Flash Gordon (1980): The movie is based on the long time comic book character of the same name. In this update which hit theaters on December 5th 1980 Flash is a football hero who is skyjacked aboard Dr. Zarkov's rocketship along with beautiful Dale Arden. The threesome are drawn into the influence of the planet Mongo, controlled by Ming the Merciless. Ming has been testing the Earth with unnatural disasters, and deeming it a threat to his rule, he plans to destroy it. He also intends to take Dale as his concubine. Flash must avoid the amorous attentions of Ming's daughter and unite the warring kingdoms of Mongo to rescue Dale and save our world. It's that simple! Normally our plot synopsis' in Retroplex Cinema are a bit longer but that's all you need to know about Flash! It's such a simple science fiction story but yet it's also epic in scale. You ahve winged men helping Flash, women in super tight clothing betraying people, Timothy Dalton has a prince who doesn't want to help Flash unless he passes a gruesome test, and you have a soundtrack featuring music by Queen! It even has a classic 1950's style ending where Ming's ring lying on the floor is picked up by a mysterious hand and the credits asking "The End?". Did critics like it? Of course not and it made no money at the North American box office,. It was a huge hit in Europe however and over the years it has become a cult classic even here in the U.S.A. It has had two DVD releases, one abre bones, and a recent special edition, and was just recently released on Blu-Ray. Flash Gordon still appears in comic books and comic strips tot his day and rumors of a new modern film have been busy all the time. One day it is sure to get made.Below is a series of screen shots from the movie and artwork to check out!
