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- 1980
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
- 1980
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
Summary Emperor Ming of planet Mongo is bored, and the only thing that seems to appease his ennui is to slowly destroy that celestial trifle known as Earth-- bombarding his new plaything with hailstorms and earthquakes. While Earth’s inhabitants scramble to understand what is happening to their planet, Dr. Hans Zarkov figures out the space coor...
Directed By: Mike Hodges
Written By: Lorenzo Semple Jr., Michael Allin, Alex Raymond
- 1980
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
- 1980
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
Flash Gordon
58
6.8
Where to Watch
Summary Emperor Ming of planet Mongo is bored, and the only thing that seems to appease his ennui is to slowly destroy that celestial trifle known as Earth-- bombarding his new plaything with hailstorms and earthquakes. While Earth’s inhabitants scramble to understand what is happening to their planet, Dr. Hans Zarkov figures out the space coor...
Directed By: Mike Hodges
Written By: Lorenzo Semple Jr., Michael Allin, Alex Raymond
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
58
54% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
31% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
15% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
58
54% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
31% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
15% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Like the original, Flash Gordon has nothing on its mind but moving its jet-propelled plot from one fairy-tale setting to the next. It's nice to see a movie accomplish exactly what it sets out to do, with wit and spirit to boot. [08 Dec 1980, p.105]
Flash Gordon is played for laughs, and wisely so. It is no more sophisticated than the comic strip it's based on, and that takes the curse off of material that was old before it was born. Is all of this ridiculous? Of course. Is it fun? Yeah, sort of, it is.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 50 User Ratings
6.8
62% Positive
31 Ratings
31 Ratings
26% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
12% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 50 User Ratings
6.8
62% Positive
31 Ratings
31 Ratings
26% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
12% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Like sweet and sour or hot and cold, this movie contrasts good and bad in a delicious movie watching experience. Queen soundtrack blaring, a budget that when at least 50% it costumes, and the majority of that to headgear, it's a unique formula for movie immortality. We watched this movie over and over growing up because it was awesome. It's still awesome. Grab a beer and enjoy.
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Max von Sydow is flawless as Ming, playing him with the perfect blend of malevolence and evil glee.
The frantic pleasures of this film add up to what used to be considered good fun; good Saturday morning fun; good Saturday morning fun to eat pancakes and pour maple syrup by; good fun that, once the day begins, is good fun soon forgotten. It's a pity Flash Gordon can't be screened at the breakfast table. [6 Dec 1980, p.E7]
The expensive new version of Flash Gordon is a lot more gaudy, and just as dumb, as the original series starring Buster Crabbe. Sam J. Jones in the title role has even less thespic range than Crabbe, but the badness of his performance is part of the fun of the film. Jones, a former Playgirl nude centerfold whose only previous film role was the husband of Bo Derek in 10, lumbers vacantly through the part of Flash Gordon with the naivete, fearlessness, and dopey line readings familiar from the 1930s serials. Film benefits greatly from the adroit performance of Max von Sydow as Emperor Ming.
The only good thing about this would-be camp version of the classic 1936 serial is the impressive production design by Danilo Donati.
The best things in the production are the garishly absurd sets. The costumes, including the gold lame athletic supporters worn by the members of Ming's palace guard, suggest an adolescent's fever dream. The pacing is so funereal that this Flash Gordon seems far longer and far less funny that the 15-chapter serial, Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938), which starred Buster Crabbe. [05 Dec 1980, p.C8]
Wow this is a film i suppose it is supposed to be a comedy of sorts but some of the scenes did not age well with some scenes feeling rather "****" that feels oddly dark in a comedy with such vivid colours and campy nature. That being said it is enjoyable with a killer sound track and Brian Blessed's character being a standout which isn't saying much as the acting from everyone else is comparable to porno acting.
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Flash Gordon is a paradoxical film: its highly popular, despite being a movie without any quality. The script borders on the absurd, based on the trip of a American football star to planet Mongo, where he have to fight the perfidious Emperor Ming. There, he can count on the help of the tyrant's daughter, her lover and a local chief, Vultan. Basically, forget all that's logical, this film is pure entertainment and fantasy.
The cast is headed by Sam J. Jones, who gives life to the muscular hero, Flash. His antagonist, Emperor Ming the Merciless, is embodied by Max von Sydow. Melody Anderson lends his body to Dale Arden, Haim Topol plays the mad scientist Dr. Zarkov, Ornella Muti gives life to Aura, the sexy daughter of the emperor and Timothy Dalton (yes, the future Mr. Bond No. 4 in person) gave life the Barin, her lover. Most of the cast did very unhappy and really bad performances. The dialogues are ridiculous to the point of making us laugh. Max von Sydow, undoubtedly the best actor of the cast, is the exception. He made a very good, regular and appropriate performance, given the circumstances and the ridiculous character who fell to interpret, which is only a caricature of a Chinese emperor.
Finally, one word for the special effects, absolutely pathetic. Not for a moment seem realistic. I think maybe the intention was never to give them realism. The scenarios are so great that seem absurd and so does the costumes. "Men with wings" are the most ridiculous things I've ever seen on film to date. The best of this film is undoubtedly the original soundtrack, played by Queen, still relying on the legendary Freddy Mercury.
So, anyone can think: how can this Z movie has so many followers? I think that, for these people, quality does not matter. What matters is the film is fun and works, basically, like a comedy. And this allow it a space in the history of cinema.
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Production Company
Starling Films,
Famous Films (II),
Dino De Laurentiis Company
Release Date Dec 5, 1980
Duration 1 h 51 m
Rating PG
Tagline He'll save every one of us!!
Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 4 Nominations
BAFTA Awards
• 3 Nominations
Jupiter Award
• 3 Nominations
