Title: Flash Gordon
Starring: Max Von Sydow, Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Timothy Dalton, Ornella Muti, Brian Blessed
Director: Dino De Laurentiis
Duration: 112 minutes
Rating: PG
Format: Blu-Ray – 30th Anniversary Edition
Flash Gordon is a cracking sci-fi fantasy from 1980. They don’t make films like this anymore. Ming the Merciless (Max Von Sydow), unbeknownst to the inhabitants of Earth, rules the universe, with an iron fist. He enjoys toying with planets and civilisations, using his array of weather controls, to test the metal of the inhabitants. If they fall beneath his mighty power so be it. If not, he sets about be-slaving them as part of his empire.
When Earth comes under attack from Ming, all-star Jets quarterback, Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) and Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) is a journalist are on a flight. Their plane is forced to land under the control of Flash himself after the pilots are killed. They land and are unexpectedly taken along for the ride to Ming’s home planet when crazy, but lovable scientist Hans Zarkov (Topol) forces them at gunpoint to help him pilot his space rocket in order to find out what is causing the bombardment of Earth. When they get to Ming’s home planet they meet Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton) who once ruled the forest world of Arboria and has an on/off relationship with Ming's sexy, super-horny, always-scantily-dressed daughter, Princess Aura (Ornella Muti). He is now one of Ming’s subjects along with the rest of his people. They also meet Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed), leader of the Hawkmen, another subject of Ming. Can Flash convince them to follow his lead and rise up to overthrow Ming? You betcha!
As a film, Flash Gordon really does stand the test of time. Otherworldly costumes, great performances, a fun cast and an awesome Queen soundtrack to boot (which comes as a cool added extra in the Blu-ray release) really make this a film to treasure.
Flash Gordon was well deserving of an HD overhaul and this is an excellent conversion to high definition. It looks fantastic. Great detail, super colours and all round crisp visuals, free from any grain or other flaws. The sound has also had a decent makeover as well, meaning that fights, explosions and vocals all sound nice and clear. This is an excellent job. This is the best that Flash Gordon has ever looked.
If all Blu-ray releases of back-catalogue films looked this good, having been given such special care and attention in their conversation onto Blu-ray, there’d be simply no need to make new films at all.
