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intereact!Director: Mike Hodges
Actors: Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Topol, and Ornella Muti
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Retail Price (not our price): $14.99
Release Date: 1998-05-06
Theatrical Release Date: 1980-12-05
Studio: Universal Studios
Run Time: 111 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Discs: 1
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com essential video
When the totalitarian planet of Mongo decides on a whim to obliterate Earth, it's up to the lunk-headed quarterback Flash Gordon and his oddball companions to make the universe safe for democracy. Based on the classic (and infinitely more reputable) comic strip and its '30s screen serialization, this cotton-candy-colored trash classic deserves immortality for Queen's unforgettably pulsating soundtrack alone. The legendary Max von Sydow appears to be having a blast as the evil Ming the Merciless, while Ornella Muti, as his daughter, is the living embodiment of what attracts adolescent boys to comics in the first place. (She makes Barbarella look mundane.) One of the most shamelessly entertaining movies ever made, this is a knowingly absurd sensory freak-out that'll have the viewer blissfully checking the sky afterward for signs of Hawkmen. --Andrew Wright2) Description
Strange energy waves from the planet Mongo pull the moon out of orbit threatening Earth, and NY Jets quarterback Flash Gordon and the lovely Dale Arden must destroy Mongo's ruler, Ming the Merciless, before Earth is annihilated. Music by Queen.
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5
1) Go, Flash, Go! [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Certain movies stay with you long after you've seen them, and I can happily say that Flash Gordon is one of them. In order to appreciate the beauty of this science fiction gem from 1980, you must first recognize the screenwriter's background. Lorenzo Semple Jr. wrote this, and not too many years before he delivered the campy Batman television series that thrilled us children growing up in the late 60's. Well, all the campiness of that series works its way into this script, and translates into an almost comic book feel on the screen. Not coincidentally, Semple also wrote the campy screenplay to the remake of King Kong in 1976. You can sense that same type of purposeful corniness here. Although the cast is almost secondary to the characters depicted, they do a decent job with the material here. I'm glad the people who gave us Flash Gordon didn't try to take themselves or the nature of their product too seriously. As a bonus, and a defining bonus at that, we have the soundtrack delivered to us by Queen. It all adds up to a classic romp through the genre, and it only had the misfortune of being released between the first two Star Wars motion pictures. The special effects never quite achieve "special" status, but who cares? The lovers of Flash Gordon will always hold this one to heart closely.2) He saved every one of us... [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I grew up seeing this movie on tv all the time, like over ten years ago and loved it. Nice packaging with this dvd by the way- This movie is Classic fun and the music is rocking great. They don't make them quite like this anymore for good reasons but it is the best of it's kind.3) Flash...Ahhhhahhhhh!! [Rating: 4 out of 5]
This all new Flash Gordon re-mastered special edition is great for anyone still looking to own Flash on DVD. Admittedly, this DVD could have been better. There is no director or actor commentary on this DVD and not as many special features as I would like for a $20 DVD, for god sakes, where is the second disk! With all that aside Flash Gordon is one of my favorite films from my youth and still holds a place for me in cinema history as a defining character, and film in the science fiction genre.Flash Gordon is the precursor to the Superman archetype, the golden boy, all-American, brave and courageous with moral fortitude. All the chicks dig `em and all the dudes what to be him. This film is campy and has so many fun cheese ball moments, much like the Batman TV show from this era. It's loud, boisterous, and brightly colored. This sci-fi extravaganza of thrills and heroic themes features one mortal man saving the world from an evil war monger, Ming the merciless. Ming is one of the great villains in cinema history. And Flash, with his perfectly quafft blonde feathered locks, goes down as one of the greatest American heroes in fantasy and sci fi lore. Who hasn't heard of Flash Gordon? This film is from the era that gave us Buck Rodgers and later Battle Star Galactica and this one stands above the others. This film is basic good vs. evil. This film is everything a bad film should be, but for some unknown reason it's not, it works! Bad special effects, terrible dialog and hilarious costumes only add to the charm of this classic. The best thing in this film, aside from Flash playing football with the empiral guards, is the sound track from Queen. it will send shivers down your spine. You will tingle with excitement when the drum beat kicks in. It's really an amazing moment that few films have ever been able to duplicate.There are many underlying sexual themes resonating in this film that is a reflection of the time it was created, this is the ultimate 70's sci-fi epic. Flash almost dies about four times in this film and you get the notion he might not be the smartest hero, but he's spirited, and almost flawlessly pure of heart and you just know he's gonna save the day, get the girl and make it back in time to play for the Jets on Sunday. The chicks are also pretty 1970's type hot as well, another plus!The other great thing on this disk is the original episode of the movie serial from the 30's; it is gut bustlingly bad and is almost worth watching all on its own. Priceless stuff. Just wait to you see the "Savages" that flash has to fight in the pit of doom. He never even thoughts a punch, he just picks everyone up and tosses them around. The costumes of the space guards are spectacularly awful. They look like a cross between sir lance-a-lot and the tin man.If you're into retro sci-fi, good natured fun or just a good ole action movie you need to check this out.4) Campy, Cheesy, Awesome [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Unfortunately, I never saw this movie as a kid. I would have loved it. But seeing it for the first time in my twenties, despite some bad acting and cheesy dialogue, the film was thoroughly enjoyable. The visual graphics in the film are amazing. The colors and otherworldliness really take you into another place. Not only is the film completely over the top, it's actually a pretty decent take on totalitarianism and the nature of dictators. By inspiring fear into the hearts of his subjects, Ming is able to "divide and conquer". The people are so afraid of Ming that they will sell each other out for his favor. But Flash Gordon, through his conscience and humanity, is able to bring them together to topple the psychopathic Ming.Pure fun!Oh, and the Queen soundtrack is worth the price alone.5) Good movie, poor bonuses [Rating: 4 out of 5]
This DVD may be a good present for all people who likes this movie, or science fantastic, or comixes, or for Queen fans.But for collectors who previously bought this movie in different editions may be not satisfied about bonuses. 2 interviews, one of it with the artist who painted a cover for this DVD, 1936 serial episode, 1 art work - and it's all? Some customers who wrote review before me said the same - why collectors edition was reliased with so poor bonuses? British Silver Anniversary edition and French collectors edition is much better. And also what is strange for me - the most part of the success of this version of Flash Gordon adventures was because the sountrack of Queen. Many Queen fans bought this film only for it. Why nobody can place some bonuses with Queen - interviews, Flash promo videos, studio works? Very strange marketing politic