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From: Arthur Lipscomb <arthur@alum.calberkeley.org>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: What Did You Watch? 2024-12-26 (Thursday)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:10 -0800
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On 12/27/2024 2:50 PM, anim8rfsk wrote:
> Arthur Lipscomb <arthur@alum.calberkeley.org> wrote:
>> On 12/27/2024 10:40 AM, Ian J. Ball wrote:
>>
>>
>> Barbarella (4K disc) - 1968 sci-fi movie based on a French comic and
>> produced by Dino De Laurentiis.  Yes, I know I just watched it last
>> year, but I got a brand new 4K upgrade that includes a new Dolby Atmos
>> soundtrack and a new audio commentary.  I was torn between listening to
>> the new Dolby Atmos track or the audio commentary but settled on the
>> Atmos track.  I did notice the surround sound, wasn't really surround,
>> but it did have a full sound coming out of the front speakers, which is
>> better than the mono sound from the old blu-ray.  There's a remake
>> starring Sydney Sweeney in the works, so I'll just have to sit through
>> it again with the commentary before the remake.   And thanks to the
>> subtitles, I now know that for all these years I've been saying there's
>> a kind of taco shell about you, when the line is actually  "There's a
>> kind of cockleshell about you."  Someone in this group also suggested I
>> watch Danger: Diabolik.  I didn't forget, but it wasn't available for
>> free on any of the usual streaming channels.
> 
> Jane Fonda hates that you watched this movie. Thank you.
> 
>>
>>
>> Flash Gordon (4K disc) - 1980 sci-fi movie based on a comic and produced
>> by Dino De Laurentiis.  Flash! A-ah! saves everyone one of us from Ming
>> the Merciless.  This movie continues to hold up great and is a sight to
>> behold in 4K.
> 
> As always, I must apologize for my part in this.
> 
> 
> FLASH GORDON
> The Adventure Begins
> 
> It was long ago, in the before time.
> 
> Our favorite movie theater, the one with the big flat screen that ran
> the movies right, but never got a blockbuster except for Star Trek the
> Motion Picture, and opening weekend the transporter replica they left
> running in the lobby (some say it was actually the popcorn maker) caught
> fire and took the place down, but I digress, ran a BIG ad (in the days when
> the local fishwrap would have pages full of movie ads) for the SNEAK
> PREVIEW OF A MAJOR SCIENCE FICTION MOTION PICTURE.
> 
> I recommended to my viewing accomplice that we attend. He was dubious, and
> wondered if I had any idea what the film could be. I pointed out we'd go to
> almost any science fiction movie, and almost any movie at the shiny good
> theater, so where was the downside?
> 
> We got our preferred seats, 7th row center. The front rows were taped off,
> presumably for visiting VIPs.
> 

I go see most movies, especially if they are in IMAX or Dolby Cinema.  I 
mean, if the production company booked the IMAX or Dolby Cinema 
screening room, then the movie *must* be good, right?  Right?  I've 
recently realized that a lot of times when I don't go see a movie, it's 
often because it's not playing in IMAX or Dolby Cinema.

> The show began quite late. We were waiting for the VIPs, who finally
> showed.
> 
> And it began . . . .
> 
> FLASH! - a-ah - saviour of the universe
> Flash - a-ah - he'll save everyone of us
> Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
> Flash - a-ah - he's a miracle
> Flash - a-ah - king of the impossible
> 

I'm reading this summary of your trip to see Barbarella, and suddenly I 
realize you're talking about Flash Gordon.  LOL.


> The preview was a good deal longer than any version seen since. In
> particular the opening, when Ming fingers the EARTHQUAKE button: long, long
> sequences from EARTHQUAKE were shown, prompting my viewing accomplice to
> wonder if Ming had a button marked MARSQUAKE and me to reply that I
> wondered if he had a button marked THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE .
> . .
> 
> There was an enthusiastic response to the Queen theme, but, beyond that,
> the audience quickly settled into stony silence.
> 
> Finally, about the time that Flash and Dale got to Flexi Jerkoff's, er,
> Zardoz's place, and the good doctor was chewing the scenery, I said to
> viewing accomplice:
> 
> "You know what?"
> 
> Silence, throughout the theater.
> 
> "What?"
> 
> The comatose audience continued their stupor.
> 
> "I think this . . . is supposed to be funny"
> 
> No one made a sound but Flex on screen.
> 
> "Are you sure?"
> 
> I began to giggle.
> 
> "Yes!"
> 
> Silence continued except for me, laughing softly.
> 
> Finally, viewing accomplice could stand it no more, and he began to
> snicker, as my laughter ramped up.
> 
> The enjoyment was contagious. It took a few minutes to spread outward, but
> by the time our intrepid trio was headed into space, the whole theater was
> laughing and clapping and whooping and stomping their feet and having a
> GREAT time.
> 
> All except for one scary evil man in the front row who was turned around
> facing me, glaring with pure hatred.
> 
> Yes, that man was Dino DeLaurentis.
> 
> He's for everyone of us
> Stand for everyone of us
> He'll save with a mighty hand
> Every man every woman
> Every child - with a mighty flash
> 
> Wackiness ensued throughout the rest of the film, followed by a very short
> exit interview where they got contact info and some basic biographical
> data. While Dino stood and glared and murmured to his assistants.
> 
> The next day, they called people. Interestingly enough, they did not
> call me. :)
> 
> They grilled my viewing accomplice for more than two hours! Mostly they
> wanted to know every point that he laughed, and why he laughed.
> 
> You see, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be funny.
> 

I don't know that I ever really laugh at the movie or find it 
particularly funny.  I think it's sort of like Rocky Horror Picture Show 
in that I genuinely, legitimately, just like that movie.  Same goes for 
"Howard the Duck."  Most people say it's one of the worst movie ever 
made.  But I turn it on and truly get a kick out of watching it.  I 
*still* don't get why that movie gets so much hate.

> Dino thought he had made a straight forward action drama, not a bizarre
> absurdist comedy. He couldn't understand why anyone would laugh at all!
> 
> So they went in and snipped here and snipped there, trying to cut
> anything that might be a punchline.
> 
> The result was the FLASH GORDON we know today, which frankly . . . isn't
> very good.
> 

If you're about 7 or 8 years old the first time you watch it, it's great!


> Except for the theme song.
> 
> Just a man
> With a man's courage
> He knows nothing but a man
> But he can never fail
> No one but the pure in heart
> May find the golden grail
> Oh oh - oh oh
> Flash
> 
> 
> 
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