Flash Gordon. Aaaa-ahhhh! Savior of the Universe.

#FlashGordon
Stam Fine Reviews looks at Mike Hodges' 1980 film version of Flash Gordon. Colourful and garish- like when I put felt tip markers without lids in the pocket of my white shirt- Flash Gordon tells the story of three earth people trying to save the Earth from Emperor Ming. Stars Sam J. Jones, Topol, Melody Anderson and Max von Sydow.
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[@AquamentusLives]

I love this movie, and I’m not ashamed to admit that it might be due mainly to the soundtrack.

[@adamfreddo5703]

And "freeze, you bloody b***ards" and Brian Blessed.

[@GUNMETALGUYUSA]

So do I on both counts 👍

[@amoeba1533]

Well I like pretty much every aspect of this flick - the music, the visual look, the performances, and the humor too.

[@danugo6742]

@@amoeba1533 Agreed 💯 saw it in cinema 3 times when it first came out

[@tjejojyj]

Me too. But I think Star Wars is also held together, in a different way, by its iconic score.

[@creepyskulldini581]

"not a great film" (11:31) - WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT?!!!!!!!!!! Oh go to Hell!! Yes it is!! WHAT movie is GREAT if not THIS one?!! Make no mistake, Flash Gordon is absolutely and indisputably GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!!!!!!!!!! (like Frosted Flakes)

[@alphanova5688]

HA!

[@sloancostella2772]

Lol! THERE ya go!

[@dngillikin]

If only we could get BRIAN BLESSED!!!! to read Creepy Skulldini's comment aloud. That would be the height of awesomeness.

[@dovit7922]

Yeah, why can't FG be a great flick? WHAT does a movie need to be considered "great" that FG lacks?

[@stephenmundane]

Enjoyed the review a lot -- thanks. Ornella Muti made this film for me -- as a hormonal teenager in 1980 and now -- and the soundtrack I suppose ;-) Only film I ever stood in line for outside the cinema was Star Wars in '77 but I enjoy Flash Gordon just as much if I'm homest, perhaps more!

[@ianfindly3257]

I wouldn't compare THIS flick with Star Wars at all. As the reviewer here noted, it's actually much more similar in style to Barbarella (which happens to be another Dino Delaurentis movie with a comic strip origin). THAT would be a much more apt choice than SW if one needs another flick to compare it to.

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

I completely agree. Ornella and Diane Lane were the two most gorgeous girls my eight year old eyes had ever seen! And I enjoyed Flash Gordon more than Star Wars, but not as much as Empire Strikes Back if that makes any sense!

[@gregoryvanderpas4176]

"Flash Gordon is not a great film but its a dam good time" isn't that the ultimate goal of a film? to entertain, it can't all be Shakespeare. "It has its flaws" but the flaws in a diamond is where all its value comes, I love this movie, the music, the colors, the characters and the campy execution in general. In this time of change from one age to another a lot of truths are being push into the light and being exposed, a lot of films that stood in these non-truths will not fair well and lose their appeal but this movie will be a classic through the new age.

[@JnEricsonx]

Sometimes a movie is great(Godfather), sometimes it's fun(Flash Gordon). Sometimes it's both(Jaws).

[@alphanova5688]

They aren't really "flaws" you numbskull. THIS movie is INTENTIONALLY STYLIZED the way it is for artistic reasons.

[@gregoryvanderpas4176]

@@alphanova5688 Hold on there with the name calling, I forgot to ad the "quotes" in the flaw statement, the narrator used the word flaw(s) to describe parts of the film, I was trying to convey what he was calling flaws was what made the movie great, by the simile of the diamond having all its value by what is known by the flaws.

[@roxanneshuster8308]

Well just WHAT are supposed to be the big "flaws" in THIS movie anyway? I actually happen to find this move pretty well made and clever.

[@gregoryvanderpas4176]

@@roxanneshuster8308 I put the flaw statement in quotes because the guy in the video said it not me.

[@Interislander957]

I love this movie and the sound track. Probably for the same reason I like Highlander.

[@cadengrace5466]

The only other movie from this period that was like this was Star Crash.

[@dovit7922]

Not really. FG is more HUMOROUS than SC. And SC is a Star Wars rip-off where's FG isn't (its based on an old comic strip and film serial).

[@cadengrace5466]

@@dovit7922 All I remember is laughing my butt off at the theater watching Star Crash - yeah I paid to see it. When they were shooting through windows with no glass in space fights I was crying. But, when the two main ships fired torpedoes at each other and both hit the other, the real fun began. The torpedoes skidded across the floor, the broke in half and out popped four soldiers firing guns. I was screaming. I thought Star Crash was a riot!

[@roxanneshuster8308]

Well just WHAT are supposed to be the big "flaws" in THIS movie anyway? I actually happen to find this move pretty well made and clever.

[@BradGryphonn]

Yeah, I really tried to enjoy this movie, but nah. It was way too kitsch for me at the time. But hey, I loved Rocky Horror.

[@eddstarr2185]

The minute Ming opened his mouth - I was all in! No one makes cool villains anymore. A real villain doesn't have to kill anyone, just make you believe he can. A movie villain has to have style and panache (and just a dash of sexual perversity). Max von Sydow as Ming lifts this movie to one of my favorite 80's fun films. Add Brian Blessed's hawkman legs plus a killer musical score by Queen . . . they don't make movies like this anymore!

[@viceverser6985]

They weren't even making very many movies quite like THIS one AT THE TIME either for that matter.

[@GlennDavey]

@@viceverser6985 Yeah I came here to say this. It was out-of-its-time at the time.

[@rameyzamora1018]

Brian Blessed won my admiration when he attempted to climb Mt Everest & though he failed was willing to have it filmed for a docu. Plus he's SO much fun to watch acting.

[@ianfindly3257]

Something unique about this flick that I've always found particularly interesting, and which this reviewer failed to note, is how the VILLAINS in it seem to have this weird element of SEXUAL PERVERSITY to their characters. Something exemplified in a rather kinky interrogation scene where a woman is getting flogged, and lines of dialogue like "You tortured her didn't you?!" "Yes, an interesting girl. I do think she rather enjoyed it." and "Seize the Earth woman and prepare her for our pleasure!", .. . not exactly lines of dialogue that you'd hear Darth Vader or the Emperor utter in a totally family oriented Star Wars epic. The rock score is very effective. It suits the tone and imagery of THIS flick quite well and, it should be noted, was a pretty bold, unorthodox and groundbreaking choice at the time this flick was made which further distinguished it from Star Wars and all IT's wana-be imitators as THEY used more traditional symphony scores.

[@scottlette]

I summed up this film in film school as ‘clean cut Americanism Vs. Euro-perversity”. Even as a kid, I was rooting for the Mongo locals. Bring me the Bore worms?

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

You need to look at it this way: Ming and his cronies have been in absolute power for a long time, and such a position will slowly erode any sort of inhibition. Nobody is in a position to question you, so why try keeping a fascade? Just look at the depravity that was going on in Mao china (and prolly sti,l is today), Soviet Union, The USA at any day, Europes sleazy caste of elites who think they are untouchable.... etc...

[@TECHNOIR]

Yes, those denizens of Mongo were mondo pervs alright. Imagine their bongo films. When I saw this as a kid, we dubbed the lovely Ornella Mutti, 'Hornella Mutti' because we were kids and a bit shit at making jokes.

[@dovit7922]

@@TECHNOIR Well THAT isn't really PERVERTED, THAT's just normal healthy red-blooded boy type stuff.

[@GlennDavey]

Yeah but then 3 years later Jabba has slave Leia in a gold bikini, so... George Lucas was watching

[@adrianchell]

As a teenage boy watching this in 1980, I was unduly concerned whether Ornella Muti was wearing the appropriate number of undergarments in some of her scenes.

[@hanniffydinn6019]

The 80s were peak human culture…! Sadly we won’t be seeing such fun films like Flash Gordon anymore! 🤯🤯🤯🤡🤡🤡🌍🌍🌍

[@Shindai]

I imagine there's such an untapped market for movies like this still, but everything's gone all gritty and serious now. I miss camp nonsense.

[@GUNMETALGUYUSA]

Unfortunately True

[@ianfindly3257]

I would say hat THIS movie is really more representative of the LATE 70's than the 80's.

[@GlennDavey]

Try telling kids today that there are no more good movies as a general rule and humanity has started sliding down the other side of the mountain towards extinction and they were all born too late to know that everything sucks now and don't know any better and it's all: "OK boomer" and "well that just isn't true" and "this is a truly wrong take" and "doomer wants to be edgy" "you are deeply delusional" "your account has been suspended for discussing violence and self-harm" "you have been permanently banned for harassment" "your account has been banned for breaking the rule about making multiple accounts for the purpose of harassment" and so on. You guys know what I mean... the world has just gone crazy these days!

[@GlennDavey]

@@ianfindly3257 Yeah it's like saying "I listened to the Beatles as a kid in the 80's, so you can't beat 80's culture" (both true still)

[@manlystranger4973]

Errol Flynn will always be the greatest Robin Hood. Adam West will always be the greatest Batman. Christopher Reeve will always be the greatest Superman. William Shatner will always be the greatest Captain Kirk. Sam Jones will always be the greatest Flash Gordon! 'Nuff Said. Excelsior!!!

[@duncancurtis1758]

Nimoy is the one Spock.

[@angelomicciche3044]

I have a soft spot for Larry Buster Crabbe. The old serials were BBC school holiday fare in the 70s and early 80s.

[@rameyzamora1018]

@@angelomicciche3044 Buster was the best & his costume for "Tarzan the Fearless" continues to cheer me up whenever I even think of it.

[@pheonix5597]

I think QUIRKY is really a much better word to describe FG than "cheesy".

[@GrinderCB]

When Flash Gordon came out I was 16 yrs old. I remember all the kids were going around doing the theme's, "Flash! Ah-ahhhh! Savior of the universe!"

[@GlennDavey]

Hell I remember kids doing the "dun dun dun dun dun dun dun" thing at school photo day, and the teacher didn't know what was going on and neither did I because I was too young. But every time someone had their picture taken and the flash would pop everyone would go "Ah-ahhhhhh!!! Savior of the universe!" Eventually I got it

[@GrinderCB]

Surprised no mention was made of Sam J. Jones' background. DeLaurentis wanted an unknown for the part. Jones was an unknown and was cast mainly for his physique, having previously been a nude model and appearing in Playgirl magazine. (That might explain Freddie Mercury accepting the music job for the movie...but I digress) Also, Jones' natural voice was too gravelly to be left in, mainly due to his smoking habit, and had to be dubbed.

[@ianfindly3257]

He was in the movie Ten with Bo Derick before FG here. In THAT movie he was the guy who fell asleep on a surfboard, drifted out to sea and got saved by Dudley Moor.

[@GrinderCB]

@@ianfindly3257 Now I'll have to find "10" just to see that.

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

Flash Gordon, to me, is the ultimate comic book movie. I love the film, the soundtrack, the special effects and Lorenzo Semple Jr's script. He wrote the Batman tv show before he wrote some great movies like The Parallax View, The Drowning Pool and 3 Days of the Condor! Flash Gordon and Swamp Thing were and still are two of my favorite movies.

[@Forcemaster2000]

One of the best Sci-Fi movies ever! Saw it in 1980 in the theater!

[@mysticx0]

melody anderson......ahhhh. so beautiful!! she might have been my first crush and she definitely did not do enough movies!

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

I was fascinated by this movie when I was a child. It's got something that I can't explain, maybe the cheesyness, the spectacular outfits, the strange characters, worlds, and aliens, the Logan's Run and Barbarella vibes... I don't know what it is, but I always liked this movie.

[@pheonix5597]

I think QUIRKY is really a much better word to describe FG than "cheesy".

[@carlrood4457]

There's a combination that makes it greater than the sum of its parts. It's garish. The supporting cast of excellent actors are suitably hamming it up. The epic soundtrack.

[@jibicusmaximus4827]

same, have you seen ray bradbury's the martian chronicles? that captured my imagination as a kid too, its on here, i found it recently, i just found it creepy and truly alien, they had ships that sailed on the sand! i got the same feelings watching it again, just intriguing and odd in a similar way perhaps.

[@TheBeird]

Only finally watched this film during Lockdown. Why had I denied myself this pleasure for so long? It's fantastic. And while watching it, and taking in its lavish production design, one of the things that crossed my mind was; Lucas could have done Coruscant in the eighties. The other was; the world will be a much shittier place when Brian Blessed leaves us.

[@GlennDavey]

Watched a bunch of fun old movies too the last couple years. Caught up on some things I should have seen much earlier

[@alancarnell2747]

Flash Gordon the T.V. show was just Stargate crossed with Flash Gordon. Flash in name only.

[@klipkultur2951]

I saw it in the theater when I was 12 and literaly started jumping from my seat during the birdmen attack. It was the music. My mother bought me the record the next week and I still own it.

[@GlennDavey]

That's pretty cool man. Love memories like that.

[@toddkurzbard]

One of the bits of trivia that most do not know (it has probably been mentioned already), was that in the early '70's, George Lucas wanted to do a "Flash Gordon" movie as his big space flick, because he had loved the old serials as a child. But the owners of the "Flash Gordon" property refused to sell him the rights. So he said to himself, "O.K., if I can't make 'Flash Gordon', I'll make my OWN 'Flash Gordon'". The result was "Star Wars". I hear it did pretty good. P.S. FLASH AAHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@carlrood4457]

The movie has a James Bond, a Blofeld, and a Bond associate who managed to survive the movie.

[@themisspultone]

I love this film, its a blast, its fun, the soundtrack rocks. Its a comic in film :)

[@ian_b]

Saw it at the cinema as a teenager. Great fun. Ornella Muti as Princess Aura was for some reason I can't quite put my finger on my favourite character.

[@TheRowlandstone73]

I loved it as a kid but would probably find it an eye-rolling chore sitting through it nowadays! I'll say this for it though, despite all it's camp garishness, it had a good sense of threat and danger in parts. The scene with the woodbeast in the tree stump, (where most Brits over 40 would recognise children's TV presenter Peter Duncan playing the guy who gets stung), the huge swamp spider and the fight on the spiked platform had my 8 year old self biting my finger nails to the quick!

[@charlessmith31]

But the music was incredible. This is something that should be rebooted. It has a lot of good building blocks.

[@TheRowlandstone73]

@@charlessmith31 It's been announced that Taika Waititi the New Zealand director will be doing exactly that! In my opinion, after seeing Thor: Ragnarok which he helmed for Marvel Studios, I think he's the perfect choice. His style, humour and choice of music (his use of Led Zeppelin in Thor was inspired!) would suit Flash Gordon no end! He's also going to be writing/directing a new Star Wars film for Disney/Lucasfilm.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Looking at Ornella Muti is never an eye-rolling chore ;)

[@Neil070]

@@TheRowlandstone73 Thor Love and Thunder has damaged him in my eyes. Loved Ragnarok but wtf happened in L&T? Still, his take on Flash might be worth watching, if it happens

[@viceverser6985]

Well, couldn't one possible reason this movie was not an immediate mega blockbuster at its original time of release be that it was based on a then fifty year old comic strip and film serial and probably wasn't familiar to younger audiences of the early 1980's?

[@thewkovacs316]

nah..20 to 30 somethings knew about flash gordon...the movie simply sucked but the soundtrack was great

[@wtk6069]

A cartoon version (played straight) was wildly successful on Saturday mornings for the two years prior to this. And I still remember the Whitman Flash Gordon comic books from around that time, so kids knew who Flash Gordon was. Part of the failure was that kids wanted a straight adaptation more in keeping with the popular cartoon series and Star Wars. Even at nine, I felt this movie was a disappointment.

[@thewkovacs316]

@@wtk6069 exactly additionally, the buster keaton serial was packaged around to independent stations who played them either on saturday mornings or on night time horror movie shows that were really popular with kids

[@viceverser6985]

@@thewkovacs316 Just because a movie isn't an IMEDIATE BLOCKBUSTER doesn't mean that it "sucks". Some films aren't IINSTANT hits upon their INITIAL RELEASE but DEVELOPE an audience OVER TIME - they SNOWBALL in popularity, and THIS flick is an example of such a case. As for the soundtrack, well I'm not a Queen nut, but I thought their music did suit the flick well.

[@thewkovacs316]

@@viceverser6985 the movie bombed because it was camp and audiences were tired of comics being treated as camp

[@SeeminglyOdd]

I'm glad you followed the internet rule of having *BRIAN BLESSED's* name take up most of the screen.

[@ourladyofguadalupebotanica6732]

Awesome movie. Just like the Batman series, you had an overly evil villain played by a well-accomplished actor. Throw in an amazing soundtrack and a lot of over-the-top silliness. Just entertaining beyond belief.

[@carlrood4457]

It's just fun. It even looks like the cast is mostly having fun. They knew what they were making and just went with it.

[@caloss2]

Great piece on this movie; any possibility of "LifeForce" 1985 in the future ?

[@StamFine]

It's possible. Maybe not for a while, but possible.

[@carlrood4457]

I read that BRIAN BLESSED was a Flash Gordon fan as a child used to play as Vultan. It's really the role he was born for. He looks just like the comic strip character

[@tubewatcher77]

Lex Luthor, would have accepted Mings offer.

[@mikeb8674]

*BRIAN BLESSED* absolutely cracked me up

[@StamFine]

GORDON'S ALIVE!

[@RobertWilke]

Blessed is one of the reasons this film is still enjoyable today. When he says DIVE! i'm like YES! One thing with Dalton playing the prince . For the longest time every time I see him in this I think he could have played Tony Stark to a Tee. Then I see him in the Rocketeer and i am like Yep that's Tony. Too bad they couldn't have made that in the 90's.

[@JnEricsonx]

@@StamFine He made that joke a few times on some British news/comedy show. I LOVED IT.

[@ianfindly3257]

My favorite part with HIM was when he TRIPPED the charging goon during the "tribute ceremony".

[@probablynotmyname8521]

The funniest thing is that you think blessed has an outdoor voice… its just his voice.

[@gakabler]

I saw this movie in late summer of 1981. Not even 5 minutes into the movie and I whispered to my friends that I was with that this has to be the next "Rocky Horror Picture Show". And I meant it as a compliment.

[@nunyabizness6595]

The great Max von Sydow. Totally wasted in The Force Awakens.

[@gommechops]

It is a really good retelling of an original, it looks right, it feels right, it doesn't try and hide what it's roots were and it's updates are done in the spirit of the original. It will continue to age really well.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

My goodness your experience was different than mine! The movie completely bombed in the United States. Coincidentally I took my first ever date to see it. That's right my first date was Flash Gordon. The theater was half filled, nobody laughed, some people wandered out, a lot of people groaned in annoyance, nobody enjoyed it. I was embarrassed by it. My date tolerated it out of politeness, but needless to say I did not get any face that night. First date, no kissing, fail. Flash Gordon may have save the world, but he wrecked my love life in eighth grade

[@GlennDavey]

Ohhhh buddy that was a good thing. The movie is not supposed to be good on a date night. It's SUPPOSED to be a fun horror or cheesy action and you were supposed to laugh at it with her and throw popcorn at the screen and boo and laugh and then make out together in the cinemas. You chose the correct movie, you just didn't make the moves. No wonder she was disappointed. She was bored AND thought you didn't like her.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

@@GlennDavey It wasn't marketed as such. It was being portrayed as every bit as serious as Star Wars in the trailers, commercials, and SF mags that I was subscribed to. There was no hint that it was supposed to be a cheezy campy romp, and honestly if that was its intent (To be honest, I'm not sure what they wanted to be) a lot of people walked out. But even if they had telegraphed that, I'm sure I would have missed it. I was barely 13, and the whole prospect was terrifying. Not that I don't appreciate you armchair quarterbacking something that happened 42 years ago, of course. :)

[@GlennDavey]

@@mahatmarandy5977 okay mahatma, you’re a lothario and the movie was responsible for your bad date. In fact nothing your life has been your fault

[@mahatmarandy5977]

@@GlennDavey You're oddly adversarial for a total stranger. I was just telling a funny story from when I was a dumb kid, because all first date stories are kinda funny, and you're turning it into a weirdly sarcastic personal attack. I don't know why you'd do that, I've got absolutely nothing against you, and I don't think I've ever spoken to you before now. Please stop.

[@GlennDavey]

@@mahatmarandy5977 I don't even know you. I was making a joke. Why are you reacting like this? Very strange. People on the internet are all bullies! Waaaa

[@JohnCollins]

"This Ming is a psycho" Flash knows how to deal with those....Hit them head on.

[@mikwhiting938]

One of my favourite couple of minutes in cinema is when the hawkmen attack the war-rocket. The Queen music rocks! :D

[@christopherfisher128]

This movie was made when actors tried their best doing their craft, even knowing it wasn't a leading role or a "serious" movie. I hate to sound like an old man but the word is, Integrity. The world could use more people with some.

[@duncancurtis1758]

This vs Popeye 1980. Well we know! Flash saved the Universe then appeared in Ted.

[@jimkutsko4265]

My experience of seeing Flash in the movie theater was the exact opposite of yours. It was literally my dad and me as the only people in the theater (it bombed in the US). I loved this movie from the first time I saw it, thank you for the retrospective as I now have to see it again!

[@carlrood4457]

Bland main character and love interest backed by a stellar supporting cast hamming it up like nobody's business and a kickass theme song by a legendary band

[@pathatfield2543]

Yeah,you did right by ignoring that SyFy channel Flash Gordon series.

[@coasterblocks3420]

It’s high camp and I love it! Like crossing an Art Deco nightmare with a Mardi Gras parade. Over the top flashy skinfest fabulousness! In the very first scene, Flash is reading the newspaper upside down.

[@oobrocks]

The best movie inwhich both leads a can't act 😆. A cheesy masterwork!

[@Grim2]

Filmation's animated movie, Greatest Adventure of All, is far more faithful to comic strip than this.

[@GeorgeEugeneBarrett]

Princess Aura helped kickstart my puberty.

[@DKGCustom]

Interesting that Leia's outfit in Jabba's throne room sequence is a similar to Dales skimpy outfit. Stealing from Flash Gordon again, George?

[@JnEricsonx]

Well, George was originally trying to make a Flash Gordon movie. But he couldn't get rights, so we know what happened next.

[@Grim2]

6:50 - There's an HBO cut with a different voice from start to finish which some say is Sam's voice.

[@johnzeszut3170]

I enjoyed the film and while Flash was not Buster Crabbe he did a pretty good job. But of all characters - from old and the new film - Ming had the best lines!

[@RobertWilke]

Plus the Fact that you can see he's enjoying playing the part just sells it even more.

[@DeusImperium]

Oddly enough, my dad took me to see this and Popeye on the same night.

[@dovit7922]

They're BOTH based on comic strip characters.

[@paulgregory1364]

Queens first Biopic!!!

[@onastick2411]

Touches like, "Long live Flash, you've saved your earth, have a nice day", are what make this film.

[@barbaramcgee8933]

I went and saw this movie every weekend that it was at my local theater. I think I saw it 13 times. Then I rented it a million times because my mom said it was too expensive to buy it, for you younger folks a vhs movie cost $100 or more in early 80s money, I'm sure she spent more than that on rentals. I still love it and watch it every couple of years. Last time I watched it, I watched it twice back to back. It's got a special, special place in my heart.

[@GlennDavey]

@@fiachramacaodha1260 The neighbour kids had a tape of Return of the Jedi and during a street party in 1985 they had it playing and I must have wandered into their house and watched it for a while, I must have been like 3 years old. But distinctly remember the bikes speeding through the forest, and the "talking teddy bears". Didn't watch the movie for real until like 20 years later, but I remember the kids rewinding it to watch a part again and thinking you could control TV like that until we got a VCR ourselves and understood that it was a tape they were watching. It's the only one of the original Star Wars movies I can say I have a memory of from the time just after it came out, otherwise I was too young.

[@papslap6495]

I love your reviews? Why so few views? They are far superior to many so called 'established' critics Ant p uk Teacher

[@gakabler]

Also, does no one notice Brian Blessed's line "Who wants to live forever?" is a direct callback to Highlander, the other movie that Queen did the soundtrack to?

[@tintomara6209]

Flash Gordon was before Highlander...

[@ajctrading]

Brian came from the future bringing news of the highlander...

[@SJKPJR007]

"It's not a great film but it's a damn good time!". Accurately and succinctly put. Quality review as always.

[@haroldmaud9107]

Well why can't FG be a great flick? WHAT does a movie need to be considered "great" that FG lacks?

[@martinhavelock5106]

Soundtrack by Queen, the gorgeous Melody Anderson, the best James Bond ever, Brian Blessed shouting, Max Von Sydow being culturally inappropriate etc, how can anybody not love this film?

[@davidleebls1874]

I saw the Flesh Gordon on Revere Beach in 1974... Funny story... Movie + How it Happened!

[@adbarrnz]

There's no way David Lynch didn't watch this film in 1984 and think to himself "Yeah, if I drop the colors down about 90%, this aesthetic will totally work for Dune".

[@angelomicciche3044]

1. If Lucas got the rights to Flash Gordon, there would be no Jedi religion. 2. Went to a screening with a intro interview with the Director, Mike Hodges. I turned up early and the theatre staff thought I was him! Indignantly, I said I wasn’t born when he directed Get Carter. The theatre was full of film students who found the film via Ted and wanted to sneer at it. Noticeably, they sneered on the other side of their faces whenever the great Max Von Sydow haunted the screen as Ming The Merciless. 3. There are nice little off-screen tit-bits in Brian Blessed’s autobiography, Absolute Pandemonium. 4. Still can’t say Dino De Laurentis without effecting a cod, Kenny Everett accent. 5. Queen rocks!

[@heatherqualy9143]

I loved this movie as a kid. Then I watched it as an adult. What the f…..? Obviously, not many choices for a sci-if nerd-kid like me. I would watch anything. These days, I enjoy the incredible music and skip the film. Thank you, Queen.

[@joycliffe266]

It's gloriously kitschy. Max Von Sydow and Brian Blessed chew the colourful scenery. Timothy Dalton is deliciously haughty. Ornella Muti and Melanie Anderson appear to be a little subversive in their traditional femme fatale and damsel in distress roles. To top it all off, there's Queen's iconic soundtrack. Too much visual overload to watch regularly but a tasty treat once in a while, to lift your mood when you're feeling blue.

[@beatrixwickson8477]

The moment you said Condorman I knew I would never be happy until you do a review of it!

[@doctorlolchicken7478]

One of my favorite films due to the cast, the costumes, the set design and the score. It’s like one of those old sci fi serializations just in color, and it’s so tongue in cheek that people don’t even notice it.

[@haroldmaud9107]

Well why can't FG be a great flick? WHAT does a movie need to be considered "great" that FG lacks?

[@fatdog1963rb]

Watched this in release I love it. Helped that Queen did music big fan! Brian Blessed's only voice as seen with grampy rabbit (peppa pig) enjoyed it a lot.

[@Ghastly10]

Love the movie and the best thing about Flash Gordon, is that it came from a time when studio execs weren't scared to take a gamble on a film. The other great thing apart from the cinematography was the movies awesome soundtrack.

[@daveroche6522]

Thought this film was complete drivel when I first saw it, now think it's brilliant, for ALL the right wrong reasons....

[@ivane5110]

I liked this movie when fine enough when it came out, despite it not being quite the actual Flash Gordon I was hoping. But I really liked Dalton and hoped they'd use him in a Robin Hood movie. Though we sort of got that when he played an Erryol Flynn analog in the Rocketeer.

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

It was wise i thought at the time to go for the same...look/production design as the old republican B&W installments version rather than copping out to look like STAR WARS as other tv & big screen Sci fi did at that time, they clearly wanted a fun romp that didnt take itself too seriously, which is why it worked so well and still does, I thought that the use of Queen's music worked well as an original alternative to

[@KJ-of6lf]

Campy and fun, gorgeous girls, and Topol (Tevyev from Fiddler on the roof) slumming it.

[@fw1421]

I saw this in the theatre back in the day,thought it was so hokey but Melody Anderson was soooooo hot. Now I find it nostalgic. And this was before Timothy Dalton became James Bond.

[@mrrolandlawrence]

the soundtrack! and queen were not even the 1st choice!!!! what stroke of luck. ming actor max von sydow said also it was the most fun he had making a film in his life. also the voice of flash is not flash, he was dubbed over by another who is still unknown. "gordons alive" - brian blessed was awesome.

[@chrisperrien7055]

If you get a chance to see Sam Jones at a sci-fi convention, do so. He is down to earth and funny , tells some good stories about his life as a Former Soldier , VIP Body-Guard and Actor.

[@Shindai]

That's pretty much my opinion of it, it's not noe of the greats as movies go, but you can put it on and have a good time for a bit, which in my humble opinion is all a movie needs to do to earn a good review from me. I haven't seen it in so long, I had no idea Tim Dalton was in it, he'd go on to play James Bond within I think six or seven years after making THIS lol fair play to him, the man has range :D

[@hanniffydinn6019]

He’s amazing fun in hot fuzz! 😎😎

[@pheonix5597]

WHAT makes a movie "great" in your mind?

[@Shindai]

@@pheonix5597 tbh I dunno. I guess what makes a film one of the greats would be quality, and basically whether enough people think it's a great lol. I didn't mean to sound snobby in my phrasing. What I mean is it's unlikely to be held in such esteem as the likes of Lord of the Rings (even though I find one far more entertaining than the other, and I'll let you guess xD) for whatever reason they stand out. For sake of example, I hold up A Matter of Life and Death as one of the greats because I'm particularly impressed with the idea of how the afterlife works, the concept was unique to me, and it really had an emotional core that drives things forward. I think it taps into something we can all relate to quite profoundly and makes us ask questions like what the afterlife is like or whether we'd also act as characters do in their position, as death is a universal experience. Momento mori, and all that. When it ends, it takes some time to recover. To me, that makes it one of the great films. Though it's liked well enough, I don't know how many others would agree. I realise that's a bit pretentious and meandering but while I was typing away the weed hit and movies are my favourite thing, so I apologise for going off. And I hope if you like the sound of it you check out A Matter of Life and Death and let me know what you think if you want, see if you agree it could be one of the Greats. Whatever that means :D

[@davidcopplestone6266]

Topol was in "For Your Eyes Only" the following year.

[@kirkhonore]

I was a young 20 something when it came out and I enjoyed it immensely. It was campy, over the top and was the right amount of 80's neon, and I loved every minute of it.

[@goliathsparrow1082]

My only gripe is you didnt give a shout out to that evil lady with the thick accent- General kala (yes I googled i)- she was awesome in it too

[@StamFine]

What do you mean, Flash Gordon approaching?

[@juanpablonicolasgiancola4042]

Ornella mutti e Mariangela melato from Italia....

[@mikwhiting938]

You can only invite 1 to dinner - Ornella Muti, Erin Gray, Farah Fawcett or Carrie Fisher. Go! :)

[@garykelley9027]

OMG, if I could thumbs up twice for the Condor Man name drop...

[@KidFresh71]

My favorite "bad movie" of all time.

[@pheonix5597]

I wouldn't call THIS movie "bad", its just OFFBEAT.

[@brettb.345]

Only good things about the movie are Brian Blessed and the soundtrack.

[@reb3102]

I'm old enough to have seen it during the original theater run. Loved it then, still love it. One of my buddies brought his kids and we watched it recently. The kids loved it too.

[@toddnolastname4485]

It's been a long time since I've watched this. Most likely the 80s. The SyFy network's Flash was decent. Except Flash and Dale had been a couple who broke up because she cheated on him. And Flash was called that because he was a sprinter. Because Eric whatsisname (previously of Smallville) wasn't buff. He was fit, but he wasn't big.

[@tremorist]

Rumour has it that it was one of Elizabeth II. fave movies.

[@JayLangly]

Yep. Saw this when I was 12 in '80. Definitely a weird one.

[@will-ob7pr]

There were a lot of good looking women in it. The costumes and sets themselves were really pretty damn good if you think about it. Sometimes when its not supposed to be super serious that ages really well.

[@workonesabs]

I watched Flash at the Cinema when it first came out in the 80s. My parents used to take me to the cinema. Long time ago...

[@tmr4342]

You're mistaken that's B.B's indoor voice, lol.

[@angelomicciche3044]

Stam, was Clive James your guru? This is meant as a compliment.

[@Milnoc]

This is the movie I watch when I want to kill a couple of hours and empty my mind of all sense of logic. 😁

[@davidleebls1874]

I LUV THIS movie*

[@nobilismaximus]

First movie I saw at the cinema and its fucking camp cheesy awesomeness!!

[@DavidFraser007]

We all went to see the film because of the music. But the film was garbage. When he said, My name's Flash, everybody laughed. I think because it's a toilet cleaner.

[@haroldmaud9107]

What do yo mean "We all"? How about JUST SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF a-hole?

[@DavidFraser007]

@@haroldmaud9107 We all , in normal English, means me and a big group of friends. Most people would understand that, you obviously didn't. You decided to be bossy and rude.