ALL SCI-FI

Gord Green · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:11 pm Post subject: Flash Gordon (2007)

I just downloaded the complete 21 episide run of FLASH GORDON from the Sy-Fy channel and have begun watching them. I think it really starts out rather slowly, but peeking at some of the later episodes shows some promise.

I'll add to this post if interest is noted.

Anyway, Here's some info on it from various web sources :

From IMDb :

Hometown Celebrity Steven "Flash" Gordon discovers a secret his father tried desperately to keep hidden. He then embarks on a journey to another dimension in hopes of finding his father who was believed to be killed in a fire. Flash becomes involved with the struggles of Planet Mongo. A tyrannical leader controls the only source of clean water on the planet. Flash makes many allies during his struggles leading to a Revolution.

from wikapedia :

Flash Gordon is an American-Canadian science fiction television series that debuted on Sci-Fi in the United States on August 10, 2007 and continued airing new episodes through February 8, 2008. It has also appeared on the United Kingdom Sci-Fi and Space in Canada. The series was developed by Peter Hume, who served as executive producer/show runner and wrote the first and last episodes, among others.

The series was loosely based on the comic strip of the same name and incorporated elements from several previous adaptations, following the adventures of Steven "Flash" Gordon (Eric Johnson), a twenty-five-year-old who lives with his mother and whose scientist father was lost in a mysterious accident when Flash was 13 years old. Flash's ex-girlfriend, Dale Arden (Gina Holden), is a television news reporter and is engaged to police detective Joe Wylee. They introduce Gordons' eccentric former assistant, Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot), when rifts in space appear, allowing travel between Earth and the planet Mongo.

Mongo is ruled by the ruthless dictator Ming (John Ralston), who controls "Source Water", the only source of safe drinking water on Mongo. Unlike the previous adaptations, he is not normally called "the Merciless" and is instead called "Benevolent Father", though he is still called "the Merciless" in closed circles. He also exhibits the traits of modern, media-savvy dictators, rather than the more simplistic, stereotypically evil characterization of earlier incarnations.

Also, unlike previous depictions, Ming resembles a blond Caucasian human, rather than a bald East Asian man.

Ming has a daughter, Princess Aura (Anna van Hooft), who is disturbed by her father's brutality. The series adds a new non-Terran character, Baylin (Karen Cliche), a bounty hunter from Mongo. She finds herself trapped on Earth and becomes a comrade of Flash, Dale and Zarkov and their guide to Mongo and its inhabitants.

The peoples of Mongo live in "cantons", tribal groups that echo the animal-human hybrids of the original comic strip. The cantons include the Verdan (based on Prince Barin's forest-dwelling people from the strip), the Turin (based on the strip's Lion Men), the Dactyls (the series' version of the strip's Hawkmen), the Omadrians (women who create powerful medicines), the Frigians (who live in the frozen wastelands), the Tritons (who live beneath the ocean), and the Zurn (painted blue "Magic Men" led by Queen Azura).

There is also another group known as the Deviates, mutants whose ancestors drank "Grey Water" (toxic water) to survive. The Deviates are led by Terek, their unofficial king (and Aura's brother) and are distrusted by almost everyone.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:55 am Post subject:

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Hey, I've never watched this series! Very Happy

YouTube has the pilot, but all the other episodes (from different people) are dubbed in French. Netflix, sadly, doesn't have it. Sad

The YouTube version of the pilot has a 41:48 running time and includes the closing credits, so I guess the "part 1" in the title below doesn't mean the episodes is incomplete.
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______________ Flash Gordon 101 Pilot Part 1

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

scotpens · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 2:58 pm Post subject:

I haven't seen this series, but it sounds decidedly unpromising -- not to mention cheaply produced. I mean, I can buy Dale Arden as Flash's ex-girlfriend. I can even buy a politically correct (i.e. Caucasian) Emperor Ming. But Flash Gordon without spaceships? Sacrilege!

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 3:05 pm Post subject:

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Well, it sounds like this series won't give us much to praise, but it might give us interesting things to criticize. And that's fun, too. Very Happy

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:15 pm Post subject:

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Doh!
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...or not...

WayneO
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Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:30 pm Post subject:

Gord Green · Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:39 am Post subject:

The whole question of the casting of a caucasion as "Ming" is rather meaningless. The original intent was to portray a "Yellow Menace" character that would today be looked at as politicly insensitive!

The current casting makes Ming a more fascist character and therefore more likely accepted in today's political environment.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:03 pm Post subject:

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Hey, here's part 2 of the pilot from YouTube I posted above! Very Happy

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______________ Flash Gordon 102 Pilot Part 2

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 5:50 pm Post subject:

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I hope our negative comments haven't discouraged any members who are fans of this show from commenting on it. Sad

I'll just point out that none of use who have posted so far have actually seen the series, so our negative opinions are not based on actual experiences.

Therefore, any member of All Sci-Fi who actually likes the show can correct our misconceptions and make a few positive comments about the series. Very Happy

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 8:53 pm Post subject:

I thought that the laddies were beautiful and the production a turkey.

johnnybear · Mission Specialist Joined: 15 Jun 2016 Posts: 441

I remember watching this at the time and was not too happy with it! Ming the Merciless wasn't a bald headed Asiatic maniac as he should have been!

Politically sensitive or not — why change what worked before?

There were also no rocket ships or space scenes and everything was handled with space warps which enabled Flash and his pals to get to Mongo and back without a vessel of any kind! I did like Ming's daughter, but that was I think!

JB

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:04 pm Post subject:

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JB, your comments convinced me that if I watched this series I'd have no more luck trying to like it than I would if I tried eating liver again after hating it since I first tasted the disgusting stuff when I was a kid!

Thank you, sir. Very Happy

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)