After spending their lives trying to write the ultimate rock song, Bill & Ted Face the Music sees our now-middle-aged heroes travelling forward in time in order to get it from their future selves and save the world. This time, they are helped to fulfil their destiny by their daughters (Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine), a new batch of historical figures and some legends from the music world.
Long before they faced the music, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) had an excellent adventure followed by a bogus journey. Here, we look back on our favourite moments from the first two films in this much-loved franchise.
1. Strange things are afoot at the Circle K
In Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, released in 1989, we join high-school students William ‘Bill’ S. Preston Esq. and Theodore 'Ted' Logan as they try to avoid flunking history. After meeting Rufus (the late, great George Carlin), who has come from the future to help them, they travel through time looking for historical figures to bring back to present-day San Dimas, California. In one hilarious scene from the film, the lovable twosome travel briefly back in time and meet themselves. The only thing better than Bill and Ted is two Bill and Teds!
2. The mall scene
It never gets old to see the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Beethoven, Billy the Kid and Socrates colliding with modern America at a shopping mall in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. It all ends in tears when the gang land themselves in jail, but not before Joan leads an enthusiastic aerobics class, Beethoven rocks out on the keyboards and Genghis Khan goes, well, all Genghis Khan at the sporting goods store.
3. Philosophising with Socrates
In one scene from Excellent Adventure, Bill and Ted travel to Athens in 410 BC to convince the father of western philosophy to help them. Socrates finds it understandably hard to resist their attempts at explaining the human condition, while they relate to his declaration that, “The only true wisdom comes from knowing that you know nothing…”
4. Cheating at poker with Billy the Kid
In another scene from Excellent Adventure, a stop in the Wild West brings our travellers into contact with the famous outlaw. After accidentally revealing that Billy is cheating at cards, Bill and Ted get caught up in a classic bar brawl before the three of them use their time-travelling phone booth to make a quick getaway.
5. Evil Bill and Ted robots
The huge success of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure was followed in 1991 by their Bogus Journey. In order for their band, Wyld Stallyns, to bring about a utopian society in the future, they must once again travel through time and save the world by planning the ultimate Battle of the Bands. There’s another opportunity to see two sets of our heroes on screen at once, only this time one set turns out to be evil robots sent to kill them. Bogus, indeed.
6. We’re dead, dude
With deadpan comedy, macabre one-liners and endearing looks of confusion on Keanu Reeves’ face, the moment in Bogus Journey when Bill and Ted realise they've crossed over to the other side is priceless. Oh, and they meet Death (William Sadler, who reprises his role in Bill & Ted Face the Music). Yes way, dude.
7. Ted’s ghost possesses his dad
To make sure the Battle of the Bands goes ahead as planned, ghost Ted possesses his police captain dad so that he can try to get the evil robots arrested before they interfere. Famous actor of the 1970s and ‘80s Hal Landon does a hilariously accurate impression of his character’s son in this scene. Added points for the retro visual effects.
Bill & Ted Face The Music is out now at Cineworld – click here to book your tickets.
What are your favourite scenes from Bill & Ted? And have you seen Face The Music yet? Share your thoughts @Cineworld.
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