Corrected entry: Early in the film, Mr. Strickland tells Marty that he is a slacker and that he reminds him of his father because he was a slacker too. However, it is extremely unlikely that Mr. Stickland should even remember who George McFly is. How many school administrators can remember some random student from 30 years prior? It would make more sense if he was George's teacher because teachers can have a close relationship with their students, but as a school administrator, there have literally been tens of thousands of students under his watch during his 30 year tenure at Hill Valley High School. It's not as if George ever did anything to stand out. He was not a star athlete or a valedictorian and never did anything noteworthy in his life in the original timeline. He was not a troublemaker either, so it's not as if he would have spent a lot of time in Strickland's office. He should have been a nameless face in the crowd as far as Strickland was concerned, so hard to believe he would still remember such a random person after 30 years. I have only been out of high school for 13 years myself and if I ran into my old principal in the street tomorrow, I can guarantee that he wouldn't be able to remember me to save his life.
calidude
27th May 2012
Back to the Future (1985)
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: After Marty changes things and returns to 1985, he finds his brother Dave is more successful and now has an office job. So why is Dave still living at home with his parents?
Correction: This has already been asked. He never says he lives there. He may be just having breakfast with his sister and parents on his way to the office. Also, if he's living with his parents, it wouldn't be a mistake. Many young adults continue to live with their parents, just because they don't have to spend extra money.
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: When Marty first enters Lou's cafe in 1955, Lou is visibly angry at Marty just because he won't order something right away. However, he doesn't seem to care that one of his paying customers, George McFly, is being harassed by Biff and his gang and told never to come in there again. You would think Lou would tell Biff and Co. to knock it off or else be asked to leave.
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: Lorraine thinks Marty's name is Calvin Klein because she said it was written on his underwear. Actually, it's stitched on, which should tip her off that the underwear was made that way when it was manufactured, not written on.
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: After Marty returns to 1985, he discovers that he now has the new Toyota truck he wanted, while the rest of his family is forced to share one car. Why would Marty, the youngest of the siblings, who is still in high school, have his own brand new truck while his older siblings and both parents have to share one other vehicle?
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: Marty gives Goldie Wilson the idea to run for mayor before Goldie thought of it himself. Suppose now that Goldie runs for mayor before he is supposed to and loses the election and it ends his political career, thereby disrupting history.
Correction: So what? Marty changes lots of things during his time in the past, ranging from the very minor - Twin Pines Mall becoming Lone Pine Mall - to the really quite major - his parents' entire personalities and futures. History's already disrupted to a significant degree, one more thing, particularly one that, as far as we know, didn't happen, is hardly mistake-worthy.
"You're not thinking fourth dimensionally!" We know for a fact that Goldie still becomes Mayor as when Doc and Marty travel to 2015, Goldie Wilson III does an ad for Wilson hover conversion systems and states "When my Grandpa was Mayor of Hill Valley..." So whether or not he won or lost the first time is irrelevant, he eventually becomes Mayor as does his son.
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: The lightning bolt hitting the clock tower should not have stopped the clock because the clock is not electrical, it's mechanical.
Correction: Electricity arcing between metal parts can melt them.
24th Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: When Marty is hit by Lorraine's dad, it is right in front of the Baines house. If he was right in front of his house, then why was he driving so fast? He should have been slowing down to pull into the driveway or park, but he appears to still be going at a pretty good speed.
23rd Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: After Marty reunites his parents, he and his siblings all reappear in the photo and all is well. However, in order for Marty and his brother and sister to exist again, it would mean that Marty's parents would have to have sex at the exact same moment all three times to conceive them. Even if they were a few seconds off, it wouldn't be the exact same three kids. Similar maybe, but not exact. Now that George is more successful, he will be doing many things differently in his life so the chances of him and Lorraine having sex at the exact same millisecond all three times to have those exact three kids is beyond astronomical.
Correction: This is purely speculative. There is no way anyone (other than the filmmakers) can say what "should" have happened in the altered timeline. The odds may be astronomical, but the odds are certainly better than the odds of a plutonium-powered, time-travelling Delorean being invented.
23rd Nov 2010
Back to the Future (1985)
Corrected entry: When Marty is trying to prove to Doc that he is from the future, he shows him his driver's license and the photo of himself and his siblings. Doc immediately dismisses them both. Doesn't Doc notice that the quality of the color in the photos is much better than any color film that existed in the 1950's? Wouldn't that grab his attention?
Correction: If he actually took the time to examine it, maybe. Think about it, if someone walked up and told you he was from the future and showed you a document to prove it, would you believe him and examine it or humor the weirdo and get away as quick as you could?
Correction: George did do something to stand out. He did nothing! Strickland hates slackers and clearly remembers them. One of my guidance counselors in jr. high was my father's guidance counselor and knew exactly who my father was based on my last name alone 21 years later. Some people just have very good memories for names and faces.
Grumpy Scot
My Elementary School Principal still remembers me by full name and I it's been 30 years since I was his student so yes, it's possible.