View Full Version : HCR Rates The Movies #7: FLASH GORDON
So, our next film, Classic or Crud, Hit or Miss, what say you ALL?
Our next film open for discussion, and ultimately an Overall RATING by you all:
FLASH GORDON
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Let the discussions flow. Likes, dislikes, classic film or overhyped trash, and DONT FORGET to place an Overall Rating when youre done.
Its easy, just give a Rating from 1 (Jaws 4:The Revenge) to 10 (Jaws), and thats it. Course I'd love to have you all give reasons as to why you feel it deserves this Overall Rating, and more than encourage discussions with us all about them.
So, what say you all?
Next Film: ??????
FLASH....Ahhhhhh (Oh come now, surely you know were all going to start our posts like that)
Hmmmm, interesting film this one. I remember seeing this as a kid and so much looking forward to seeing this in the theatres. Unfortunately, that didnt happen, but I did see this on cable (at a relatives house, as I didnt have cable til many years later), and enjoying it very much......but then I was very young then.
Seeing it several times in the many years since I realize there are definately things I enjoy about the film (the Music (Queen Rocks), the Villain (Max Von Sydow was very cool as Ming), and the basic idea of several lesser forces banding together to take down the tyranical overlord), but there are probably at least as many things about the film I dont like (horrible dialogue and performances many of the characters, the dopey special effects (to think this cost more than Star Wars and came out years later)etc.
All in all, a fun cult film to see, and it has its moments of coolness, but mixed within are also its moments of stupidity.
In the end Ill give it a 7 / 10 (and Im probably being a bit generous as Im a Sci Fi fan).
Diablo4485
10/02/2005, 21:51
Flash! AAAHaaaaaaaaah!
Wonderfully cheesy piece of celluloid. You kinda have to be a sci-fi fan to appreciate it, but it's just one great big guilty pleasure for the initiated. And when you've got a soundtrack done entirely by Queen it's nigh impossible to complain. Good solid 7/10 from me.
Maniac_nmt
10/02/2005, 23:03
I love this film, as it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Translate the strip into film. It covers the look and feel of the classic Flash Gordon strips.
Is it cheesy? You betcha. Is it campy? Oh yes.
The rockets look like they're right out of a classic Flash strip. Voltan is his gruffy self, Aura is her there in all her skanky goodness. Dale is the often naive wholesome girlfriend, Zarkov is his strangely out there braniac self, Ming is cruel and ruthless, and Flash is the do-good all American never fails hero.
Flash Gordon is responsible for modern sci-fi as we know it, heck for many science inventions we take for granted.
There are many films which surpass it's special effects, many which offer better acting, but they are few and far between that match it's ability to capture it's subject matter.
I give it a 8.0/10, I have it and the sound track. It's not a film for everyone, but if you liked Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, you'll probably like Flash Gordon.
Inbetweener
10/03/2005, 13:12
Here is where Inbetweener gets flamed.
Flash Gordon is poorly written, poorly acted and its special effects, even for it’s time, were sub-par. It is cheesy and people say its meant to be that way (is it?), however, you can’t help but think that in a historical context, this was another Black Hole or Battlestar Gallactica, a Star Wars wannabe that was just looking to cash in. Plenty of good movies have been made that directly follow the success of other films, but none seem to go as poorly as in the sci-fi genre. Riddled with nasty bloopers and oversights, Flash Gordon is by no means an exception to this rule. Flash Gordon is not only cheesy for it’s time, it’s timelessly cheesy. It’s cheese is immortal. Besides, I would never give a movie a 10 rating (or even an 8) when it’s cheesy. If I’m laughing at a movie that isn’t supposed to be funny, it’s a bad movie. I’ve never bought into the idea that a movie is so bad, it’s funny...and therefore good. If I did, Mac and Me would be in my top ten along with Plan 9 From Outer Space. There is an entire genre of films dedicated to being funny and Flash Gordon does not fall into that genre…it falls into the sci-fi sub-genre of “the sci-fi movies that are cheesy” also known as “the sci-fi movies that suck.” Movies are cheesy because production is bad, writers are not talented, actors have nothing to work with or are being misdirected if even directed properly at all. The cast here is pretty bad too, although Max Von Sydow has always been one of my favorites. He does what he can, but I can’t help thinking of Peter O’Toole and John Gielguld in Caligula when I see Von Sydow’s name appear in the credits. There isn’t much good in this movie in my opinion but it could've been worse.
Rating: 4
Currenty HCR Member Rating:
FLASH GORDON - 6.38 / 10
The more the merrier folks, so if youve seen this film, and who hasnt, post your replies here and now.
Wyldstaar
10/03/2005, 19:57
Likes- Any movie with Brian Blessed in it gets an instant boost from him. The unforgettable soundtrack by Queen. The fearlessness on the part of the producer and director to use the old serial style spaceships and such instead of a complete revamp (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century). Great Quotes- "No! Not the bore worms!" or "We are only interested in friendship. Why attack us?" Ming- "Why not?"
Dislikes- The heroes. Flash, Dale and Zarkov are all completely devoid of interest or original thought. The only characters of any real note were the villains and the supporting cast. It tries to find a ballance between being a tribute to the classic serials, a campy spoof, and a modern (for the time) sci-fi action adventure. The result was that they failed to accomplish all three. (This is also why Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was such a disaster.)
Final score- 6/10
Best viewed if you are under the age of 12.
Lots of really good opinions so far, but surely more than 4 of us here have seen this classic, or not so classic, film. Dont be shy, lets hear from you all. :)
hail_eris
10/06/2005, 14:54
Well, it starts with at least a 5, because it's got Riff Raff in it (while Spice World and Dark City also gained points in my book for this, Dungeons and Dragons featured a Wayans - and, unless we're talking about Requiem for a Dream, a Wayans will always get you docked a couple points). Queen soundtrack definitely gets it another point. And Brian Blessed, who's slumming in this movie just as much as Max von Sydow is, earns another point for being a Shakespearean actor who's not ashamed to totally ham it up ("Hawkmen...DIVE!"). I'll give it another half point for being featured on the cover of my favorite issue of Electric Company magazine when I was a kid. I dimly recall that there was a guy who was actually playing the character of Flash, but he added just about nothing (other than that bit at the end when he shouts "Yeah!" after Ming's killer droid ball tells him to have a nice day). And, heck, a quarter point for casting Fiddler on the Roof guy in *anything* other than Fiddler on the Roof.
Final Score: 7.75
Current HCR Member Rating:
FLASH GORDON - 6.54 / 10
Since this is subjective, I'm going to utterly destroy this movies rating; 9.
That's right; a 9. not an 8, nor 3, or even a 6...... 9.
I saw this movie in the theaters, saw it on cable, saw it on a local channel where they edited it to fit into a 1 hour slot and I've watched it every time(well I began watching the 1 hour edit but the editing was too disjointed.)
What does it have?
1) A lot of scantily clad beauties!
2) Driving rocking score!
3) I like the special effects.
4) The dialogue could have come straight out of the comics. a quote;
Princess Aura; "Look! water is leaking from her eyes."
"It's what they call tears. It's a sign of their weakness.", Ming the Merciless.
Ahh good stuff.
Flaws? yeah every movie has flaws...... even Peter Jacksons vaunted Lord of the Rings movies have their detracters. I expect the philistines to not understand Flash Gordon. ;)
charlesx
10/09/2005, 21:52
Unforgettable title song and one of the best lines in space opera when Dale screams out: "Flash! I love you, but we only have 14 hours to save the earth!!!" Give it a hearty 7.5. FLASH! AAAaaaaah! He'll save every one of us!
I'd give it a 3. There are movies that out there that are worse :grin: , but that's still not a badge that any movie should be proud to wear. It was just way too campy for me. I could very much like a stylish movie using old serial rocketships and glossy, old comic book looking "science" and rayguns, but the writing was just bad, and the acting was hammy and over the top. So much so that I can't blame the actors at all; when it's that overdone, it can only come from the director.
(I would agree with Inbetweener on just about everything he posted... except that he had to go and disparage "The Black Hole". :eek: I love that movie!! :classic: It's still not the greatest story ever put to film, but I would definitely watch it over "Flash Gordon". Maximillion would eat Ming the Merciless for breakfast. :laugh: ;) )
hail_eris
10/11/2005, 01:04
(I would agree with Inbetweener on just about everything he posted... except that he had to go and disparage "The Black Hole". :eek: I love that movie!! :classic:
I have the original lobby poster for the Mexican release of that hanging in my apartment. It's Spanish title is "El Abismo Negro" and the pitch line is, "Una odisea que comienza donde todo acaba!" Friend of mine gave it to me for my birthday a few years back. She picked it up from an antique collector in Juarez for some amount that she still refuses to divulge...
Inbetweener
10/11/2005, 09:58
Black Hole gets a solid 6 for me. Just for the record. :)
:laugh: A six is acceptable. :classic:
Current HCR Member Rating:
FLASH GORDON - 6.53 / 10
d_knight7
03/31/2006, 18:14
10/10, it should be lauded for the very decisions that some hate about it, and you can't beat that soundtrack.
"He's playing some kind of primitive game. Match him, like THIS!"
10/10, it should be lauded for the very decisions that some hate about it, and you can't beat that soundtrack.
"He's playing some kind of primitive game. Match him, like THIS!"
Ive been reading your new replies for all of these movies over the past 30 minutes, and THIS is the film you give a Perfect Score to. :confused: :p :laugh: As they say, different strokes. :)
d_knight7
04/02/2006, 03:34
Ive been reading your new replies for all of these movies over ### past 30 minutes, and THIS is ### film you give a Perfect Score to. :confused: :p :laugh: As they say, different strokes. :)
You know that cartoony steam whistlke that went off in your head when you saw my Flash Gordon rating? That's me with your love of Blair Witch ;) Different strokes indeed.
If you're a fan of ### old Flash Gordon/King of ### Rocket men etc serials you'll love Flash Gordon and it's insistance on having that look and style despite ### criticisms, I give them high marks just for being that balsy. Throw in Sydow, Dalton and Brian Blessed and it's a winner in my book. ### Full Queen score written for ### movie just blows ### roof off.
I am proud to have mr. Gordon in my video collection.
"Onward my brave Hawkmen! Let this be known forever as Flash Gordon's Day!"
I am proud to have Mr. Gordon in my video collection.
"Onward my brave Hawkmen! Let this be known forever as Flash Gordon's Day!"
here!here! give that man a drink. :)
krusticlese
04/09/2006, 23:52
"He'll save every one of us! He'll save every one of us! He'll save every man every woman every child, ahhhh Flash!"
My parents taped this one off of HBO back in the day and it was one of the tapes my brother and I watched to death... and then we got into mom's vinyl collection :) Boy she had a bunch of Queen, Beatles and ABBA!
Flash Gordon follows the typical formula of the hero movie and even builds up our Hero to near Christ like invincibility by having him "die" and return to life. Flash is so kick ### that death can't even stop him! Chuck Norris can't even do that! The dialogue may be terrible, but it's no worse than the Star Wars films. And any film where you can have an average Joe (or pro NFL player in this case) overcome the greatest odds, unite and liberate an entire system of planets from a tyranicial ruler, and save every one of us has got to leave you with a good feeling.
And who was that mysterious figure that picked up Ming's ring? ;)
By staying true to it's roots, Flash Gordon accomplished what no film up that point had done and created as close to a true adaptation of a comic book as was possible, camp included. Only since, has prehaps Sin City excelled in this goal by having a near perfect adaptation of the source material.
While my opinion of this film may fall in the same subjective realm as Mjolnir, I still have the greatest memories of my brother and I piling up the pillows from the couch onto the floor and jumping off while screaming "SECOND WAVE! DIVE!!!!!!" in our best Prince Vultan voice. Even after getting the movie for myself several years ago, and viewing it for the first time in nearly 15 years it still holds up as a fine film that keeps the action going through the entire story. I've seen many, many other films that struggle just to keep your attention throughout the entire film.
Funny thing is that this movie scored higher for me after I discovered Richard O'Brien was in it, the same as hail_eris (even though I had grown up on it). But I'd still give Shock Treatment at least a 7.5 for the same reason, and that was terrible, save for the catchy songs.
Final rating: 9.0.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for nostalgic camp. :)
coyotejack
04/17/2006, 16:55
Thankfully I don't have to rate this movie on Sam Jones acting...he's ranked right up there with Reb Brown as they have the uncanny ability to make a hero look and sound about as dumb as a rock.
However, the movie has camp. There are to camp...errr...camps. There is the "good" camp, such as Flash Gordon and there is "bad" camp such as Showgirls. It's campy but somehow magnetic. You can't look away.
The characters are great, particularly the villains and the "fence-sitters" (those that could have gone either way) such as the Hawkmen, etc...
For as bad as Sam Jones is, Max von Sydow, Brian Blessed, and Timothy Dalton are great.
And then you have Ornella. Ornella should be in every movie ever made from now on and those that do not abide by this law should be arrested immediately. Even movies that have already been made should have her...just digitize her in there. Period.
I give it a nice big: 9/10
d_knight7
04/17/2006, 17:02
And then you have Ornella. Ornella should be in every movie ever made from now on and those that do not abide by this law should be arrested immediately. Even movies that have already been made should have her...just digitize her in there. Period.
I think the Europeans agreed with you, the woman has played 97 different roles in 25 years according to IMDB!.
The best compliment I can give her is she is the ONLY woman I have EVER seen who can pull off wearing skin tight lycra pants. She makes a fashion impossibility reality.
coyotejack
04/17/2006, 17:37
The best compliment I can give her is she is the ONLY woman I have EVER seen who can pull off wearing skin tight lycra pants. She makes a fashion impossibility reality.
:) :grin: :)
Great movie for its time.
7.0
jimthegray
03/19/2007, 17:29
I remember my brother and I in line at 2 diffrent theaters, the 1st one sold out so we has to walk a mile to a second showing, it was a blast I still love that movie.
Me I give it a frackin 10
HAWK MEN DIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rokk_Krinn
03/20/2007, 14:45
... and then we got into mom's vinyl collection :) Boy she had a bunch of Queen, Beatles and ABBA!
Er, sorry...I think you may have accidentally found my record collection. :)
I still think it's a crime that in a world where we can CG 300 Spartans fighting millions of Persians we can't have Brian Blessed's Prince Vultan teamed with John Rhys-Davies' Gimli.
I think you may have accidentally found my record collection.
:nervous: heh heh, obviously. :noid:
Is there such a rule?
I'm afraid there is Highness....
What a dam nuisance!
:cheeky:
Wyldstaar
04/29/2007, 17:59
Flash Gordon returns to DVD! (http://www.alexrossart.com/rossreport.asp?id=311)
Rokk_Krinn
04/30/2007, 18:40
Flash Gordon returns to DVD! (http://www.alexrossart.com/rossreport.asp?id=311)
Whoo-hoo! Now if I want to enjoy the pure fun cheese of "Flash Gordon" I don't have to break down and shell out $80's to some guy on E-Bay (you have no idea how many times I've wrestled with that decision).
I still want my Special Features that teams Prince Vultan and Gimli though. :cool:
So, my original DVD now becomes a collectible, huh?
hmmm, how could I punch it up for sale on eBay?
Original MIB Flash Gordon with Queen soundtrack. 1st edition. True Flash Gordon fans need this dvd. Fantastic visuals, Ming the Merciless' cunning, conniving cruelty? Who can forget the exotic Princess Aura? Timothy Dalton in his most demanding role! Way before his roles in the Kevin Costner Robin Hood movie and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Brian Blessed was Vultan! King of the Hawkpeople!!!
Own it now for Buy it now price of $79.99 with s/h of $20 for special extra-care packaging and delivery confirmation.
Think it'd work?
Wyldstaar
05/02/2007, 21:43
If you're wanting to sell it, I'd do so as quickly as possible. If you wait too long, word of the new edition will get around and you won't be able to sell it at a profit.
Rokk_Krinn
05/02/2007, 21:48
The old edition already -is- a collectable based upon my attempts to find it. :ermm:
petenbailey9
05/03/2007, 15:52
Saw it a drive in theater sooooooo many years ago and the opening credits accompanied by the theme music was captivating to this 12 year old. I'd give it a solid 8.5!
The end?
Rokk_Krinn
05/03/2007, 16:11
Speaking of Flash - this August we get a new tv series of "Flash Gordon" on the Sci-Fi Channel. Whoo-hoo!
VelvetGuru9
05/03/2007, 18:58
I liked it, but I can't say it was any great shakes. 7.25
iameleveneight
10/01/2007, 17:24
8/10 Yeah its a weak movie, but I think it stays true to the cheesy heart of what Flash Gordon is. I enjoy watching it for what it is.
BTW the new series on scifi is HORRIBLE!!
wintremute
03/27/2009, 02:03
I love this film, as it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Translate the strip into film. It covers the look and feel of the classic Flash Gordon strips.
Is it cheesy? You betcha. Is it campy? Oh yes.
The rockets look like they're right out of a classic Flash strip. Voltan is his gruffy self, Aura is her there in all her skanky goodness. Dale is the often naive wholesome girlfriend, Zarkov is his strangely out there braniac self, Ming is cruel and ruthless, and Flash is the do-good all American never fails hero.
Flash Gordon is responsible for modern sci-fi as we know it, heck for many science inventions we take for granted.
There are many films which surpass it's special effects, many which offer better acting, but they are few and far between that match it's ability to capture it's subject matter.
I give it a 8.0/10, I have it and the sound track. It's not a film for everyone, but if you liked Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, you'll probably like Flash Gordon.
I'm pretty much on board with this line of thought. It's a silly movie that's meant to be silly. I'm still entertained. 7 out of 10.
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