Back to the future

[riddler]

Biff tries to rape Lorraine and tries to run over Marty in the first film so I wouldn't say he got that much darker in the second film.

I liked how Biff (and even Buford in the 3rd film) is an accurate depiction of a bully; they are all smoke an mirrors, once stood up to, they show they are cowards at heart and they aren't so tough without their gangs.

You're right about Biff being a potential-rapist in the first film, which is pretty close to being as nasty as you can get, but I think what makes Biff an even darker character in the second film is that he succeeds and is actually the winner for a large portion of the movie.  He kills George McFly, marries Lorraine (and although it's not explicit one can assume it's a pretty abusive relationship especially by the conflicted part-aggressive, part-submissive manner Lorraine acts around Biff) and is pretty much one of the most powerful men in America in the alternative 1985.  The alternative 1985 Biff also comes across as much smarter and shrewder than he does in 1955, even if he's still far from a genius, making him seem an even deadlier presence, one who effectively own the police.

In fact the alternative 1985 Hill Valley reminds me in some ways of the Gotham of Batman Returns.  Admittedly, on a superficial level the Gotham of Returns is a much cleaner, aesthetically pleasing and generally more prosperous environment than the low-rent Las Vegas and bikers' paradise of 'Hell Valley' but both fictional cities are effectively owned by vulgar, avaricious 'self-made' multi-millionaires who are practically 'above the law'.  Old Biff handing the Sports Almanac to his dumber, younger self kind of reminds me of Max Shreck plotting to build a power-plant (much like Biff's waste-disposal plant, an environmental disaster for the city it is based in) for his own dim-witted son and heir, in order to preserve his legacy and ensure he, or in Max's case, his son, is set up for life.

I think Biff does get smarter in the second (good) and third (Biffhoric) timelines mainly because he's forced to think for himself more. In the original he has his gang to do his dirty work and George to do his brainwork for him. Once George stands up to him, he no longer has George in his pocket and his intimidating bully presence evaporates. In the good timeline he does seem to be doing okay being an auto detailer; now that being said we do see him doing it in 2015 (when he'd be 78), although we don't know if he's only doing it for Griff. This future Biff does seem the smartest one we see, possibly due to age but it seems clear he didnt get what he wanted out of life. He's still envious of George but seems to take pleasure in Marty's life going down the toilet.

[thecolorsblend]

Biff tries to rape Lorraine and tries to run over Marty in the first film so I wouldn't say he got that much darker in the second film.

I liked how Biff (and even Buford in the 3rd film) is an accurate depiction of a bully; they are all smoke an mirrors, once stood up to, they show they are cowards at heart and they aren't so tough without their gangs.

Everything Biff is in the alternate 1985 is built on murder and likely a lot of domestic abuse. He confesses to bribery, conspiracy and murder. Meanwhile, except for two scenes, he's mostly just a bully in the first BTTF. It's a lot more prominent in Part II.

[riddler]

Biff tries to rape Lorraine and tries to run over Marty in the first film so I wouldn't say he got that much darker in the second film.

I liked how Biff (and even Buford in the 3rd film) is an accurate depiction of a bully; they are all smoke an mirrors, once stood up to, they show they are cowards at heart and they aren't so tough without their gangs.

Everything Biff is in the alternate 1985 is built on murder and likely a lot of domestic abuse. He confesses to bribery, conspiracy and murder. Meanwhile, except for two scenes, he's mostly just a bully in the first BTTF. It's a lot more prominent in Part II.

He has more resources in the second film. Enough to actually get away with murder. Perhaps he thought about offing George in the first film, two good reasons why he wouldnt would be the consequences or the fact that he had George in his pocket.

[johnnygobbs]

Biff tries to rape Lorraine and tries to run over Marty in the first film so I wouldn't say he got that much darker in the second film.

I liked how Biff (and even Buford in the 3rd film) is an accurate depiction of a bully; they are all smoke an mirrors, once stood up to, they show they are cowards at heart and they aren't so tough without their gangs.

Everything Biff is in the alternate 1985 is built on murder and likely a lot of domestic abuse. He confesses to bribery, conspiracy and murder. Meanwhile, except for two scenes, he's mostly just a bully in the first BTTF. It's a lot more prominent in Part II.

He has more resources in the second film. Enough to actually get away with murder. Perhaps he thought about offing George in the first film, two good reasons why he wouldnt would be the consequences or the fact that he had George in his pocket.

Like you say, even in the standard 1985 Biff seems to have about average intelligence.  Perhaps he couldn't stay a dummy for the rest of his life.  In his case, Biff's stupidity circa 1955 was probably as much to do with youth-related arrogance and fecklessness rather than any genuine IQ deficiency.  He's clearly no academic and presumably had no interest in study but when he puts his mind to it he can be fairly crafty as he proved to be by 1985 and certainly by 2015.  However, he's clearly at his nastiness when he has all the resources he's amassed from using the Sports Almanac at his disposal.

[riddler]

shameless plug here but I started cos playing as marty mcfly

https://www.facebook.com/kitchenermartymcfly?fref=ts

[Edd Grayson]

And I just watched the trilogy again and I'm glad they ended it where they did. I know some fans have been asking for a Part IV, but there's really no need for Marty and Doc to have more adventures. If they want to, they can watch the animated series, in which Biff has an ancestor in every time period and country, or the game, in which a relative of Strickland's tries to take over the city. Yeah, I'm glad there were no more movies 

[riddler]

And I just watched the trilogy again and I'm glad they ended it where they did. I know some fans have been asking for a Part IV, but there's really no need for Marty and Doc to have more adventures. If they want to, they can watch the animated series, in which Biff has an ancestor in every time period and country, or the game, in which a relative of Strickland's tries to take over the city. Yeah, I'm glad there were no more movies 

there's another comic book series coming. The saturday morning cartoon was a saturday morning cartoon. I mean there's even a Tannensaurus from the dinasour age so obviously the movies never would have been so silly. There is also the ride and the aformentioned game. None are official canon but if I had to choose, i'd pick the game; it picks the next logical time period; between 1885 and 1955 (1931 to be exact) and introduces us to Biff and George's parents as well as a young Emmett Brown.

[Edd Grayson]

You're right about the cartoon, and I did like it as a kid so I'm not against it being silly, but it wasn't that good compared to the movies, and the show was supposed to take place after the events in the films, even if it's not canon.

I've read about the game and it seems like it used the same formula as the movies: time travel by a character unwillingly affects history, the future is changed for the worse, and the characters have to fix it. As much as I loved this setting in the movies, I don't think that using it again in another medium really adds anything. Just my opinion.

[The Joker]

And I just watched the trilogy again and I'm glad they ended it where they did. I know some fans have been asking for a Part IV, but there's really no need for Marty and Doc to have more adventures. If they want to, they can watch the animated series, in which Biff has an ancestor in every time period and country, or the game, in which a relative of Strickland's tries to take over the city. Yeah, I'm glad there were no more movies 

If this story is true, they almost got their wish..... 

http://moviehole.net/201592719back-to-the-future-4-9-other-sequels-that-never-happened

[riddler]

You're right about the cartoon, and I did like it as a kid so I'm not against it being silly, but it wasn't that good compared to the movies, and the show was supposed to take place after the events in the films, even if it's not canon.

I've read about the game and it seems like it used the same formula as the movies: time travel by a character unwillingly affects history, the future is changed for the worse, and the characters have to fix it. As much as I loved this setting in the movies, I don't think that using it again in another medium really adds anything. Just my opinion.

I don't think the game would have worked overly well as a film as it mostly rehashes elements from all 3 films but it does bridge the story; most of it takes place in the 1930's where we meet Biff and georges parents. George's father is similar to him but slightly less wimpy and Biff's father is kind of a hybrid of Biff and Buford; he's a gangster so more dangerous than Biff but less than Buford (he kills people but not out in the open). One interesting thing is that the 1931 version of Doc is the same age as Marty so it is neat to see them interact. The events of the pass mess up the future (twice actually) and we get two alternate timelines.

The two creators Zemeckis and Gale had shirts with a 'no IV" logo produced. It seems Gale has been lukewarm to the idea of a sequel but not without Zemeckis or Fox. Zemeckis has never seemed to have any interest. I am glad it never happened. And FYI Zemeckis and Gale hold creative licensing so no sequel, remake or reboot can happen without them signing off.