Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman August 11, 2020

Arrow, long the champion of cult films in need of rediscovery, is entering the 4K UHD sweepstakes with a film that boasts at least somewhat of a higher profile than some other "typical" Arrow releases, the alternately loved and hated 1980 version of Flash Gordon. Both the 1080 and 4K UHD releases are offered in Standard and Limited Edition versions, with the main difference being some significant non-disc swag included in the Limited Editions (which is what Arrow kindly sent for review purposes), though the Standard Edition in 1080 evidently does not include the second Blu-ray disc offering the documentary Life After Flash and assorted supplements. All four editions can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

Flash Gordon (1080 Standard Edition)

Flash Gordon (1080 Limited Edition)

Flash Gordon 4K (4K UHD Standard Edition)

Flash Gordon 4K (4K UHD Limited Edition)

Flash Gordon came out a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away in a release by parent studio Universal. Those interested can read my Flash Gordon Blu-ray review of that version for a plot summary as well as my thoughts on the film. That review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons as well as a listing of that release's supplements.

Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray, though, as outlined below in the Supplements section, this 4K UHD release does not include a 1080 disc offering the film itself.

Flash Gordon is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. Arrow's rather luxe insert booklet offers the following information on the restoration (this almost seems to have gone through some kind of translation algorithm from another language, as evidenced by some weird verbiage):

Flash Gordon has been exlusively restored by Studio Canal and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with 5.1 and stereo 2.0 sound.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned on an ARRI from the original 35mm negative in 4K 16 bit resolution. The resotration work was extensive, with a great deal of care given to reduce density fluctuation and flicker on the numerous optical and processesd shots throughout the film. The restoration was completed in 4K restoration.

The colour grading included HDR Dolby Vision, REC709 and XYZ for DCP. The grading was approved by Director Mike Hodges.

Because work was carried out at such a high resolution, the original "wire work" was clearly visible in some scenes. Mike Hodges made the decision to digitally remove or reduce these instances, given they did not appear as prominently in the original theatrical prints or home video releases.

The audio was remastered from the original stereo tracks. The 5.1 was remixed and an issue with the LFE channel on the original 5.1 mix was corrected.

This restoration of Flash Gordon has been approved by Mike Hodges.

Let me just start by saying that as I am neither the Pope nor some other reviewers both online and in print media, I do not claim to be infallible, and so I hereby retract my statement from my review of the Universal release that Flash Gordon has "always been ugly." All I can say is, it was always ugly in every previous iteration I've seen, but this new transfer was something of a revelation for me in terms of the film's rather gorgeously saturated palette. Yes, it does have a prevalence of garish reds and greens, as I mentioned in that now long ago review, but both the increased resolution of this release as well as Dolby Vision have really upped the ante considerably in terms of more nuanced tones. A whole glut of "red adjacent" hues like scarlet, crimson, burgundy and magenta are on display for what (to my eyes, anyway) is the first time. This new variety tends to relieve some the perceived monotony I mentioned in my review of the Universal release. Two other huge improvements here are in clarity and overall brightness. Just compare, for example, screenshot 15 of the Flash Gordon Blu-ray review of the new Arrow version (note that the review may not be live for up to about 24 hours after this review goes live) and screenshot 10 of the review of the Universal version to get some idea of difference in color timing, brightness and general detail levels between the two releases. As with all of the previous releases, and as alluded to above, some of the effects work has some baked in issues, and fine detail levels in particular can temporarily ebb during these sequences. The one niggling qualm that some may have with this release is a pretty variant grain field. Now the good news is there is grain, as opposed to the filtered appearance of the Universal release, but it really spikes pretty dramatically in the many optical and/or other effects shots, and at times is positively chunky and yellow. It also can spike in brief moments that have no optical elements, as in the first scene in the plane with Dale at around the five minute mark. These peaks and valleys in the grain field are quite a bit more noticeable with the increased resolution of this version, and they're the chief reason I'm docking the 4K score by half a point from a "practically perfect in every way" assessment. Otherwise, though, this is a stunning restoration.

Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Flash Gordon features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that I found pretty similar if not outright identical to the similar track on the Universal release. It does sound like things are not quite as hot on this track as might be expected, and I found myself boosting the volume, especially in some of the musical moments. That said, all elements in this track are rendered with excellent fidelity (there are some noticeable ambient differences which I'm assuming may have been due at least in part to some post-looping). The fun score contributions from Queen reverberate very well, and some of the effects sequences featuring some nice LFE, as in the plane crash into Zarkov's lab or some of the rocket material. A DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix is also available that affords some rather good separation and a perhaps slightly more focused accounting of some of the music and effects.

Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Arrow is taking a somewhat interesting strategy with this 4K release. While there is a 1080 Blu-ray included, it is not the disc with the feature film (so those wanting that iteration of the film will need to buy one of the 1080 sets), it is Disc Two of the Limited Edition 1080 release, which offers the documentary Life After Flash and assorted supplements. Arrow has kindly ported all of the supplements from Disc One of the 1080 release to this 4K UHD release.

Disc One (4K UHD disc)

• Commentaries

  Commentary with Writer-Director Mike Hodges

  
  

  Commentary with Actor Brian Blessed

  
  

  "Big Kev's Geek Stuff" Commentary is from a November 2007 radio show that featured Sam J Jones and Melody Anderson in covnersation with Bobo Lindenmayer rand Kivin Schwoebel.

• Featurettes

  Behind the Scenes of Flash Gordon (1080p; 14:27) is an archival EPK.

  
  

  Lost in Space: Nic Roeg's Flash Gordon (1080p; 27:50) is a really fascinating piece covering the proposed version of Flash Gordon by Nicolas Roeg. Michael Allin is among the interview subjects.

  
  

  Flash Gordon Animated Episode (1080p; 24:31) is from 1982.

  
  

  Flash Gordon Merchandise (1080p; 4:20) is a fun piece with Jason Labowitz from Entertainment Earth and Jason Lenzi from Bif Bang Pow!.

  
  

  35th Anniversary Greenroom (1080p; 8:26) documents a sweet reunion backstage in London in 2015.

  
  

  35th Anniversary Reunion (1080p; 6:29) is some of the actual on stage material from the get together.

• Interviews

  Mike Hodges (1080i; 31:47)

  
  

  Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (1080p; 9:15)

  
  

  Alex Ross (1080p; 13:27)

  
  

  Sam J. Jones on His Move into Acting (1080p; 4:04)

  
  

  Bob Lindenmayer on Deleted Scenes (1080p; 2:12)

  
  

  Melody Anderson

  Melody Anderson on Her Wedding Dress (1080p; 1:25)

  
  

  Melody Anderson on Improvisation (1080p; 1:50)

  
  

  Melody Anderson on Her Hardest Scene (1080p; 1:32)

  Brian Blessed

  Brian Blessed proves his point (1080p; 1:45)

  
  

  Brian Blessed loves dwarfs (1080p; 1:57)

  
  

  Brian Blessed's own special effects (1080p; 3:44)

  
  

  Brian Blessed on Sam as Flash (1080p; 2:07)

  
  

  Brian Blessed's raffle (1080p; 1:00)

  Brian May

  Brian May on Dino (1080p; 3:42)

  
  

  Brian May on recording the soundtrack (1080p; 1:11)

  Howard Blake on Mickey Mouse (1080p; 2:37)

  
  

  Renato Casaro (1080p; 5:38)

• Galleries

  Storyboards Gallery (1080p)

  
  

  Stills Gallery (1080p)

• Original Trailer (1080p; 1:59)

Disc Two (1080 Blu-ray disc)

• Life After Flash (1080p; 1:33:33) is an appealing documentary that received a previous release by Cleopatra a while ago. Those interested can read my Life After Flash Blu-ray review of that version for more information. Though it's probably not a huge difference given the "talking head" proclivities of this piece, this commendably offers a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track where the Cleopatra release had only lossy Dolby audio. That at least gives some of the interstitial musical moments a little bit more "oomph".


• Extended Comic Con Sequence (1080p; 13:07) is a featurette covering some of the crazy antics of Comic Con.
• Deep Roy Ambition Rap (1080p; 1:24)


• Tell Me More about the This Man Houdini (1080p; 1:30) features Rich Fuller and Jason Lenzi, and, yes, that's how it's titled on the Menu.


• Sam J. Jones "Prayer Walk" in Full (1080p; 2:12)


• Chattanooga Film Festival Script Read (1080p; 5:27)


• Lisa Downs Interview (1080p; 12:29)


• Topol's Stamps (1080p; 2:14)


• Topol's Awards (1080p; 2:03)


• Topol's Jordan River Village (1080p; 5:59)


• Topol's Portraits (1080p; 2:17)


• Boston Sci-Fi Fest (1080p; 4:49)


• Alex Ross Talks Early Art (1080p; 9:09)


• Melody's Paintings Extended (1080p; 3:20)


• Private West End Screening (1080p; 1:37)


• Kickstarter Video (1080p; 2:38)


• Mexico Sequence (1080p; 10:24)


• Flash Gordon Starts a Fire (1080p; 00:50)


• Brian, Tim, Magda Love Triangle (1080p; 2:31)


• Sam and His Wolf (1080p; 4:17)


• Brian Gooses Melody (1080p; 2:31)


• Deep Roy's Eastbound & Down (1080p; 2:08)


• Rochdale Extended (1080p; 7:11)


• The Late, Great Peter Wyngarde Uncut Excerpt (1080p; 9:18)


• Trailer (1080p; 2:19)

The Limited Edition also comes with some significant non-disc swag. The nicely appointed booklet contains writing by Neil Snowdon, Dennis Cozzalio, John-Paul Checkett, A.K. Benedict and Kat Ellinger. There's a fold out double sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork, as well as six double sided postcard sized lobby card and poster reproduction artcards. The Limited Edition packaging also comes with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais.

Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I actually enjoyed Flash Gordon a good deal more than I did when I watched it last many years ago in preparation for writing the review of the Universal release. It's still a mixed bag, to be sure, and it never quite attains the fun it seems to be aiming for, but this new version offers a riot of color and detail that I had never noticed in previous home video releases. As tends to be the case with Arrow, the supplemental package is outstanding and some of the non-disc swag in this Limited Edition is very enjoyable. This augurs well for Arrow and 4K UHD, and I'm excited to see what other films the label may decide to give this deluxe treatment. Recommended.