Flash Gordon

Rating:
Summary: Amazing movie, disappointing DVD transfer
Review: For those who haven't seen this movie, read any of the other reviews. It's a great movie, with terrific sets, sound, everything. The problem I've got with it is that this DVD was very poorly produced. Queen's soundtrack sounds like it's coming out of a cell phone speaker, and with all the opportunity they have to put extras on the disc, the studio did very little. I'll happily go buy the SuperBit/Criterion version if it's ever made, just to enjoy the soundtrack the way it was meant to me heard.

Rating:
Summary: It captures the spirit of the '30's Flash Gordon serials
Review: If you are accustomed to modern, sophisticated special effects, then this movie will seem lame. However, if you remember the old Flash Gordon serials, then they will be familiar. That serial was well known for having some of the cheapest special effects and poor acting. The makers of this movie seem to have kept to that style, the effects are pretty weak and the acting is at times hollow. Some of the dialog and action is so cheesy that it had to have been by design.
The most conclusive point in support of this is when Flash is fighting with Ming's guards in the palace. In the movie, he is a quarterback in professional football, so he is throwing football-like objects at them and getting down in a three-point football stance. On the "sidelines", Dale Arden is playing the cheerleader, moving back and forth shouting, "Go Flash Go!" Sam J. Jones plays a Flash so naïve and simple-minded that you can almost predict his dialog. Brian Blessed plays the hedonistic Hawkman king and he is grinning through the whole movie. Timothy Dalton is the Aborean prince Barin, and while his dialog is a little better than everyone else's is, it still drips with Mozzarella. Max von Sydow is Ming the Merciless, and he seems to relish his role as a man devoid of any good quality. Ornelli Muti is extremely hot as Ming's daughter Princess Aura.
Of course, in the end, Flash saves the Earth at the last moment, kills Ming and Barin is installed as the King of Mongo. This movie is an attempt to remake the adventure serials of an earlier time, although the producers tried to maintain the style and avoid a complete modernization. If you view it through the lens of modern filmmaking, then you will consider it cheap. However, if you see it in the spirit of the original Flash Gordon serials, then you will enjoy it. I did the latter and I loved it. The soundtrack by Queen is also a high point of the movie.


Rating:
Summary: The Famous Sc-Fi Hero is the thrilling Motion Picture
Review: Earth is in jeopardy by Evil Emperor Ming the Merciless, supreme ruler of the Planet Mongo. As he says "Pathetic Earthlings who can save you now?" "FLASH GORDON". Since the 1930s his comic strip has thrilled milllions around the world,classic serials followed and soon TV, in 1980 came the thrilling blockbuster movie of the classic space hero from Universal Pictures Featuring the Music of Queen and starring unkown Sam Jones as Flash,Max Von Sydow as Ming,unkown Melody Anderson as Dale,Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin and Super hot Ornella Muti as turn on Mongo babe, Princess Aura(I wish I were Flash in that rocket). In this film version. Flash is a quarterback for the New York Jets who's plane crashes with Flash's love interest Dale Arden on board. In to Dr. Hans Zarkov who puts them into a rocket and accidentally lauching them to Mongo, this is where Flash's space adventure begins as he is the one to defeat Ming and save our world. besides the great SC-FI films; Star Wars,E.T. and Back to the Future, Flash is really good one for SC-FI fans, the other ones are for anybody; Sc-Fi fan or not. Besides the great comic book based films; Spider-Mans,Superman and Batman, Flash is good one for that. It's terrific entertainment,a blast,a fun flick,thrilling. It's not Star Wars of course, but what is anyway. It's an entertainment rocket ride of thrills. It's a classic. If you want a good descent Sc-Fi film, see the movie of the original space hero. Have him come to the rescue on your TV. Have the rocket ride of your life with Flash Gordon. Go Flash Go, "Flash Ahh! Savior of the Universe"

Rating:
Summary: Bang, Flash
Review: This review is based upon the 2004 Studio Canal Region 2,4 releases.

I'd been thinking of trying to find this for a while, and hadn't been able to, here in New Zealand. Just saw it yesterday (budget price) and bought it. I've had the soundtrack since the movie came out and loved it. Saw the movie on the big screen once when I was a kid also. I didn't much remember what it looked like, but I see that kids can be very forgiving...lol

It is very cheesy. Considering that the movie came out after StarWars and around the same time as Empire Strikes Back, I'd have thought the special effects could have been better, but the guys who did them sure ain't Lucasfilm.
The spaceship effects are only marginally better than the 'detergent bottle on a string' of the black and white Buster Crabbe serials of the 1940's, and yet there's something endearing about it all.

This 2004 release has none of the scratches that someone mentioned in a previous review. Video looks very clean. The sound is in 5.1, and picture in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. I don't have a 5.1 audio system, but the sound overall seems very flat, like there's no bass; this is a pity as you don't get the full power from Queen's great soundtrack.

Overall, if you liked it when you were young, you're going to have to buy it, aren't you? It's worth it, at the mid-price range (I paid NZ$14.95 at Whitcoulls).



Rating:
Summary: wonderful nonsense
Review: Everyone else has said it. It is a perfect reincarnation of the classic cartoon and the old TV series. Deliberately hokey effects, wonderfully cheesy and cliched acting topped off by Queen's profoundly silly soundtrack! A film that produces many chuckles. Von Sydow is a wonderful Ming, Brian Blessed booms and shouts as usual, what-his-name is wooden and hopelessly stupid as Flash, and Ornella Muti is utterly and appallingly appealing to any hopeless male adolescent as Princess Aura. My favorite line is when she says "I LOVE initiation ceremonies..." What did happen to her? Such lips, such...but enough of this fantasizing, this is a film that is completely tongue-in-cheek and very amusing. It has a plot - the usual kind of sci-fi thing. I only give it three stars as in the pantheon of film making it is hardly Ingmar Bergman is it?

Rating:
Summary: Flash Gorden (1980)
Review: I have seen the seriels from the 1930's and 1940's As well as this Movie They are all Great!!!!!!five stars YES!!!! They should rerelease this Movie from 1980 With Sam J.Jones,MelodyAnderson,Jacqulyn Perce(For thoes of you who have seen Blake-7 she played Servolan)in this she's the other Mad scientest the evial one. When and I hope soon!they put this out on DVD again relise it in FULL SCREEN and Wide screen sideA(FULL SCREEN)and sideB(Wide Screen) Put in Both!!!! and as they say LONG LIVE FLASH,DR.WHO,THE SHADOW and HARRY POTTER this fun never,never land!!!!IN THIS DAY AND AGE YOU NEED THESE FUN TV SHOWS AND FILMS LONG LIVE THEM ALL!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: One of The Worst Films Ever Made
Review: An utterly horrible adaptation of the original comic book strip and series which has steadily acquired a cult status since its release almost 25 years ago. An unequivocally atrocious production where every aspect of the film is horribly cheap, fake, and just appallingly bad.

Emperor Ming the Merciless(Max Von Sydow) from the planet Mongo wants the Earth destroyed. A quarterback from Earth named Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) must now save the day with the help of friends such as the Hawkmen and their leaders (Brian Blessed and Timothy Dalton.) Will he save the Earth and humanity from imminent destruction? Will the seductive daughter of the evil Ming (Ornella Muti) fall for Flash and his athletic build?

This has to be one of the most pathetic science fiction films ever made. As with 'Highlander', Queen's music is about the only thing that keeps audiences interested in this trash film: even that is getting old. A totally contrived film that can only be seen as a bad joke. There's no direction, acting, or anything else worth praising about this stupid film. If you're not one of the film's cult fans, proceed and watch with caution: rent it first to see if this low level of quality in film making is within your standards.

Rating:
Summary: Hoky, but too much fun to not like
Review: This movie epitomises the very meaning of the word hokey. From it's formulaic story line, lead characters who are going through the motions, up to it's dodgy visual effects. And Yet it's so much fun, it's hard not to like. It's supporting cast, especially Von Sydow whose lapping up every minute of his role as Ming, and more than impressive soundtrack by Rock legends Queen which really bring this movie to life.
It's a pity this particular DVD release hasn't done like it's French(Studio Canal) counterpart, which is presented with remastered picture and 5.1 sound. Maybe this is something that can be remedied in the future. Australia is getting a local release off the Studio Canal masters in October.

Rating:
Summary: Cool Movie, Lousy DVD
Review: This review applies to the current Image DVD release. Most people who purchase Flash Gordon remember it from their childhood and wish to relive a part of it. No complaint there! Unfortunately, the DVD is now out of print and a copy can be expensive. About the only thing commendable about the disc is its widescreen aspect ratio. The soundtrack clearly warbles in places, the sound mix is not in 5.1 and generally lousy, and the video is grainy throughout. This is quite a shame, because the soundtrack and effects lend themselves to a great presentation. There are no extra features at all.

The DVD release rights were licensed by Universal to Image Entertainment. I have purchased 3 Image DVDs and they have all been massive disappointments. Fortunately, Universal re-released Sixteen Candles and I hope they will eventually do the same for Flash Gordon.