Recensioni degli utenti

I watched the pilot and, frankly, thought this series was plain bad. HOWEVER a funny thing happened over the months. Around October I tuned back in with a friend to show them how weak a show "Flash" was...turns out it was much better. Still not fantastic but watchable. Some of the characters were interesting, the plot was more action oriented and set on Mongo (rather than Flash's Mom's house). It made me re-evaluate it. Another few weeks passed and I tuned in again...turns out the show isn't that bad after all.

So the question begs itself, can you write off a show that starts poorly or should it be judged in its entirety? I think, all things considered, the show is better than it was and might well become a quality show. There are a few episodes left in the season so I'm adopting a wait and see attitude. But the most recent episodes are far better than previous ones and I think the show deserves a second season...assuming they up the budget and tweak the writing.

I don't think this is as bad as some reviewers seem to believe. I do think that this is NOT Flash Gordon. I'm getting sick and tired of Hollywood re-imagining or re-inventing stuff. I mean, what's the point of naming your show Flash Gordon and then taking it as far away from it's origins as you can get. In my humble opinion you will just disappoint people. And when you read the majority of the reviews here, they have!! It's too bad for the lead character, because Eric Johnson is great!! He can act and he is great as an action hero. The actor who plays Zarkoff is also great. He actually made me laugh out loud several times. The great let down (besides the SFX and very mediocre writing) of this show is Ming! He is certainly not merciless, he is just...well...less. He is not scary nor is he even interesting. Damn I want Max von Sydow back!! I mean what's next?? A re-invention of Star Wars where Darth Vader is actually a Russian ballet dancer?? I mean come on!! If you name your show Flash Gordon then give us Flash Gordon and NOT the sequel to Sliders where the main character just happen to listen to the name Flash Gordon.

When I first watched the pilot episode of this show I was fairly appalled, it seemed boring and like it wasn't going anywhere. I turned it off less than halfway through. Then a few weeks later I was really bored and had nothing to watch so I decided to give it a go and I discovered that it actually gets a lot better after the pilot (God knows who gave the series the go-ahead with that piece of crap for a pilot!). As a fan of the original film its fun to find out which Mongo(lian?!) race you meet from the film each episode and how the different parts of the film are translated to form different stories. The series, in my opinion has definitely done what remakes are supposed to do, because although the original is a cult-classic, it is seriously dated and this show makes the story accessible to a new generation, using more modern ideas and FX like travelling between dimensions through a rift doorway, as opposed to the old fashioned traditional comic-book space rocket with circular windows down one side, from the film! It is definitely a series which grows on you as the relationships between characters develop and change. I definitely agree with the general consensus that Ming the Merciless could be more menacing, but the hotness of his daughter (and all the other female leads for that matter) definitely makes up for this! In fact if you're looking for eye-candy, this is you're show.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, SciFi Channel hasn't done science fiction since they took the 4th Season option to cancel Farscape. But I digress.

First off, if you went into this expecting to hear shades of the 1980 movie's Queen soundtrack, you're going to be disappointed. The opening theme wasn't that bad (it actually has a lot of potential), but the rest of the soundtrack is a letdown. Typical canned music that one would expect if Hollywood ever made a porn movie. If SciFi Channel was going to remix the original Flash Gordon song for their trailers, you would think that it would show up somewhere in the series.

The music isn't the major letdown, however. It's the completely soulless "re-imagination" of a science fiction classic that dumps just about everything that made Flash Gordon - from the original comics, serials, animated series, and movie - so great. About the only thing that carried over was character and planet names. I'm sorry, but it's going to take more than that to make an interesting series. If the comics could be "re-imagined" into the Buster Crabbe serials, and the serials into the animated series, and all of that into the 1980 movie while still keeping the whole Flash Gordon spirit, how hard would it be to make a TV series that can do the same?

The characters lack any character. Between the bad acting and the poor writing, it is impossible to find a character that isn't boring, or even likable. The actors are 20/30 somethings and few of them are well known. Probably because SciFi Channel decided to save on money by hiring their usual low grade, pretty face talent Maybe if the writing hadn't been done by committee it would seem less like "Dawson's Creek in Space", but I doubt it. I can understand the whole "Sliders Rift Thing" as a convention for the characters getting to Mongo - interstellar flight isn't possible for Earth when this series is set and most viewers realize this - but overall there isn't much innovation. Perhaps SciFi Channel should learn to develop their imagination before trying to "re-imagine" any other series.

Final thought: I thought that CBS' "re-imagination" of Kolchak the Nightstalker was the worst remake ever. SciFi Channel has proved me wrong once again.

This show appeals to a certain type of audience - it's not particularly clever but it's enjoyable to watch if not taken so seriously.

This is one of those shows that will age well given time - it feels like the actors/writers haven't quite settled into the show yet. Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a disastrous first season with terrible, cheesy writing, low brow plot lines and terrible acting... yet it went on to have a huge cult following and seven seasons. I think this series deserves a chance.

The characters are endearing and it has a clear direction that I'm interested in. I hope we see a second season.

High hopes turn into groaning frustration and confusion upon seeing the first (and unfortunately not the last) episode of the latest attempt to resurrect the popular hero.

One can forgive the poor acting given the see-and-say dialogue and poorly thought out story elements. However, if your expecting dazzling special effects and quality action to save the day, your better off watching a power point presentation at the office.

One more thing; Can Ming be any less intimidating? This version of Flash Gordon's nemesis has all the villainous charm of Bill Lumbergh from Office Space!

I don't have any knowledge of the Flash Gordon franchise beyond the fact that it exists and that earlier works are apparently very different from this new series, so my opinion of the new series is based solely on what's presented there and not on the body of knowledge from the Flash Gordon universe at large. This is important because I think it's unfair to judge what's essentially a reboot of the franchise by comparing it to the history of the original incarnation(s). Battlestar Galactica fans made the same mistake before realizing what a complete gem the new series is.

OK, so this is no Battlestar Galactica. It's low-budget and goofy, and it's not particularly intelligent or emotionally deep. There's no arguing that.

But, who said it had to be the next great sci-fi series? Flash Gordon seems to be intended as silly, escapist fun, and I can't find any way in which it doesn't fulfill that role. The simple story lines are executed well with a good (if predictable) mix of drama and humor, and the characters are developed well enough to keep at least a passing interest, not to mention being easy on the eyes.

Flash Gordon reminds me a lot of Doctor Who mixed with a dash of Baywatch. I suspect that most viewers will enjoy it if they allow themselves to. I definitely do.

Not that I'd admit it to anyone. :)

This was simply a great show. I glanced through some of the many comments which savage this show, and frankly, I don't really get it. This program has a typical sci fi premise, with the twist of adding a slick, insidious dictator along the lines of a self righteous Ayn Rand villain. The special effects and action are a bit cheesy, but the show play it tongue in cheek ("laser whip, really?"). The plot and character interaction steadily improves throughout the show and Flash's allies on Mongo are portrayed as a lesser of two evils instead of being self righteous freedom fighters. Each of the individual cantons has a unique look and culture. The plot steadily builds and the final five episodes are amazing: inevitable, yet soundly executed. Man, I really have no ides why people did not love this show.

Starting off, let me tell you that I've never seen any of the previous Flash series before, so that might explain my openness. Even so, I think that Flash Gordon is a decent TV series, not something to win major awards, but something to relax and unwind to on a Friday night. The plot follows Steven "Flash" Gordon (Eric Johnson) who along with his former girlfriend Dale (Gina Holden), eccentric scientist Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot), and alien bounty hunter Baylin (Karen Cliché) travels between Earth and the alien world of Mongo with the help of dimensional rifts. While trying to find his long-lost father, he must foil the various plots of the evil dictator Ming (John Ralston) and is occasionally helped as well as hindered by Ming's haughty daughter, Aura (Anna van Hooft).

Eric Johnson takes most of the bizarre sights and activities that he sees with an "oooookaaay..." type of air which adds a humorous air to situations. Jody Racicot also does well as the extremely nervous Hans Zarkov (or "that strange fidgety little man", as Baylin calls him). Karen Cliché is easily one of the most enjoyable cast members, delivering humor with her confusion or lack of knowledge about human customs or lifestyles, however also is a tough woman with no problem punching someone in the face. Gina Holden is so-so, but she is not my favorite by far. While her connections to the media are used to introduce Mongo invaders to Flash and Co in the episodes, she herself unfortunately shares little chemistry with either Flash or her fiancé, Joe. Anna van Hooft is brilliant as Ming's stuck-up teenage daughter, disgusted with her father's actions yet caring enough not to wish for his own death (or the death of others). John Ralston portrays Ming the "Benevolent Father" as a more modern dictator, using the planet's limited water supply to control the population and insisting all the while that he loves the people.

The series has had a somewhat rocky, though adequate, start. By the episode Sorrow, the show has definitely started to introduce deeper subplots and better character development, paving the way for a better future.

The saddest part about this is new take on FLASH GORDON is that the lead (Eric Johnson) is actually not bad in the role. The rest is mediocre at best. From clichés like the "funny" black guy side kick, characters just happening to get important phone calls just when the main character was about to leave the room, to old relationships being revisited coming back into the hero's life just when the adventure begins so that they can become closer through adversity and on and on and on; to some truly pedestrian dialog (yes, they at one point even use the immortal "don't go there" line); and finally production values and special effects on par with the Superboy t.v. series from the late 80's-early 90's...this pilot isn't exactly confidence inspiring. While Johnson was often quite irritating as Whitney on "Smallville" he shows a good deal of humor and charisma as our hero. It was a very unwise decision to make him a marathon runner however. He's far too big to pass as a long distance runner and it's not exactly a physical and dashing sport. It's cheaper to film a bunch of guys running, so this was probably a budgetary decision, but than why not make him just some kind of overall ambitious athlete? Or maybe make him some in the closet major talent that didn't get his break because of responsibilities to his family. Maybe he just tears up the local football or soccer amateur leagues and hence his nickname for flashing past all the local competition? Just a thought. The rest of the male cast looks like they were recruited from a Canadian dinner theater production and the mandate for the females seems to have been "Skinnier! Skinnier! I want these ladies to unconvincing and yet remarkably skeletal at the same time!" The show also takes so many liberties with the characters (as opposed to previous versions) and essence of the story itself that it now resembles more of a "Sliders" clone than any previous FG creation. It would have been better off being it's own thing and not trying to simply leech off the Flash Gordon name. If only the show could have been as inventive and epic as the concept art included on the special pilot episode DVD that was recently released. That actually showed some promise. One can only hope it improves (a whooooole lot), as I don't think it could get any worse. At least I hope it doesn't get any worse. But then at least it would enter the "so bad it's funny" area and that would be more entertaining.

I honestly have no idea why this show has such a low rating (4.8!). Hardly any TV shows are so disliked. 21% of idiots have given it a 1. Seriously? In what world is it the worst product possible? Utter nonsense. It's even driven a bunch of retaliatory 10 ratings in an attempt to even things out a bit. I can only conclude it is Marmite - you either love it or hate it. Luckily, I love Marmite. Delicious on toast, and boosts scrambled eggs a treat. Mmmmmm! Flash Gordon is both an homage to and in rebellion of the movie from 1980. Many of the basic elements in the movie are at least alluded to in the series, but it adds up to a very different beast. However, the differences are superficial enough to make it feel fresh wthout spoiling the humour. Actually, it's the humour that rescues the TV show. Obviously it is pretty cheap - it was never going to win awards for special effects or world-building - but the producers use that as a strength through the humour. The writing is actually quite decent; the character development is good, and importantly each episode brings something new to the overall story arc. Some shows get boring very fast, but somehow FG stays fresh. I love the villainous and enigmatic Mongo scientist who floats about silently and menacingly on his hoverboard; he's a better villain than Ming himself. If I were being critical, I could have wished for a more impressive Ming - instead, they've gone a bit prosaic; he could be any ordinary Earth man with a wide streak of megalomania. Max Von Sydow he ain't, and I guess that was the point. The cast are all pretty good too; the opening episode struggled a little to set the tone, perhaps trying to set the scene a little too quickly, so came across a tiny bit cheesy, but by episode 3 I was totally hooked and it's now hard to imagine anyone else playing Flash, Dale or Zarkov. Pacing is ideal, and FG never takes itself seriously, which is just as it should be.

I've read the reviews, and I know my opinion is unpopular. So, in my honest opinion, the new Flash Gordon is a good adventure series and not unlike the original Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Hercules, Firefly, or any other tongue-in-cheek adventure show. The new Battlestar Galactica is a drama set in a Sci Fi universe, but it takes itself too seriously for my taste. Don't get me wrong, the new BG is good, but I prefer shows like the new Flash Gordon over it.

I've read the venomous barbs attacking the show and I don't want any part of that: suffice it to say "to each his own". I guess what I'm saying is I prefer the Fantasy-side of Sci Fi over the drama-side, but that does not mean I'm any less of a fan of Sci-Fi. From my perspective,FG is a good effort and the Sci Fi channel ought to be lauded for such a brave endeavor, but like the Dresden Files, Flash Gordon will most likely be canceled.

Yikes, from reading the first couple of pages of comments on this, I thought I must have had the wrong entry in the IMDb. This new Flash Gordon really isn't so bad, in my opinion.

I guess I can see how die-hard fans of previous incarnations of the characters and story might be sorely disappointed. That happens all too often with any kind of modern-day remake. And I have to concede that this show reminds me a LOT of just about everything else I've seen on SciFi lately (except maybe Battlestar).

But I also thought from all the one star reviews on the first couple of pages here that there must be a lot of lemmings out there. The show isn't particularly great, but the acting really isn't that bad, and unlike some other commentators, I find the whole thing to be plenty cheesy--there's just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek. When I first started seeing previews with the old theme music, I was afraid they were going to try and take themselves too seriously, but I've been pleasantly surprised.

I also like the fact that there are a couple of hot women. :) But I have to say I'm not that impressed with Princess Aura. Then again, like most of the characters on this show, she has kind of grown on me a bit as the character develops.

All in all, this show really isn't too bad. I've been pleasantly surprised.

I watched this show when it first came out. At the time I thought it was ok. However, I just re-watched the series and it was a lot better than I remembered. I think a lot of the negative reviews are because people are comparing this series to the previous movies. If you look at this series by itself without comparing it to previous renditions, it's actually pretty good. This show was fun to watch, just wished it had lasted longer than one season.

The Sci-Fi Channel has had only a few good original series. "Flash Gordon" is one of the worst I've ever seen. Yes, the characters are attractive but the writing, special effects, and acting are all horrible. The planet Mongo looks like the slums of Earth. I think they should have relied more on the 1980 movie. At least you had bright sets and costumes. Watching the show is a painful process. In fact, I had to TIVO it and watch it in pieces. "Painkiller Jane" is another one you need to be on pain killers to watch it, and should not last. Sci-Fi's hit or miss is getting better though. Shows like "Battlestar Galctica" and "Eureka" demonstrate they can make it work sometimes. Although, there is only one more season of Battlestar left.

A dreadful "update" of Flash Gordon. He's a small town athlete who father (maybe) died under mysterious circumstances. Through a bunch of silly events he goes to Mongo (through a door between dimensions right out of "Sliders") along with his ex Dale Arden. There they meet Ming and his daughter who want...oh I give up! This was just TERRIBLE!!! I don't know why I thought Sci Fi would make a good series (look at "Battlestar Galactica") but this is worse than I thought possible.

There's no camp at all--a serious mistake. That's what made the 1980 movie so much fun. Everything is done dead serious here. The actors are all certainly attractive (especially Eric Johnson as Flash) but the acting is just incredibly awful. I wasn't expecting Academy award performances but not THIS bad! Everybody was so wooden! They were hired for their looks and bodies--not acting ability. However the script was so terrible--boring and badly written--that probably nobody could have been good. The special effects were (even for Sci Fi) terrible.

Boring, badly updated, horribly acted. Hopefully this will disappear soon. If they camped it up it could only help.

Once again the Sci Fi Channel shows us that the inmates are running the asylum over there.Does anyone at this network actually "enjoy" science fiction? Recognize the difference between superior writing(Farscape,Battlestar Galactica) & inferior,vastly,inferior writing like this atrocious mess?Every television network has its share of winners & losers,but the SF Channel's output of poor product clearly is enormous while eminent product continues to remain in the minority.Flash Gordon could be no better example of that fact. It was recently announced that their series Painkiller Jane has been canceled,let us hope that Flash follows suit quickly!

I really really wanted this to be good. It's not even decent. Just terrible. Hard to believe that the original serials had not only better actors & better stories, BUT better FX too. This new sci-fi series really leaves one hoping that a movie version is in-the-works. After the newer Star Wars films of which I love (a TRUE Star Wars fan loves all the films!), I thought it inevitable that a competitive Flash Gordon movie would be in the making. Stephen Sommers (Director of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns) was originally going to helm the project but that rumor died off a couple of years ago. A new Flash Gordon novel was also supposed to be released by Star Wars Shatterpoint author Matthew Stover, but that wasn't released because the kingpins of the Flash Gordon franchise thought it an "unwholesome use of the trademark". AND this lousy sci-fi TV series IS!? Somebody needs to buy the rights from those guys so someone like me can reinvent the wheel of Flash Gordon the right way. Someone with true vision.