Flash Gordon

Emperor Ming threatens Earth with a formidable weapon, and it falls to an unlikely trio—a brilliant scientist, the chaste all-American girl Dale, and the daredevil Flash Gordon—to save the world. Before they can succeed, however, they must overcome a series of obstacles in this space opera: wrestling matches with monsters, battles on flying discs, and, time and again, the rescue of Dale, upon whom Ming has set his sights. What critics once dismissed as trash has long since attained cult status. With eccentric sets, garish costumes, and a legendary soundtrack by Queen, director Mike Hodges transforms the classic Raymond comic strip into a spectacle that is as absurd as it is entertaining—allowing his steadfast hero to shine precisely because of his own naivety. (Florian Widegger)