Flash Gordon (1980)

What a waste of my time!!!

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

If this film were made in the 1930's it would be somewhat impressive. Fifty years later the original novel was written, it's not. It should have been kept back in the age where it belongs, but they just had to do it, and the result is nothing but an embarrassing parody on the old style sci-fi/fantasy genre. Why embarrassing? Because it wasn't intended to be a parody. Mel Brook's Spaceballs made seven years later was, but is still less of a parody and much better made. In Flash Gordon of 1980 the whole production stinks of turkey, in particular considering the intention. The acting, all over, is just very bad, in particular from the main character, who must have been cast only due to his looks. The costumes and special effects are just as bad, together with the script. How could a could a actor like Max von Sydow get tangled up in this trash? Better than Star Wars? Must be someone born in 1915. The production designer has done a pretty good job, but in vane. It's all been ruined by bad light settings. Did they think they were in a theater or the opera? Dale, you look wonderful, really. - Ah, it must be the eye makeup. That's a line Mel Brooks would have been proud of.

This could be the 3rd movie I watched on screen after Space cat and Episode V… If I miss all the excitement from its sticker album I got too, honestly I can't remember it clearly and watching today the DVD, I understand why! It's just awful !! OK at 7 tears old in 1981, I couldn't really imagine something else but honestly with my adult vision, everything is a disaster: the opening title is worthy of actual Marvel, DC but right after, this outer space people who have a bridge in English seems so dumb! Next the story was boring as ever and the pace just a sleeping pill! Sure all the production is colored and vivid but after a while, it's too kitsch and really insulting: There is no money here and my school plays were even better than this cheap production! The special effect are just terrible and a shame for a major motion picture! The Queen songs are just overrated (see my title!).. Maybe the cast was cool and the rewind erase memory was original (and well done!) but honestly too much is too much and I couldn't get farther than the green planet and even at x32 it seems worse! For all of you who thinks it's a cult movie that you keep watching, I really want to see you and your living!

Colorful, silly fun, at times campy, Mike Hodges's 1980 "Flash Gordon" is among those movies that are less than the sum of their parts. Made on shoe-string budgets with C-picture performers and crew for young undemanding viewers, the original 1930's Flash Gordon serials are unintentionally funny to adults today. To recapture the innocence and naivete of those movies with a big budget and trained actors is a difficult task, although Hodges's "Flash Gordon" makes a decent attempt. Lorenzo Semple's screenplay tracks the original serials fairly well; Flash and Dale Arden are taken aboard Doctor Hans Zarkov's spacecraft and flown to the planet Mongo, where they battle Emperor Ming the Merciless to save the Earth. Semple's script has enough classic bad dialog to satisfy seekers of camp; "I love you Flash, but we only have 14 hours to save the Earth." However, the difference between Semple's script and the original series is that Semple knew he was writing bad dialog, while the writers of the serial were unintentionally hilarious.That difference in intention also applies to the actors; Buster Crabbe and company played the serials dead-pan straight, and those in the remake who play their parts equally straight come off best. The under-demanding role of Flash requires the skills of a Razzie Award Winning thespian, and, Sam J. Jones won a Razzie nomination for his work herein. Although not a super hero in the modern sense, the blonde hunk, who sports nothing but leather trunks in one scene, physically fills the role, and Jones manages to deliver his lines with a convincing lack of conviction as the dim, but well meaning Flash. However, the movie's scene-stealer is Max Von Sydow as Ming the Merciless; appropriately garbed and made-up as the evil emperor, Von Sydow plays the role with majesty and menace, which is all the more fun. Unfortunately, Topol as Doctor Zarkov, does not follow Von Sydow's example and winks and smiles as the mad scientist, telegraphing to viewers that he is in on the joke. But Brian Blessed as the winged Prince Vultan, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, and, especially, the delicious Peter Wyngarde as Klytus deliver their lines as though penned by the Bard himself. Although Mariangela Melato is a memorable Kala, Melody Anderson as Dale Arden should have been in the running for a Razzie alongside Jones, which is intended as a compliment.Besides Von Sydow, the film's other scene-stealer is designer Danilo Donati, who provided the lavish Fellini-esque costumes and sets. While Donati's work tends to emphasize red and gold, which may not be to everyone's taste, his outlandish designs are as entertaining as anything on display and certainly light years beyond those of the 1930's serials. If Donati or another anonymous designer created the Art-Deco spaceships, he or she too deserves kudos as do the creators of the appropriately tacky and obvious special effects, which beautifully evoke the primitive work of the 1930's serials. As contemporary and important as the art direction is the pulsating score by Queen that punctuates the action and enhances the excitement. While "Flash Gordon" is not the high camp perhaps intended, the film has a cult following and enough outstanding attributes to satisfy main-stream audiences. Led by Max Von Sydow's iconic Ming the Merciless, Queen's pounding music, and Danilo Donati's dazzling designs, "Flash Gordon" may not be to everybody's taste, but should be savored by all at least once, just for the sheer fun of it all.

The Emperor Ming (Max von Sydow) is attacking the Earth. Only former NASA scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) seems to have foreseen it. He intends to launch himself in his rocket as a 'counter-attack'. NY Jets star quarterback Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) is taking a commuter flight. He survives the plane crash along with fellow passenger Dale Arden (Melody Anderson). Zarkov tricks the duo into his rocket and launches them into space. They are taken prisoner to find Ming's tyrannical rule over the various kingdoms. Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton) leads the kingdom of Arboria. Hawkman Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed) runs Sky City. Ming's daughter Princess Aura (Ornella Muti) is fascinated with Flash. Ming takes Dale as his concubine.This is brilliantly colorful and deliciously campy. The Queen soundtrack is second to none. The acting is big but it fits the style. Parts of it goes a bit too slowly. Some scenes are very static. Even the actors move slowly as an old-fashion way to denote drama. Sometimes it needs more energy to maintain the tension. This is an unique vision and a fun watch if you don't take it seriously.