Flash Gordon (1980) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- This is the original review of Flash Gordon by Siskel & Ebert on "Sneak Previews" in 1980. All of the segments pertaining to the movie have been included.
Gene didn't like Flash? After he saved every one of us?! What an ingrate. . .
😂
Gene was incahoots with Ming that's why
@@ericestrada2634 🤣lol
❤
When I went to this in the theater, I expected very little. I came out loving it. For all the talk about comic book movies, this may be one of the best. The the colors, the corny dialogue, the over the top story line, and their tongue was always in their cheek. And, those things allowed them to pull this off. For those who degrade this film, get your knickers out of a bunch and enjoy it for what it is, escapist off the wall fun.
This and the He-Man movie. I will enjoy He-Dolph until I'm dead.
THIS flick is actually a lot more similar in style to BARBARELLA than frigging Star Wars! .. . with the camp humor, psychedelic imagery, sexual innuendo, quirky sensibility, . . and which is, coincidentally, by the SAME PRODUCER (Dino Delaurentis) and also has a comic-strip origin. If you need another flick to compare this one too, then THAT would really be a much more apt and intelligent choice than frigging star wars!
The same writer as the 60s Batman tv series too, Lorenzo Semple Jr
"Who are you?"
"Flash Gordon, quarterback New York Jets."
-All you need to know really.
I'm sure this is the reason I support New York Jets
Don't care what they or anyone has to say......it's my favorite movie of all time! Long Live Flash!!!!!
Same
Don't get why Ebert is raging on the special effects. The effects techniques in THIS flick are just the SAME KIND that were used in every other science fiction flick of THIS SAME ERA, including none other than big-britched high and mighty Star Wars - things like blue screens, mattes, miniature models, rotoscoping (for the lasers). Besides, I LIKE the whole visual look of this flick! The quirky and eccentric design of the spacecrafts sets & costumes, the vibrant multi-colored alien sky, the psychedelic space whirlpool that transports the earthling protagonists to the alien galaxy, the very spectacular and motley lasers, and a very neat and striking title & opening credits sequence which pays tribute to the old comic strip by using actual illustrations from it. The visuals in this flick have a lot of STYLE and are highly original and I dig'em!
Creepy Skulldini Because the ones in the Flash Gordon are deliberately cheesy. The whole movie is clearly played for campy laughs.
@@creepyskulldini581 I rather take a funny entertaining movie over 90% special effects. Thats why super heroes are so boring aswell.
Gordon’s alive!?!?
These clips are pure gold! Please keep uploading!
Nostalgia
Star Wars is serious lol?? I remember loving this movie when it came out. Still do. Also....Queen
THIS flick is actually a lot more similar to BARBARELLA than frigging Star Wars! .. . with the camp humor, psychedelic imagery, sexual innuendo, and quirky sensibility , . . and which is, coincidentally, by the SAME PRODUCER (Dino Delaurentis) and also has a comic-strip origin. If you need another flick to compare this one too, then THAT would really be a much more apt and intelligent choice than frigging star wars.
Star Wars was made with a bit more serious of an approach in its ambitions for more state-of-the-art special effects and more genuinely emotional storytelling. George Lucas clearly didn’t have Star Wars be played solely for laughs.
Empire Strikes Back is much darker than Flash Gordon; Star Wars universe you actually take the empire as seriously evil.
Watched this episode of Siskel and Ebert because we didnt have cable yet,not till 1983. I was 8 in 1980 and Flash Gordon was awesome.
I actually really like this movie & the 2 main women were super hot!
Melody Anderson and Ornella Muti.
Don't get why Ebert is raging on the special effects. The effects techniques in THIS flick are just the SAME KIND that were used in every other science fiction flick of THIS SAME ERA, including none other than big-britched high and mighty Star Wars - things like blue screens, mattes, miniature models, rotoscoping (for the lasers). Besides, I LIKE the whole visual look of this flick! The quirky and eccentric design of the spacecrafts sets & costumes, the vibrant multi-colored alien sky, the psychedelic space whirlpool that transports the earthling protagonists to the alien galaxy, the very spectacular and motley lasers, and a very neat and striking title & opening credits sequence which pays tribute to the old comic strip by using actual illustrations from it. The visuals in this flick have a lot of STYLE and are highly ORIGINAL! . .. and I dig'em!
Ridiculous and cheesy as hell, but this is an enjoyable and fun movie.
I love this movie. The costume and set design are just awesome. They really went for it. It's like a live action comic book. No other film looks like Flash Gordon.
Although the looks along with it's 1930s B&W chapterplay source-materials are unmistakeable.
I hate how they compare every film back then to Star Wars. I mean can't a film stand on its own merits and be judged independently instead of being compared to Star Wars all the time. Star Wars and this movie are completely different. Flash Gordon is not Star Wars, and I'm okay with that.
Yeah, Star Wars is pretty overrated. FG here is actually much more similar to Barbarella than to frigging Star Wars. Another intentionally campy film with a comic-strip origin, and which was, coincidentally, by the SAME PRODUCER (Dino Delaurentis). If you need another flick to compare this one too, then THAT would really be a much more apt and intelligent choice than frigging star wars!
Don't get why Ebert is raging on the special effects. The effects techniques in FG are just the SAME KIND that were used in every other science fiction flick of THIS SAME ERA, including none other than big-britched high and mighty Star Wars - things like blue screens, mattes, miniature models, rotoscoping (for the lasers). Besides, I LIKE the whole visual look of this flick! The quirky and eccentric design of the spacecrafts sets & costumes, the vibrant multi-colored alien sky, the psychedelic space whirlpool that transports the earthling protagonists to the alien galaxy, the very spectacular and motley lasers, and a very neat and striking title & opening credits sequence which pays tribute to the old comic strip by using actual illustrations from it. The visuals in this flick have a lot of STYLE and are highly original and I dig'em!
Star Wars was really groundbreaking at the time. There was nothing like it during that period. There were so many movies made that were knockoffs of it all over the world and this was one of them, even though ironically based on intellectual property that created serials that Star Wars paid clear homage to.
@@RocStarr913 I know. Star Wars just set the bar so high. I'm just complaining about how everything was compared to SW afterwards. It's just a complaint.
@@RocStarr913 Get over it! .. . your precious Star Wars wasn't as "groundbreaking" as all THAT. Close Encounters of the Third Kind came out the very same year as SW (1977) and 2001 A Space Oddysey, for one, came nearly an entire decade before SW (in 1968) - THAT is the movie that had REALLY pioneered those kind of visuals - not SW. And FG here was NOT a "knock off" of SW. In fact, on the contrary, FG even DEFIED the established Star Wars GRAIN and actually BROKE THE MOLD established by your precious SW and STOOD OUT FROM all the SW wana-be's in many significant ways.
Every time this movie was on cable, I watched every minute of it.
Same on broadcast TV 📺
I think I saw Flash at the movies late 1980 and thought it was pretty bad. However, I do remember it being on HBO or Cinemax ALL THE TIME in early 1982 and grew to love it. Two extremely attractive women, Max Von Sydow, and Queen WOW!
Ming’s daughter is worth the price of admission
I don't remember thinking that Gene had a big stick in his rear end back then, but it sure seems that way now. He couldn't adjust his expectations based on what the moviemakers were trying to do.
BradiKal61 The moviemakers’ intent is not the point. It’s the execution. If Flash Gordon had better execution than intent, it would have had more appeal than just beyond a mere cult following.
@@RocStarr913 No, I never got the impression that THIS flick had any intention to be any mainstream "blockbuster". It's TOO UNCONVENTIONAL. It almost resembles some weird art-house type flick to me.
I think it was ALWAYS destined for a more CULT-type status.
If a movie wasn't Citizen Kane, Gene probably thought it was sh!t.
@@ianfindly3257 I don't think so. It was supposed to be a cash-in when the first Star Wars film was making waves, but FG was too campy to be taken seriously by critics and audiences. If it's an art film, it's gaudy as heck.
It was a huge hit in the UK but didn't do well in the US. Allegedly.
1980's Flash Gordon is a way more entertaining film than Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny from 2023 and I never agree more with Roger Ebert that Flash Gordon is a pretty good sci-fi film. I loved the performances of Max von Sydow as Emperor Ming and Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov, the Queen theme song for Flash Gordon is absolutely stellar, and the football fight scene was awesome.
This movie was so corny I loved it! You could see how Thor Ragnarok took a lot of inspiration from this movie with all the colors. It's really a Space Opera and Thor Ragnarok follows it's footsteps.
While I do think the 1980 version of Flash Gordon is a fun movie, I actually prefer the Buster Crabbe serials more. I think it's because they're longer and explore more of the world and characters or because of the classic earnest adventure sort of vibe that it shares with other 30s movies like the Adventures of Robin Hood and would inspire in movies like Star Wars, whereas the 1980 Flash Gordon goes for pure camp. Not saying that's a bad thing. Just a difference in taste and preference I guess. I do agree Brian Blessed is a national treasure though. I could see him and John Rhys-Davies playing brothers in an adventure film as well.
Well, there's quite a bit of a TIME GAP between the serials and this movie version - I mean 1930's to 1980? .. . one must consider THAT I think.
You can see where the Guardians of Galaxy took its inspiration
How could anyone thumb-down this silly and fun movie? Perhaps because it's aged better than when it first came out. My favorite things about it are how colorful the sets and photography are, and or course von Sydow's performance as MING THE MERCILESS. I think one the greatest movie villains, just perfectly portrayed.
I love the film.. I viewed the movie at 10 years old . That evening two movies where shown at the movie theater , Star Wars and Flash Gordon . A double feature 😄Flash Gordon is a fun movie . A well loved classic
I’ve always been a fan of this movie. Everyone trashed it until Ted.
I saw this film when I was 9-10 years old. I also watched it countless times on television, vhs, and later on DVD. To me, Flash Gordon is what it is...one of the all-time cheesy classics. Jones and Anderson weren't the greatest actors, but Sydow, Blessed, Dalton, Wyngarde, and Topol were pretty good (despite the script). The screenplay was written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. of 1960's Batman fame. That explains the campy dialogue. A couple of other fun facts include the fact that Sam Jones had gotten into trouble while on a break. As a result, half or more of Flash's dialogue was overdubbed by a voice actor. Also, William Hootkins (Porkins from Star Wars) portrayed Zarkhov's assistant,,Munson. Hootkins would go on to appear in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Batman (1989), and Blackadder II.
I'm with Roger on this one. I have a soft spot for Flash Gordon that other people may not have. I'll defend it to a point but it's certainly not a hill worth dying on lol.
Gene and Roger are both right on this one.
and years later ebert complained on how dark was the theatre watching mortal kombat whilst gene high priased it
ironic or what .
I saw Flash Gordon when it came out in 1980 because the music was by Queen. I was 22 at the time. I thought it a bit silly, but then he did save every one of us. :)
Loved the movie as a kid and my brother and I got the soundtrack on cassette.
The screenwriter said it was a big mistake that they went for comedy with the film because the original movie serials were never intended to be humorous. I have to agree with him. I think this kind of material works better when you take it seriously. I'd be very interested in seeing a modern Flash Gordon movie that took everything seriously and made it as realistic as possible. There's no reason the material couldn't evolve the way that Batman did from the 1960s into the modern era.
Would anybody remember the 1980 film if it had been serious? The sense of humor is what made it stand out among the dozens of Star Wars wannabes from that era. Intentional Camp is a tiny (but delightful) genre that includes Rocky Horror and John Waters.
@@randyd7836 We would. Once Star Wars was a big hit, every space opera that looked like it might be bankable, or that had been stuck in development hell soon got made to cash in. Not all of them were great, but we still remember Battle Beyond the Stars, Black Hole, and V (tv movie) as sincere efforts in the genre. George Lucas wanted to make a Flash Gordon movie, but couldn't get the rights. He definitely would have played the material straight, and it would have been interesting if another director had tried the same.
@@randyd7836 And Barbarella - another intentionally campy flick with a comic-strip origin and, coincidentally, with the SAME PRODUCER as THIS flick (Dino Delaurentis). In fact, FG here has ALWAYS struck me as being MUCH more similar to THAT movie than the old serials or to frigging Stra Wars.
That screenwriter was Lorenzo Semple Jr. of 1960's Batman fame. I never discovered that until many years later, then it all made sense. After nearly 43 years, I still love this movie for what it is.
@@randyd7836 Battle Beyond the Stars was another example, but didn't quite achieve the cult status of Flash Gordon.
It sounds like Sam J. Jones' pre-dubbed voice in the rocket ship scene.
I think his voice was dubbed over the entire movie....
Sam had some of his dialogue in the film, but much of the rest was overdubbed. I think Jones ran into some trouble during a break in filming.
The set and costume design in Flash Gordon was the best!
And the spacecraft designs to I think. The LASERS in this flick don't look bad either.
I'm surprised that Roger liked this, but not Battlestar Galactica, considering it was a lot better than this.
"It doesn't just remind you of those manatee serials that Buster Crab used to make; it's practically a remake of them."
Um, that's EXACTLY what it is.
@Kahless I said 'Manatee" when I meant "Matinee", didn't I?
No, I disagree, I think FG here is really more 70s & 80s MIDNIGHT MOVIE (like Rocky Horror or something) than 30s matinee serial in style and tone.
I far prefer Flash Gordon to Star Wars.
THIS flick is actually a lot more similar to BARBARELLA than frigging Star Wars! .. . with the camp humor, psychedelic imagery, sexual innuendo, quirky sensibility and style, . . and which also has a comic-strip origin and is, coincidentally, by the SAME PRODUCER (Dino Delaurentis). If you need another movie to compare THIS one to then THAT would really be a much more apt and intelligent choice.
no!!!!!
@@babybird871 God forbid someone have an opinion that doesn't match yours.
Airplane? Airplane? Airplane is slapstick comedy. This movie is not slapstick comedy. This movie is cheese. I swear Gene Siskel doesn't know what the heck he's talking about. I really appreciate the critics we have these days such as Chris stuckmann and Jeremy jahns.
The FIGHT SCENE with Mings goons during the "tribute ceremony" - "Go Flash!" - was a little bit slapstick.
@@ianfindly3257 maybe a little but this movie is more cheesy sci-fi adventure then The Naked Gun.
It wasn't Citizen Kane, so Gene thought it was sh!t. Kind of like the old Rolling Stones critics. If an artist wasn't Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, The Band, etc., they were crap.
“Come along, Fellini” hahahahaha best burn of all time
I just love this movie
Roger was always so much more willing to give a movie a chance compared to Gene.....
Wasn't impressed with the film originally -- the casting (except for Max von Sydow as Ming, who REALLY gives this film more than it deserves) isn't that strong, and it's pretty silly even taking into account how the old serials come across these days. But, I've grown to appreciate it a lot more than I used to. It's fun, a little goofy, the music is interesting, and it does capture the spirit of the old serials.
And it's got Brian Blessed playing ... um, Brian Blessed. With wings. "GORDON'S ALIVE!!" :-)
But I still prefer Buster Crabbe.
I was good with Sydow, Blessed, Wyngarde, Dalton, Richard Obrien, and even Topol to an extent. The non-American actors could've read the phone book, and made it sound like Shakespeare.
Gene: "Doesn't try hard"
That's fighting words. Do you have any idea how much work went into those costumes? Those weren't just cheesy effects somebody knocked out in a weekend when half drunk/hung over. Somebody, probably a team of somebodies, spent a lot of time and work to replicate the look of those old serials, but with modern (at the time) cameras that would catch all the little cheats that the original fx crews could get away with on older film/cameras.
Flash gordon isn't a parody of the old serials, its just as much as an homage as Star Wars was... only it tried to replicate the look of them, where as Star Wars was made to look like a Kurasawa film.
The movie is essentially a spoof of the comic strip and the subsequent movie serials. It's supposed to be goofy. Some trivia-The "Flight of the Hawkmen" theme was used in the 80's video game "Vanguard".
Saw this on opening weekend at 42nd.theatre was empty lol
The film was a big success in the U.K. and the rest of Europe, In the USA it didn’t go well , obviously your country didn’t get it !
I noticed how Roger was better able to get into the spirit of the movie rather than Gene.
That was nearly always the case. Roger always had a bit of the child in him whereas Gene was more into the role of the serious critic.
@@Nopperabou I wouldn't say THIS flick is exactly CHILDISH though, .. . not entirely at least. It has some pretty heavy sexual overtones, .. . like how the villains in it seem to have a kind of weird sexually perverse aspect to their character ( during the interrogation scene for example "You tortured her didn't you?" . . "Yes. Strange girl. I think she rather enjoyed it!" . . not exactly words you'd hear Darth Vader or the Emporer utter in a bland SW epic ) and the princes Aura character, of course, was PURE SEX!
Don't get why Ebert is raging on the special effects though. The effects techniques in THIS flick are just the SAME KIND that were used in every other science fiction flick of THIS SAME ERA, including none other than big-britched high and mighty Star Wars - things like blue screens, mattes, miniature models, rotoscoping. Besides, I LIKE the visual look of this flick! The quirky, eccentric and original design of the spacecrafts sets & costumes, the vibrant multi-colored alien sky, the psychedelic space whirlpool that transports the earthling protagonists to the alien galaxy, the very spectacular and motley lasers, and a very neat and striking title & opening credits sequence which pays tribute to the old comic strip by using actual illustrations from it. The visuals in this flick have a lot of STYLE and I dig'em!
This is the most faithful adaptation of a comic strip ever made
This is a good escape movie. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously. Its just meant to be fun..
I think this movie was supposed to be kitsch Typical film critics
NedDontDrink Weedkiller It is supposed to be kitsch, but that doesn’t always translate into a good movie. The movie wasn’t really a hit.
I have a long list of films that I enjoyed, that Gene gave a thumbs 👎. This is one of them.
Saw this movie at the All-Night Drive-in on LSD...what a trip!
Gene is a fool! This movie is awesome!
If the humor of this movie is anything like the pure camp in Batman (1966), I'll probably watch it.
From the same writer. One of them.
and 42 years ther were wrong its a classic big suprise lol
Mings daughter ...OMG delicious.
Dale wasn't his girlfriend; they meet on a plane to Zarkoff's lab. Kind of easy to remember.
Became his girlfriend. Herp Derp.
Big 👍 from me. Pure fun
I'll go with insipid cartoon.
The comic book magic of this film went over Gene's head like a rocket ship.
You cant compare Flash GOrdon with Airplane!
Its not about comparing. Its about taking an idea that is "serious" and just focusing on the ridiculous parts of it and taking it to 11. Which is what Airplane did with Disaster movies, which is what Flash kinda does with all the Sci-Fi hype of the time.
Max Von Sydow is an absolute scene stealer
Brian Blessed, as well.
🍪⚽️great
Simply put this isn't Gene Siskel type of movie.
Hi Camp
Does Gene Siskel just not get that movies are very often to be enjoyed as pure escapism? He should have reviewed books or theater, not movies.
Don't feel bad Flash, neither one of them liked Blade Runner the first time they reviewed it. At least you got Ebert.
Perfect film!
Gene Siskel was a humorless git.
Before Space Balls.
Not exactly. Spaceballs is TOTALL ALL-OUT COMEDY, where's FG here really isn't, it just has HUMOROUS OVERTONES.
I'm with Gene. I don't like the intentionally campy style. It's no fun to laugh at a movie that's trying to be bad. I like laughing at bad movies that try to be good.
"What I object to is you're rewarding a film that doesn't try hard for not trying hard." Hit the nail on the head.
“Well, now you just miss all the fun, when you talk like that.”
this movie was fun and campy and had fun space battles. these critics overanalyze.
😎fun movie
These two did make some rather harsh criticisms on very good films.
They wouldn’t even be Siskel and Ebert, if they never did so, sometimes. That’s what makes them amazing to see, when it came to seeing and reviewing films between the 70s and 90s (before Siskel passed in ‘99).
Slice of cheese,anyone?
I didn't like the actress that played Dale. Brian Blessed steals it!
Aah-aaaah!
This might be the worst film that I have ever tried to watch. I really think that it was the model for the phony film depicted in Ben Affleck's ARGO. I mean, would ANYONE have seriously made this film thinking that it would be appreciated.
You haven't tried to watch many truly bad movies.
I'll bet you blame people for making black and white films before color film was invented.
@@BradiKal61 - Uh...you'd lose that bet.
Your mistaken, PLENTY of people appreciate THIS flick jack ass.
Somebody is in critical need of a sense of humor transplant!
This fun movie is the cinematic equivalent of cotton candy FLASH..AA-AAH!!