Flash Gordon

2 Ratings: 3.5

Cult Movies and Science Fiction & Fantasy movie directed by Mike Hodges

When the totalitarian planet of Mongo decides on a whim to obliterate Earth, it's up to the lunk-headed quarterback Flash Gordon and his oddball companions to make the universe safe for democracy. Based on the classic (and infinitely more reputable) … see full wiki

Tags: Movies, Science Fiction Movies, Cult Movies

Cast: Max von Sydow, Melody Anderson, Topol, Ornella Muti, Sam J. Jones

Director: Mike Hodges

Genre: Cult Movies, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

1 review about Flash Gordon

Showing 1-1 of 1

Sort by:

It captures the spirit of the '30's Flash Gordon serials

Feb 6, 2005

by CharlesAshbacher
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

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.

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized