Now then, anyone who thinks that Max von Sydov's best film was "the Seventh Seal" (1957) really does need to get their priorities right: forget Ingmar Bergman - it has to be this marvellously camp effort from Mike Hodges and Dino de Laurentiis that allows him to act the megalomanic whilst dressing up like the best panto villain you're ever likely to encounter. Sam J. Jones is the eponymous hero who, alongside the rather hapless Melody Anderson ("Dale") and Topol's slightly demented scientist ("Zarkov"), falls prey to the mischievous games of "Ming the Merciless" as he toys with the Earth. Once the intrepid trio arrive on "Mongo" they must fight for their very survival. In the case of "Flash", the poor fellow - who spends much of the film like a startled rabbit in the headlights - has to defend his virtue from the positively predatory "Princess Aura" (Ornella Muti) who's supposed to be betrothed to "Barin" (Timothy Dalton) who is, himself, constantly sparring with Brian Blessed's "Vultan" - king of the hawk-men. Add in the wonderfully creepy Peter Wyngarde as "Klytus" and Margiangela Melato as his villainous deputy "Kala" and we have the perfect ingredients for almost two hours of classic comic book action in the best tradition of "thwack" and "pow". The thing is 40 years old now - hence it's re-release on the big screen - and it doesn't look like any efforts have been made to improve on the original. The effects are therefore pretty ropey, the CGI as obvious as the delightfully cheap and cheerful costumes of the lizard-men and the munchkins who are dressed much like the playing cards from "Alice in Wonderland". Freddie Mercury and Queen provide a bit of added "glamour" to the proceedings with their title song and the eagle-eyed amongst us might just spot a 30 year old Robbie Coltrane in there too. Escapist nonsense? Sure - but it is still all good, uncomplicated, fun with it's tongue in it's cheek and just about everything else in leather, lycra and/or tights!
