"FLASH GORDON"

• 1980 - ACTION/ADVENTURE...PG Rating...Color/110 Minutes

• DIRECTOR: Mike Hodges

• CAST: Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max Von Sydow, Ornella Muti, Brian Blessed, Timothy Dalton, Mariangelo Melato

• This potentially wonderful production is nothing more than "simple-minded" dreck. One would hope that with the astounding budget, stellar supporting cast, and established source material; Hodges could have given us something more memorable. A ridiculous score by the otherwise talented rock band "QUEEN", blasts through the utter stupidity of the minimalized story line. The plot itself, in outline form, is standard for this genre. However, an utterly ridiculous sub-plot device has Jones playing Flash as a "retarded" football star, (...or so it seems!). Of course, this is about all this actor can handle! Sydow's over the top Ming is fitting, but even his talents aren't enough to save this galactic turkey!

• Cardboard special effects, idiotic dialogue, and an excruciating battle scene involving the Hawkmen and Ming; serve only to make Alex Raymond revolve in his grave!

• I am reminded of another "comic" adaptation, which is equally forgettable. The 1990 version of "DICK TRACY", seems to share the same lack of vision; and boasts a "cardboard" set style and special F/X, which are just as repulsive as those of this turkey!

• For a better, or at least more entertaining version of the adventures of our favorite hero; check out "FLESH GORDON"; an erotic and fondly satirical look at the 1930's world of fantasy comics.