10 Awesome Movies That Have Aged Horribly

2. Flash Gordon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmrHTdXgK4 There's a running joke that Flash Gordon was dated the second it came out, and though the filmmakers intentionally attempted to ape the camp style that people love to enjoy ironically, to contemporary audiences the self-awareness isn't necessarily clear. The risible visual effects, rollicking soundtrack (composed in part by Queen), absurd dialogue, hilarious characters and brilliantly over-the-top performances (Max von Sydow and Brian Blessed are especially excellent) all make for a thoroughly entertaining mix, though to most, they're not so much laughing with the film as they are at it. With any film in this list, perception and context are key; though audiences over the age of 15 in 1980 might have known that Flash Gordon was intentionally ropey, it doesn't really matter three-decades on; the film looks dated, whatever the intention of the filmmakers. Still, it's all in good fun, and I imagine the film sold a shedload more DVDs after Seth Macfarlane's Ted - which heavily referenced the film, even including an extended cameo from Sam J. Jones - came out.