Review of Flash Gordon
- From: jewahe <j.hanvey@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:12:48 -0400
"Flash Gordon" remake a little ridiculous By Ray Richmond
Thu Aug 9, 9:16 PM ET
This new "Flash Gordon" that speaks of "putting a 21st century spin on a science fiction classic" incorporates lots of spiffy effects, sleek stylings and a cleverly self-aware bit of modern-day whimsy -- not to mention all of the cinematic production values that the seemingly bottomless bank account of executive producers Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. can buy.
It has a nice air of self-deprecation that assures us it's in on the joke, that this is less about threats to our planet than subtly cheeky good fun. Yet the 90-minute kickoff and a subsequent hour of the Sci Fi Channel series still somehow feel forced and somewhat empty, perhaps for the very reason that it wants things both ways. It's tough to get a sci-fi project to work as both effective drama and lighthearted fantasy, and "Flash" can't quite effectively bridge that gap.
The opening stanza from scribe and executive producer Peter Hume and director Rick Rosenthal drags in getting us into the story about Steven "Flash" Gordon (a rather whitebread Eric Johnson) who is fleet of foot as a track star but persistently haunted by the death of his scientist father, who died in a fire when Flash was a mere 13. Fate begins to spur him to a greater calling early on here when his old girlfriend, Dale (Gina Holden) -- who is now a TV reporter -- involves Flash in a mysterious alien story spurred by a truck driver who finds a strange device hovering over the road.
Suddenly, the track dude who likes to rebuild classic cars is an investigator charged with, you know, the fate of the universe. No biggie. Turns out that Flash is now finding out more about what his deceased daddy was onto than he'd ever wanted to. It involves sinister "biomechanical" killers and "trans-dimensional rifts" and something called the "Imex" (not to be confused with the oversized-screen cinematic style). It all leads to the ruthless Ming (John Ralston), the despotic ruler of the planet Mongo (no relation to the mentally challenged character portrayed by Alex Karras in "Blazing Saddles"). Flash and his ex-girlfriend now find themselves hopping via trans-dimensional rift back and forth between Earth and Mongo.
If all that isn't ridiculous enough, there's also a Princess Aura (Anna Van Hooft) and a hostile bounty hunter named Baylin (Karen Cliche). This is how you toss "Flash Gordon" into the present day, sometimes kicking and screaming and feeling forced. The whole story is over the top, but it's mitigated by the sense of humor it has about its own broad elements. The acting is serviceable enough and -- to Rosenthal's credit in the pilot -- surprisingly consistent. What the plotting lacks in cohesion and suspense, the production often compensates for in visual appeal. But this doesn't merit must-see weekly viewing unless you're a true sci-fi diehard. And you know who you are.
Cast:
Steven "Flash" Gordon: Eric Johnson
Dale Arden: Gina Holden
Baylin: Karen Cliche
Hans Zarkov: Jody Racicot
Ming: John Ralston
Aura: Anna Van Hooft
Rankol: Jonathan Lloyd Walker
Nick Gligor: Panou
Joe Wylee: Giles Panton
Executive producers: Matthew O'Connor, Tom Rowe, Robert Halmi Sr., Robert Halmi Jr., Peter Hume; Co-executive producer: James Thorpe; Producer: Pascal Verschooris; Teleplay: Peter Hume; Director: Rick Rosenthal; Director of photography: David Pelletier; Production designer: Clyde Klotz; Costume designer: Heidi Samuda; Art director: Peter Andringa; Visual effects supervisor: Bruce Turner; Editors: Rick Benwick, Gary Smith; Composer: Michael Picton; Casting: Lynn Kressel.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
JWH: Did this reviewer see the same show I did? It had a "cleverly self-aware bit of modern-day whimsy" and was full of self-deprecating humor? Most of the humor was forced and predictable and there was nothing whimsical about it.
The acting was serviceable and consistent? Well, it was consistent - consistently bad. Most of the actors seemed to be completely uninspired and uninterested in the whole proceedings.
Spiffy special effects? The effects were so sub-par as to be laughable.
The story is over the top? That plot has been done to death.
Maybe I should get drunk or stoned and rewatch the pilot. Perhaps I'd see what this reviewer saw in it.
--
JWH
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: Review of Flash Gordon
- From: PV
- Re: Review of Flash Gordon
- Prev by Date: Re: Flash Gordon Pilot
- Next by Date: Re: Waitaminnit...the Cigarette Smoking Man was elected President?
- Previous by thread: Masters of Science Fiction...
- Next by thread: Re: Review of Flash Gordon
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
