On the Silver Screen
Musings on Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture
By Matthew Martin

First of all, a general notice to all those who have been writing me about getting a hold of Masters of the Universe items. Generally, I am of no help in such quests. Most of my material was acquired back during the 1980s, through friends, or through individuals and dealerships who would be difficult to locate now, even if they are still providing material. You're better off checking the resources we have available here at He-Man.org.

Now, on to this editorial's topic, which is one of the most controversial elements of the MOTUniverse -- Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture (hereafter MOTU:TMP). I sat down to watch down the film straight through for the first time in several years -- I usually start at the last half-hour or so -- and found some things worth commenting on.

I still appreciate the introductory voice-over of the film. The narrator does a fine job of conveying the scope and longevity of the battle for Eternia. The only problem is that while the cosmic element of the struggle is discussed, the persons of the conflict are glossed over -- we hear nothing about He-Man and Skeletor.

The inital moments of the movie are also impressive. Skeletor's entrance into Castle Grayskull is played up as the momumental event we knew it would be, and the Lord of Destruction gets a good chance to gloat. Meg Foster's portrayal of Evil-Lyn is a bit of a divergence from the cartoon version, but quite good with a lot of little touches that bring the character to life -- watch for her triumphant smirk after Skeletor starts draining the energy of the Sorceress.

Christina Pickles doesn't get much to do as the Sorceress -- only appearing in four scenes. Most of her lines are general exposition and encouragement, with few real character touches. Still, she does well enough with what she's given, and her dialogue with Skeletor upon the triumphant return of the Dark Lord to Castle Grayskull is, in my opinion, one of the high points of the movie.

Speaking of Frank Langella's Skeletor... well, what is there to say that hasn't been said already by most fans? Langella steals the film with his portrayal of the Lord of Destruction, giving us a Skeletor who's darker and more sinister than any other version, and imbued with malevolent presence. Langella's charisma and acting skill make this Skeletor more imposing and threatening than any other version. The script also gives him many of the best lines.

The only areas of Eternia we see outside of Castle Grayskull are a few rocky areas and Gwildor's home. There isn't much of an Eternian 'feel' to them, but they aren't blatantly un-Eternian either.

As for the Heroic Warriors, who we first meet after Skeletor's address to the people of Eternia...

Jon Cypher does a decent Man-at-Arms, although the master of weapons is played for comic relief a bit too much for my tastes. Of all the characters in the movie, he most resembles the original toy version; aside from a color change and a few small details, the likeness is near-perfect.

The same can't be said for the movie's version of Teela, who bears almost no resemblance to the classic version in either appearance or character. Chelsea Fields makes a game attempt, but the script for Teela is so weak that she's has nearly no impact on the movie.

As for Dolph Lundgren as He-Man... the character design's not too bad, but the script doesn't give him much more material than Teela -- the wisdom and nobility that made the Hero of Eternia more than a muscle-bound barbarian are lost. Lundgren's not the worst actor, but he doesn't quite catch the character either, something made worse by his fluctuating and sometimes distracting accent.

As for the one new Eternian addition to the forces of Good, Gwildor... he's a good Billy Barty character, but he just doesn't seem to fit. The character's far too whimsical and comedic for my tastes; even Orko, who was sometimes a jarring note, didn't quite seem to get that bad. Once you get past the first half of the movie, though, he becomes less bumbling and actually begins to show a bit of courage. All in all, he's not a bad character once the spotlight's off him.

The journey to Earth is the worst major element of the movie, in my view. If Gwildor was a slightly discordant element, then this practically breaks the movie. While I'll agree there's a certain charm to seeing people like us get caught up in the struggle for Eternia, spending over half of the movie on the planet Earth seems like a waste of time, especially when so much of it is spent with the Earthlings. The fact that the first few scenes on Earth (the encounter with the cow and the scenes at Robby's Ribs) are bad comic relief doesn't help matters.

It doesn't help that the three Terran characters we spend the most time with aren't very likeable. Robert Duncan McNeil and Courteney Cox do a decent job as Kevin Corrigan and Julie Winston, but the characters are somewhat flat and spend too much time as victims of the forces of Skeletor, without having any real strength in their own right. As for Detective Lubic, James Tolkan does what he can, but he's saddled with the role of an arrogant buffoon who does almost nothing worthwhile for the story.

It's not until about a third of the way into the film that we meet the remaining Eternian characters, of whom only one -- Beast Man -- is familiar to us. Karg, Blade, and Saurod are actually decent villains; I've always had a fondness for Blade, myself. Beast Man would have been a good 'savage' warrior in his own right, but he doesn't mesh with any other portrayal of Skeletor's brutal henchman.

Despite all of these problems, there are things I like about the movie. Some of the dialogue is enjoyable, as are some of the individual scenes, such as the assault on the record store, and Skeletor's grand arrival on Earth.

For me, the real height of the movie comes when Skeletor returns to Eternia with He-Man as his prisoner. The growing sense of doom, with the Lord of Destruction finally triumphant and about to steal the Powers of Grayskull, pervades the scenes as the Sorceress fades and He-Man is battered -- but not broken. Skeletor's ascension is a dramatic moment, and the final battle isn't perfect, but is exciting. I do wonder why they used that strange and dim lighting for the final battle between He-Man and Skeletor, though. Maybe it was to disguise the fact that Skeletor was probably being played by Anthony deLongis (Blade) for that scene?

Thus, while MOTU:TMP is a disappointment, it has some redeeming qualities. My habit is to start with Skeletor's return to Eternia, and fast-forward through the Earth scenes interspersed with the Eternian material -- I feel I get some of the best material that way.

Still, whatever way you choose to watch the movie -- including not watching it at all -- enjoy it, and good journey!