FilmSlashTV: ‘Back To The Future’ is back

Marty McFly meets his parents under very Hollywoodian circumstances in 'Back To The Future.' (Courtesy Universal)

BY BURL BURLINGAME / bburlingame@staradvertiser.com

Sometimes it takes time and a bit of golden hindsight to make a film a “classic,” but we pretty much knew from the get-go that “Back To The Future” had that status nailed. When Bob Zemeckis’ scifi retro-adventure was released in 1985, I gave the film a perfect score, and later, when the two sequels were released, it was obvious that Zemeckis was attempting nothing less than a modern version of “A Christmas Carol,” one of the great mythological story arcs of our time.

Seriously, is there anyone who doesn’t like “Back To the Future”?

For the film’s 25th anniversary last year, Universal gave it a digital makeover and clean-up, and modernized the sound. This version will kick off Consolidated Theatres’ new “Hana Hou Picture Show” series, in which classic films that haven’t been screened in years are brought back for a one-night stand.

Receiving a digital big-screen copy of a film, Consolidated shows it in their state-of-the-art TitanXC theater at their Ward 16 location.

“Back To The Future” shows at 7 and 10 p.m. Monday, June 27. Admission is $14.25 — the usual for special screenings — and yes, you can buy tickets in advance, either at the box office or through Fandango.

“Hana Hou Picture Show” is spun out of the unexpected success Consolidated had last month with a revival of 1986’s “Top Gun,” which packed the theater. “Essentially, this is the people’s program,” said Consolidated’s promotions director Lindsey Chun-Hori. We had fans and customers suggest names for the program through Facebook and Twitter, and the logo is being designed by a member in our social media community.”

In this case, the overwhelming response from Honolulu movie fans was for “Back To The Future.”

What’s next?

“Tell us what film you’d love to see on the big screen again — or for the first time,” said Chun-Hori. “If the studios have it available, we’ll do our best to make it happen. Follow us on Twitter, ‘Like’ us on Facebook, or fill out a comment card in the lobby to get in on the conversation … The Hana Hou Picture Show Series is programmed by our friends and customers.”

And we’ll track it on HonoluluPulse.com as well. Early votes are trending toward “Jurassic Park,” which is interesting, since the Spielbergian dinosaur movies haven’t yet been digitally remastered (they will supposedly be released on Blu-Ray this fall). They’ll have ballots at the “Future” screenings.

Me, I’d like to see “Tora Tora Tora” on the big screen this December. Who’s with me?