Look out Ming - Flash is back!

[Foxbat]

It seems Stephen Sommers (he of Van Helsing fame/infamy depending on your point of view) has acquired the rights to Flash Gordon and is currently putting together a script.

I adored the 30's serial and thought that the 80's De Laurentis produced film was a fine remake of this wonderful old episodic diamond. But do we need another? Sure, the CGI will be amazing - but Mr Sommers films usually lack something.

People! The floor is yours

[polymorphikos]

The Mummy was a solid film, but The Mummy Returns was drivel. If the new Flash movie is as good as the former, then I shall be very pleased. I only hope that he sticks to the feel and art-direction of the original, and doesn't get it into his head that such a look would be very outdated. Also, when the hell is this guy going to start coming-up with his own ideas? Does he do anything other than blatant pastiche?

[ravenus]

Interesting news, although personally I wish Sommers wasn't directing because he reduces a lot of his films to a defeaning indistinct blur of setpieces. But it IS time for a Flash Gordon movie...I reckon Matthew McConaughey would make for a fine Flash, unless they want to look for a teeny bopper type.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I wish Sommers wasn't directing because he reduces a lot of his films to a defeaning indistinct blur of setpieces.

I agree - towards the end of Van Helsing I had to stop and shrug and ask myself "What is supposed to be happening?". The pace was rendered meaningless by action sequence following action sequence without much to really hold them together. Not seen the Mummy films, though.

[Foxbat]

I should perhaps add that it is not absolutely certain that Sommers will be directing (he is working on the script). Although that said he has always directed eveything that he has scripted so far. It's probably fair to assume that he will (unfortunately)

[Princess Ivy]

AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H
no, nothing could ever top the classic film. why even try!
I'm gonna have nightmares tonight

[Foxbat]

AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H

Look on the bright side Ivy. It's only at the writing stage so it might never happen

[ravenus]

The "classic film" had some fun camp but I found it boring on the whole and save for some scenes, not so much the spectacle the comics had given me to expect (something I assume can be achieved in this age of CGI hocus-pocus)...and the lead actor as so entirely non-descript. Max Von Sydow as Ming was a blast,though.

[Princess Ivy]

Not to mention Brian Blessed. Yes, I know it was camp, and beyond bad, but still one of my favoirites.

[Foxbat]

I find it better to view the 80's film as a really long music video. Get into that mindset and it's pure fun

[polymorphikos]

Will there be giant cannons and rock men? He'd better keep the ridiculousness. I especially like the "Oh my god! Flash has just fallen into a volcano with a nuclear bomb strapped to him and several angry cobras biting his neck whilst being shot at with heat-seeking missiles!" and then it turns-out in the next reel that he glanced off a rock, landed in a vat of anti-veneine, the bomb's fuse short-circuited and the missiles targeted the lava instead.

Actually, I suppose this is exactly the kind of movie that Sommers should try and make.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I should perhaps add that it is not absolutely certain that Sommers will be directing (he is working on the script). Although that said he has always directed eveything that he has scripted so far. It's probably fair to assume that he will (unfortunately)

That's interesting. I've been planning to do a Flash Gordon script myself. I've always enjoyed the 1980 version, despite the fact that the movie was cheesy, the acting was awful and the music was corny. I wished Queen did a better job with the soundtrack because I'm a Queen fan. Anyway, my version of Flash Gordon stays true to the original vision, that is, Flash is a Yale graduate and world renowned polo player, not a football player. However, my story has a more darker and grittier tone to it.


Whitestar

[The Master™]

any chance someone could do a flash gordon script where flash is horribly mutilated by ming, saved by vulcan/however and is barely saved... 'cos you can't tell me that ming the merciless can't rule his empire then lose out to some yank!!!

oooo, what about a remake of buck rogers??? and not quite so late 70's/early 80's camp??? real gritty stuff!!!

[Quest]

I would love to see another Flash Gordon movie. Would this be a sequel to the original, or another remake? In a way, to me it doesn't matter. They would have to get another actor anyway, so it's almost like starting over. Flash Gordon would be a great character to revive.