Flash Gordon: Saviour Of The Universe Edition
by Mike Hodges
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DVD details
Actor: Max von Sydow, Melody Anderson, Ornella Muti, Sam J. Jones, TopolDirector: Mike Hodges
Brand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-08-07
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Reviews of Flash Gordon: Saviour Of The Universe Edition
DVD Review: Reviewing "SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE EDITION" AUG 7-07 (UK 25th ED. COMPARED)
Summary: 4 Stars
I've just finished watching the new LONG AWAITED RE-RELEASE of FLASH GORDON on R1 DVD released today, AUG. 7, 2007. I will try to offer a few comments and comparisons between this edition and the UK 25TH SILVER ANNIVERSARY RELEASE....WHY? Because given some of the fan fussing that's popping up comparing the two and what shoulda-woulda-coulda-been, someone out there, might think they're missing something in this R1 release and feel they need to make a fevered dash to get the other...maybe this will help you decide whether it's worth the effort. BUT IN A NUTSHELL: IN THIS REVIEWER'S OPINION, I suggest you don't run and get the other unless you're an absolute purist.....I bought the UK SILVER ANNIV. EDITION before this was available and used up one of my region options on my laptop to convert it (then bought a region free right after ...lol.....and now I WISH I DIDN'T bother with it all and just waited FOR THIS!:-)
Naturally, being the uber-geek I am, I had to compare the two prints....R1 VS. UK......the R2 being the one many of us were stuck having to get and convert to be able to have this in our collections before this edition showed up today (UNLESS of course we paid big bucks for the monsterously overpriced original R1 release or Ebay bootlegs). I have to say.......I REALLY LIKE THIS R1 "SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE" PRINT *BETTER* than all of the releases! Ultimately, in "upgrading", at least here in this house, it's the PRINT that determines what is worth the upgrade. THIS IS THE PRINT TO GET.
It not only is CLEANER by most appearances...it is also crisper. I compared many scenes side by side and it is quite obvious that the SOTU print is the CLEAREST of the two. So in that sense, I'd say you were better off with this one......details in faces are more defined for example........there isn't that washed out VHS look to them in some scenes ....certainly not to the extent that one sees in the UK edition.
HOWEVER: There is a trade-off. The SOTU PRINT IS DARKER.......*much* darker than our UK cousin's (and at this point, my memory can't tell me if THIS is how it REALLY looked in the theaters VS. the UK's print). In the UK edition, it is super bright......reds are almost too bright.......in some scenes there's that super contrasty....too much tint feel to the reds which sends my WS into seizures. HERE.......in the SOTU ed., everything is much more subdued and darker....feels more natural in comparison. Sure.....there's the bright colors, but by comparison to the UK print, it is almost a different flick in that category....seriously...comparing the prints color-wise, is like comparing two different color designs. I kind of wish there were a happy medium between the two........but this edition suits me just fine, though some of you may wish to trade off the clarity for coloration. Personally, I wouldn't, because this version feels nice....solid....yet still holds bright color, it's just not so in your face as the other's. Now, someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but in the UK edition, the bright colors SEEM more like a print ISSUE *than* an actual *INTENTION*.
PACKAGING: The R1 SOTU EDITON wins hands down over the UK release. I REALLY DIG THIS BOX it comes in. When you open the outer factory package/plastic......the case is actually a box that has a lid that flips open....like a clip board. It's medium glossed, very artfully done, and well assembled...it's ALL PRINTED...not some labels slapped onto a black box....it's like a hardback....not flimsy. Pop this open, and inside/lying over the disc tray is the ALEX ROSS POSTCARD/PRINT (actually a pencilled work....which is surprising since the cover of this DVD set would've made a better choice, though that would've cost "poor" Sony color printing costs...lol....and this is printed on one side, then there's a blank verso with a tiny Universal logo in the corner). And underneath is the disc.....the underside to the lid is a montage of photos. This is the contents of the package. THE UK ED. comes in a silver keepcase....advertisement inserts & the DVD. This SOTU release just LOOKS COOLER all black...and ROSS' cover really pops. Good job to the art/production department there! Some think the UK edition is all blinged out....but I'd always thought the "silver" plastic keep case looked really cheap....this here just looks freaking cool.
SPECIAL FEATURES: YES....IMO, they could've done better on these...MUCH BETTER......no doubt.....I mean, fans of this film have waited patiently for it to come, enduring the UK 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION and scratching their heads why we were bypassed, so this was a chance to make everyone happy. Well, here we are. And I think fans are being unfair towards the segment on ALEX ROSS (13 min.)....whom, were he mixed in with other SF's wouldn't be judged so harshly as a "who cares what he says" feature....if I were Ross, I'd be screaming at the producers of this package for making him the whipping boy. ROSS, is extremely talented and his segment was enjoyable to watch.........now should it be one of the two ONLY real features here? HECK NO. This was a poor decision and puts a talented artist on the bad end of the stick being swung by rabid fans who'd been waiting YEARS to land a legit copy of this film. "A look back" feature or interviews....even old ones would've been nice ....something more MOVIE FOCUSED....the content of the SF's feels like some frigging student was in charge whom was clueless about the cult interest of this film. LORENZO SEMPLE's (9+min.) segment too, felt like it could've used some other features to back it up. With OTHER FEATURES, these two would've been nice extras to fatten the package.....but alone......they seem a little off balanced, and as if the studio was a little disinterested in pursuing more meat for this release (insert chicken sound: "cheap! cheap!")........a strange thing considering this has been a LONG AWAITED RE-RELEASE and the fan base IS THERE......I mean, what's up with that? And NEITHER RELEASE HAS DELETED SCENES.
If all the info on the Net is true, then SONY BEING CHEAP is the reason we have what we got. And I'd hafta agree, the SAM JONES AND MELODY ANDERSON COMMENTARIES would have been more than welcome. The "SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE EDITON" blurb, truly FAILS to deliver in terms of content. I wouldn't be so harsh were it not for the fact that there IS stuff out there. I understand there's rights and all that, but you can't tell me the studios don't have access to at least their OWN ORIGINAL promo stuff. EEEERGH! What a MISSED OPORTUNITY. But as others have stated......we should all really just swallow it at this point considering the original release was not much of an option once it went OOP (it was one of the earliest DVD's released!)....and at this point, WHY would you want THAT particular print anyway? EDIT: I also hafta chime in on the fact....for this fan at least.....I mean really....once I listened to the commentaries for the UK edition, I haven't touched them since....nor have I watched the Hodges interview again nor thumbed through the photo gallery (which wasn't ALL THAT to begin with), so even THAT edition wasn't the be all end all if you want "definitive". I found them really boring considering SAM JONES has been making the fan circuit FOR YEARS and coulda been had for I'm sure a decent, not too expensive fee. Geeeeeez!
ASPECT: Anamorphic 2.35:1 (for those who don't know: you WILL have tiny bars at the top AND bottom).
SPECIAL FEATURES (Ross & Semple) are 4x3 (Bars on the sides)
TIME: 1 hr. 52 mn.
THE SOUND: MUCH BETTER HERE than the UK EDITION, IMO. UK feels tinny....this actually bumps.
OVERALL: I am QUITE HAPPY I'D UPGRADED to this edition. YES.....there're UK editon has the 2 commentaries......Hodges Interview...the slideshow.........oh yea...and the 1940 serial (this HAS A SERIAL too BTW). But, I certainly can live without them on this one considering the options for OFFICIAL R1......which is an OUTDATED INFERIOR PRINT ON OOP DVD. Course, that's because I have both current releases, so I'm not feeling as short changed as some understandably might. Even if I didn't.....the PRINT is all that should really matter, and if I had to pick.......hands down, I'd pick THIS PRINT, sure, it's a darker print BUT it still allows for the bright comic book design to still come through, VERSUS the washed out and super bright UK print.....which, when comparing side by side, feels like they might've used a Laserdisc source to REMASTER their print (reminds me of the ORIGINAL STAR WARS print that was recently released as a 2 disc.....you know....that kinda soft edged look to everything). And once again I say........I honestly can't say WHICH OF THESE TWO looks more like the film did when I saw it in its original theatrical run as a kid.....seriously can't tell nor remember if THIS IS WHAT IT IS SPOSED TO LOOK LIKE to complain. So yea.... there could have certainly been more stuff on here as extras.....but not forget how long we've waited for this to even resurface legitimately....sure it's a missed opportunity.....sure it coulda been better........but it's here, and that's it once you see THIS PRINT (let's not forget: it's THE MOVIE we want folks! lol!)....I think at least a few of you will be quite happy to have it like I think I'm gonna find something much more fullfilling to complain about ....tonight at least.
MOVIE: 4.5
PACKAGING: 5
DVD CONTENT: 4.5
VERSUS OTHER RELEASES (UK & PREVIOUS R1): 5
Description of Flash Gordon: Saviour Of The Universe Edition
FLASH GORDON SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
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