**_Go Flash Go!!!_**

One of the least appreciated movies made in my lifetime. Done right after the glory that was _The Empire Strikes Back_ and released to a public that had forgotten who Flash Gordon was or what the 1930's serials with Larry "Buster" Crabbe represented. Although the public was drooling desire for more high tech special effects and serious Space Opera, Flash went in the opposite direction and brought Campy back with a style all his own. This movie PERFECTLY recreated everything that those early B&W serials threw at those screaming kids sitting up in the movie theater balcony. Not to mention that the actor recreations were done as if the drawn characters came to life and leapt out of the funny papers to star on the silver screen. Max von Sydow IS Emperor Ming. Brian Blessed IS Prince Vultan. Sam Jones and Melody Anderson came in as the unknowns they needed to be and stole the show. Topol, as Hans Zarkov, and a young Timothy Dalton (Prince Barin) were at the opposite ends of their careers. Dalton was just starting out and Topol had reached his zenith a decade earlier in Fiddler on the Roof. Both wore the campiness extremely well and embraced their characters with a robust fervor. The soundtrack by Queen is one of the best in movie history. That pounding baseline with Freddie Mercury's unbelievable vocals should have won an academy award. The ONLY downfall to this movie was the fact that it did so poorly at the box office and never received the sequel it hinted at in its ending.

I watched this movie in cinema when I was twelve and I loved every second of it. Over the years I have seen it many, many times and I always enjoyed it. Now I've seen the HD version and it blew me away. The colors are so vibrant, the costumes are so crazy rich in details, I've discovered things I'd never noticed before. This is more than craft, it's art. Sure, you also see flaws in the sets better but that's beside the point and doesn't matter at all. But this movie had a budget of 20m $, which is roughly double that of the first Star Wars, and that was crazy money back then. (all according to imdb)

As for the movie itself: if you think this is cheesy you haven't understood it and you're missing the point. This picks up the tradition of the old serials and they basically hit a homerun. Beside the looks you have one of the most memorable soundtracks done by one of the greatest rock bands ever. Some exceptional actors like Max von Sydow or Brian Blessed. Beautiful women like Melody Anderson, Mariangela Melato and, of course, Ornella Muti, who was once considered the most beautiful woman in the world.

The ingredients were all there but it was probably the right movie at the wrong time. No, honestly, I mean that. A lot of modern day blockbusters are silly and just look better. This was supposed to be at least two movies according to the short interview with Mike Hodges on the disc and I sure would have loved that.

Anyway, I know it's all a matter of taste and perspective but I still love this movie.

Campy and fun science fiction fantasy-adventure flick has some cheesy but colorful and good production designs and the performances for the most part were fine, with Max Von Sydow lending prestige to a goofy character and Sam J. Jones was okay in the lead, but he's really not asked to do a whole lot (both in acting and fighting) while Melody Anderson was alright though the "romance" between her and Flash Gordon was a bit forced. And for its time, I thought the special/visual effects were adequate, superior to the likes of Superman 3 & 4 released years later (1983/1987). Enjoyable time waster and would probably revisit again. **4.0/5**

One of the least appreciated movies made in my lifetime. Done right after the glory that was The Empire Strikes Back and released to a public that had forgotten who Flash Gordon was or what the 1930's serials with Larry "Buster" Crabbe represented. Although the public was drooling desire for more high tech special effects and serious Space Opera, Flash went in the opposite direction and brought Campy back with a style all his own. This movie PERFECTLY recreated everything that those early B&W serials threw at those screaming kids sitting up in the movie theater balcony. Not to mention that the actor recreations were done as if the drawn characters came to life and leaped out of the funny papers to star on the silver screen. Max von Sydow IS Emperor Ming. Brian Blessed IS Prince Vultan. Sam Jones and Melody Anderson came in as the unknowns they needed to be and stole the show. The ONLY downfall to this movie was the fact that it did so poorly at the box office and never received the sequel it hinted at in its ending.

Now then, anyone who thinks that Max von Sydov's best film was "the Seventh Seal" (1957) really does need to get their priorities right: forget Ingmar Bergman - it has to be this marvellously camp effort from Mike Hodges and Dino de Laurentiis that allows him to act the megalomanic whilst dressing up like the best panto villain you're ever likely to encounter. Sam J. Jones is the eponymous hero who, alongside the rather hapless Melody Anderson ("Dale) and Topol's slightly demented scientist ("Zarkov"), falls prey to the mischievous games of "Ming the Merciless" as he toys with the Earth. Once the intrepid trio arrive on "Mongo" they must fight for their very survival. In the case of "Flash", the poor fellow - who spends much of the film like a startled rabbit in the headlights - has to defend his virtue from the positively predatory "Princess Aura" (Ornella Muti) who's supposed to be betrothed to "Barin" (Timothy Dalton) who is, himself, constantly sparring with Brian Blessed's "Vultan" - king of the hawk-men. Add in the wonderfully creepy Peter Wyngarde as "Klytus" and Margiangela Melato as his villainous deputy "Kala" and we have the perfect ingredients for almost two hours of classic comic book action in the best tradition of "thwack" and "pow". The thing is 40 years old now - hence it's re-release on the big screen - and it doesn't look like any efforts have been made to improve on the original. The effects are therefore pretty ropey, the CGI as obvious as the delightfully cheap and cheerful costumes of the lizard-men and the munchkins who are dressed much like the playing cards from "Alice in Wonderland". Freddie Mercury and Queen provide a bit of added "glamour" to the proceedings with their title song and the eagle-eyed amongst us might just spot a 30 year old Robbie Coltrane in there too. Escapist nonsense? Sure - but it is still all good, uncomplicated, fun with it's tongue in it's cheek and just about everything else in leather, lycra and/or tights!