Stuck in your head for 2 weeks? Oh, my sweet summer child. For the rest of your life, whenever you hear the word Flash, your mouth will go Ah Ah by reflex.
Flash is a uk cleaning brand. On the ads they do the "Flash" from this and I can't not do the ah ah. Usually throw in a 'savior of the universe' for good measure. Its ingrained now for life.
Somebody once said that the thing is, if Brian Blessed was doing Othello live, you KNOW some idiot in the back would yell out "DIVE Hawkmen, DIVE!" I do agree about I Claudius and he was also in Dr Who. Also I think I have him figured out. I read that his dad and uncle and other family were coal minors. So I picture him dreading having to grow up and go into the mines. But he made it as an actor so I think what we are seeing is a guy on a perpetual high because internally he's screaming I DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE COAL MINES!
@@jacquelinecallejas1390 I believe he has an episode on "Who Do You Think You Are" that I watched part of. He is overall a very bubbly person by all appearances and probably feels very much his surname. 😁
The thing to remember here is that this movie is a 1980's version of a 1930's movie serial. They took the silliness of the original, and turned it up to 11.
Yeah, this was super hero comics before super hero comics. There were radio plays, movies, and books/comics? Part of why it seems so plot aggressive is this is condensing a ton of story into a single movie.
I came here to explain the same. This has one of my favorite soundtracks. I do love this movie and never considered the horniness of it. We need a paytreon version under the influence.
The cast aren't terrible actors. They're deliberately hamming it up, because the film is essentially a tongue-in-cheek remake of the Flash Gordon film series from the 1930s. Apart from all the sexual innuendoes, it's actually a pretty faithful recreation. It was made partly as an attempt to cash in on the success of Star Wars, but the goofier tone wasn't what the SW audience expected, and it bombed at the box office. In the years since, it's become something of a cult classic.
The term used is camp. The 1966 Batman was in thew same vane. The bright settings and over the top acting was very familar to viewers in 1980. This caught on more while being shown on HBO.
And Brian Blessed (birdman with the big maw) is an incredibly badass British actor who is STILL lifting weights in his 80s, and is still just as insane. Truly AWESOME dude.
Brian Blessed (Vultan) is a national treasure. He is the oldest person to have climbed Mount Everest and reach the North Pole on foot, where he punched a polar bear in the face. One of Britain's greatest raconteurs and a force of nature.
The absolutely beautiful Ornella Muti (Princess Aura) is the crush I've had consistently for over 3 decades now. Other crushes may pass as swiftly as days are fleeting, but Ornella? She'll be eternally in my heart.
While this movie is from the 80s, the character is actually *90* years old, and was originally a comic strip, that was then adapted into old film serials. This is an adaptation of those old films.
Not sure if you know this but a few months ago the Flash Gordon daily newspaper comic received a reboot. It starts with him and others in the process of defeating Ming in the Mongo civil war. So the strip is telling the story of what Flash, Dale and Zarkov and the other nations of Mongo and how they are trying to rebuild with Ming gone. The artwork is great and the stories have been great too. 7 days a week get a new Flash Gordon comic.
THIS flick is really based more on the COMIC STRIP (which is what it was originally) than that film serial. THAT is why you see all the ILLUSTRATIONS during the animated opening sequence (that's what THOSE were from).
Just imagine how bad her mind would be blown watching Barbarella....she definitely would have to hit the vape pen before that one. Oohh....just thought of a better one to blow her mind, 1973's The Holy Mountain, her head would explode lol.
Actually, Topol, who plays Dr. Hans Zarkov here, was a relatively established actor having won 2 golden globes before, most famously for his depiction of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, for which he was also nominated for an academy award.
I was expecting a sequel for so long....given that hint at the end. By the way, it looks like Ashleigh missed the gloved hand picking up the ring (she was looking elsewhere.)
Bit of trivia for you Ashleigh: Prince Barin is played by Timothy Dalton, who would go on to play James Bond. Ming The Merciless is played by Max Von Sydow who was Father Merrin in The Exorcist. Prince Vultan is played by Brian Blessed, who IRL punched a polar bear in the face while making his trip to become the oldest man to reach the magnetic North Pole (which he succeeded in doing). The man is considered a national treasure here in the UK. It's funny you should mention Rocky Horror as the actor who played Riff Raff (who is also the writer of the original Rocky Horror stage show) Richard O'Brien is the bald Arborian who betrays Flash in the swamp cage. There's also a blink & you'll miss it cameo right at the start of the movie where one of the airfield workers is in fact Hagrid himself, Robbie Coltrane.
@@SimonProctor For what it's worth, when Peter Duncan left "Blue Peter" the prop of the creature that killed him in "Flash Gordon" was one of his leaving presents.
@halholland1637 no... the absolute worst film in a Star Wars ripoff attempt is Message from Space. 1st time, I realized I was watching a horrible film while I was watching it.
His character is rather similar to the one that he later played in several episodes of "Doctor Who" (Trial of a Time Lord)...and the first episode of "Black Adder".
If you see him in Kenneth Branagh's film of _Much Ado About Nothing_ , you'll see just how good he is playing it straight. The man is a fine actor who enjoys chewing the scenery.
"HOW DOES THIS MOVIES KEEP GETTING WEIRDER?!?" - Perfect Reaction / Perfect Summary of this movie! LOL "WHY is this movie SO HORNY?!?" - It was the 70s/80s. Eye-candy & sensuality were still allowed. (and semi-common) Glad you enjoyed the "Under pain of Death" joke. (It's my favorite too.)
@Nate6981 Brian Blessed said (in the interview that I referred to in my reply to @user-wc5yu4rh2l) that she once asked him to say "GORDON''S ALIVE!" to her.
You have NO IDEA how long I looked for the "Highlander" soundtrack by Queen! Then one day I was at a friend's and was looking at his CD rack. I noticed a Queen CD called "It's A Kind Of Magic." I sighed, then read the song titles! I *LITERALLY* screamed! I'd finally found it! The Highlander songs, plus a couple other cool movie songs, like that one! Oh wait, that was "Highlander," but the TV show, not the movie. Good show! 💙
You're making a bit of fun at Brian Blessed's acting (Vultan), but he's actually one of the most respected Shakespearean actors in the world. He's just having the time of his life in this role!.😂
Yeahh, this flick is really more reflective of the late seventies than 80's. It was RELEASED in 1980, so it was probably MADE (produced and filmed) during 1978/9. Hell, it almost has a "glam/glitter rock " aesthetic stylistically (both visually and in the musical score).
Flash Gordon was originally a comic strip, and then a movie serial in the 30's. This movie was an homage to those serials, including their production values.
Yeah, and.... the original .... wasn't for children. It went pretty hard core into the concept of heroism... and villainy. Yeah... Aura trying to seduce people... is in the original source material. also... she totally bangs Barrin in the original too. They don't show all that stuff, but they let you know what she did. See, this is just the opener for the story. Aura getting with Barrin comes later on. You know... after the part where her father tortures her for information.
I used to work for a company that had periodic activities days and it was almost "You will participate in happy fun activity day or else you may not have a job!"
"While you await the ceremony all monitors will display, for your entertainment, the execution of the traitors." How's THAT for half-time entertainment?
Well, THESE aren't "bad" actors. On the contrary, SOME are even RENOWNED VETERANS (like Max Von sydow and Topol). They're just not taking it that seriously is all. They're taking a HUMOROUS approach because THIS movie is supposed to be a spoof.
When that hover ball thing tells Flash he saved the Earth, then Flash jumps up at the camera yelling "Yeah!" and freeze frames - I can't help but smile every time! Love, love, LOVE that scene!!!
I must insist on “Buckaroo Banzai; Adventures across the 8th Dimension” ! So much “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON” in one 80s movie, plus, lots of big names (if you know movies). The President; “What is happening, Buckaroo? Aliens invading? A race war in New Jersey? A girl named John?!?”
@@stefankrautz9048 She's gorgeous, yes. But -- not to put a subtle point on it -- seeing Flash as a pre-teen was literally that "a-ha / oh-no" moment as a pre-teen when I realized I was gay.
I was a kid when I saw this movie in the theater. I remember thinking even then that it was so bad that I never wanted to see it again; I realized during this video that I was too young to pick up on the amount of sexual innuendos.
Brian Blessed, aka Prince Vultan is an amazing character. Still going strong at 87 years old. He made 3 attempts to climb Mt Everest without oxygen. The oldest man in the world to get to 28,500ft without oxygen.
Brian Blessed (The King of the Hawkmen) is a legend! Mostly known for Skakespeare, but was also in Black Adder, voice acted the king of the Gungans, and punched a polar bear (saving it's life, as it would have been shot/killed otherwise). Richard O'Brien (The bald buy playing the weird double fluted recorder thing) wrote and played Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Yeah I was amused that she said that flash reminded her of the guy in rocky horror but she never recognized the distinct voice or the guy who played riff raff
While Max von Sydow (Ming the Merciless) was in dozens upon dozens of movies in his career, playing everything from a Galactic Overlord to our Lord and Savior.
You forgot BRIAN BLESSED (gotta follow the rules) also played Emperor Augustus Caesar in I, Claudius. He was actually toned down a LOT for that part, except for ONE scene. IYKYK,
With over 2000 comments, I'm sure people have talked about almost everyone in the cast, but I have to give love to the late Mariangela Melato, who played General Kala. She starred in some of the best Italian films that were released in America in the '70s, many directed by a woman named Lina Wertmuller, who was the first woman nominated for Best Director at the Oscars (for her film SEVEN BEAUTIES). For Wertmuller, Melato starred in LOVE AND ANARCHY, SWEPT AWAY, and SUMMER NIGHT. Melato never really became a star in America, but she did one minor hit here with the late Ryan O'Neal, SO FINE about a designer jean craze, where she played the wife of a mobster played by giant actor Richard Kiel, who you saw in HAPPY GILMORE and who you'll see later in your James Bond dive in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and MOONRAKER.
Ms Melato as General Kala was my crush back in the day. Partly because she scared me. Nothing like a scary, put-together career-minded lady who uses torture to make my young heart flutter.
@@minski76 True. Forgot about that one. And he was a real actor too, which can't be said of "Lambèèèèèr". I suppose that the director's ways were... mysterious at best, but more likely erratic.
'Who directed this movie? Dunno.' 'Who did the special effects? Dunno.' 'Who played Flash Gordon? Dunno.' 'Sing the soundtrack' '...' 'FLASH! AAAAAAAHAAAAAHHH!'
@@film-maniac Wow. What's with the salt against Ashleigh? I was making the point that no one cares about who did what except for the fact that Queen did the soundtrack. Don't be such a bitch. It's not a good look.
Used to be a very cool college radio station in town that played a little bit of everything. Fell asleep with the radio on one night during spring break my senior year of high school, woke up to that station playing the entire Flash Gordon soundtrack from start to finish without a single pause. Laid there and listened to the whole thing.
Brian Blessed grew up on the comics so it was a dream come true to play Voltan. You can tell he was having the most fun out of all the actors. Also the women were SMOKING HOT
I saw this in the theater in 1980. After seeing it, my friends and I had this skit where we walked around in trench coats and creeped up to the music of this Queen song.... dun-dun-dun-dun FLASH! and rip open the trench-coat and the other guy would pretend to be a girl and scream "AAAAHHHH" (also to the music). We were young, but though that was the funniest thing.
This movie was made for pure entertainment. They weren't trying to do Shakespeare or anything. It's one of the best guilty pleasures ever made. I watch it every New Years Eve to end the year on a fun note.
"Flash! (dun dun dun dun) Ah-ahhh!" has been stuck in MY head since I saw this, one time only on TV in 1990. And then after this they airred Ice Pirates.
Topol ,who plays Doctor Zakov, was famous for his role in a musical movie called Fiddler on the Roof, where he sings "If I were a rich man" . A song Gwen Stephanie would later reinvent.
The song will continue popping into your head any time anyone says the word flash from now on. You might even find yourself saying “ahh-ahhhh” to the confusion of others
The campy acting was intentional, it was based on a serial from the 1930s. The cast really had some talented actors; Max von Sydow (Ming) was the old priest in the Exorcist, Brian Blessed (Voltan) was a classically trained Shakesperian actor, Timothy Dalton (Barin) would go on from this role to play James Bond, and Topol (Zarkov) is best known for playing the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof.
That isn't too hard to suspend disbelief for in my opinion. The movie is in English because nobody wants to watch Flash Gordon with subtitles. It is intentionally campy and really invites you to just accept that sort of thing regardless of realism.
@@theaikidoka Unless it was within explicitly Yellow Peril context, I have my doubts that any actual Mongolians would care. And as for loudmouth idiots that think screeching on Tumblr counts as activism...you would care why?
"Is that a gun that shoots hands?" What's wrong Ashleigh? You've never seen a "hand gun" before? LOL! Kidding! I love your reactions! I'm less than 15 minutes in, and already this is going in my top 10!💙
5:07 NOOOOO, the one guy is played by Topol. He was in the stage and screen versions of "Fiddler on the Roof" which is one of the best musicals ever. He was an EXTREMELY well respected actor and singer. That is another must watch. Its funny, sad, heartfelt and heartbreaking. Such a wonderful film (albeit iv never like the "Miracles of Miracles" song lol)
Yea, THESE aren't "bad" actors. On the contrary, SOME are even RENOWNED VETERANS (like Max Von sydow and Topol). They're just not taking it that seriously is all. They're taking a HUMOROUS approach because THIS movie is supposed to be a spoof.
Ya and Topol is just funny as hell too. In Fiddler his comedic timing is impeccable, the bit of "I want to see Motels new machine now!" and "now lets go" is one of the funniest parts of that movie and its driven totally by him.
When I was a kid we used to perform for Hollywood orphanages, (not quite Oliver Twist but not far from it) at Christmas. Sam Jones came one year and passed out presents and performed with us. I got to sit on his lap... he was dreamy. Plus he was a truly lovely guy.
@@matthiasschulz3569- He was the title character in The Exorcist, he played chess with Death in The Seventh Seal, and he was the chief ghost in Ghostbusters 2. He had a *way* too small role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, as a Norwegian, I think of him as Hamsun.
Favorite lines in this movie: Klytus: "Bring me the bore worms." Aura: "Oh no! Not the bore worms!" This movie came out when I was 13 years old. I knew about the old serials and the comic strips. But I'd obviously never seen them. However this movie was complete campy ridiculous fun and I loved it. And the Queen soundtrack.
I was really annoyed with Queen. I'd just seen them on Oueen's The Game tour only a few months before this came out. We didn't get to hear any of this in concert.
Ornella Mutti really moved me from one stage of my life to another when this film came out, and now Ashleigh has met Brian Blessed, the force of nature.
I see you enjoyed Brian Blessed's subdued and refined performance as Prince Vultan. The soundtrack in this film is second to none. It is an outrageously underrated movie. If you are Generation X, this film, LadyHawke, Karate Kid, Back to the Future and John Hughes were your childhood.
The movie studio sent some of the first scenes they shot to queen, once they saw all the bright colors and how crazy it was they absolutely volunteered to do the entire thing
Stuck in your head for 2 weeks? Oh, my sweet summer child. For the rest of your life, whenever you hear the word Flash, your mouth will go Ah Ah by reflex.
Just like at a work meeting, if someone says, "Let's get down to business", I automatically mumble "to defeat..the Huns..." ;)
too true, is happens to me all the time
I saw this when if first came out. I swear this statement is true under penalty of perjury.
Flash is a uk cleaning brand. On the ads they do the "Flash" from this and I can't not do the ah ah. Usually throw in a 'savior of the universe' for good measure. Its ingrained now for life.
Back when I did storage in IT, every time someone asked if the system had flash drives in it, more than one went…
Ah ah.
"Queen didn't have to go that hard!" Oh Ashley, it's Queen, they could do nothing else!
On to Highlander!!!!
Queen only has one setting.
Facts
@@garymolloy3575 HEEEEEEEEEERE we are!
@@garymolloy3575 No no no! Queen has 197 different settings... and all of them are *AWESOME*!!! =:o]
I love how you said "I cant take that guy seriously" That actor is Brian Blessed. Hes like one of the most famous Shakespearian actors ever.
And an absolute treat to watch purely because he's so over-the-top at times.
My favourite Roman Emperor.
Hell yeah! loved him in I Claudius
Somebody once said that the thing is, if Brian Blessed was doing Othello live, you KNOW some idiot in the back would yell out "DIVE Hawkmen, DIVE!"
I do agree about I Claudius and he was also in Dr Who.
Also I think I have him figured out. I read that his dad and uncle and other family were coal minors. So I picture him dreading having to grow up and go into the mines. But he made it as an actor so I think what we are seeing is a guy on a perpetual high because internally he's screaming I DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE COAL MINES!
@@jacquelinecallejas1390 I believe he has an episode on "Who Do You Think You Are" that I watched part of. He is overall a very bubbly person by all appearances and probably feels very much his surname. 😁
The thing to remember here is that this movie is a 1980's version of a 1930's movie serial. They took the silliness of the original, and turned it up to 11.
Lol I came to explain this very thing😂
The dial went all the way to 11
Yeah, this was super hero comics before super hero comics. There were radio plays, movies, and books/comics? Part of why it seems so plot aggressive is this is condensing a ton of story into a single movie.
I came here to explain the same. This has one of my favorite soundtracks. I do love this movie and never considered the horniness of it. We need a paytreon version under the influence.
What else does one expect from the writer of the sixties Adam West Batman?
The three best things about Flash Gordon:
No. 1) The Queen soundtrack
No. 2) Brian Blessed's performance
No.3) Ornella Muti's wardrobe.
No. 4) The Queen soundtrack
5) Timothy Dalton in tights 🫦
6) The screaming colors of the sky & clouds!
No. 7) The Queen soundtrack
#8 The Flesh Gordon Porn parody (and its sequel) that they used to show on Cinemax.
"Is that a gun that shoots hands?!?"
The term you're looking for is...handgun.
lol
Gives a new meaning to ‘throwing hands’
It's certainly a... Handy weapon...
By the same inventor as Death Race 2000's "hand" grenade?
The cast aren't terrible actors. They're deliberately hamming it up, because the film is essentially a tongue-in-cheek remake of the Flash Gordon film series from the 1930s. Apart from all the sexual innuendoes, it's actually a pretty faithful recreation.
It was made partly as an attempt to cash in on the success of Star Wars, but the goofier tone wasn't what the SW audience expected, and it bombed at the box office. In the years since, it's become something of a cult classic.
I used to watch the original late night as a kid.
The term used is camp. The 1966 Batman was in thew same vane. The bright settings and over the top acting was very familar to viewers in 1980. This caught on more while being shown on HBO.
"Gordon's alive!" has become iconic.
Could you imagine if the actors played it completely straight in those costumes?
The cast is amazing and that makes it even funnier
And Brian Blessed (birdman with the big maw) is an incredibly badass British actor who is STILL lifting weights in his 80s, and is still just as insane. Truly AWESOME dude.
Brian Blessed (Vultan) is a national treasure. He is the oldest person to have climbed Mount Everest and reach the North Pole on foot, where he punched a polar bear in the face. One of Britain's greatest raconteurs and a force of nature.
That man is larger than life
The literal poster child for "BIG HAM" on TV Tropes :D
He's also a Shakespearian Actor and it is one of the greatest things ever to witness him bellowing "CRY GOD! FOR HARRY, ENGLAND AND *SAINT GEORGE!!!"*
@@weldonwin "BLOOD! DEATH! WAR! RUMPY-PUMPY! TRIUMPH!"
He is an absolute legend
Lol. Calling Timothy Dalton a discount Loki. Guess he's going to be a discount James Bond on franchise Fridays
🤣😂🤣
Daltons bond ages like a fine wine - he got the character
@@goldennuggets7358 He sold fine wine at his grocery store in Hot Fuzz.
He's also a slasher... of prices.
I think we was one of the better James Bonds. "License to Kill" is definitely in my top 5 Bond movies.
The absolutely beautiful Ornella Muti (Princess Aura) is the crush I've had consistently for over 3 decades now. Other crushes may pass as swiftly as days are fleeting, but Ornella? She'll be eternally in my heart.
Same!! I had the hots for Melody, too. 💘🥰❤️
Did you see her in the movie Oscar? She's Sylvester Stallones wife and Moresa tomeis mom. Completely love that movie - i know i butchered their names
Hot property!
Ashleigh: "You can't get any more '80s than Queen doing your soundtrack."
Highlander: "Hold m' ale!"
MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE using AC/DC
Or commando
THIS movie is really more LATE 70's than 80's.
And Highlander is much deeper into the 80's (87) than FG here (80), so then it's really more representative of that decade.
The British people present to you Brian "GORDON'S ALIVE" Blessed. A living legend.
Brian Blessed is on RUclips or somewhere reading bedtime stories. I haven't fallen asleep yet 😂
You don't get more bombastic than Brian Blessed, the guy rocks.
@@Acme1970 Imagine being stuck in a lift with him though 😂
Put some respect on BRIAN BLESSED's name! Since that's how he reads all his lines.
@@Acme1970 He's bigger than life in very many ways. Love the man!
While this movie is from the 80s, the character is actually *90* years old, and was originally a comic strip, that was then adapted into old film serials. This is an adaptation of those old films.
Not sure if you know this but a few months ago the Flash Gordon daily newspaper comic received a reboot. It starts with him and others in the process of defeating Ming in the Mongo civil war.
So the strip is telling the story of what Flash, Dale and Zarkov and the other nations of Mongo and how they are trying to rebuild with Ming gone.
The artwork is great and the stories have been great too. 7 days a week get a new Flash Gordon comic.
THIS flick is really based more on the COMIC STRIP (which is what it was originally) than that film serial. THAT is why you see all the ILLUSTRATIONS during the animated opening sequence (that's what THOSE were from).
If you liked the idea of Queen creating the whole soundtrack, it's time for Highlander 😊
I would love to see her reaction to Highlander! Would love to see her watch the series too as it was actually good, unlike the later movies.
She will not take it 😂
Brian Blessed chews up any scene and any role he has ever been in. Gives 110%.
Definitely worth checking out some of his other stuff, and his interviews
"Gordon's alive?!?!"
Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?
I love Brian Blessed unreservedly.
Who is Brian Blessed? If you meant BRIAN BLESSED, then yeah, I do know who that is.
10:43 "Ruler of the universe?"
"Well I didn't vote for him."
Next up: “Highlander”! More 80s! More Queen! More Sean Connery!
Not yet...next is TED
I approve of this decision
There can be only one.
A way better movie. If you can erase the sequel from existence.
Sean Connery as the great Juan Sanchez Villalobos Ramirez - the Schottish Anschient Egyptschian from Schpain
😅🙉😜👍
Ashley: "How does it keep getting weirder? How does it keep getting weirder, you guys!?"
Us: "Yes."
She... REALLY should watch the old TV series. This.... is that turbocharged... but is pretty faithful.
Sam Jones (Flash) was a brunette and had to dye his hair blonde, while Melody Anderson (Dale) was a blonde and had to dye her hair black.
Just imagine how bad her mind would be blown watching Barbarella....she definitely would have to hit the vape pen before that one.
Oohh....just thought of a better one to blow her mind, 1973's The Holy Mountain, her head would explode lol.
Oh girl, you have no idea what's coming up next.
Sam Jones was cast after appearing on a dating show.
As a child of the 80's, this movie ROCKED.
Same!!
God i miss the 80s.
Today's movies stink!
Actually, Topol, who plays Dr. Hans Zarkov here, was a relatively established actor having won 2 golden globes before, most famously for his depiction of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, for which he was also nominated for an academy award.
And he was in Bond movie:"For your eyes only"
I forgot to tell there is a actor who plays James Bond who starred in this.
I really hope she watches Fiddler at some point.
14 year old me is still mad that we didn't get a sequel
I was expecting a sequel for so long....given that hint at the end. By the way, it looks like Ashleigh missed the gloved hand picking up the ring (she was looking elsewhere.)
Flash AH AAHH has been stuck in my head for about 38 years now....
It's an unwritten rule that BRIAN BLESSED'S name must always be in all caps!
Actually, it's written in his contract when he does an acting gig.
And you don't say his name.... YOU SHOUT HIS NAAAAAAAMMMMME!!!
I liked him in the UK police drama “Z Cars” as police constable ‘Fancy’ Smith.
He lives his life in ALL CAPS.
Preach!
Bit of trivia for you Ashleigh:
Prince Barin is played by Timothy Dalton, who would go on to play James Bond.
Ming The Merciless is played by Max Von Sydow who was Father Merrin in The Exorcist.
Prince Vultan is played by Brian Blessed, who IRL punched a polar bear in the face while making his trip to become the oldest man to reach the magnetic North Pole (which he succeeded in doing). The man is considered a national treasure here in the UK.
It's funny you should mention Rocky Horror as the actor who played Riff Raff (who is also the writer of the original Rocky Horror stage show) Richard O'Brien is the bald Arborian who betrays Flash in the swamp cage.
There's also a blink & you'll miss it cameo right at the start of the movie where one of the airfield workers is in fact Hagrid himself, Robbie Coltrane.
And Topol (Doctor Zarkov), best known for playing the lead roll in Fiddler on the Roof, also has a major role in the Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only
And as a wee lad of 7 at the time the guy who does the initiation (Peter Duncan) is memorable as he was a kids TV presenter in the UK
@@SimonProctor For what it's worth, when Peter Duncan left "Blue Peter" the prop of the creature that killed him in "Flash Gordon" was one of his leaving presents.
@@SimonProctor i am happy someone else has that is Flash trivia as well. i suspect there are not many that know that.
@@davidgermain I think you need to be of a certain age and have grown up in the UK.
“I should’ve watched this after a vape or something”
Ya, that kinda helps 😂😂
If only you knew that's not Brian Blessed acting, that's just how he is.😂
The man is the living personification of All-Caps and oh yeah, He PUNCHED A POLAR BEAR! *IN THE FACE!!!*
And to think, his mom told him to use his indoor voice, so that's what we have; Brian Blessed's indoor voice.
He's just so great
that is so true, he is a national treasure and is always a larger than life character, and he's a phenomenal opera singer too
@@weldonwinhe boxed against the Dalai Lama...
Flash Gorden is like giving a movie budget to a school play. I love this movie.
Thanks for the awesome uploads.
It's just got bags of joy. One big high-budget panto, basically.
@@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures Which actor played ‘Widow Twanky’?
ruclips.net/video/9Qkz__vxYKA/видео.htmlsi=Gz9tOf5gh7ELGvJo this Movie is even Better from a horny poor highschooler. 😂
''All creatures will make merry... under pain of death.'' I love that!
I remember the laugh throughout the cinema the first time we all saw that. Happy days. =:o}
I love how Seth McFarland treats this movie in the 2 Ted movies, Ted references it as "It's simultaneously the best and worst movie ever made!"
He's wrong. "The Black Hole" was the worst. That movie was Slim Pickens.
@@halholland1637I love The Black Hole. And yes, it’s terrible. And isn’t Topol really kinda like a discount Maximilian Schnell?
@@halholland1637 I think The Black Hole could be good if it wasn't for the "comedy" robots. They really spoil the atmosphere and drama.
@@halholland1637Actually, isn’t “Ishtar” the worst movie ever⁉️😂😂😂😂
@halholland1637 no... the absolute worst film in a Star Wars ripoff attempt is Message from Space. 1st time, I realized I was watching a horrible film while I was watching it.
We used to yell "Give meeeee THE REMOTE CONTROL!" at each other with my roommates.
Brian Blessed knew what movie he was in.
Yes he did!
His character is rather similar to the one that he later played in several episodes of "Doctor Who" (Trial of a Time Lord)...and the first episode of "Black Adder".
If you see him in Kenneth Branagh's film of _Much Ado About Nothing_ , you'll see just how good he is playing it straight. The man is a fine actor who enjoys chewing the scenery.
@@jackal59 - Or watch him playing Augustus Caesar in "I, Claudius".
@@DNulrammah I liked him as Richard IV in Blackadder.
55 years old and when I hear the word Flash, I go "AH AH! He'll save every one of us!"
Me too
I'm with ya!
"HOW DOES THIS MOVIES KEEP GETTING WEIRDER?!?" - Perfect Reaction / Perfect Summary of this movie! LOL
"WHY is this movie SO HORNY?!?" - It was the 70s/80s. Eye-candy & sensuality were still allowed. (and semi-common)
Glad you enjoyed the "Under pain of Death" joke. (It's my favorite too.)
Now that you've seen this, you need to see "The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai: Across The 8th Dimension".
Absolutely agree! Such a fun movie!
Where ever you go, there you are.
My all time fave
Why is there a watermelon there?
@@stevenv2190 Laugh while you can, monkey boy!
This was apparently Queen Elizabeth's favorite movie, which is just wild and also awesome to know. She would watch it every Christmas.
@Nate6981 Brian Blessed said (in the interview that I referred to in my reply to @user-wc5yu4rh2l) that she once asked him to say "GORDON''S ALIVE!" to her.
"Barbarella" (1968) is very much in this vein. I would love to see Ashleigh react to that one!
It's by the SAME PRODUCER too.
"Here we are. Born to be kings! We are the Princes of the universe!"
The soundtrack is better than the movie.
@@jasonwebb7978 Not Highlander. But Flash? Yes.
@@rcrawford42 "Flash, ah- ah. Savior of the universe" still better than the movie. But I get your point.
You have NO IDEA how long I looked for the "Highlander" soundtrack by Queen! Then one day I was at a friend's and was looking at his CD rack. I noticed a Queen CD called "It's A Kind Of Magic." I sighed, then read the song titles! I *LITERALLY* screamed! I'd finally found it! The Highlander songs, plus a couple other cool movie songs, like that one! Oh wait, that was "Highlander," but the TV show, not the movie. Good show! 💙
You're making a bit of fun at Brian Blessed's acting (Vultan), but he's actually one of the most respected Shakespearean actors in the world. He's just having the time of his life in this role!.😂
While the move was released in 1980, the 80's themselves had not happened yet. This is more of an end-cap of all things '70s.
... and an attempted successor to Rocky Horror.
Almost exactly what I was going to say 👏
Yeahh, this flick is really more reflective of the late seventies than 80's. It was RELEASED in 1980, so it was probably MADE (produced and filmed) during 1978/9. Hell, it almost has a "glam/glitter rock " aesthetic stylistically (both visually and in the musical score).
The FIRST year of a decade is too early for something to be representative of that decade. It'd have to be past the 2nd year of it at least.
It also feels like the English members of the cast had decided it was going to be a madly coloured in pantomime.
Wait until you realize Ming is the old priest from The Exorcist.
And played the kitty cat petting head of SPECTRE twice in James Bond movies.
@@dan_hitchman007 And the brewery owner in Strange Brew.
@@degenatron1604 and the knight in the Seventh seal
And that Prince Barin's number one guy is Riff-Raff, the bulter in Rocky Horror.
And Jesus Christ in “The Greatest Story Ever Told”
“How does it keep getting weirder?” Here’s pudgy wing people and Robin Hood.
You know it's weird when Riff-Raff and Deep Roy aren't the strangest people in the room
The lizard guys with their eyes in their mouths was some uniquely inspired WTFuckery
@@christopherwall2121 It’s astounding.
@@chrisleebowers If they get the hiccups, do they pull their eyes out of their sockets?
This movie has the single best movie line ever..."Flash I love you, but we only have 14 hours to save the earth!"
Flash Gordon was originally a comic strip, and then a movie serial in the 30's. This movie was an homage to those serials, including their production values.
Yeah, and.... the original .... wasn't for children. It went pretty hard core into the concept of heroism... and villainy.
Yeah... Aura trying to seduce people... is in the original source material. also... she totally bangs Barrin in the original too. They don't show all that stuff, but they let you know what she did. See, this is just the opener for the story. Aura getting with Barrin comes later on. You know... after the part where her father tortures her for information.
The serials are on RUclips.
"All creatures will make merry under pain of death." That takes Mandatory Fun Day to a whole other level.
"Fun will now commence."
Yes, that means Christmas, New Year's Day and birthdays. Are you surprised?
I used to work for a company that had periodic activities days and it was almost "You will participate in happy fun activity day or else you may not have a job!"
@@ronbo11 In the navy it was, "The floggings will continue until morale improves."
"While you await the ceremony all monitors will display, for your entertainment, the execution of the traitors." How's THAT for half-time entertainment?
Well, THESE aren't "bad" actors. On the contrary, SOME are even RENOWNED VETERANS (like Max Von sydow and Topol). They're just not taking it that seriously is all. They're taking a HUMOROUS approach because THIS movie is supposed to be a spoof.
It's not a spoof, it's camp.
I was surprised to see Timothy Dalton as well
When that hover ball thing tells Flash he saved the Earth, then Flash jumps up at the camera yelling "Yeah!" and freeze frames - I can't help but smile every time! Love, love, LOVE that scene!!!
That scene was actually improvised by Sam Jones (Flash). No one else knew how to end the scene
@@SilentSooYun Omg they must have done all the drugs making this movie.
After watching Ashleigh's reaction to this, there can be only ONE follow up: Barbarella!
That would be amazing!
No. Just No.
I must insist on “Buckaroo Banzai; Adventures across the 8th Dimension” ! So much “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON” in one 80s movie, plus, lots of big names (if you know movies).
The President; “What is happening, Buckaroo? Aliens invading? A race war in New Jersey? A girl named John?!?”
I gotta go with Ted, the true sequel to Flash Gordon lol.
Krull after that.
Totally underrated movie. More people should appreciate this film
Priest: “Do you promise not to blast her into space?”
Ming: *withering look*
Priest: “…uh-until such time as you grow weary of her?”
😂😂😂
Oh! The camp! The music! The _blond!_ So many memories. I'm so glad you reviewed this!
not Ornella Muti ? :)
@@stefankrautz9048 She's gorgeous, yes. But -- not to put a subtle point on it -- seeing Flash as a pre-teen was literally that "a-ha / oh-no" moment as a pre-teen when I realized I was gay.
I was a kid when I saw this movie in the theater. I remember thinking even then that it was so bad that I never wanted to see it again; I realized during this video that I was too young to pick up on the amount of sexual innuendos.
"There are so many things happening: a wedding, treason, lasers, bombs...." :D
Brian Blessed, aka Prince Vultan is an amazing character. Still going strong at 87 years old. He made 3 attempts to climb Mt Everest without oxygen. The oldest man in the world to get to 28,500ft without oxygen.
The man punched a polar bear and lived
Brian Blessed (The King of the Hawkmen) is a legend! Mostly known for Skakespeare, but was also in Black Adder, voice acted the king of the Gungans, and punched a polar bear (saving it's life, as it would have been shot/killed otherwise).
Richard O'Brien (The bald buy playing the weird double fluted recorder thing) wrote and played Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
And if Ashley sticks with the Bond series long enough she'll see Richard O'Brien (minus his neck) again :)
Yeah I was amused that she said that flash reminded her of the guy in rocky horror but she never recognized the distinct voice or the guy who played riff raff
I was today years old when I realized that was Richard O'Brien!
While Max von Sydow (Ming the Merciless) was in dozens upon dozens of movies in his career, playing everything from a Galactic Overlord to our Lord and Savior.
You forgot BRIAN BLESSED (gotta follow the rules) also played Emperor Augustus Caesar in I, Claudius. He was actually toned down a LOT for that part, except for ONE scene. IYKYK,
With over 2000 comments, I'm sure people have talked about almost everyone in the cast, but I have to give love to the late Mariangela Melato, who played General Kala. She starred in some of the best Italian films that were released in America in the '70s, many directed by a woman named Lina Wertmuller, who was the first woman nominated for Best Director at the Oscars (for her film SEVEN BEAUTIES). For Wertmuller, Melato starred in LOVE AND ANARCHY, SWEPT AWAY, and SUMMER NIGHT. Melato never really became a star in America, but she did one minor hit here with the late Ryan O'Neal, SO FINE about a designer jean craze, where she played the wife of a mobster played by giant actor Richard Kiel, who you saw in HAPPY GILMORE and who you'll see later in your James Bond dive in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and MOONRAKER.
Ms Melato as General Kala was my crush back in the day. Partly because she scared me. Nothing like a scary, put-together career-minded lady who uses torture to make my young heart flutter.
"You can't get more 80s than Queen doing your soundtrack"
Highlander agrees.
Ah, Highlander. If only Lambert had been Scottish instead of a Frenchman losing his way. On the other hand, neither was Mel Gibson.
@@JZsBFF To be fair, they Did hire the most famous Scotsman there was.
To play an Egyptian, pretending to be Spanish...
@@minski76 True. Forgot about that one. And he was a real actor too, which can't be said of "Lambèèèèèr". I suppose that the director's ways were... mysterious at best, but more likely erratic.
'Who directed this movie? Dunno.'
'Who did the special effects? Dunno.'
'Who played Flash Gordon? Dunno.'
'Sing the soundtrack'
'...'
'FLASH! AAAAAAAHAAAAAHHH!'
And those questions would be answered if she looked at the opening credits. But youtubers can't pay that much attention.
@martinholt : exactly
@@film-maniac Wow. What's with the salt against Ashleigh? I was making the point that no one cares about who did what except for the fact that Queen did the soundtrack. Don't be such a bitch. It's not a good look.
@@film-maniac She did, she just didn't know any of the names.
Used to be a very cool college radio station in town that played a little bit of everything. Fell asleep with the radio on one night during spring break my senior year of high school, woke up to that station playing the entire Flash Gordon soundtrack from start to finish without a single pause. Laid there and listened to the whole thing.
Queen also did the Highlander movie soundtrack. Another classic 80s flick.
Brian Blessed grew up on the comics so it was a dream come true to play Voltan. You can tell he was having the most fun out of all the actors.
Also the women were SMOKING HOT
I saw this in the theater in 1980. After seeing it, my friends and I had this skit where we walked around in trench coats and creeped up to the music of this Queen song.... dun-dun-dun-dun FLASH! and rip open the trench-coat and the other guy would pretend to be a girl and scream "AAAAHHHH" (also to the music). We were young, but though that was the funniest thing.
Ok. I think Ashleigh is ready for “Barbarella”
and she thought this was sexy lol
Topol-Zarkov-most famous for "Fiddler in the Roof" and was in Bond film "For your Eyes only"🎩
I think she might like Fiddler On The Roof.
Ash would love fiddler. Also another cheesy good time is “The Black Hole” (1979).
Let's see if she recognizes Topol when she gets to "For Your Eyes Only" on Franchise Fridays
Won 2 Golden Globes, and nominated for Oscar and Tony awards.
🎵🎵 Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum 🎵🎵
I'm an oldie at 50. I watched this so many times as a kid!
"Gordon's alive?"
Timothy Dalton and Brian Blessed were so good in this film.
Max von Sydow and Topol. For the win.
This movie was made for pure entertainment. They weren't trying to do Shakespeare or anything. It's one of the best guilty pleasures ever made. I watch it every New Years Eve to end the year on a fun note.
"What does that mean; is that torture, is that sex things?"
Yes.
"He took his role just... way serious."
Brian Blessed is a hoot (no pun intended).
"Flash! (dun dun dun dun) Ah-ahhh!" has been stuck in MY head since I saw this, one time only on TV in 1990. And then after this they airred Ice Pirates.
Oh yes. Love Ice Pirates. Watch out for the space herpe.
Would love to see reactions to Ice Pirates! But it's hard to find, or at least I've not found it anywhere from a reputable seller.
YES, ICE PIRATES ASHLEIGH!
One of my favourites - a camp classic!
“What do you mean - Gordon’s alive?”
Bloody love this film.
Topol ,who plays Doctor Zakov, was famous for his role in a musical movie called Fiddler on the Roof, where he sings "If I were a rich man" . A song Gwen Stephanie would later reinvent.
He saved every one of us.
Respect and props.
"I can't believe I watched this movie sober." - Ashleigh, and everyone of us.
Now watch highlander 3 sober. I dare you!
@@jasonwebb7978 You monster...
@@jasonwebb7978 No, thank you. One "Lambert" is more than one person should bear.
RUclips has been feeding me several react channels as of late. It's delightful to come across someone who who actually reacts to things in the film.
"Those are football words". LOL
In the original Flash Gordon strips, he was a polo champion. They changed him to a football star to be more relatable to a more modern audience.
Marvel comics did a version where he was a retired NBA player.
In the 2000s tv series, he was a marathon runner, because the makers were thinking "how can we make this more dull?"
The song will continue popping into your head any time anyone says the word flash from now on. You might even find yourself saying “ahh-ahhhh” to the confusion of others
It was on the Flash TV series. Different character.
The campy acting was intentional, it was based on a serial from the 1930s. The cast really had some talented actors; Max von Sydow (Ming) was the old priest in the Exorcist, Brian Blessed (Voltan) was a classically trained Shakesperian actor, Timothy Dalton (Barin) would go on from this role to play James Bond, and Topol (Zarkov) is best known for playing the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof.
"Okay! That seemed unnecessary - but very cool!" (25:05) That's a great description of this whole movie!
Favorite thing I’ve ever heard you say “I also giggle like that when I’m eating snacks” haha priceless!
Ming doesn't know what "Earthhhhhh" is, but he has a button that is labeled "Earthquake", alright I'll go with it.
That isn't too hard to suspend disbelief for in my opinion. The movie is in English because nobody wants to watch Flash Gordon with subtitles. It is intentionally campy and really invites you to just accept that sort of thing regardless of realism.
He just pronounces it as Earrthhhhhquake.
I always liked the ridiculous naming 'Hot Hail'. What, slightly warm rain then? Doesn't sound too threatening.
Yeah, but "Mongoquake" sounds like an insult you would now get your social media cancelled for.
@@theaikidoka Unless it was within explicitly Yellow Peril context, I have my doubts that any actual Mongolians would care. And as for loudmouth idiots that think screeching on Tumblr counts as activism...you would care why?
"Is that a gun that shoots hands?" What's wrong Ashleigh? You've never seen a "hand gun" before? LOL! Kidding! I love your reactions! I'm less than 15 minutes in, and already this is going in my top 10!💙
😆
This film is so loved because it fullheartedly plays its premise of a 30's sci-fi adventure completely straight with that added bit of 80's flare.
K-mart Loki is a future 007. :D
Wait until she eventually gets to Hot Fuzz
@@weldonwin or 10th Doctor, Doctor Who
@@DanielRichards644 "FOR THE END OF TIME!!!"
5:07 NOOOOO, the one guy is played by Topol. He was in the stage and screen versions of "Fiddler on the Roof" which is one of the best musicals ever. He was an EXTREMELY well respected actor and singer. That is another must watch. Its funny, sad, heartfelt and heartbreaking. Such a wonderful film (albeit iv never like the "Miracles of Miracles" song lol)
Also he was in For Your Eyes Only (James Bond movie)
Topol is a truly outstanding and versatile actor.I should say was,because sadly he is no longer with us.
I got to see Topol perform during his last tour before he died. The man was incredible!
Yea, THESE aren't "bad" actors. On the contrary, SOME are even RENOWNED VETERANS (like Max Von sydow and Topol). They're just not taking it that seriously is all. They're taking a HUMOROUS approach because THIS movie is supposed to be a spoof.
Ya and Topol is just funny as hell too. In Fiddler his comedic timing is impeccable, the bit of "I want to see Motels new machine now!" and "now lets go" is one of the funniest parts of that movie and its driven totally by him.
This is one of the greatest movies of all time. I was 11 when it came out and probably watched it a kajillion times since then.
Makeup is on point today sister. Thanks for the 49 minutes of pure escape from my everyday life.
Voltran's performance is just Brian Blessed at home on any given day.
When I was a kid we used to perform for Hollywood orphanages, (not quite Oliver Twist but not far from it) at Christmas. Sam Jones came one year and passed out presents and performed with us. I got to sit on his lap... he was dreamy. Plus he was a truly lovely guy.
Hans Zarkow will return in "For Your Eyes Only"
Prince Barin will return in "The Living Daylights"
Ming the Merciless will return in Never Say Never Again
@@matthiasschulz3569- He was the title character in The Exorcist, he played chess with Death in The Seventh Seal, and he was the chief ghost in Ghostbusters 2. He had a *way* too small role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, as a Norwegian, I think of him as Hamsun.
There is not nearly enough reaction to this movie on the Internet. I am so happy to see this posted and I can’t wait to watch it after work tonight.
Finally, I have been begging for this! Now she needs to watch Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Best line of the movie- As Barin and Zarkov are chained to the wall, Barin says “Tell me more about this man Houdini”. 😆
Quite true.
Officially the best ever comment by any reactor ever. When Ming appears “Howie Mandel?” 😂😂😂😂😂
Favorite lines in this movie:
Klytus: "Bring me the bore worms."
Aura: "Oh no! Not the bore worms!"
This movie came out when I was 13 years old. I knew about the old serials and the comic strips. But I'd obviously never seen them. However this movie was complete campy ridiculous fun and I loved it. And the Queen soundtrack.
"Why is this movie so horny?" Once upon a time, there were these popular theaters called "drive-ins" ...
"...they are responsible for many Millennials."
There is also an Adult Film version called "Flesh Gordon"...
Two weeks? I've had that song stuck in my head for 44 years.
43 for me lol
I was really annoyed with Queen. I'd just seen them on Oueen's The Game tour only a few months before this came out. We didn't get to hear any of this in concert.
@@jesseslack2089 hmm... I think I first saw it in the 90s some time... so... maybe 30-ish years in my case?
Since 1980 when I saw it in the theater. So 44 years as well. Plus I listen to the soundtrack all the time....
Ornella Mutti really moved me from one stage of my life to another when this film came out, and now Ashleigh has met Brian Blessed, the force of nature.
Ashley- “ where do I get a leg piece like that?”
Me - “ where do I get a piece of leg like that?”
You killed me! 🤣🤣🤣
It’s my pleasure.
In my group of friends, often we don't say, "Got any plans today?" instead we say, "Klytus, I'm bored. What plaything can you offer me today?" :D
I see you enjoyed Brian Blessed's subdued and refined performance as Prince Vultan. The soundtrack in this film is second to none. It is an outrageously underrated movie. If you are Generation X, this film, LadyHawke, Karate Kid, Back to the Future and John Hughes were your childhood.
Yep.
The movie studio sent some of the first scenes they shot to queen, once they saw all the bright colors and how crazy it was they absolutely volunteered to do the entire thing
a similar story to Highlander