Review of Flash Gordon (1980) by Tsrival — 11 Dec 2017
Flash Gordon has sort of become a household tradition in my family. I first saw Flash Gordon several years ago when my dad showed it to me. The acting is completely over the top, the dialogue is cheesy, the practical effects are hilariously awful (considering Star Wars came out in 77, and The Thing came out in 82), and it's one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. The sets and costumes are colorful and weird, the villains are very corny, and the soundtrack is absolutely incredible (no sarcasm. Queen did the soundtrack). This movie is the pinnacle of the "so bad it's good" genre.
It is especially hilarious seeing Flash Gordon influence Taika Waititi's Thor Ragnarok. The costumes, sets, visuals, soundtrack, and humor of Thor are extremely reminiscent of Flash Gordon, and the director himself said that he had originally had a couple scenes that were meant to be direct references to Flash Gordon, but they were unfortunately cut from the film.
In conclusion, Flash Gordon is not for everyone. If you are looking for a cool sci-fi or space opera akin to Wrath of Khan or Star Wars, then this isn't for you. If you want to have some laughs and enjoy a fun, cheeseball movie, then Flash Gordon is perfect for you.
This review of Flash Gordon (1980) was written by Tsrival on 11 Dec 2017.
Flash Gordon has generally received positive reviews.
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