When it comes to adapting beloved 80s properties, Amazon MGM Studios’ attempt at bringing He-Man back to the big screen in Masters of the Universe is an ambitious, entertaining, yet flawed spectacle. Director Travis Knight brings a massive scale to the lore of Mattel’s classic franchise, resulting in an epic that, at times, and in the wise words of my friend Adam Ross “feels like Michael Bay’s The Rings of Power.” It’s full of explosive fantasy action and sprawling set pieces, but the execution isn’t always seamless, there are times where the fights turn into a mega mess.
In 1982, toy company Mattel created a line of toys called He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. In order to promote the toys, a two season cartoon series was ordered to circumvent the recent Federal Communications Commission who had recently relaxed the laws around toy based programming. It is one of the rare occassions where the cartoon found a massive audience and an entire generation (and now their kids) get to experience a modern live action version of this phenomenon. I will be 100% honest, I was not into He-Man/She-Ra/Masters of the Universe, so I won’t be diving into any of the lore or nods and winks that this movie does pack in. I was sitting next to a massive fan whose consistent chuckles and cheering kept me informed that this movie was on the right track for fans.
The film kicks off with an origin story setup that fundamentally reshapes the He-Man lore for a new cinematic universe. We are introduced to a 10-year-old Prince Adam whose spaceship crashes on Earth, leaving him stranded and separated from his true heritage. It’s not until 15 years later that the fabled Sword of Power finally reveals itself, acting as a beacon that draws a now-adult Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to his ancestral home of Eternia. Tasked with bringing him back is his childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes) reveals that the sword lit a beacon to show them where Adam was.
However, upon his return, Adam discovers a world vastly different from the one he left behind. He is thrust into a desperate conflict where he must harness his newfound abilities to save his world from the clutches of Skeletor (Jared Leto), all while uncovering the truth about his past and his true legacy. It’s a classic hero’s journey that effectively sets the stakes, even if the narrative beats occasionally feel a bit overly familiar.
Visually, the film is incredibly touch-and-go. For every jaw-dropping, immaculately designed landscape that pulls you into the world, there are chaotic sequences that devolve into an undeniable CGI mess. The ambition is clearly there, but the digital effects occasionally collapse under their own weight. There is a scene with Adam, Teela and her father Duncan (Idris Elba) are in a forest, there’s fighting with digital monsters, you can see the budget here is stretched super thin and some of the more fantastical elements of the film needed a bit more VFX love to help get it to the next level.
The biggest structural issue with the film is its insistence on keeping one foot grounded on Earth. The scenes set on Eternia are absolutely fantastic—they capture the vibrant, weird, and wondrous spirit of the original cartoon perfectly. Frankly, the entire film should have just been set there. The Earth-bound scenes feel entirely unnecessary and bog down the pacing. It’s hard to shake the feeling that the script was heavily influenced by the Barbie movie, awkwardly attempting a real-world-to-fantasy-world transition that just doesn’t stick the landing here. When we’re on Eternia, the film sings; on Earth, it drags.
Where the film undeniably succeeds, however, is with its cast. Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, and Idris Elba all deliver strong performances that ground the inherent silliness of the material. But the absolute standout is Jared Leto as Skeletor. Leto completely disappears into the iconic villain, bringing a theatrical, campy and menacing energy that fits the tone flawlessly. When we talk about villains who make their mark and become completely immersed I’ll be completely honest: this is the first time I have actually liked a Jared Leto performance in years. He chews the scenery in the absolute best way possible, he is very evil but also has a sense of humour, can read the room and is not afraid to go for the laugh. It is refreshing to get a villain who can play both sides, similar to Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Dr Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog films.
Speaking of laughs, the film is not afraid to lean into the ridiculousness of its items and characters. There are numerous jokes about fisting thanks to the character called Fisto, and the way they try not to laugh when talking about the “Sword of Power” is endearing. The film is trying to be a big 80’s/90’s blockbuster action film, but completely reinvented for a modern audience.
Despite the visual inconsistency and the unnecessary Earth detours, the strong ensemble and the sheer joy of the Eternia sequences make Masters of the Universe a worthy, wildly entertaining blockbuster ride. See it on the biggest screen possible!
