Masters of the Universe **** (1987, Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Meg Foster, Billy Barty, Courteney Cox) – Classic Movie Review 7,028

Director Gary Goddard’s 1987 sci-fi fantasy action adventure film Masters of the Universe stars the Scandinavian super-hunk Dolph Lundgren, who gets a grand chance to flex his muscles as comic-strip heroic warrior hero He-Man, who arrives on our planet to find the key to the universe which has been filched by the dreaded evil lord Skeletor (Frank Langella) and his armies of darkness. Meg Foster plays Evil-Lyn.

Meg Foster plays Evil-Lyn.

Masters of the Universe is enormously good, fast-paced, crowd-pleasing fun for older children and adults who enjoy simple sci-fi entertainment. It is helped tremendously by the wholehearted, full-on performances from Lundgren and Langella, especially in their final battle for control of Castle Grayskull and ultimate supremacy, and director Goddard does a very decent job of bringing the toy and cartoon characters to the screen. Also there is a surprisingly good production from cash-troubled Cannon Films, with effective if simple costumes, special make-up and trick work.

It is rated PG for science fiction action violence and mild language. It runs 106 minutes but the TV version is trimmed for violence, though it may be still scary for younger children, who might be frightened by Skeletor, especially in the post-end credits scene where he comes out of red water in a bottomless pit.

Also in the cast are Billy Barty as Gwildor, Courteney Cox as Julie Winston, James Tolkan as Detective Lubic, Jon Cypher as Man-at-Arms Duncan, Christina Pickles as sorceress of Castle Grayskull, Chelsea Field, Robert Duncan McNeil, Robert Travers, Barry Livingston, Anthony DeLongis and Tony Carroll.

Masters of the Universe is directed by Gary Goddard, runs 106 minutes, is made by Golan-Globus Productions, Edward R Pressman Film, Cannon Films, and released by Cannon Films, is written by David Odell, is shot by Hanania Baer, is produced by Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus and Edward R Pressman, is scored by Bill Conti and is designed by William Stout.

In May 2018, rumoured plot and character details for a Masters of the Universe reboot were revealed. Are He-Man and Skeletor brothers in the reboot?

On 17 July 2023, it was announced that the live-action movie Masters of the Universe based on He-Man and other popular Mattel toys was cancelled at Netflix. Up to $30 million was spent on development costs and to hold on to talent – like lead Kyle Allen and the directing duo Adam and Aaron Nee (“The Lost City”).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7,028

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com