Back to the Future: Has it really been 25 years?

It's Thanksgiving break... Time to catch up on some blogging!

At any rate, about a month ago, my brother and I went to see a special 25th anniversary screening of the classic movie "Back to the Future," which is one of my all-time favorite movies. I have a great memory of this movie. I was 10 years old when I saw this with my mom and brother in 1985. A story dealing with time travel and cause-and-effect has the potential to be really complicated, but I was not only able to perfectly understand the movie, but I also enjoyed it from beginning to end. This was one of the movies that made me the movie buff that I am now.

This screening was somewhat similar to the 25th anniversary screening of the movie "WarGames," another classic from the 1980s, which we went to see two years ago.

Here is a link to the article I wrote in the Reading Eagle about the 2002 DVD release back in my journalist days, when I was actually a published movie critic.

I was excited when I heard it was going to be re-released, but my hopes were deflated when I found out the re-release would only take place in Europe. Apparently U.S. screens were overcrowded with high-quality films like Saw VI and movies with talking dogs.

Fortunately, enough people screamed and yelled, and the AMC theater chain was able to show the movie twice over one weekend. We

The movie has aged surprisingly well. Aside from a couple of 80s references like "Pepsi Free," the story and look of the movie have held up really well. The Oscar-nominated screenplay that balances the plot with a great character-centered story is still one of the best in movie history, the production values are great, the special effects are good by 1985 standards, and the DeLorean still looks exotic and cool (although reports from the set said the car was a piece of junk).

I forgot how good the acting actually was in this movie. Michael J. Fox's comic timing is impeccable, Christopher Lloyd has the mad scientist schtick down pat, and Crispin Glover really makes George McFly a unique character, even though they supposedly had some problems with him on the set.

As for the moviegoing experience itself, I couldn't have asked for a better crowd. It was clearly evident the crowd was full of fans, because people started to laugh before some of the movie's signature lines, such as "When this baby hits 88 mph, you're going to see some serious sh**!" I also loved how just about everyone in the theater started bobbing their heads and dancing in their seats to the Huey Lewis classic "The Power of Love." I even asked why the "To be Continued" card wasn't at the end of the movie, and a knowledgeable moviegoer told me that it wasn't in the original theatrical release, and they didn't add it until it was released on VHS. (that's a videotape that plays in a VCR for all of you young kids out there).

Of course it was fun watching it with my younger brother, because I saw the movie with him 25 years ago, and he also noted that we saw it in the 2-screen cinema inside the Plymouth Meeting Mall, which was located about 500 feet from the much more modern 10-screen multiplex we saw this re-release in. I even got him to admit that BTTF was a better movie than "The Blues Brothers." ha!

Overall, this was a great experience, and, even though I was sick for the next two weeks after seeing this movie, I was glad I took the time to check this out.

I'm back- with another dude award!

Occasionally, I have given out a "dude" award for going above and beyond their place in life. Previous award winners were "Sully" Sullenberger for landing a commercial airliner in the Hudson River without injuring a single person, and "Samurai Mike" Singletary for actually coaching an NFL team despite the egos of professional athletes.

My newest recipient of the Dude Award is JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater. I almost spit my Cheerios all over the table this morning when I read this story. A flight from Pittsburgh to New York was taxiing at JFK. As everyone knows who has been on a commercial flight, you need to stay seated and keep your seat belt buckled until the plane comes to a complete stop. Some idiot apparently got up to get her stuff out of the overhead compartment while the plane was still moving. Slater confronts the passenger. The passenger doesn't listen. Slater continues to tell the person to sit down, and the passenger still won't listen. Slater is then bonked in the head by the passenger's luggage. It is unclear if this happened by accident or on purpose. Slater demands an apology from the passenger. Instead, he gets an f-bomb. So, Slater then gets on the plane's intercom and delivers a profanity-laced tirade cursing out the passenger, waxing nostalgic about his 20 years as a flight attendant, and said a final farewell to the passengers. Finally, he grabs two beers (at this point, I was laughing so hard that milk was coming out of my nose), deploys the emergency escape slide, exits the plane, walks to his car and drives home. Shortly thereafter, the police arrest him on charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and trespassing. He could face 7 years in prison if he is convicted.

Slater has already become a folk hero for working people, other flight attendants, and the millions of people who wanted to scream "take this job and shove it!"

I know this guy supposedly broke the law, but I am proud of him for several reasons. First of all, the passenger was acting like a complete d-bag, and he was completely justified by demanding an apology.

A friend of mine is a flight attendant. It is hard work, and it doesn't pay well. It requires a great deal of training, and you need to know the FAA regulations and safety procedures inside and out. Having to deal with jerks on a daily basis is yet another challenge on the job.

Secondly, he is human, and I can't blame the guy for losing it after 20 years of likely being abused and cussed at by passengers who are drunk, unruly or just being arseholes. Most importantly, when he flew off the handle, he did so with panache.

In the end, though, what should we take out of this?

1. The customer is NOT always right. People have no right to harass or act hostile towards a worker who is trying to do his job.

2. As we say in any industry in which you deal with the general public- When you deal with the masses, you deal with the asses. Don't get me wrong, 95 percent of people I have encountered are polite, decent people, but there is an arsehole born every minute, and, as a teacher, I can say it usually comes from upbringing.

3. Everyone has their breaking point. This person had a lot of stress outside of his job. His father recently passed away, his mother has cancer, and he is supposedly a recovering alcoholic. Unfortunately, he is not the only person whose work is affected by outside stressors.

I am not sure about the criminal charges. I am sure he looked to see if the tarmac is clear before deploying the slide. All he should be liable for is the approx. $2,000 it costs to inspect and repack the slide, and the $10 or so for the beer. If the police are charging him, law enforcement officials should also go after the passenger, because she was violating FAA regulations by disobeying a flight attendant.

Any comments? Should Steven Slater be regarded as a folk hero, or should the cops throw the book at him?

My Wife's Top Ten Romance Movies

I was feeling kind of left since everyone else was creating lists so I've created my own Chick Flick Masterpiece.

1. When Harry Met Sally- For me, this movie is what every cliched romance movie is made of. This is where it started and it was perfect!

2. Pride and Prejudice- Starring Keira Knightley- As you will notice, my list is pretty much anything by Jane Austen and I LOVED this movie. It would be number one but nothing can beat When Harry Met Sally.

3. Up- yes, it's a cartoon but it is the perfect example of what I can only hope my life is like with my husband sixty years down the road. This movie made me laugh and cry.

4. Bridget Jones' Diary- surprise surprise, what girl doesn't love this movie? Who doesn't love Colin Firth? And no, I will not be watching The Single Man- Colin Firth can not play a gay man-he was born to be Mr. Darcy.

5. I'm With Lucy- "this much is truuueeee..this much is truuuuee.."

6. Emma- Once again, love Jane Austen!

7. Say Anything- what girl did not grow up wishing that a guy would hold up his boom box standing outside her window?- just saying..

8. Sweet Home Alabama- this is one movie that my husband has not been able to get me to change my mind about. Yes, it's formulaic but Josh Lucas is worth watching and I love Ethan Embry.

9. Sense and Sensibility- Jane Austen again.

10. The Wedding Singer- yes, it's a comedy but it's perfect.

Honorable Mention: Something About Mary- well, Brett is in the movie..