By Neil Davey

"For most problems the Marine is issued a solution. If ill, go to sickbay. If wounded, call a Corpsman. If dead, report to graves registration. If losing his mind, however, no standard solution exists."

What's it about?
His father was a Marine. His grandfather was a Marine. Well-read, philosophising, navel-gazing Anthony "Swoff" Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) is thus under a certain amount of pressure to follow suit. He enlists at a bad time: just before Desert Storm. After barely making it through boot camp, he discovers a talent as a sniper which ensures he's front and centre (well, hidden and distant, technically, but you get my point) when the war breaks out. But is he actually a killer? Can he pull the trigger on a live target?

“Flash! Flash, I love you. But we've only got 14 hours to save the earth!"

What’s it about?
Flash Gordon (Jones) and Dale Arden (Anderson) are kidnapped by mad scientist (is there any other kind?) Hans Zarkov (Topol) and take off into outer space as Ming the Merciless (Von Sydow) attacks Earth. They reach Ming’s planet of Mongo (obviously) where Flash is sentenced to death while also facing hostility from the tree people of forest moon Arboria led by Prince Barin (Dalton) and Vultan (Blessed) and his winged Hawkmen. Meanwhile, Ming’s plan to destroy Flash’s home continues apace...