Review – Flash Gordon

This movie from the birth of the 1980s is approximately one third run-of-the-mill action movie, one third loving tribute to the original Buster Crabbe serials from the 1930s, and one third pure camp. Indeed, the whole thing is oddly evocative of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, though that might be due in part to Richard O’Brien’s presence in the supporting cast. Our hero, his new girlfriend and their wacky scientist companion take on the forces of Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow, the only good actor in the whole production). By all means come for the over-the-top soundtrack by Queen, but don’t feel like you have to stay for anything else. Mildly amusing