“Masters of the Universe” A Fun, Campy, Yet Formulaic Take on an 80s Staple
- Matt Palmer
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
In “Masters of the Universe,” director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this live action adventure movie! After being separated for fifteen years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor.
To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as the most powerful man in the universe.
Even though I never watched the 1987 adaptation of “Masters of the Universe,” I vaguely remember watching the cartoon series when I was a kid. And, while the movie does deliver some fun action sequences and some good humor at times, the humor can sometimes get a tad too silly and the movie drags a little bit here and there (mainly due to its runtime).
The new take of “Masters of the Universe” is simply a vibrant, campy and fun summer blockbuster. Indeed the campiness can get a little too much during some scenes, it still adds to the fun the movie ultimately brings.
Nicholas Galitzine’s portrayal of Prince Adam/He-Man is one of the highlights of this blockbuster. His character is a timid, kind, former corporate HR worker on Earth who ends up undergoing a huge, genuine growth arc as the character finally gets home. His character arc can be satisfying as we see him evolve from an awkward, self-doubting young man into a physically imposing, confident hero capable of stopping massive war machines with his bare hands.
Surprisingly, it is Jared Leto’s vocal performance as the villain Skeletor that easily steals the show. For his performance, Leto completely embraced a cartoonish, over-the-top, and campy energy that almost makes me forgive him for “Morbius,” but not “Tron: Legacy.” The Skeletor character does have a few humorous moments and the character has a few memorable scenes that can be both a little campy and even menacing. Idris Elba also has a few stand-out moments as the Man-At-Arms Duncan.
The movie is packed with some fun nods, including running jokes explaining some of the bizarre names of the characters and a real fun cameo from original He-Man actor Dolph Lundgren. “Masters of the Universe” also is filled with heavy rock guitar riffs with contributions from Queen’s guitarist Brian May that helps the battle moments feel
more fun and exciting.
"Masters of the Universe” also delivers some fun action-packed moments and the epic opening siege where we see Skeletor and his forces defeat the kingdom is really exhilarating and intense. There’s also a fun fan-service moment where Prince Adam’s pet tiger, Gringer, is terrified to go into battle and ultimately transforms into the iconic, red-armored Battle Cat.
“Masters of the Universe” sparked a mixed, polarizing response. Audiences and critics praise the movie’s infectious nostalgia, vibrant visuals and fun action. However, many criticize its formulaic, origin-story structure, tonal shifts and reliance on MCU-style comedic interruptions.
Cast: Nicholas Galitzine (Adam/He-Man); Camila Mendes (Teela); Idris Elba (Duncan); Jared Leto (Skeletor); Johannes Haukur-Johannesson (Fisto); Jon Xue Zhang (Ram Man); Allison Brie (Evil-Lyn); Sam C. Wilson (Trap Jaw); Charlotte Riley (Queen Marlena); James Purefoy (King Randar); Morena Baccarin (The Sorceress); Kristen Wigg (Roboto)
Writer/director: Chris Butler (writer) (Missing Link; Kubo and the Two Strings; ParaNorman); Aaron and Adam Nee (writers) (The Lost City); Dave Callaham (writer); (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; Mortal Kombat 2021); Travis Knight (director) (Bumblebee; Kubo and the Two Strings)
MPA: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action, some suggestive material, and language (runtime 140 minutes)
Make sure to follow my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook to see the latest, up to date review slates that I have planned for upcoming editions for the paper! I already have a very good idea of what I am checking out for the upcoming Summer Fest and my special review slate for America’s 250th anniversary is starting up soon!
Originally, the filmmakers thought to give Skeletor a golden skull mask. Travis Knight vetoed that in favor of Skeletor having a skull head.
On Earth, Adam has the surname of Glenn. In He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983) Adam's mother was Marlena Glenn, an astronaut from Earth who ended up on Eternia and became its Queen. In the scene where the Queen is speaking to young Adam in her chambers you can see her space helmet on the shelf behind her.
Jared Leto was completely left out of the marketing. His name wasn't shown in trailers and TV spots, he didn't join his co-stars for the press tour and the movie's official social media accounts didn't even mention him when they posted clips of his performance as Skeletor.
The movie rights went from Warner Bros. (2007), to Columbia Pictures (2009), and to Netflix (2022).
In 2007, the film was to be called "Grayskull". Joel Silver was going to produce and Justin Marks was to write the script, and it was to be shot in a style similar to 300 (2006).
Camila Mendes left I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) to appear in the film.
This is Travis Knight's second adaptation of an animated series, after Bumblebee (2018).
The pose the heroes take (laughing while leaning back with their fists on their hips and their eyes closed) is an homage to an animation often used in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983).
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