DVD review (region 1)
Directed by Mike Hodges
Starring Sam J Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Topol, Timothy Dalton
Release date 7 August 2007

The end of the world is nigh. Evil intergalactic despot Ming the Merciless is directing extreme weather at the Earth (so he’s behind global warming!) and only one man can stop him. Altogether now: FLASH! Aha!

Saviour of the Universe, King of the Impossible and title character of the greatest film of all time. Ever. No, really. Bold, beautiful, weird and funny, Mike Hodges’ take on pulp space hero Flash Gordon is a stunning visual ride, packed with rich detail and beautifully crafted surprises.

It’s not just the eyes that are catered for though. Step forward Queen. Never has a rock soundtrack shared such a powerful symbiotic relationship with the movie it is punctuating. At the time, sci fi soundtracks were very much in the domain of the symphonic score, as evidenced by the then recent successes of Star Wars and Superman the Movie. The band rose to the challenge of providing rich soundscapes and triumphant anthems, and contributed a piece that was very much the audio equivalent of what was occurring onscreen.

With its variety of gaudy and distinctive sets, courtesy of Fellini’s designer Danilo Donati, and lit by Star Wars veteran Gilbert Taylor, Flash Gordon has an otherworldly feel, particularly in the swamp scenes that are far superior to the Dagobah scenes from The Empire Strikes Back which was released during the same summer.

Hodges handles the big set pieces marvellously well. The journey to Mongo is an exotic swirl of a voyage, while the ‘spiked platform’ fight between Flash and Prince Barin is gripping, bloody and brutal. Hodges’ best work, however, is in the terrifying wood beast sequences. The palpable sense of tension is communicated beautifully by the actors, including a surprisingly effective Peter Duncan (later to bring a different sort of tension to Blue Peter), and Hodges' use of unrevealing camera angles builds what is basically a game of Russian roulette into a chilling and memorable scene.

There are many great throwaway moments peppered throughout the picture. What is behind Klytus’ golden mask? We never find out, although Peter Wyngarde’s voice hints at a sadistic and brutal creature. And what of the evil General Kala? A cruel female general who melts like the Wicked Witch of the West, Mariangela Melato’s performance is great fun. And, of course, the movie leaves us with the tantalising question - what exactly are the ‘bore worms’?

The special effects may occasionally fall short, but then they do echo the ‘on-a -shoestring’ aesthetic of the original source chapter serials. What is missing in the way of polish is made up for by the characters. Brian Blessed gives a performance that has defined the rest of his career, while eagle-eyed viewers will spot Robbie Coltrane, Richard O’Brien and, most perplexingly of all, respected playwright John Osbourne lurking around the edges of the frame.

The leads are all perfectly cast, from Sam J Jones as the square jawed hero, who just about everybody in the movie seems to fancy, to Melody Anderson as Dale Arden, Flash’s love interest, whose very name almost sounds like a double entendre. Topol provides the eccentricity (the brain drain sequence is one of the weirdest sequences in a movie that is never less than odd) and Ornella Muti’s turn as the sensuous Princess Aura should probably have earned the movie an ‘X’ rating.

Then there’s Max Von Sydow as Ming the Merciless. Amid the chaos and buzz of the film, Ming is like a spider at the centre of a giant web. Von Sydow’s performance is creepy, yet is self-controlled enough to confirm that Ming is a ruler with real power. He never descends into pantomime excess, no matter how tempting the outlandish situations. He is restrained because he can be, making it plain that the insects in his court are far beneath him.

A stunning, truly engaging film that continues to thrill nearly 30 years on, in its own way Flash Gordon is every bit as good as Star Wars.

The extras included on the disc are less than generous – an interview with Alex Ross (who provided the cover illustration) is the highlight, although hardly essential. There is also an interview with screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr and a dull 10 second trailer for the upcoming Sci Fi channel version. All of the extras pale in comparison to the goodies on the region 2 edition. However, importantly the picture quality for this region 1 disc is crisp and bold, and superior to its region 2 counterpart. Jonathan Wilkins

VERDICT: 10/10
Enormous fun. The only disappointment is that the question posed at the film’s climax - ‘The End?’ - has so far remained unanswered.