History YMMV / FlashGordon1980

* {{Narm}}: The Memory Eraser scene, which is rather intense and not played for laughs, can either be NightmareFuel, or this. Website/SFDebris found it unintentionally laughable, especially the moments we see Zarkov's various life events shown in sped-up footage, which makes it look like something out of ''Series/TheBennyHillShow''.

* CommonKnowledge: Imitators of Creator/BrianBlessed will often bellow "GORDON'S ALIVE!!!" as hard as they can, but in the movie Vultan is relatively subdued and more surprised than anything when saying it, more like "Gordon's ''alive?!''

* CommonKnowledge: Imitators of Creator/BrianBlessed will often bellow "GORDON'S ALIVE!!!" as hard as they can, but in the movie Vultan is relatively subdued and more surprised/bemused than anything when saying it, more like "Gordon's ''alive?!''"

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Website/SFDebris believes that Ming has fully read the EvilOverlordList, he just chooses not to follow them. He also knows he is a villain and enjoys the villain lifestyle.
-->''Ming the Merciless is not what he was called by his enemies, but the name he has taken for himself... don't waste your time on a name that pretends you're a good man. Why conquer the universe if you're going to spend the rest of your life being a spin doctor.''

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: ''FLASH! AH-AH! HE'LL SAVE EVERY ONE OF US!''

* CrazyAwesome: Vultan laughs like a mad man and fights like a warrior.

** Creator/{{Topol}} and Creator/TimothyDalton would make their way into the Film/JamesBond franchise not long after this film. Topol would play Colombo in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'', and Dalton would play Bond himself in ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'' and ''Film/LicenceToKill''. Hilariously, Dalton would've started playing Bond sooner in FYEO (the opening scene where Bond visits Tracy's grave was written as a way of introducing the new Bond) before Roger Moore changed his mind.

** ''"FLASH! AH-AHH! SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE!"''

* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Ming the Merciless]] is [[TheEmperor the tyrannical emperor]] of planet Mongo. Every thousand years, Ming tests the life forms of the universe, [[GalacticConqueror terrorizing any planet he comes across]] with natural disasters. If he is recognized as responsible for these catastrophes, he deems the planet and its inhabitants a threat to his rule and destroys it. Setting his sights on terrorizing, and ultimately annihilating, Earth, Ming plagues the planet with natural disasters, causing mass chaos and destruction. The inhabitants of Mongo fare little better under his rule, as Ming is quick to kill them and destroy their kingdoms should they displease him. When Earthlings Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov are brought before them, Ming lusts after Dale and attempts to [[BatheHerAndBringHerToMe force her to be his concubine]], ordering Flash executed when he stands against him. He later attempts to brainwash Zarkov, all the while gloating about his plans to destroy Earth. His cruelty extends even to [[AbusiveParents his own daughter]], Aura; when he discovers that Aura has helped Flash escape his kingdom, Ming has no qualms with allowing his men to [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]] her to extract a confession. Upon locating Flash at Sky City, Ming has the kingdom obliterated, before attempting to [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe force Dale to marry him]], mentioning his plans to cast her off once he's grown weary of her.

* SignatureLine: “Gordon’s alive?”. Helped by Creator/BRIANBLESSED being all too happy to repeat it whenever asked.

** Likewise [[Creator/BrianBlessed BRIAN BLESSED]] went on to star in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''.

** Topol and Creator/TimothyDalton would make their way into the Film/JamesBond franchise not long after this film. Topol would play Colombo in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'', and Dalton would play Bond himself in ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'' and ''Film/LicenceToKill''. Hilariously, Dalton would've started playing Bond sooner in FYEO (the opening scene where Bond visits Tracy's grave was written as a way of introducing the new Bond) before Roger Moore changed his mind.

* TooDumbToLive: ''Seriously'', Klytus? You drop in uninvited into Prince Vultan's kingdom (the same guy whose young daughter you threatened like 24 hours ago), [[BullyingADragon attempt to arrest an already hot-headed and hostile Prince Barin]], and to top it off, you ''brag to his face'' about torturing his fiancée, joking about how she [[TooKinkyToTorture ''probably enjoyed it'']]. Should you really be all that shocked Barin and Flash bodyslammed you onto the Serta Posturepedic of Death?

** Ming asking if Klytus gave his men enough pills while playing football becomes hilarious with the various PED scandals over the past decade or two -- making it sound like Ming is annoyed his guards didn't get enough steroids.

* HarsherInHindsight: The climax where Flash and the Hawkmen hijack War Rocket Ajax and crash it into Ming's (tower-like) palace may have been awesome in 1980, but after [[TheWarOnTerror September 11, 2001]]? Yeah, that's just a ''little'' awkward...

* TooDumbToLive: ''Seriously'', Klytus? You drop in uninvited into Prince Vultan's kingdom (the same guy who's young daughter you threatened like 24 hours ago), [[BullyingADragon attempt to arrest an already hot-headed and hostile Prince Barin]], and to top it off, you ''brag to his face'' about torturing his fiancee', joking about how she [[TooKinkyToTorture ''probably enjoyed it'']]. Should you really be all that shocked Barin and Flash bodyslammed you onto the Serta Posturepedic of Death?

* AntiClimaxBoss: Ming is ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice by war rocket Ajax, which could be seen as a bit to quick and easy for anyone looking forward to him having a DuelToTheDeath with Flash.

* TooDumbToLive: ''Seriously'', Klytus? You drop in uninvited into Prince Vultan's kingdom (the same guy who's young daughter you threatened like 24 hours ago), attempt to arrest an already hot-headed and hostile Prince Barin, and to top it off, you ''brag to his face'' about torturing his fiancee', joking about how she [[KickTheDog ''probably enjoyed it'']]. Should you really be all that shocked Barin and Flash bodyslammed you onto the Serta Posturepedic of Death?

* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Ming the Merciless]] is [[TheEmperor the tyrannical emperor]] of planet Mongo. Every thousand years, Ming tests the life forms of the universe, [[GalacticConqueror terrorizing any planet he comes across]] with natural disasters. If he is recognized as responsible for these catastrophes, he deems the planet and its inhabitants a threat to his rule and destroys it. Setting his sights on terrorizing, and ultimately annihilating, Earth, Ming plagues the planet with natural disasters, causing mass chaos and destruction. The inhabitants of Mongo fare little better under his rule, as Ming is quick to kill them and destroy their kingdoms should they displease him. When earthlings Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov are brought before them, Ming lusts after Dale and attempts to [[BatheHerAndBringHerToMe force her to be his concubine]], ordering Flash executed when he stands against him. He later attempts to brainwash Zarkov, all the while gloating about his plans to destroy Earth. His cruelty extends even to [[AbusiveParents his own daughter]], Aura; when he discovers that Aura has helped Flash escape his kingdom, Ming has no qualms with allowing his men to [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]] her to extract a confession. Upon locating Flash at Sky City, Ming has the kingdom obliterated, before attempting to [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe force Dale to marry him]], mentioning his plans to cast her off once he's grown weary of her.

* EarWorm: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ppC3smQ7E AAAAAAAHHHHH-AAAAAAAHHHHHH! SAVIOR OF THE UNIVERSE!]]"

* SoBadItsGood: A film so deliberately cheesy, over-the-top, and bombastic [[NarmCharm that it loops all the way around to being genuinely enjoyable]]. Having a ''genuinely'' awesome soundtrack certainly works in the movie's favor.

* SoBadItsGood: A film so deliberately cheesy, over-the-top, and bombastic [[NarmCharm that it loops all the way to being genuinely enjoyable]]. Having a ''genuinely'' awesome soundtrack certainly works in the movie's favor.