Masters of the Universe (1987)
Average Rating: 3.3/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 14
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 4
liked it
Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 47,992
My Rating
Movie Info
Dolph Lundgren stars in this live-action film version of the popular television cartoon series (based on a collection of Mattel action figures). Lundgren is He-Man, a well-muscled super-hero, battling the evil Skeletor (Frank Langella) for control of the universe. Skeletor has designs on conquering the planet Eternia, a ravaged utopia ruled over by the Sorceress of Greyskull Castle (Christina Pickles). He-Man is summoned to stop Skeletor's plans. But when the wily dwarf Gwildor (Billy Barty)
Aug 7, 1987 Wide
Oct 23, 2001
Cannon Films
Cast
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Dolph Lundgren
He-Man -
Frank Langella
Skeletor -
Meg Foster
Evillyn -
Billy Barty
Gwildor -
Courteney Cox
Julie Winston -
Chelsea Field
Teela -
James Tolkan
Detective Lubic -
Christina Pickles
Sorceress of Castle Gre... -
Robert Duncan McNeill
Kevin Corrigan -
Jon Cypher
Duncan Man-at-Arms -
Peter Brooks
Narrator -
Anthony De Longis
Blade -
Gwynne Gilford
Mrs. Winston -
Barry Livingston
Charlie -
Pons Maar
Saurod -
Jessica Nelson
Monica -
Robert Towers
Karg -
Walter Scott
Mr. Winston
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All Critics (17) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (15) | DVD (4)
The result is a colossal bore.
There are lots of flashes and bangs, but the effects are neither special nor camp enough to be more than vaguely amusing.
Their weapons make a Fourth of July sparkler show, but they almost never hit anybody.
Little kids at play have come up with craftier plots, better characterization and conceivably more spectacular effects -- provided their mothers let them play with matches.
It is by no means a masterpiece, but it still possesses some keen schlock value for fans of eighties cinema.
No one is up to Frank Langella's pouting Skeletor in Masters of the Universe.
...better than it ought to be, mainly because of William Stout's elaborate production design and the fact that Frank Langella took the role of Skeletor completely seriously.
The first film to be based on a line of toys, this might not be the last, but it'd take something awful to replace it as the worst.
There are some decent special effects, but overall it's about what you'd expect from a movie inspired by a line of toys.
Goddard does a good job of bringing the characters to life....a treat for the fans
Halfway through this live action version of the popular early 1980s kiddies TV show, I wondered what I had done wrong to deserve all this pain and suffering.
stinks
I'm not saying He-Man deserved all that brilliant of a movie ... but this thing's a freaking disaster.
Audience Reviews for Masters of the Universe
Super Reviewer
Where to start! this really is your typical fantasy film of the era, every cliche every funny little niche is here as you would expect and the funny thing is it was actually meant to be a blockbuster. I have since found out there were many problems in creating this film and it does show some what, the film is really nothing like the original He-Man cartoon in any way.
Effects wise this sorta stumbles through with some interesting ideas, some of the makeup is actually quite good, 'Skeletor', 'Beast Man' and 'Saurod' all have pretty nice makeup appliances and costumes which fit the He-Man universe. Other effects are laughably terrible with some awful bluescreen work, nasty models of which most seem ripped straight outta 'Star Wars', faded poor laser blast effects and some of the most hilariously bad stunts and fight choreography you will see. Most kicks and punches clearly (and I mean CLEARLY) don't make their intended contacts lol!
The cast are actually a mix of decent character actors which is the funny thing, some of these performances saved the film and gave it cult status. Of course Langella as 'Skeletor' is the co de gra of cheesy villains with his snarling voice and bellowing cries lusting for power. For me the best and most amusing performance was James Tolkan as the no nonsense cop 'Lubic' with his sharp tongue, gotta love that guy and his baldness.
Along for the ride is steady character actor Jon Cypher, fantasy actor regular Billy Barty, Meg Foster as the quite sexual 'Evil-Lyn' in her lovely tight barbarian-esq outfit with luscious lips (oh yeah!) and last of all Courtney Cox, yes THAT Courtney Cox of 'Friends' fame and as you would expect she's still annoying as hell even back then.
So yes the film is practically a joke with its 'Punch n Judy' style and completely awful effects, fights etc...but it has gained allot of notoriety for just that. Even when I saw this back as a kid I knew the film bared no resemblance to the original material, it always bewildered me why the creators thought to create new bad guys when there were so many rich villains to use, who the hell was 'Blade', 'Karg' and 'Saurod' suppose to be!? where was 'Trap Jaw' 'Tri-Klops' 'Mer-Man' or 'Man-E-Faces'? the same could be said for the heroes also. Then there was the question of who on earth were all these stormtrooper type foot soldiers clad in black armour that were an idea rip from so many films!?.
I have since found out they were stuck in so 'He-Man' could kill things without becoming too violent for the kids as He-Man wasn't suppose to kill. I can see that now but it still doesn't work right does it, I can't believe Lucas never sued frankly haha even with the almost identical ending to 'ROTJ'.
Its funny to look back and laugh, even more so to think films like this actually made it to the cinema and were meant to be big money spinners hehe. I actually love how the film just goes off on its own tangent completely ignoring the source material, its so far gone its brilliant in such a bad way. Gotta love 'Skeletor's' golden coloured horned silver foil battle mask getup when he transforms at the end which seems to be a rip off from 'Big Trouble in Little China'!, the way Tolkan swears oh and the fact 'Teela' seems to be wearing a thin thong if you look closely as well :) kids film?.
Super Reviewer
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- Sorceress of Castle Greyskull: Men who crave power look back over the mistakes of their lives, pile them all together, and call it 'destiny.'
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- Sorceress of Castle Greyskull: The dark can embrace the light, but never eclipse it.
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- Skeletor: Yes! Let this be our final battle!
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- Skeletor: Everything comes to he who waits. And I have waited so very long for this moment.
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- Skeletor: I must possess all, or I possess nothing.
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- Narrator: At the center of the universe, at the boarder between the light and the dark stands Castle Greyskull. For countless eons the sorceress of Greyskull has kept this universe in harmony, but the armies of darkness shall not rest and the capture of greyskull is ever most in their minds. For to those who controls Greyskull comes the power, the power to be supreme, the power to be all mighty, the power to be.... masters of the universe.
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Latest News on Masters of the Universe
March 20, 2013:
Jon M. Chu Wants Dolph Lundgren for Masters of the UniverseSomewhere, Frank Langella sits patiently by his phone.
July 31, 2012:
Jon M. Chu in Talks for Masters of the UniverseBy the power of Grayskull, etc.
April 12, 2010:
Predators Writers Hired for Masters of the UniverseColumbia is moving forward with its "Masters of the Universe" movie, hiring "Predators"...
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