Masters of the Universe (film)

Masters of the Universe (film)

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Masters of the Universe (film)

Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science fiction/fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor. Other actors include Jon Cypher as Man-At-Arms, Chelsea Field as Teela and Billy Barty as Gwildor, the short Thenorian inventor/locksmith.

The film was released in the USA on August 7, 1987 after the popularity of the toy line and cartoon had peaked.

Adaptation
Plot
Comparison with Jack Kirby's Fourth World
Reaction
Sequels

Aborted attempts
2011 film

References
External links

Interviews

Actors
Production

Adaptation

As with most film adaptations of serialised fiction like cartoons and comic books, the movie does not follow the continuity of the Filmation animated series and Mattel minicomics. Most significantly Prince Adam, He-Man's secret identity, is never depicted or even mentioned, despite being a major theme of the cartoon and comics. Similarly, there are no references to Orko, King Randor, Queen Marlena, Trap-Jaw, Mer-Man or many of the other major characters known from the series. Furthermore, Skeletor is depicted as having a large army of apparently robotic black-armoured soldiers at his command, something entirely unprecedented for MOTU's primary villain. This allows him to conquer Eternia primarily due to his military prowess rather than via elaborate mystical plans as is his modus operandi in other depictions. In addition, He-Man uses laser guns in some scenes, which He-Man never does in the Filmation animated series, although the original toyline and minicomics include several gun-themed accessories that He-Man uses, such as in the minicomic The Fastest Draw in the Universe.

In the film, Teela is shocked and appalled at the discovery that the people on Earth consume meat, which she sees as "barbaric", when meat is consumed in the series by characters including King Randor, with no indication that Teela is disturbed by it. There is no mention of Teela being the daughter of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull.

Other examples of differences in the adaptation include Beast Man speaking in grunts and growls that only Karg can understand, Evil-Lyn utilizing far less sorcery than usual, and her portrayal as a more loyal advisor to Skeletor who hopes to share his power than a witch who looks to overthrow him (though she does abandon him before the final battle at the end of the film). Other differences include Teela relying entirely on high-tech firearms, and the general aesthetic redesign of all the characters and locations by French artist Moebius, including the Power Sword and Castle Grayskull.

In addition to Skeletor's better known lackeys, Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster) and Beast Man (Tony Carroll), the film also features new henchmen such Karg (Robert Towers), a bat-faced imp; Saurod (Pons Maar), a reptilian marksman, and Blade (Anthony De Longis), a dual-sword wielding warrior.

Plot

On the Planet Eternia, at the centre of the universe, the forces of Skeletor have managed to seize control over Castle Grayskull. Also, Skeletor has captured the Sorceress of Grayskull (Christina Pickles) who until now has kept order over the universe. Skeletor is planning to recieve the powers of Grayskull when the "Great Eye of the Galaxy", a portal in the castle's throne room, opens and Eternia's moon is correctly aligned with it.

In the meantime, the Eternian forces are scattered and outnumbered. In the wasteland, one of Skeletor's patrols is attacked by Eternia's greatest warrior, He-Man who is also Skeletor's arch-enemy. During the fight He Man rescues a Thenorian named Gwildor, who claims to be an inventor and locksmith. He Man and his comrades go to Gwildor's home where he reveals his newest invention; the "Cosmic Key", which can open a portal to any location and any time. He explains that Skeletor stole the key from him and used it to get into Castle Grayskull, but Gwildor kept the prototype. With Skeletor's centurians arriving, Gwildor leads the others into a secret passageway that takes them straight to the castle.

The Throne Room is empty, much to He Man's concern. While Gwildor tries to free the Sorceress from her confines, the group is surrounded by Skeletor and his troops. During the panic, Gwildor uses his key to open a random gateway which He Man and his friends escape through. Their destination seems to be Earth, but on arriving there, the key gets misplaced and the Eternians split up to find it. Meanwhile nearby, a pair of teenagers named Julie (Courteney Cox) and Kevin (Robert Duncan McNeill) discover the key in a crater and start pressing its buttons, suspecting it to be "one of those new Japanese synthesizers". At Grayskull, Skeletor's second in command, Evil-Lyn, tracks the key to Earth and prepares a small team of mercenaries to recover it. They consist of Saurod, Blade , Beast Man and their leader, Karg.

Kevin and Julie are spending the evening after hours at their high school because Julie is moving away that night, following a personal tragedy and wants to say her goodbyes to both Kevin and the school. However, Kevin is curious about the "synthesizer" they found and takes it away to a nearby music store to get a second opinion, leaving Julie alone. A portal then opens, with the mercenaries storming into the gym where Julie is. The four of them shoot at Julie who takes cover behind the band equipment and manages to escape.

He Man is searching nearby and hears Julie in distress. While the mercenaries search for Julie in a warehouse, He Man attacks the accompanying troops and saves Julie, while comrades Teela and her father Man-at-Arms chase the mercenaries away. On their return to Grayskull, Skeletor is infuriated by the mercenaries' failure and destroys Saurod with an energy bolt. This time with a larger force and Evil Lyn, they return to Earth.

Meanwhile, Kevin returns to the school which has nearly been burnt down after Julie's escape. The detective on scene, Lubic (James Tolkan), takes Kevin to Julie's house to look for her. Over the phone, Julie reveals to Kevin the importance of the Cosmic Key. But before Julie can arrive, Lubic gets interested in the device and takes it from Kevin, suspecting it to be stolen. Immediately afterwards, Evil Lyn and her troops break in and interrogate him, then leave to catch the detective.

When He Man and co. arrive at the house, Julie and Kevin decide to lead the Eternians to where Lubic has taken the key - a music store, where Kevin had been to earlier on. A battle ensues in the store, with He Man and Man-at-Arms holding the centurians back while Gwildor tries to open a doorway back to Eternia. During the confusion however, Evil Lyn has masqueraded as Julie's mother (Gwynne Gilford) who was supposed to have died in a plane crash. While Lubic, Kevin and Gwildor argue, Julie is persuaded to steal the key for her 'mother' and doesn't realise the deception until it's too late. Evil Lyn and the others pull out and He Man gives chase. But then another doorway opens and this time, it's Skeletor himself who arrives on Earth.

While the centurians march down the deserted street, He Man uses a stolen hover-board to swoop in and take the key back from Evil Lyn's grasp. But Skeletor has surrounded his friends including Julie and Kevin and sets a trap for He Man. Despite the overwhelming numbers, He Man still fights off the troops until Skeletor delivers his ultimatum. Either He Man surrenders and becomes his slave, or he'll kill He Man's friends. With no choice but to surrender, He Man leaves and returns with Skeletor, while the others are left to 'rot' on Earth. Worse still, Julie was injured by Skeletor's poisonous magic and the second key was damaged beyond repair.

Back at Grayskull, Skeletor prepares for the 'Great Eye' to open and recieve ultimate power, while torturing He Man and demanding him to kneel before he his killed. Gwildor, meanwhile, tries to repair the key but explains that the tones needed were erased. Kevin goes back to the music store takes a keyboard which he can use to create the tones and open the portal. Just at the moment Skeletor becomes all powerful, comparing his new status to a God's, the portal opens and the final battle begins. Lubic, Kevin, Man-at-Arms and Teela all fight off the centurians from behind cover while He Man breaks free from his chains and recovers his sword. Skeletor and He Man clash swords and engage in combat. During the fight, He Man breaks Skeletor's staff and his new powers and god-like status vanish. He Man tells the weakened Skeletor that 'it's over', but his enemy draws a hidden sword and lunges at He Man. The fight continues, but He Man manages to knock Skeletor down the huge pit that surrounds the Throne Room.

Now victorious and with Julie healed by the Sorceress, it seems like peace at last on Eternia. Kevin and Julie say goodbye to the Eternians and Gwildor opens a doorway back to Earth. When Julie awakes in her bed, she finds her parents downstairs, alive and well and about to take their fateful flight. Julie stops them from leaving and finds Kevin, who confirms it wasn't all a dream and holds out their souvenir of Eternia, a blue marble with the image of He Man holding the Sword of Grayskull high above his head.

Comparison with Jack Kirby's Fourth World

Comic book writer/artist John Byrne once compared the film to Jack Kirby's comic book metaseries Fourth World, stating in Comic Shop News #497:

Director Gary Goddard clarified this in a letter appearing in John Byrne's Next Men #26, in which he stated:

Brian Cronin, author of the "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed" column, concludes that "the film itself was not intended to be literally a reworked Fourth World, although the intent WAS to make the film a tribute to Jack Kirby - just a tribute to ALL of his work, not just the Fourth World."^[1]

Reaction

With a budget of $17 million, the movie grossed $17,336,370 in the U.S., and an additional combined $1.5 million in Germany and Australia.^[2] It is referred to as a "flop" by Variety magazine,^[3] and has a 13% "rotten" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.^[4]

Sequels

Aborted attempts

Cannon Films intended to create a sequel, which is indicated after the end credits when it is revealed that Skeletor in fact survives his fall. The idea was abandoned when Cannon wouldn't pay for Mattel's fees and the production used the already-made costumes and sets for the improvised action movie Cyborg.

A new He-Man movie directed by John Woo was reportedly being developed, but despite many rumors circulating around the Internet regarding the film's production status and casting, the project was never officially green-lit. The film rights to He-Man have reportedly since reverted back to Mattel.^[5]

2011 film

There is a movie currently in production titled Grayskull: Masters of the Universe, produced by Joel Silver and written by Justin Marks. The film will reportedly employ visual effects to a large degree, as was done with 300.^[3] An alleged script has been leaked.^[6]