MovieChat Forums > Back to the Future (1985) Discussion > Even if Doc DIDN'T read the letter, Mart...

Even if Doc DIDN'T read the letter, Marty could still save him...

posted 8 years ago by edlitz36
30 replies | jump to latest

Even if Doc tossed the letter and was killed again by the Libyans, Marty could have saved him again. He has the Delorean and the plutonium. He could have purchased a bullet proof vest the next day, went back in time again that night (go back to midnight, not 10 minutes before the shooting), drive to the mall, and explain to Doc about the Libyans and give him the vest before Marty's other self shows up. He could even bring Doc's corpse to prove it-- it'll just fade out of existence when Doc survives the shooting.

Religion should be made fun of. If I believed that stuff, I'd keep it to myself. -Larry David

[–] TxMike 8 years ago

Even if the chicken had not crossed the road it still might have been run over. The "what ifs" of most situations are almost infinite.

Biff

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 6 years ago

'' The "what ifs" of most situations are almost infinite. ''

Yeah but with time travels you can try many of these ''what ifs''.

[–] TheEndIsNigh (509) 3 months ago

LMAO😂

[–] ilayis 8 years ago

He wanted to get there early but the Delorean stopped working which got Jim to the mall late.

In doing so he couldn't warn Doc before he was shot and watched himself go back in time with the Delorean.

So Doc is "dead" and he has no Delorean...He would have no way of doing anything after that if that was the case.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

yeah - he's got the other delorean he just got out of that conked out , he just has to go get tha started up, and have a do-round

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7975) 6 years ago

Who's Jim?

[–] ilayis 8 years ago

Was starting to add more till I remembered there is another DeloreN to use.(Yes I forgot for a second the one that stalled after he came back).

You actually do have a good point.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

wish id read that before bothering to reply to your other post,
not that you'll ever read either of them...

[–] jasonblack_123 8 years ago

Or he could have just went back more than 10 minutes before Doc gets shot by the Libyans i.e. An hour, so he would be able to explain what was about to happen to Doc, but still wouldn't have to worry about his other self seeing him. Going back 10 minutes and knowing full well he would still have to make it to the mall in time was a stupid decision on Marty's part.

YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/JASONBLACKYT1 - I do movie reviews among other things! :)

[–] buddyboy28 8 years ago

An hour, so he would be able to explain what was going to happen to Doc

While his other self is at home in bed. So he saves Doc from being shot and now there's two of him in 1985 roaming around.

Going back 10 minutes and knowing full well he would still have to make it to the mall in time was a stupid decision on Marty's part

It wasn't because there were always going to be other complications that came from him going back earlier as I've explained. It worked out for the best that he didn't interfere with his other self going back.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

"It wasn't because there were always going to be other complications that came from him going back earlier as I've explained."

What complications? There are no complications. He knows -exactly- where the other self is at any given time (though it's a changed timeline, so this may not be true after all). So he can just plan his schedule around this knowledge.

He could go back two weeks or a month before the experiment - heck, he could go to any time he wants, he has a friggin' time machine! As long as he meets the doc, he should be good - he can sleep at his place, garage, whatever, and be unseen by the other marty for that duration.

The only complication would be if doc decided to abandon the experiment as something too dangerous, or something.

"It worked out for the best that he didn't interfere with his other self going back."

This is the lousiest excuse for a stupid decision. Ten minutes was inadequate, no matter how you look at it.

"I have all the time in the world, I've got a TIME MACHINE!", he says. (I am paraphrasing, as I don't remember the quote exactly)

After a revelation like THAT, he should really realize what he just said and go back at least a week or more to ensure he can reach doc 'in time', and also have 'all the time in the world' to explain everything to him properly.

I'd watch THAT movie..

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I agree totally.
Stupid decision!
I forgot about the "I have all the time in the world, I've got a TIME MACHINE!" part ....
So he's got an important place and time to be ...... the most important appointment of his life!
..and it has a wide window - anytime before doc gets shot.
So he has a time machine (handy)
By his own admission he figures out this will aid him in keeping the appointment....

...and then he totally fucks it up.

[–] Master (1494) 6 years ago

no he couldn't have

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7975) 6 years ago

But according to Doc in Part 2, if you see your other self (it might apply even if you're dead), it'll cause a time paradox that will cause a chain reaction that will unravel the whole fabric of the space time continuum and destroy the entire universe!

[–] strntz (12773) 6 years ago

.... it'll cause a time paradox that will cause a chain reaction that will unravel the whole fabric of the space time continuum and destroy the entire universe!

Yeah baby! That's fourth dimensional thinking right there!!!

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

if you see your other self (it might apply even if you're dead),

Marty does see his other self.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

doesent jennifer too? when she faints? or is that her mom or something ... i forget

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7975) 6 years ago

No. It was her older self. Actually me saying that was dumb since that proves that theory wrong. But who's to say it might not happen in another circumstance.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Yeah i dont think Doc was sure himself when giving Marty that warning , he was just playing safe.
Maybe if its they actually touch , or speak , or make eye contact.

I'm going with touch actually, i think theyve used that in some other time travel movies.
2 atoms cant occupy the same blah blah ...

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

Yeah, the touch thing was in Time Cop

[–] mcp7 (143) 6 years ago

No, Doc's theory was just wrong, and like you say, he was playing safe. Remember how young and old Biffs interact with each other in 1955 (old Biff even hits young Biff in the head) and nothing happens.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Young Biff was too dumb to alter his own future.

[–] mcp7 (143) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hurricane (1967) 6 years ago

Sure, he could have done that. But would it have added any enjoyment to the movie to watch Marty bungle his first attempt, and have to redo it again the next day?

[–] ExTechOp (2770) 6 years ago

That's be a different movie, along the lines of "Groundhog Day" and "Edge of Tomorrow"

This wasn't an "infinite attempts" type of plot - he'd have needed way more plutonium in any case

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 6 years ago

Yeah, and it's not like if 99% of movies didn't show characters make doubtful decisions if we were in real life. This is why we should dissociate fiction from reality because MANY aspects of movies are not meant to be logical or realistic because REALLY often we simply wouldn't have the movie. If some elements weren't there simply to serve the plot even if they make us think "why the hell didn't he do that instead", we wouldn't have this thing called "movie magic".

[–] avortac4 (3770) 3 years ago

"Even if Doc tossed the letter and was killed again by the Libyans, Marty could have saved him again. He has the Delorean and the plutonium. He could have purchased a bullet proof vest the next day, went"

There's no such thing as 'could have went'.

It's 'could have gone'. Please learn english, it makes discussions more fun.

Yes, this point has been discussed a lot during the decades, you're not coming up with anything new - but try, maybe some day, you will..

I have mentioned this particular thing many, many times.. yes, Marty STILL has the time machine, so he still could've tried as many times as it takes. He has the plutonium and knows how to load it. The only problem is the starter.

He could save Doc in zillion ways, but I think the best way would be to just INFORM Doc and ask him to AVOID THE LIBYANS ALTOGETHER. Maybe not even do the whole experiment, so Libyans + plutonium do not get involved, problem solved. (Didn't mean to rhyme, even when talking about time)

[–] hurricane (1967) 3 years ago

Could've got a bit tedious watching Marty try to save Doc four or five times before getting it right....

[–] strntz (12773) 3 years ago

Family guy did a riotous send-up of this very scenario:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CII_Q2aXa-k

[–] wearsalan (5554) 3 years ago

Loved that episode. also loved Meet the Quagmires