Masters of the Universe (1987) is the best version of Jack Kirby’s New Gods until we get the new Ava DuVernay film! The movie is directed by Gary Goddard, he co-created the series Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, and then worked on theme parks rides. The screenplay is by David Odell who wrote the screenplay for The Dark Crystal (1982) and also Supergirl (1984). As a kid, I didn't buy a single figure, but was an avid viewer of the Filmation show. It opens with a painting of Castle Greyskull, the narrator, Peter Brooks, explains that the castle has kept the peace in the universe. Then, we glimpse the crystal headdress of the Sorceress (Christina Pickles). She played Monica Gellar’s mother in Friends. The credit sequence attempts to be heroic with music by Bill Conti like the Superman titles. An explosion brings us to the rocky, desert land outside of Castle Greyskull, a very good matte. Inside the castle is the black-suited soldiers carrying rifles heralding the appearance of Skeletor. He is played by Frank Langella, a veteran actor, who played the title role in Dracula (1979), and Perry White in Superman Returns (2006). Langella perfectly captures the power mad villain and has fun with the part so it would be a disappointing movie without a good Skeletor. He is the Darkseid counterpart in this film.
This also extends to the make-up effects, the make-up supervisor was Michael Westmore, who is known for designing the make-up for Star Trek series and movies. The cartoon was basically a talking skull, but the design had the eye sockets revealing Langella’s eyes and wrinkled mouth that was skull-like, but allowed Langella to emote. This extends to the work of costume designer, Julie Weiss. She moved away from the purple and blue gladiator outfit of the toy to a sinister black hood and cloak with armor. The designs are also a credit to production designer, William Stout, he also worked on Conan the Barbarian (1982) as a production artist. Skeletor walks with his skull staff to the throne room of Castle Greyskull. Another great matte painting with statues, skull fixtures, and labyrinth passages below the throne room. Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster) reports that they have sealed off the castle. Foster also starred in They Live (1988). The female lieutenant of Darkseid would be Granny Goodness. The evil forces of Skeletor come from Snake Mountain which we do not see here.
Skeletor has imprisoned the Sorceress who is in a sheathe of light. Her cartoon counterpart had a falcon headdress with a feathered, white swimsuit and orange feathered cloak, the film has her with simple, white robes and a crystal headdress. He has Evil-Lyn broadcast his message to Eternia through a holo sphere. Skeletor demands total allegiance as we see the red-cloaked figure of He-Man (Dolph Lundgren) watching the message in the sky. Lundgren was moving from Ivan Drago in Rocky IV (1985) and of course returned to the role in Creed II (2018). He is dressed as a space gladiator, but is a powerful, reassuring hero. He-Man is like Orion who is fated to be locked in a final battle with Darkseid. Skeletor’s soldiers, not exactly Para-demons, are moving the defeated resistance through the rocky terrain. They have black armor and helmets that almost look insectoid. One of the prisoners, Gwildor (Billy Barty) is being carried in a net. Gwildor, a new character, replaces Orko from the cartoon. Barty was well known as a character actor playing Screwball in Legend (1985) and later High Aldwin in Willow (1988). He passed way in 2000. Gwildor has a shock of orange hair, long ears that flip, and a wizened face. The closest character in New Gods would be Metron. His character is goofy, brilliant, and fun.
He-Man takes on Skeletor’s soldiers using his sword and laser rifle. He is joined by allies, Man-at-Arms (Jon Cypher) and his daughter, Teela (Chelsea Field). Cypher later played Howard Millhouse in 1988 episodes of Probe. Field starred in the action movie, Commando (1985). Man-at-Arms has left the goofy, grey helmet, yellow and green armor, with loincloth for a blue helmet and armor that matches his daughter. Teela instead of having red hair and the white swimsuit with brass breastplate armor, wears a form-fitting, blue and grey outfit. Man-at-Arms explains that their forces were overwhelmed by Skeletor. Gwildor tries to get himself free of the net and the others help untangle him from the net. He takes everyone to his cave home filled with his inventions. He brings up a cylindrical device which Gwildor calls the Cosmic Key. He activates the prototype with swirling spikes and music that Gwildor explains can “open a doorway to anywhere.” It would be similar to the Mother Boxes that were in the Justice League (2017) movie. He-Man realizes that Skeletor used the device to slip into the city and take the defenders by surprise. Gwildor says that Evil-Lyn stole the Cosmic Key. He worries that using the Cosmic Key will allow Skeletor to track them.
Karg (Robert Towers) is in charge of the search for Gwildor. He is a new character, strange, reptilian face with pale, rockstar hair. An alert sends the heroes to Gwildor’s secret passage under Castle Greyskull. He-Man and the others find the Sorceress trapped in an energy field. She says she has until moonrise to resist Skeletor. He-Man has Gwildor use the Cosmic Key to get past the energy field. They find that the soldiers have arrived with Evil-Lyn and Skeletor. He-Man defies Skeletor. Evil-Lyn realizes that Gwildor has another key! The battle begins and while He-Man holds off the laser blasts, Man-at-Arms has Gwildor use the Cosmic Key to escape. The gate opens and Man-at-Arms and Teela leap in! The Cosmic Key is blasted out of Gwildor’s hands. He-Man takes Gwildor into the gate, Gwildor sends out his grappling hook to snatch the Cosmic Key before the gate closes! The gate opens in a forested area and they find themselves in a strange world. Gwildor realizes that the key is missing. Then, they encounter an “alien life form”, a cow! This is Earth, He-Man’s mother, Queen Marlena, was from Earth. Never seen or mentioned is He-Man’s other identity as Prince Adam.
This shifts to a fast food restaurant, Robby’s Ribs `n’ Chicken. Then, we are introduced to Julie Winston (Courtney Cox) who is working her last day at the restaurant. Cox is of course known for Friends and also her role in Scream (1996) which is returning in 2022. She is planning on leaving her home after her parents were lost in a plane crash. Julie goes to see her boyfriend Kevin Corrigan (Robert Duncan Macneil). McNeil is known for playing Lt. Tom Paris in Star Trek: Voyager. He is an aspiring musician who is fascinated by the Cosmic Key which they find at the cemetery. Gwildor uses his grappling hook to snatch a bucket of ribs from the back of a car. The others tuck in to the ribs, Teela is repulsed that it came from an animal, but Man-at-Arms doesn’t mind. Very funny. When Kevin starts to play notes on the Cosmic Key, it is detected by Evil-Lyn. She assembles mercenaries under Skeletor’s orders. This includes Blade (Anthony De Longis), a bald and very deadly swordsman, Saurod (Pons Maar), a lizard man creature, Beast Man (Tony Carroll), the only original Skeletor henchman, and Karg. They are hunting He-Man and friends. Also caught up in the adventure is Detective Lubic (James Tolkan) who was of course also a nuisance to Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies. A new movie is in development, but we still have the original! Masters of the Universe polishes its past as toy and cartoon, has enough fun to be a good adventure, with a comic book vision! "Good Journey."
Four Cosmic Keys out of Five!
#MastersoftheUniverse, #GaryGoodard, #DolphLundgren, #FrankLangella, #JonCypher, #ChelseaField, #BillyBarty, #MegFoster
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