Empire magazine (UK) #197 (November 2005) features an interesting comparison of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and Flash Gordon (1980) courtesy of Adam Smith:

"Essentially a pretty standard black hats/white hats Western, albeit one set among the stars, Star Wars packs itself with high-falutin' movie references and mythic mumbo-jumbo (after all, why else does it need to be set 'a long time ago' when it makes not a jot a difference, it not to invest proceedings with the veneer of mythology?"

"Flash has the common sense to draw its inspiration from the kind of glorious trash that it aspires to be . . . Lucas, sensible as always, cast cheap unknowns and a knight of the British theatre for a jigger of thespian respectability."

"Flash also has the manners to know when to leave. Unlike the interminable Star Wars saga, its 'The End' meant 'The End' - question mark or no."

"Star Wars may have Tatooine and Wookies and the soothing sounds of Sy Snootles. But on Mongo the streets are populated with . . . alien princesses who slip each other mickeys of exotic love potion . . . and the standard uniform for the condemned at a state execution is black leather hot-pants. Come on, be honest, where would you rather spend a couple of hours?"

Ironically, this same issue of Empire boasts a special 44-page insert, "The Unofficial Star Wars DVD Viewing Companion," with an apologetic preface: "Yes, this is another Star Wars supplement. But before you bash out an angry email about Empire's obsession with George Lucas' space opera, consider this: . . . these six movies represent the most successful, most enduring and arguably most entertaining franchise of all time."

Now, is Smith's unabashadly tripe tribute to Flash Gordon meant to sell (and raise) issues? Most assuredly, yes.