Flash Gordon (1980)

Director: Mike Hodges
Starring: Sam J Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow

Synopsis:
A football player and a travel agent are shanghaied by a mad scientist and shot into space to help him save Earth from an interplanetary conqueror.

Impressions:
"Flash! A~~~ah! Savior of the universe! Flash! A~~~ah! He'll save every one of us!" When you've got Queen singing your theme song, you know you've got something going for you. There may be more corn and cheese than polenta parmigiana, but is it ever glorious. I'd honestly like to see more space operas. Do people think they're too silly or something? Well, of course they're silly, but so long as you have fun with it, so will the audience (unless the audience has had their fun surgically removed). The film doesn't take itself too seriously and it's all the better for it. The silly costumes and often awkward dialog aren't downsides in the slightest. Honestly, there are some pretty interesting character dynamics going on. Sam Jones comes off as a bit of a meathead, but that's Flash. I mean, we've got a football player taking on an extraterrestrial empire. What more can you expect from him? Of course he alone couldn't carry the movie and that's where the rest of the cast really shines. Max von Sydow is great as Ming the Merciless and I also liked Ornella Muti as Princess Aura, Peter Wyngarde as Klytus, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, and of course BRAIN BLESSED as Prince Vultan, who magnificently hams it up like you'd expect. There are plenty of laughs to be had and some good action too. Yes, it's cornball as all get out, but if you accept the cornball, you'll have loads of fun with it. Give this one a watch.

Rating:
Watch It