its devastating effects on individuals, emphasizing that the real enemies are war and prejudice, not humans or other species.

Another attractive film was represented by Cocoon, already present in a “similar” form in the Romanian filmography (Elixir of Youth made in 1975), a sci-fi film with a touch of dramatic comedy that won the hearts of the public in 1985 with its emotional story and optimistic about aging, friendship and the afterlife.

The “premise” is the interactions between a group of retirees who discover an abandoned swimming pool, which turns out to be an alien time capsule that will rejuvenate the retirees, giving them a new perspective on life. As the relationship between humans and aliens deepens, complications arise, and the old must decide whether to stay young forever or return to their previous lives.

“Explorers”, a science fiction for young adults, is a story of friendship, adventure, and the discovery of cosmic secrets, in an optimistic approach, presenting a humanity that collaborates with other civilizations to explore the cosmos, constituting itself as an homage to adventure films classics, such as those of Steven Spielberg, with charismatic characters, exotic landscapes, and an engaging story.

Three boys, passionate about science and space, build a spaceship in the garage of one of them, and during an experiment, they pick up an alien signal and decide to embark on an intergalactic journey, an adventure that will take them to a world parallel, full of mysteries and dangers, where they meet other civilizations and discover the secrets of the universe.

“D.A.R.Y.L.”, an acronym for Data-Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform, is the story of a seemingly normal boy abandoned on the side of the road and adopted by a loving family where, as time goes on, the family begins to notice extraordinary abilities far beyond the capabilities of the average child, demonstrating extraordinary intelligence, a photographic memory, and quick learning abilities.

But behind this human facade, there is a secret, D.A.R.Y.L., a science experiment, an advanced robot, created in the laboratory.

Yes, and this year also represents a new “manifestation” of the Mad Max concept through the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome production, quite “poorly” “received” by the public.

Then, satire intervenes, concerning science fiction, through a “thought-provoking” film (being well “received” by the public) represented by Re-Animator, a classic horror film (a satire of horror films, combining terrible elements with black and absurd humor) directed by Stuart Gordon (an adaptation of a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, known for his works in cosmic horror literature), which has become a cult among fans of the genre.

The story is “simple”, rather initiated by the Frankenstein “line”, in which a young medical student discovers a formula that can revive the dead.

Obsessed with his discovery, he begins experimenting with corpses, with terrifying results, the monsters he creates look more like creatures from a nightmare than human beings, and chaos quickly sets in at the medical university where he works.

Next up is Weird Science, a sci-fi comedy that won over generations of teenagers with a humorous story (which often serves as a parody of teenage “perceptions” of science fiction), special effects, and a healthy dose of fantasy.

The story is about two clumsy high schoolers, Gary and Wyatt, who create a perfect girlfriend (Lisa, a hot bombshell with supernatural powers) using a computer and a science fiction magazine, which brings the two boys a dream teenage life, but as in any story with a magical element, things spiral out of control and the friends must learn an important lesson about friendship and reality.

Along the same “ironic line” is My Science Project, another funny sci-fi comedy that pays homage to classic horror films (combining elements of comedy, science fiction, and horror) while also exploring teenage themes and scientific discoveries.

In this “case”, a group of science-obsessed teenagers discovers a mysterious energy source in an old laboratory, and in trying to understand and control this force, they set off a series of bizarre and terrifying events that transform the city into a real battlefield between good and evil.

Finally, we should also mention “Lifeforce”, a science fiction horror film directed by Tobe Hooper (the famous director of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”), which caused controversy with its graphic scenes and its dark theme.

The astronauts of a spaceship return to Earth in a cryogenic capsule, but during the transport, an alien life form, a vampiric entity, is released and begins to feed on the blood of humans, turning them into pale, vampiric creatures, combining classic elements of vampire mythology with a science fiction theme, creating an alien creature that feeds on the life energy of humans.

For 1985, in terms of television series, The Twilight Zone returns (which will run from 1985 to 1989, with a total of 65 45-minute episodes), whose universe we have already presented in episodes previous.

Then there is “Misfits of Science” (which ran from 1985 to 1986 with 16 one-hour episodes) which follows the adventures of a group of people with supernatural abilities who work for a scientific organization, each member of the team having a unique special power, facing a series of bizarre and dangerous situations.

The characters are far from the classic superheroes (being even considered unconventional), being ordinary people with flaws and problems who strive to use their powers for good, being just the heroes of an entertainment series that also tackles more serious themes, such as discrimination and acceptance of those who are different.

Another series noted by the public is Otherworld (with 8 one-hour episodes), which follows the story (adventures) of an American family who, during a visit to the pyramids in Egypt, are transported to another dimension, to a world with completely different rules and societies.

The idea of ​​being transported to another dimension and adapting to a new environment is an exciting one that has been explored in many other sci-fi works, but each episode brings the members of the Sterling family to a different area of ​​this other dimension, each with their customs, technologies, and forms of government, providing an opportunity to explore various social and political concepts in a fictional way (as well as a definite premise for the upcoming Stargate SG-1 series).

In terms of animated series, Robotech (with 85 30-minute episodes) stands out, an American animated series that had a huge impact on pop culture, especially among science fiction and anime fans.

The story is a true epic that follows humans in their fight for survival against three alien invasions.

It is famous for its transformable mechas (??? — Transformers or … But it is an adaptation of three different Japanese anime series: Super Dimension Fortress Macross or Choujikuu Yousai Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross or Chôjikû kidan Sazan Kurosu and Genesis Climber Mospeada or Kikô sôseiki Mospeada, a combination through which the creators managed to create a complex and captivating narrative), which can be both fighter planes and giant robots, machines that have become true symbols of the series and inspired generations of fans.

There would also be the “Star Wars” genre animations represented by Star Wars: Droids (which ran between 1985 and 1986, with 14 24-minute episodes) and the “more successful” Star Wars: Ewoks (which ran between 1985 and 1995, with 26 episodes of 30 minutes), but with somewhat less “stake” with the public.

In terms of printed science fiction, 1985 is the year of publication of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card with what would be the sequel to this novel, Speaker for the Dead, or Cuckoo’s Egg by C.J. Cherryh, The Postman by David Brin, Footfall by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, Blood Music by Greg Bear or Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge but also the “complete remark” of the novel Neuromancer by William Gibson (most of them mentioned in the Hugo awards)…

Or Count Zero by William Gibson, This Is the Way the World Ends by James Morrow, The Journal of Nicholas the American by Leigh Kennedy, or Free Live Free by Gene Wolfe (mentioned by the Nebula awards)…

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

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