Flash Gordon (1980) ****
Flash Gordon (1980) never gets old. It's so much damn fun. It's pure entertainment. It just works.
Producer Dino De Laurentiis basically transports his earlier hit Barbarella (1968) into the ‘80s (with a bit less sensuality) while retaining some of the comic book style of the original FG ‘30s strips. The tone of the FG film is high camp and a lot of the f/x are laughable but the production design/sets are incredible and the costumes are fantastic and flamboyant. Not to mention the soundtrack by Queen kicks ass (and just you try not to respond with "Ah-ahhh!" when someone sings "Flash!").
Max Von Sydow is super sinister and maniacal as Emperor Ming The Merciless. Though there is undoubtedly a negative "Yellow Peril" Chinese stereotype to his appearance, I personally find that it ends there, so I have less of a problem with the portrayal than some might. A pre-Bond Timothy Dalton does his best Errol Flynn as the dashing and headstrong Prince Barin. And has an actor ever been hammier than Brian Blessed as the hawkman Prince Vultan in this movie? ("Gordon's alive??", "DIVE!!")
The women’s roles aren't terrible either (considering how much worse they tend to be in films of this ilk). Granted there's a damsel in distress quality to the Dale Arden character but there are some scenes where she gets to kick some bad guy butt and Melody Anderson certainly gives her all in the role. Ornella Muti is a sexpot as Princess Aura but she also plays a central part in the fates of all the characters. And I've always been a big fan of Mariangela Melato's harsh but sexy villainess Kala, who derives her pleasure from the torture of others.
In summation, Flash Gordon is to me a near perfect blend of humor, action, and adventure.
Producer Dino De Laurentiis basically transports his earlier hit Barbarella (1968) into the ‘80s (with a bit less sensuality) while retaining some of the comic book style of the original FG ‘30s strips. The tone of the FG film is high camp and a lot of the f/x are laughable but the production design/sets are incredible and the costumes are fantastic and flamboyant. Not to mention the soundtrack by Queen kicks ass (and just you try not to respond with "Ah-ahhh!" when someone sings "Flash!").
Max Von Sydow is super sinister and maniacal as Emperor Ming The Merciless. Though there is undoubtedly a negative "Yellow Peril" Chinese stereotype to his appearance, I personally find that it ends there, so I have less of a problem with the portrayal than some might. A pre-Bond Timothy Dalton does his best Errol Flynn as the dashing and headstrong Prince Barin. And has an actor ever been hammier than Brian Blessed as the hawkman Prince Vultan in this movie? ("Gordon's alive??", "DIVE!!")
The women’s roles aren't terrible either (considering how much worse they tend to be in films of this ilk). Granted there's a damsel in distress quality to the Dale Arden character but there are some scenes where she gets to kick some bad guy butt and Melody Anderson certainly gives her all in the role. Ornella Muti is a sexpot as Princess Aura but she also plays a central part in the fates of all the characters. And I've always been a big fan of Mariangela Melato's harsh but sexy villainess Kala, who derives her pleasure from the torture of others.
In summation, Flash Gordon is to me a near perfect blend of humor, action, and adventure.
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