Quieter conclusion with an unexpected Western twist (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2004)

After the frenetic pace of "Back to the Future Part II", the speed has been slowed down, and the tone lightened up considerably, for this final part of the "Back to the Future" trilogy set back in the Old West. This allows for the usual time-travel high-jinks, better characterisation and even some references to popular Western films of old.
Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) has ended up back in 1955. Courtesy of a letter sent from the past, he learns that Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), who disappeared in a freak accident at the end of the last film, spent his final days in the old West Hill Valley in 1885. Retrieving the buried time machine with Doc's '1955 counterpart', Marty learns his old friend died after being shot in the back by Buford Tannen (Thomas F.Wilson). He then vows to return to the old West, rescue his friend and get them both back to the future...
The film works very well on a technical level, with some good Western-style variations on Alan Silvestri's memorable theme score. There is a strong continuity, in plot and references, to the previous films. The over-the-top, cartoonish style of the second film has been replaced with a more relaxed, romantic tone that eases the series towards it's conclusion. Special effects are as spectacular as ever, particularly in the train chase finale.
The old-style Western setting allows for a lot of funny nods and references to Western films, particularly 'High Noon', 'My Darling Clementine' and, most memorably, 'A Fistful of Dollars'. Marty passes himself off as 'Clint Eastwood' and when he refuses to face Tannen in a duel he's told: 'Everybody everywhere will say Clint Eastwood is the biggest yellabelly in the West.'
The acting, on all fronts, is much better. Fox completes his character's arc begun in the second film, as he finally learns the value of self-control and restraint. It's interesting how in the first film he resolves his parents destiny, in the second his children's, and the third film he finally sorts out his own. He also appears, with Lea Thompson, as his own ancestor. He has a cheesy Irish accent, but he still pulls the part off.

Lloyd gets to do more than just play the mad scientist, allowing for a soft, touching courtship with Mary Steenburgen as the local schoolmarm. They have a good scene together where they share their love of Jules Verne. Thomas F. Wilson makes for a slaveringly good villain in the gun-toting Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen.
What is really interesting is the themes running throughout the series which comes to head here. Marty learns about self-confidence and self-control and Doc, as he explains to Marty (as well as, indirectly, the audience) says that 'your future hasn't been written yet. No-one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one."
And thus ends this clever, fantastic and enduringly popular series of films.