Does anyone enjoy this Cult Classic as much as I? What are your thoughts on this cinematic novelty?
1980 Flash Gordon Film
- Thread starter 2takesfrakes
- Start date
As a boy, I saw it in the theater in the summer of 1980 and enjoyed it. 
The only shortcoming was that I liked the production design of Filmation's Flash Gordon 1979 animated Saturday morning television series much better, i.e., Ming's Aerial Navy Imperial Flyer spaceships and Ming's Metalmen army designs.
The only shortcoming was that I liked the production design of Filmation's Flash Gordon 1979 animated Saturday morning television series much better, i.e., Ming's Aerial Navy Imperial Flyer spaceships and Ming's Metalmen army designs.
They're certainly ballsier-looking than the droids in STAR WARS: The Phantom Menace! But Ming's minions are still possessed of a certain badassery that's all there own. I love the guy who starts looking in the window of the spaceship, he cracks me up; I don't know why! That's right, inspect that spaceship, you spaceship-inspecting bastard ...
Alex Ross, a comic book Artist, came out with some striking images for this movie's reissue, apparently (he's very talented, though I prefer what I've seen of Alex Raymond's work):
Flash with Sword
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-duBkmT3jl...qHtiwUaNQ/s1600/Flash+Gordon+by+Alex+Ross.jpg
Flash with Dale
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TK0BYNoB...40/Flash+Gordon+&+Dale+Arden+by+Alex+Ross.jpg
Flash with Ming
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1t34YeGU...ash+Gordon+Alex+Ross+C2E2+sketchbook+2010.png
Flash with Sword
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-duBkmT3jl...qHtiwUaNQ/s1600/Flash+Gordon+by+Alex+Ross.jpg
Flash with Dale
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TK0BYNoB...40/Flash+Gordon+&+Dale+Arden+by+Alex+Ross.jpg
Flash with Ming
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1t34YeGU...ash+Gordon+Alex+Ross+C2E2+sketchbook+2010.png
Indeed, it is! And if I ever end up taking flying lessons, I'd want someone like Aura as my flight instructor ...
"Careful, darling! It's very sensitive ... like me."
>>SNORT!!!<<
Lots of great humour in this movie! Like when Baron's fighting Flash and Baron gets the upper hand and Dale shouts out, "... Flash, I LOVE you!!! But we only have 14 hours to save the Earth!" Kind of makes you wonder what goes through this woman's head, sometimes. It's just a fun, fun movie. I wish there were more like this ...
"... To the Death!"
"Careful, darling! It's very sensitive ... like me."
>>SNORT!!!<<Lots of great humour in this movie! Like when Baron's fighting Flash and Baron gets the upper hand and Dale shouts out, "... Flash, I LOVE you!!! But we only have 14 hours to save the Earth!" Kind of makes you wonder what goes through this woman's head, sometimes. It's just a fun, fun movie. I wish there were more like this ...
"... To the Death!"
Saw it in the theater as a kid. Horrible cheese, even back then, but as others have said, so cringingly bad that it makes it sorta good.
I think the only reason the trailer is so long is so you can get a bigger earful of Queen's music, which is as awesome as always.
I had a huge crush for years on Melody Anderson, the actress who plays Dale Arden. Back in the 70's and 80's she popped up on most TV series like Magnum PI and the original BSG.
I think the only reason the trailer is so long is so you can get a bigger earful of Queen's music, which is as awesome as always.
I had a huge crush for years on Melody Anderson, the actress who plays Dale Arden. Back in the 70's and 80's she popped up on most TV series like Magnum PI and the original BSG.
Flash Gordon '80 screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr. was also the showrunner of the first season of Batman '66 (He left the series after writing the feature film). Both projects are deeply stupid and not objectively "good", but are oddly endearing and so fucking fun that it doesn't really matter. Dude knew how to do campy superhero comedies.
Loved it! Had the soundtrack on LP, the large trade-size comic adaptation, the novelization, and the 6-book miniseries by David Hagberg that came out a year or two later and was significantly different but still cool.
Melody Anderson....yeah....see also 'Firewalker'.
Queen: Best non-Trek sci-fi album of all time, in my opinion.
Here ya go:
Melody Anderson....yeah....see also 'Firewalker'.
Queen: Best non-Trek sci-fi album of all time, in my opinion.
Here ya go:
Objectively, it’s not a good film. The acting ranges from wooden (Flash & Dale) to hugely OTT (basically everyone else) with very little in between. The script is not exactly literate and the plot bonkers.
But.
It is a hugely entertaining film and one I always watch every time it comes on TV. The soundtrack is glorious (I’m a huge Queen fan) and the visuals lush and distinctive. And so much of it has become iconic (Gordon’s ALIVE!!!).
I’d take it over many objectively better films any day.
But.
It is a hugely entertaining film and one I always watch every time it comes on TV. The soundtrack is glorious (I’m a huge Queen fan) and the visuals lush and distinctive. And so much of it has become iconic (Gordon’s ALIVE!!!).
I’d take it over many objectively better films any day.
Isn't that the key criteria film for it to be entertaining? I've watched films which are critically acclaimed and not been that entertained and watched critically panned films and been entertained.
Fair point. For example, I watched 2001 and was bored stupid (admittedly a long time ago). Then again, I like the Star Wars prequels, so make what you will of my judgement!
I grabbed the blu-ray out of the WalMart $7.88 bin a year or two ago. I really should watch it. I haven't seen the movie for many many years, and even then it might have been on TV.
And the spoof factor is ramped up to 11. The ludicrous "football fight" scene is so over-the-top, you can't even see the top anymore. And yet, I can't help liking this film in all its silly, cheesy, campy glory.
This question comes up every now and then but I think whether it's "so bad it's good" or just simply fun to watch more people find it entertaining than not.
