New York football star Flash Gordon vaults into outer space to battle the nefarious Ming, supreme ruler of the planet Mongo. Ming intends to conquer planet earth, and hunky Flash teams up with several of his daring female admirers, as well as the brilliant Dr. Zarkov, in an effort to thwart the monomaniacal evil-doer. Features .. Read more
| Starring | Sam Jones, Ornella Muti, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow |
|---|---|
| Director | Mike Hodges |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Family |
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New York football star Flash Gordon vaults into outer space to battle the nefarious Ming, supreme ruler of the planet Mongo. Ming intends to conquer planet earth, and hunky Flash teams up with several of his daring female admirers, as well as the brilliant Dr. Zarkov, in an effort to thwart the monomaniacal evil-doer. Features a fun score by rock group Queen.
| Starring | Sam Jones, Ornella Muti, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Topol, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed, Peter Wyngarde |
|---|---|
| Director | Mike Hodges |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 46 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Family |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 25 Mar 2002 Production year: 1980 |
| Format | DVD |
Aiming for the tongue-in-cheek frivolity of the 1930s Buster Crabbe adventures, Mike Hodges's big-budget fantasy is great fun, providing you ignore the plot altogether and concentrate on the corny performances and cheesy special effects. Although Ornella Muti makes a wonderfully witty Princess Aura, it's Max von Sydow who runs away with the picture as the dastardly Emperor Ming. However, the sheer badness of Sam J Jones as Flash (whose dialogue had to be dubbed by another actor), and Melody Anderson as Dale Arden also adds to the charm of this expensive sci-fi pantomine.
Lively comic strip addition to the increasing numbers of such things being restaged at enormous expense fifty years after their prime.
I actually saw this at the cinema when I was ten years old, and thought it was the best thing since sliced-bread...
It was with a little caution, then, that I selected this title to watch with my nine-year-old son - was my memory cheating on how good this film was?
I have to say though that I was plesantly surprised - yes, it's more than a little cheesy, and the plot is *very* simplistic - but it's still a cracking little film that moves with quite a pace and keeps those B Movie thrills and spills coming.
The acting's not going to win any Acadamy Awards, but it doesn't detract too much from the enjoyment to be had from this title.
And my son's verdict? Flash rocks! (We think he means that he liked it...!)
This is a great example of a film that was panned by the critics at the time of its release but that endures to become a cult classic. Low budget effects and an adequate script are saved by a good mix of great actors to raise the game and terrible actors to keep you laughing. Sam J Jones' FLASH was so poor infact they dubbed his voice out. Max von Sydows' Ming is pitch perfect as are Timithoy Dalton and Brian Blessed in a hilariously camp role. You must see this film if you haven't already and if you have see it again.
Jip Rating<p>
On your own ----------5 stars
With your Mates ---- 5 stars
With your Lass ------ 5 stars
Drunk -------------------- 5 stars
Watch this film anywhere with anyone it's sheer brilliance<p>
See Sam Jones be poor in Many a DTV classic Such as:<p>
L.A. Takedown, RIOT the Movie and the 2003 classic action adventure Redemption with Chris Penn &amp; Cynthia Rothrock...oh yeah truly bad.
The soundtrack for sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars has been voted out of this world - it has topped a new poll. The score for the opening of the hit films, originally written for the first feature by John Williams in 1977, has been voted sci-fi fans' favourite movie music. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan came second, while Ridley Scott's cult film Blade Runner landed the third position - despite recently being named the best sci-fi film in history. Queen's memorable Flash Gordon theme, 2001: A... Read more