release year: 1980
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home VHS, 7/26/98
what I expected: n/a - seen it too many times
what I got: classic corny sci-fi action
synopsis: Flash Gordon and his two companions must stop the intergalactic despot Ming and his vastly superior forces.
impressions: This is one of those consistently-entertaining B-movies. It's cheesy, it's corny, yet it's fun. And that's what it's all about: fun. The movie has good effects, acting, and sets, not to mention lines. And then there's the outrageous soundtrack by Queen. Fun, fun, fun.
acting: It varies - a lot of these people have done more "serious" work than this, but then again, they're having fun here. Among the actors: Brian Blessed, Timothy Dalton, Max Von Sydow. I have to make a note about Ornella Muti, the Italian actress who played Princess Aura: she's a drop-dead gorgeous alien babe who dominates every moment she's on the screen. Aaaaaah.
final word: If you like sci-fi/fantasy/action/comedy movies and you want to be entertained, pure and simple, this is a movie that will do it for you.
rating: B-