MovieChat Forums > Back to the Future Part III (1990) Discussion > Marty's Dare to Race Needles

Marty's Dare to Race Needles

posted 11 years ago by scott-sw
12 replies | jump to latest

It was apparent that in II that Marty's music career was cut short when he drag-raced with Needles and was injured when his car was hit by the Rolls Royce. In fact, in II, that drag race was specifically mentioned. In III, we see that race - however Jennifer was in the car. The stakes were a lot higher with a passenger because that Rolls Royce that would have hit them would have likely killed Jennifer, giving Marty a greater regret. I'm not dissing the movie, nor looking for a plot hole, just an observation.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] TheSolarSailor 10 years ago

I'm not sure that it's stated that anyone was actually injured during the accident?

It is specifically mentioned by old Jennifer in Part II that Marty was injured in the car race and that it affected his career. The accident is a major plot point, but if no one was injured, then it would not be a major plot point. It wouldn't matter.

- - - - - - -
Whose idea was it for the word LISP to have an S in it?

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Crustacean_Predation 9 years ago

I wonder what there was to press charges over in the first place. It makes it sound like it was a criminal case and not just a simple accident you turn over to your insurance company. Did Marty punch the guy (breaking his hand in the process) and the guy took him to court over being assaulted?

[–] EightiesKid 8 years ago

In the "original" 1985 (at the end of part 1/beginning of part 2), the accident likely happened when Marty was alone. He and Jennifer went to the lake on the 26th, spent the night, and he likely dropped her off at home, and was driving out that way when Needles challenged him to race.

That would explain how she wasn't injured (she'd have been hurt worse, since the Rolls came out from her side) and what Marty was doing in that part of town.

[–] stevenackerman69 10 years ago

Well, maybe she was injured too, not killed. The point was that since he didn't race Needles and hit that Rolls Royce, he changed what his future would be. Now, he might be working for that Japanese guy still, but he wouldn't do that illegal thing and get fired.

[–] super-staff 10 years ago

I think in the timeline that led to 2015, Jennifer wasn't in the car.

When Marty returned from 1885, the scenario where he races Needles happened but that time, Jennifer was in the car. If not for his character development in III, he might've gone for the race since being called 'chicken' was a huge trigger for him. So OP is correct, the stakes were higher in the newly altered timeline's drag race.

[–] Littlebitsofgaming 10 years ago

The stakes were a lot higher with a passenger because that Rolls Royce that would have hit them would have likely killed Jennifer, giving Marty a greater regret.

Pure conjecture.
You don't know Jennifer was not in the car originally anyway.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Totemkauf 10 years ago

What confused me was, didn't the race at the end of III take place while they were on their way to the train tracks to look at the wreckage?

It seems unlikely that in the original timeline this 'race' happened at the exact same time , with Marty just happening to be traveling in the same direction at the same time.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] jefgg 9 years ago

Coincidentally, the actor who played Needles has a very successful music career. He goes by the name Flea and is an amazing bass player with his band the Red Hot Chili Peppers.