TV/Movies Megathread

[Ed Anger]

I watch Flash Gordon to see the princess get whipped. And the assault on the Ming cruiser. 

[CountDeMoney]

I watch Flash Gordon to see the princess get whipped. And the assault on the Ming cruiser. 

It's not without its Wank Factor.

[katmai]

I am a child of the 80's and I like Flash, but love Raiders.

[Ed Anger]

I had to walk to school in a blizzard. Uphill. Both ways.

[katmai]

Yes we know Kentucky is a shithole Ed.

[Ideologue]

I watch Flash Gordon to see the princess get whipped. And the assault on the Ming cruiser. 

Princess Aura taught me what erections were.

[Tonitrus]

I think the biggest difference between Flash and Raiders, is that while Flash definitely shows its 80's age...Raiders is ageless. 

[CountDeMoney]

Hey Id, you wanna wade deep in the filthy waters of late 70s/early 80s Sci-Fi?
Check out Saturn III.  Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett, and Harvey Keitel.  Yes, that's actually the cast.

[11B4V]

I think the biggest difference between Flash and Raiders, is that while Flash definitely shows its 80's age...Raiders is ageless.

Bingo

[Ideologue]

The thing to remember about Flash is that it looks silly on purpose, as it is purposely adopting the aesthetic of a 40s serial, except instead of black in white, in the brightest, boldest colors visible to the human eye and probably a few more that we can only guess at.  It was aged--in tone and narrative as well as appearance--the day it came out, and that's what's brilliant about it.  Personally, I think of it as an art film.

[Josephus]

It's not without its Wank Factor.

Nah, that's Flesh Gordon.

[Ideologue]

To add: yes, sure, Spielberg is purposefully adopting the same kind of aesthetic (albeit in a different genre), but while he told much the same type of story*, he sought (and succeeded) to update the visual style in more obvious ways than Hodges, who was more subtle in his concession to contemporary filmmaking.  You can also contrast Flash to the Star Wars trilogy--Lucas may have been inspired by those same sci-fi serials, but again it's a less pure distillation of that serial aesthetic.

Although it must be said that all three directors had a better sense of pace and story than any of the makers of the old sci-fi serials that I've seen.

*I guess he did, anyway.  I've not really seen too many of jungle adventure/treasure hunter style serials.

Hey Id, you wanna wade deep in the filthy waters of late 70s/early 80s Sci-Fi?
Check out Saturn III.  Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett, and Harvey Keitel.  Yes, that's actually the cast.

Actually been on my list for a while.  Netflix indicates it's not even on DVD.  But the world web is wide.

[Tonitrus]

This 80's sci-fi nostalgia is making me think of looking up a couple of my old favorites..."The Ice Pirates" and "The Black Hole"

[CountDeMoney]

I The Black Hole, still my favorite live-action Disney flick.  I remember seeing that in the movie theater with my Dad and sister.

[Syt]

One of my favorite movies as a kid.