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Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Defying the Laws of physics, but Great Fun !
Review: From a scientific point of view this film makes no sense. There are these Hawkmen. They just spread their wings and fly from one planet to the other. Gravity doesn't stop them neither does the absence of oxygen. Dr. Hans Zarkov the crazy, discredited NASA scientist owns a Rocket.Amazing !

Apart from that the film is really entertaining if you like these science fiction films from the disco era . The movie is very colourful like Buck Rogers (1979). Light effects also remind me a bit of Logan`s run (76). Fighting scenes are like going to a disco in those days, lots of bright lights and laser guns . FLash Gordon is really flashy !

Zarkov lures Flash (Quarterback with the New York Jets) and Dale into his spaceship. Dale and Flash fall in love soon afterwards.This love cannot be destroyed, not even by the seductive Ornella Muti later on on the film . On Planet Mingo they encounter Ming the Merciless. After a few quarrels Flash joins Forces with the Hawkmen and the treemen , the latter are being led by Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton). Together they vanquish Ming`s troops and Ming himself. The music made by Queen is hard rock oriented and stresses the martial touch of the picture. All in all it`s very funny as long as you don`t take it too seriously.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Godiva of brain candy
Review: There are two things that the makers of this version of the often-told story of Flash Gordon understood which puts this version above all others. First, the film absolutely must be over the top. Second, Flash Gordon and his lady-love Dale Arden are by far the least interesting characters in the whole film.

For evidence of the first point, see the marvelously grandiose score by Queen as well as the performances of Max Von Sydow and Brian Blessed. As to the second point, one need only consider how much acting talent fills the supporting roles, not just the aforementioned Sydow and Blessed but also future James Bond Timothy Dalton and theater stalwart Topol. These are the people we remember in the film (along with Orneall Muti as the delightfully devious Princess Aura) and the ones who make it such a joy to watch.

The story is school-boy heroics with a liberal dose of adolescent fantasy thrown into the mix, and that is as it should be. This is, after all, not a treatise on power-relations in a totalitarian society, it's the story of how Flash Gordon and his friends save the planet Earth and overthrow the evil emperor of Mongo so that its people can live in peace. It's a simple story, stylishly told, with breath-taking visuals and action sequences that have help up well in the past two decades. In short, what's not to enjoy.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What can I say that hasn't already been said?
Review: Well, shoot. Here I was, just itchin' to write a review about the Flash Gordon movie. I was gonna let you know about it being the kind of cheeseball film that shouldn't be taken seriously at all, but is still fun to watch. I was going to go into the so-bad-it's-good acting performances by most of the cast. Throw in my fond childhood memories of this celluloid silliness, and my outlook on the whole shebang would've been complete.

The only problem is, it would've looked pretty much the same as all the other customer reviews of this flick! I wouldn't exactly come off looking very original. So if you really want to get the gist of what this film's all about, just read some of the other customer reviews, and ignore mine completely. They'd de no more or less accurate- or different- from what I'd write. Thank you for your attention.

'Late!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Sorry "Star Wars." "Flash Gordon" Is Much Better.
Review: I am not saying that "Star Wars" does not deserve a place in the museum of sci fi videos, but the movie is too simple of a good versus evil conflict covered with special effects. "Flash Gordon" is not exactly the drum I march to, but I have to give credit where credit is due. The story starts with a normal everyday man being thrust into an unusual situation that involves the fate of the planet earth. (A little beyond plausibility, but this fault is easy to overlook seeing what a great movie it is.) When he realizes what is going on, he uses the knowledge he knows (football knowledge) to his advantage. (So instead of a superhero, we have a normal man who uses what knowledge he knows. Excellent!) Ming is frighteningly evil, but yet, he carries a charm, and at times he is even likable. Ming's daughter shows a common human weakness well. (Her sexual desires govern her decisions.) Allright, the effects are overdone sometimes, but that fault is easy to forgive seeing that the story is rich and complex. Ming's victims oppose both Ming AND EACH OTHER. Flash realizes that the only way to defeat Ming is to join all the different factions together. So Flash has to go through the long and painful process of making peace with the different factions AND THEN getting them to work together. (It is interesting that before Flash, the doctor, and Dale were thrust into space, they had disputes themselves. This actually prepares us for the rest of the plot.) Because of Flash's dilemnas, the suspense rarely drops. Comic relief is also well placed. So we have a normal everyday man thrust into an extraordinary situation; he has to use what knowledge he has to his advantage; he faces pure evil; through a painful process he gets different factions on his side; he gets them to work together; and the final fight between good and evil starts. "Star Wars" may have a greater reputation, but if you ask me, this is the better movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "REPEL ALL BOARDERS!"
Review: Instead of trying to make some serious, artistic statement, the makers of this film just said "this is a comic book sci-fi movie, dang it, let's just go for it!" The production, art and set designers of this movie just had so much imagination and vision--very bold visuals in this film. Great scenery chewing performances by nearly everyone, and a rocking Queen soundtrack make this movie really stand out from most of the sci-fi Star Wars rip-offs being made at the time. And, I think I can say without any hyperbole that Ornella Muti is the most alluring woman in the history of film!

I just have to knock my review down one star because of the DVD. The picture and sound are decent, but it could have used some better extras. But at this price, I guess you can't complain too much.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: You know the story...
Review: The movie was good as always. It was the usual Wizard of Oz meets Snow White, meets Robin Hood, meets Star Wars type movie.

I am writing this review to comment on the DVD, not the movie plot. Hopefully by now anybody reading this review has seen the movie by now. It has been 20 years since release. The transfer to DVD shows quality improvements over tape, but it is still a little fuzzy in places. There are absolutely no options on this DVD. No movie previews, behind the scenes, actor/actress filmographies....nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Unless you are a huge fan of this movie, don't buy it.... I am a fan of this movie and of the soundtrack (Queen), but the DVD lacks in all aspects..sound, picture, and especially features. However, the movie still can provide a good laugh. Who wants to live forever? Yeeeeeahhh!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: 3 1/2 stars,actually
Review: Campy fun.Loud boisterous,the kind of silly fun that sci-fi movies can be if people stop taking themselves SO seriously[earth to George Lucas}. I tokk three mentally handicapped friends I was living with at the time to see this movie.The soundtrack by Queen was loud and good fun, my friends and I had a hoot. What better compliment can you give this movie?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic!
Review: This movie is GREAT! There isn't a thing I would change, the characters are enjoyable, the costumes amazing, the music kicks butt, and the storyline is fun for everyone. This is a movie I can watch over and over and love every minute of it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gordon's Alive!
Review: This is my favourite film of all time. Now I KNOW it's not the most worthy film ever made, but it is more fun than a bouncy castle in spangled hotpants. If you prefer some shallow but pretentious movie like Star Wars to a classic like 'Flash Gordon,' you take life too seriously. Watching Brian Blessed bellowing "Oh well, who wants to live forever, bwa ha ha ha ha!!" and that Queen soundtrack kicking in makes me want to go out and have a spectacular and heroic death right now. Man! Go watch this movie, and you will understand...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fun, fun, fun
Review: I remember seeing this movie at the theater. It was the depth of winter and the heating in the theater had broken down. Yet, to a wide-eyed 9 year old it didn't matter, because I was bundled up in a thick jacket having the time of my life watching this version of the Flash Gordon adventure. It was only three years after the original Star Wars movie and studios around the world were raiding their vaults for science fiction properties that had been gathering dust (Star Trek, Buck Rogers to name just a few). Unlike its competitors this movie chose not to compete directly with the high octance special effects of Star Wars and instead tried to recapture the feeling and atmosphere of the original series. This decision gives the film a campy charm, with the distinct impression that everyone is having a great time. Years later I got to meet Brian Blessed (who plays a Hawkman in this movie) and my suspicion was confirmed. Don't miss this one, it belongs in the DVD library of everyone who still has a little bit of a kid in them.


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