The year 2015, to me, is synonymous with Back to the Future Part II. That opening sequence of flying cars, hoverboards and power lacing Nikes was something that I have always both (rather optimistically) dreamt of and mocked for its silliness.
The Back to the Future Trilogy has enchanted me since I was tiny and I unashamedly rank the first one among my film favourites. Perhaps one of the most recognisable and iconic parts of the series (apart from that delorean ) is in the 2015 scenes of the second film with the hoverboard and its apt Mattel product placement logo. Now that it is finally here, its about time I do an expectations vs. reality critique.
*Technically, the film is set on the 21st of October 2015, so we still do have 10 months to go!
The Back to the Future Trilogy has enchanted me since I was tiny and I unashamedly rank the first one among my film favourites. Perhaps one of the most recognisable and iconic parts of the series (apart from that delorean ) is in the 2015 scenes of the second film with the hoverboard and its apt Mattel product placement logo. Now that it is finally here, its about time I do an expectations vs. reality critique.
*Technically, the film is set on the 21st of October 2015, so we still do have 10 months to go!
What the film got right:
A 21st Century obsession with Cosmetic Surgery Doc tells Marty about him going to a rejuvenation clinic to look 30 years younger.
An increase of Green Spaces in urban areas 2015 Hill Valley has a lot more green and an artificial lake and we can only look to the New York highline and the plans for a green bridge in London to see a growing trend.
Increased use of fingerprint recognition Maybe not to pay for things and as a substitute to house keys but using our fingerprints is becoming a far greater daily occurrence. The latest iphones and plenty of computers use fingerprint recognition.
Flat Screen Televisions
Video Conferencing
Hundreds of Channels
An unhealthy obsession with film sequels Marty finds that the cinema is showing Jaws 19. This is sadly true. How many good films have been ruined by bad franchises.
A 21st Century obsession with Cosmetic Surgery Doc tells Marty about him going to a rejuvenation clinic to look 30 years younger.
An increase of Green Spaces in urban areas 2015 Hill Valley has a lot more green and an artificial lake and we can only look to the New York highline and the plans for a green bridge in London to see a growing trend.
Increased use of fingerprint recognition Maybe not to pay for things and as a substitute to house keys but using our fingerprints is becoming a far greater daily occurrence. The latest iphones and plenty of computers use fingerprint recognition.
Flat Screen Televisions
Video Conferencing
Hundreds of Channels
An unhealthy obsession with film sequels Marty finds that the cinema is showing Jaws 19. This is sadly true. How many good films have been ruined by bad franchises.
Immersive or virtual reality eyewear The McFly teenage offspring both have eyewear on that looks very similar to Google Glass or Oculus Rift - two things that exist but are not yet in mainstream usage.
Nostalgia over retro things Hill Valley has a Cafe 80s and an antique shop selling old televisions and computers and they really do look ancient today.
Tourism in Vietnam Vietnam has opened its doors to tourism a lot in recent years but quite an unthinkable place to holiday in the 80s.
What the film got a tad wrong::
Flying Cars and Skyways I mean, really? They didn't give us very much time.
Fax Machines Just ask anyone millenial what a fax machine is? I promise you they won't know. I've no clue.
Tourism in Vietnam Vietnam has opened its doors to tourism a lot in recent years but quite an unthinkable place to holiday in the 80s.
What the film got a tad wrong::
Flying Cars and Skyways I mean, really? They didn't give us very much time.
Fax Machines Just ask anyone millenial what a fax machine is? I promise you they won't know. I've no clue.
Self tying Nikes So Nike has made a replica but not yet the self tying bit. We still have time people.
Hoverboards Another thing 'in the works.' As long as they tell me when its ready. I swear I'd pay a lot of money for one of those.
Auto adjusting and auto drying clothes
Robot controlled Petrol stations
An unhealthy obsession with spandex More 1980s than 2015.
Hoverboards Another thing 'in the works.' As long as they tell me when its ready. I swear I'd pay a lot of money for one of those.
Auto adjusting and auto drying clothes
Robot controlled Petrol stations
An unhealthy obsession with spandex More 1980s than 2015.
Queen Diana A sad one. This was also assuming that the Queen wouldn't be still going strong as she still is.
A Female President This was a nice prediction. It's still pretty good that we have a half black president. How's that for progress. And we could very well see a female president elected in November 2016, possibly Hilary.
Newspaper readership of 3 billion Apparently, in 2015, USA Today boasts 3 billion readers. Firstly, how could they possibly have that many readers and also this doesn't predict the decline of print publishing.
A Female President This was a nice prediction. It's still pretty good that we have a half black president. How's that for progress. And we could very well see a female president elected in November 2016, possibly Hilary.
Newspaper readership of 3 billion Apparently, in 2015, USA Today boasts 3 billion readers. Firstly, how could they possibly have that many readers and also this doesn't predict the decline of print publishing.
Dehydrated food Space food esque. Pizza can be hydrated in a matter of seconds.
An efficient legal system hahaha
The rise of Japan The assumption that Japan would be a great superpower and this would also filter down into things like dress sense etc.
An efficient legal system hahaha
The rise of Japan The assumption that Japan would be a great superpower and this would also filter down into things like dress sense etc.
Clothes in general Everyone just looks like their in the 1980s and trying to dress weird and futuristic.
So obviously the main thing that's missing is that little thing called the Internet (and things like mobile phone culture). It's unimaginable the effect it's had on the world. As much as I want a hoverboard, in some ways I prefer a lot of the innovations that couldn't possibly have been foreseen.