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Awix (3310 KP) rated Flash Gordon (1980) in Movies

Feb 12, 2018

Flash Gordon (1980)

1980 | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi

8.1

(26 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Post-Star Wars high-camp reimagining of the famous Alex Raymond sci-fi comic strip. Ming the Merciless, Emperor of the planet Mongo, terrorises the Earth; a mad scientist, a football player and a travel agent rocket themselves into space in an attempt to make him knock it off.

One of those movies where the ostensible leads are the least well-known people in it - everyone else has a great time overacting: the gold medal goes to Brian Blessed, who steals the entire movie as Vultan, Prince of the Hawk People. Visually lavish, with a strong script, lots of well-staged action for younger viewers, and tongue-in-cheek jokes aplenty for older people who ought to know better. Point knocked off for some inappropriately nasty violence; put straight back on again for Queen's soundtrack.

Kudos

Andy K (10823 KP) Feb 12, 2018

One of my faves!

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated Fantastic Voyage (1966) in Movies

Dec 17, 2019 (Updated Dec 18, 2019)

Well-known sci-fi movie is too camp to take seriously, but scores points for inventiveness. Most of the plot is pure maguffinery, there to facilitate a) the central notion of miniaturised people floating around inside someone's body and b) Raquel Welch in a wetsuit (clearly they haven't quite cracked a method of miniaturising Welch's hair).

Vivid but not remotely convincing special effects, stolid performances from the cast, and a plot which really does have issues going on: the casting alone makes it very obvious who the traitor is going to be, while the climax conveniently forgets that the patient's convalescence is likely to be impacted by the presence of a full-size submarine inside his brain. It's watchable, not least for the groovy 60s stylings, but not as a serious drama.