5 years after the “Masters of the Universe” animated series, He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) returns but this time in live- action. This movie has a stacked cast including Idris Alba (Duncan), Alison Brie (Evil-Lynn), Camila Mendes (Teela), and Jared Leto (Skeletor).
The main question the fans will be asking: will this movie be as campy as the 80’s show? Or will it take the more serious route. Unlike the animated series, which decided to take a more serious take on the universe, the live action movie leans towards more of the camp.
How will fans feel?
It is likely the fandom will be split on the delivery of some of the lines. It is difficult to portray camp in a funny way while not teetering into second-hand- embarrassment territory. Funnily enough, on the opposite spectrum, some fans might see the film as not campy enough. Leto’s performance as Skeletor did have elements that embodied the character, but he was still teetering to a more serious portrayal of the character. Some fans might feel as if he could have been more animated to emanate the 80’s iconic voice/mannerisms. Funnily enough, his 2021 counterpart was played by Mark Hamil, which means both Skeletors were also played by Batman’s Jokers. The movie had many strong moments, and many nods to the original series that the fans will enjoy.
What is Masters of the Universe about?
This is an origin story. A large portion of the beginning of the movie is devoted to explaining the lore of the world and the sword. Unlike the original series, this movie focuses on Adam’s home planet of Eternia. We do, however, get to spend some time on Earth which provides us with some fun antics. The movie doesn’t delve into how he managed to survive on earth, who took care of him, or how he managed to adapt but that backstory is not necessary to the plot of this movie.
Skeletor takes over the planet Eternia looking for the Sword of Power. His main desire is the sword and Eternia was just an obstacle in the way. The Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) instructs Adam to take the sword and keep it safe. She sends him to earth where he immediately loses the sword. Once he finds the sword, he returns to Eternia to face Skeletor and reclaim his homeland.
The movie is called “Masters of the Universe” for a reason. We do get to see the rest of the team in action, as they were Eternia’s last defence in Adam’s absence, and they play a pivotal role in helping Adam in his quest to defeat Skeletor.
The CGI was, at parts, a bit jarring. However this was countered by some pretty awesome fight sequences. Overall, this movie is a fun pop-corn flick that both fans and newcomers can enjoy. Don’t forget to stay behind! There are 3 after credit scenes for viewers to catch.
