Flash Gordon

Discuss releases from Arrow and the films on them.

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domino harvey
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Flash Gordon

#1 Post by domino harvey » Sat May 30, 2020 12:38 am

Image

Synopsis: Super producer Dino De Laurentiis (Dune, Barbarella) brought Alex Raymond's beloved cartoon strip and the long running movie serial to the big screen with celebrated director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Black Rainbow) at the helm, in a delirious space opera, where Flash is King of the Impossible!

Merciless Emperor Ming (Max von Sydow) decides to wreak havoc on Earth in a moment of cruel boredom. Boarding a rocket as a means of escape, star quarterback Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones), Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) and Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) find themselves on Mongo. Taken prisoner Flash must save Dale from becoming Ming's concubine, avoid the amorous intentions of Ming's wicked daughter Aura (Ornella Muti) and unite the warring Kingdoms of Mongo.

With endlessly repeatable dialogue, inimitable camp style, the sonic stylings of Queen and a delightful band of characters and actors playing them it's no wonder Flash Gordon has become one of the most beloved sci-fi spectacles of its era with directors such as Edgar Wright, Taika Waititi and Seth MacFarlane paying tribute to it in their work.

CONTENT AND SPECIAL FEATURES

Brand new 4K restoration by Studiocanal from the original camera negative approved by director Mike Hodges
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Optional 5.1 and 2.0 stereo DTS-HD Master audio
Booklet featuring new writing on the film by critics and film historians including Neil Snowdon, Dennis Cozzalio, John-Paul Checkett, A.K. Benedict, and Kat Ellinger illustrated with original stills
Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork
Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions, alternative posters and promotional images
Limited Edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais

DISC ONE – FLASH GORDON & SPECIAL FEATURES (4K BLU-RAY)

Archival audio commentary with Mike Hodges
Archival audio commentary with Brian Blessed
Interviews with actors Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Brian Blessed, Queen icon Brian May, composer Howard Blake, and poster designer Renato Casaro
Behind the Scenes of Flash Gordon – an archival documentary on the making of the film
Archival interviews with Mike Hodges, screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr., comic book artist Alex Ross
Lost in Space: Nic Roeg's Flash Gordon – a new documentary program exploring the version Roeg (The Man Who Fell to Earth) had originally planned to make with producer Dino De Laurentiis
Gremlin's Finest Hour – an episode from the animated Flash Gordon TV show written by J. Michael Reaves from November 1982
Deleted scenes and original endings – prop collector Bob Lindenmayer discusses dropped sequences and sequel ideas
35th Anniversary Greenroom featurette – Mike Hodges meets the cast for the first time since filming at the 35th anniversary reunion
35th Anniversary Reunion featurette – the cast and crew discuss Flash Gordon
Entertainment Earth on Flash Gordon merchandise
Storyboards gallery
Stills gallery
Original Trailer
Easter Eggs

DISC TWO – LIFE AFTER FLASH & SPECIAL FEATURES [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE] (BLU-RAY)

2017 feature length documentary by filmmaker Lisa Downs on the rollercoaster life of Sam J. Jones since his role in Flash Gordon, featuring the main cast and crew as well as a host of fans including Stan Lee, Robert Rodriguez, Mark Millar and more!
Sam J. Jones – a variety of interviews and featurettes including coverage of a script read from the Chattanooga Film Festival, Sam discussing his career in Mexico, his "prayer walk", and more
Melody Paintings Extended – actress Melody Anderson talks about her love of painting and talks about various pieces displayed in her home
Topol – a variety of interviews with the actor on his collections, awards and charity work
Brian Blessed – the actor recounts amusing stories about Flash Gordon
Late, Great Wyngarde – actor Peter Wyngarde discusses his experiences filming Flash Gordon and his relationship with Mike Hodges
Deep Roy – the actor raps about ambition and recounts an amusing story about Eastbound & Down
Alex Ross Talks Early Art – the artist talks about Flash Gordon and the many pieces of art he created for it from childhood to modern day
Tell Me More About the This Man Houdini – actor Rich Fuller and Jason Lenzi, founder of toy brand Bif Bang Pow, discuss a scene from Flash Gordon
Comic Con early draft – A featurette looking at the phenomenon that is Comic Con, featuring interviews with attendees and a host of regular talent including Sam J. Jones, Rich Fulton, Jason Mewes, Michael Rooker, Claudia Wells, and more
Interview with Lisa Downs – the director of Life After Flash explores her motivation to make the film and experiences during the production
Life After Flash on the Road – a variety of featurettes on the film travelling to various festivals and production including Q&A excerpts with the Flash Gordon cast, behind-the-scenes footage, Kickstarter funding video
Trailer

U.S. STREET DATE: AUGUST 18.

Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Standard Edition

Brand new 4K restoration by Studiocanal from the original camera negative approved by director Mike Hodges
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Optional 5.1 and 2.0 stereo DTS-HD Master audio
Archival audio commentary with Mike Hodges
Archival audio commentary with Brian Blessed
Interviews with actors Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Brian Blessed, Queen icon Brian May, composer Howard Blake, and poster designer Renato Casaro
Behind the Scenes of Flash Gordon – an archival documentary on the making of the film
Archival interviews with Mike Hodges, screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr., comic book artist Alex Ross
Lost in Space: Nic Roeg's Flash Gordon – a new documentary program exploring the version Roeg (The Man Who Fell to Earth) had originally planned to make with producer Dino De Laurentiis
Gremlin's Finest Hour – an episode from the animated Flash Gordon TV show written by J. Michael Reaves from November 1982
Deleted scenes and original endings – prop collector Bob Lindenmayer discusses dropped sequences and sequel ideas
35th Anniversary Greenroom featurette – Mike Hodges meets the cast for the first time since filming at the 35th anniversary reunion
35th Anniversary Reunion featurette – the cast and crew discuss Flash Gordon
Entertainment Earth on Flash Gordon merchandise
Storyboards gallery
Stills gallery
Original Trailer
Easter Eggs
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais

U.S. STREET DATE: AUGUST 18.

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yoloswegmaster
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm

Re: Flash Gordon

#2 Post by yoloswegmaster » Sat May 30, 2020 6:51 am

Is this the first Studiocanal title that Arrow has put out?

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tenia
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Re: Flash Gordon

#3 Post by tenia » Sat May 30, 2020 7:07 am

While I guess they'll be using what Studio Canal is putting out in the UK, the movie is with Universal in the US.

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MichaelB
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Re: Flash Gordon

#4 Post by MichaelB » Sat May 30, 2020 8:49 am

It wouldn't surprise me if the feature encode was the exact same video file in both the Arrow and StudioCanal versions - the same man's handling it, and there's no point reinventing the wheel when it comes to something like this.

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NABOB OF NOWHERE
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Re: Flash Gordon

#5 Post by NABOB OF NOWHERE » Sat May 30, 2020 9:32 am

I do hope the documentaries give assistant director Terry Needham the chance to get near a mike. His stories of this production are legion and hysterically funny....if misplaced and mistimed explosions and deflagated dwarves are your cup of tea.

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tenia
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Re: Flash Gordon

#6 Post by tenia » Sat May 30, 2020 10:51 am

MichaelB wrote:It wouldn't surprise me if the feature encode was the exact same video file in both the Arrow and StudioCanal versions - the same man's handling it, and there's no point reinventing the wheel when it comes to something like this.
Canal used a BD-100 for Don't Look Now, which is only 1 minute shorter than Flash Gordon and has 2.0 tracks while Flash will have 5.1 tracks instead. Copying the strategy used for Don't Look Now would only leave about 12 Gb for the extras, which isn't a lot since the extras don't seem particularly short (I suspect there is 90+ minutes at least there). If someone can do it though, I guess that's David. :D

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Ribs
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Re: Flash Gordon

#7 Post by Ribs » Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:24 am

The price for the standard UHD release for this has dropped to $20 on Amazon (via matching Best Buy's price drop) - which would be a good price for a normal $40 release at release anyway, so seems a relative bargain considering this has a $5 higher MSRP.

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domino harvey
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Re: Flash Gordon

#8 Post by domino harvey » Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:01 pm

I have a vague recollection of this film from childhood, but that’s about it. Surprised there’s no Seth MacFarlane involvement, doesn’t one of the Ted movies involve the film fairly substantially?

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knives
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Re: Flash Gordon

#9 Post by knives » Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:08 pm

Both do. It is the cause of its resurgence in America, as I understand it it's always been popular in the U.K.

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Dr Amicus
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:20 am
Location: Guernsey

Re: Flash Gordon

#10 Post by Dr Amicus » Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:50 pm

knives wrote:
Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:08 pm
Both do. It is the cause of its resurgence in America, as I understand it it's always been popular in the U.K.
Oh yes - long been so. Many VHS / DVD issues over the years and frequently shown on terrestrial / free-to-air channels. When Brian Blessed hosted Have I Got News For You way back when Gordon Brown was PM, there was a lengthy set-up simply so he could bellow "Gordon's Alive" as the punchline.

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