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Parents' Guide to

Flash Gordon (1980)

By Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Sci-fi comic-strip movie is too intense for younger kids.

Movie PG 1980 122 minutes
Flash Gordon (1980) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

babygirl92293
babygirl92293 Adult
March 29, 2012
age 12+

i love this movie :)

i grew up with movies like this... I think its a good movie :) some things are a bit innappropriate but its nothing to bad... if anything the movie is really cheesy :) but hey in 1980 it was cool :) (lol i wasnt born til 93!)and who could for get the theme song from it! Flash AHHH AHHH Savior of the universe!!! :)( gotta love Queen!)
mormongirl99
mormongirl99 Adult
February 4, 2012
age 18+

Innuendo Ridden 80s film

It's one of those movies where most of the stuff will go over kids' heads, but any adults in the room (or anyone who picks up on innuendos) should be uncomfortable with. A lot of very revealing attire (bust-revealing dresses for most women and a pair of leather briefs for Flash). I wouldn't recommend this film- for anyone.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Flash Gordon (Sam Jones), a handsome football star, is on a chartered plane caught in a meteor storm caused by an alien supervillain, Emperor Ming (Max Von Sydow), who actually is at a giant console in space, tormenting Earth while pushing buttons that say "METEOR STORM." The plane crashes near the greenhouse-lab of rogue NASA scientist Dr. Zarkov (Topol), ready to launch his homebuilt rocket ship to visit Ming's world and beg for peace. Flash and his pretty travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) wind up on Zarkov's rocket and land in Ming's planet surrounded by low-atmosphere moons, each inhabited by a different race (dwarves, lizard-men, hawk-men) enslaved by sadistic Ming. With the secret help of a lustful princess, Flash leads a revolt against Ming and his cyborg henchmen.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (7 ):

Coming in an era when the merciless emperors of Hollywood were copycatting Star Wars in every way, the blockbuster FLASH GORDON remains daringly offbeat. As with the (more brazenly sexy) European 1960s fantasies Barbarella and Danger: Diabolik, also based on comics, there's practically no attempt at realism, with extravagant Arabian-Nights costumes, Oz-like creature f/x, crayon-box sets, and sparkler-trailing model spaceships inspired directly by the iconic 1930s strips and serials. It's a party for the eyeballs, nearer Rocky Horror than LucasFilm. Dialogue is loopy, the plotting earnestly absurd (Flash fights his first battle against Ming's minions with NFL football moves), and the famed rock soundtrack by Queen is the best camp anthem since Adam West's Batman (with the same screenwriter, incidentally). Older kids and young-at-heart grownups could have a blast- - if they don't mistake the deliberate, sly kitsch for big-buget dumb.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the film's way-out retro style and lighthearted attitude. Is it entertaining, or do younger viewers prefer their comic fantasy characters to be fashionably dark, tough, and brooding (as Batman has become)?

  • Is the violence here necessary? Does it add to or take away from the story?

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