Masters Of The Universe Review

Introduction (Warning May Contain Spoilers)

Masters of the Universe finally brings Eternia back to cinemas with confidence, colour, and surprising emotional depth. The film carries enormous expectations from longtime fans and modern blockbuster audiences alike. Fortunately, the adaptation mostly succeeds because it embraces the franchise instead of avoiding its stranger elements.

Directed by Travis Knight, the movie revolves around the character Prince Adam who comes back to Eternia in order to accept his fate. Nicholas Galitzine is the protagonist of this film as he acts the role of both Adam and He-Man with ease and humor.

The movie recognizes its origins from the realm of fantasy and never feels shy about its own oversized mythology. This approach works to its advantage all throughout. There are instances when things do go too far, but overall, the movie manages to find a fun balance between realism and fantasy.

Directorial Style and Tone

One of the most difficult tasks for the movie was finding the balance between realistic and overstated elements, considering that the latter is a characteristic of the original animated series. Travis Knight manages to handle this issue skillfully and achieves good results. He refrains from making Eternia a dark fantasy land.

Instead, the approach favors bright visuals, villains worthy of the big screen, and thrilling adventures. It gets that He-Man has always been intended for grand-scale entertainment. As a result, the campiness is hardly ever an unintended consequence of anything.

A few instances take things just a bit too far over into animation mode, particularly when the action and humor are involved. Nonetheless, these elements still support the energy of the movie without compromising it entirely.

It is also surprising how well this comedy fits into the whole plot. The modern generation of fantasy films is very sarcastic in nature. The film avoids the trap of being too sarcastic through its ability to let characters be genuinely humorous. This makes the film more emotionally convincing than many other fantasy films made recently.

Knight clearly understands that fantasy films still require an emotional connection with the audience.

Cinematography

The cinematography by Fabian Wagner helps to create a sense of scale in Eternia. This is because the film uses grand visuals in almost every major scene. The use of wide-angle shots and impressive lighting allows for the visual believability of Eternia.

The artistic choice includes the use of vivid colors instead of using the dull modern blockbusters’ color scheme. This artistic choice makes the movie unique from the many fantasy movies which have been released lately. Eternia is vibrant and not visually dead.

There are also quite a number of action scenes that are very visually impressive due to Wagner’s knowledge of motion and energy. The cinematography maintains an exciting battle sequence while avoiding confusion for the viewer.

There are some instances when the visual elements go to excess, almost appearing like a live action version of an animated film. Yet, in most cases, the style serves well the franchise itself, without destroying the feeling of immersion.

Visual Effects

The pressure is immense since Eternia relies quite a lot on the creation of its world through visual effects. The effects in general are executed exceptionally well during the movie, except for a few cases when they seem to fail. Big sets, magic effects, creatures all look convincing and grand.

The fantasy world is created successfully and looks extensive and engaging enough. Action sequences receive a nice boost with visual detail and environment design. Eternia does not feel hollow.

But the less convincing use of CGI is evident at certain points when there are many effects involved. Some battle scenes lack credibility owing to their too computer-generated appearance.

Nonetheless, the better use of CGI largely outweighs the latter. The movie does not seem unfinished visually despite the aforementioned inconsistencies. Most viewers would probably recall the impressive visuals rather than any weak digital effects.

Story and Themes

This is the element of the movie that adds a lot of strength to the movie since it centers on Prince Adam’s growth. His emotional journey is what helps give emotional substance to the movie.

Seeing how Adam gradually comes to take his responsibilities leads to him becoming He-Man with more meaning and substance. This movie deals with issues of identity, destiny, bravery, and sacrifice.

This screenplay maintains audience engagement through character development within its fantasy action. Adam starts off as an indecisive person who is confused about his future. The reason why the development of Adam is appealing to audiences is that they see him change.

Several parts of this screenplay follow familiar fantasy story tropes. There are some plot developments which might be anticipated by fantasy audiences. Yet, it makes up for it due to its emotional honesty.

Above all else, the plot provides viewers with compelling reasons to care about what happens to Eternia. The emotional tension is closely tied to Adam’s personal experiences and growth. This adds depth to the overarching conflict with Skeletor and his minions.

Performances

There are solid performances by the cast throughout the film and a full dedication towards the fantasy environment. The importance of this is evident since the world of Eternia can easily be considered silly when filmed in live-action scenes.

Nicholas Galitzine is great in the roles of Prince Adam and He-Man because he deals with emotions convincingly and plays comic scenes without a hitch. His acting makes Adam a believable human being before he turns into an unforgettable legend.

His acting perfectly conveys Adam’s lack of certainty and vulnerability to emotions. That allows the audience to feel for him when he transforms into He-Man.

Camila Mendes is another cast member who makes for a surprisingly effective Teela. Many viewers were uncertain about her role prior to the movie’s premiere. Nevertheless, Mendes demonstrates her ability through confidence, charisma, and great on-screen chemistry.

She brings an element of personality to Teela that goes above and beyond the support she provides to Adam’s character. She performs each scene with passion and conviction.

Additionally, Idris Elba impressively plays both Duncan and Man-At-Arms. Similar to Mendes, Elba received backlash prior to his performance being seen due to his cast. Nevertheless, Elba manages to dispel much of the backlash within the first few minutes of his performance.

Elba successfully manages to infuse both humour and emotion into Duncan’s role. In fact, the storyline regarding Duncan’s redemption proves to be emotionally fulfilling for the audience.

Jared Leto gives an entertaining and appropriately theatrical performance as Skeletor. It would be easy for the character to become unintentionally silly in a live action setting. Rather than that, Leto is able to embody the grand nature of the character without making him into a joke.

The entire performance is filled with menace but also an exaggeratedly theatrical flair. The character seems like both a threat and entertainment.

Alison Brie should also be acknowledged for her acting as Evil-Lyn. Being one of the most faithful followers of Skeletor, she is able to give her character intelligence, aspiration, and dignity. The character of Evil-Lyn could be easily forgotten due to Skeletor’s bigger character, but thanks to Alison Brie, she makes Evil-Lyn stand out.

There is not only loyalty in Evil-Lyn’s character, there is also individual aspiration that helps give the character more complexity. Moreover, the scenes between Alison Brie and Jared Leto were interesting because they fully accepted the playfulness of their roles.

Also contributing to this aspect of the film is the voice work of Kristen Wiig as Roboto. While Roboto serves to add some lighter elements to the film, it is the performance by Kristen Wiig that brings a lot of character to the role. Unlike most other voice performers who choose only to rely on comedic elements in their acting,

Kristen Wiig brings her heart into the role, which allows Roboto to be more than mere comic relief. Additionally, her performance adds humor to various aspects of the film, while still making Roboto feel like he belongs among the other heroes of Eternia.

Additional Cast

Morena Baccarin adds gravitas to the portrayal of the Sorceress, adding much credibility to the mystic aspects of the movie. Her portrayal shows wisdom and reverence for the character who holds an important place within the lore of Eternia. Morena Baccarin plays her role with integrity and respectability. She is very convincing when portraying a character whose destiny is so important to the world of Eternia.

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson is another welcome choice for Fisto. While the look of the character itself is quite impressive, he is made more than just an effective fighter by Jóhannesson. Fisto is a man who possesses great honor, adding even further value to his role within the ranks of the planet’s protectors. Overall, his presence blends well into the adventure style of the movie and adds to many great action scenes.

The character of Ram Man is well played by Jon Xue Zhang. He manages to capture both the bravery and determination of his character. The character of Ram Man could easily become nothing more than comic relief; however, Zhang manages to bring an enthusiasm to the role which allows Ram Man to be enjoyable as a character.

However, there is another actor whose contribution to the film is not small and that is James Purefoy. He convincingly plays the part of King Randor and gives credence to the portrayal of an authoritative and emotionally rich monarch of Eternia.

What’s great about Purefoy’s interpretation is that he sees Randor not only as a king but as the father who is worried about his child’s future and the future of his kingdom. Purefoy’s interaction with Nicholas Galitzine contributes greatly to the further development of the image of Adam.

Queen Marlena, the mother of Adam, is portrayed perfectly by Charlotte Riley. The character, although not being the focal point in the film, assists in portraying the family connections which provide more emotional weight in the journey of the character.

Her interaction with both James Purefoy and Nicholas Galitzine has been portrayed sincerely and passionately, giving emphasis on the personal stakes that the main conflict is associated with. Marlena is a sympathetic character who is also firm in her decisions.

Cringer is also another character that is well-portrayed in the movie and stands out as one of the most iconic members of the franchise. The choice of casting Fletcher Glenn as young Cringer and Tom Wilton as grown-up Cringer works perfectly for the development of the character alongside the growth of the main protagonist.

Both actors have delivered a convincing portrayal of Cringer as a loyal, likable companion of He-Man, as well as some amusing scenes of humor. Cringer never looks like he was only added to the film just for some fan service but contributes significantly to the plot of the movie.

The role of Trap Jaw is also played very effectively by Sam C. Wilson. Trap Jaw is already a well known and very dangerous character from the side of Skeletor, and it does take some skill to bring this into full fruition on-screen.

One thing that the actor certainly does very well is create an aura of real menace about him, which was also part of his character before. The main thing that Trap Jaw has always had going for him is his menacing looks, but here Wilson has ensured that he backs it up with actual talent.

Soundtrack

The musical score enhances the identity and mood of the movie for its entire run time. For instance, the soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton works superbly in backing up the action as well as more emotional sections of the movie.

Guitar solos by Brian May become one of the strongest aspects of the soundtrack. The unique guitar style suits the world of Eternia quite nicely within the movie. This results in increased intensity in the scenes.

There are certain similarities between the soundtrack used in this film and the music in Flash Gordon from 1980. In both movies, there is an adventure-filled feel and musical choices that make it come true.

However, some might have their preference for an orchestral fantasy score. Nevertheless, the unique music style allows the movie to stand out. The soundtrack fits in perfectly with the overly fantastic nature of the movie.

What Worked

The movie is most successful when it embraces the fantasy aspect rather than trying to ignore its strange qualities. Adam’s emotional development brings an element of genuineness to the film. The ensemble also displays fantastic chemistry in their interactions on screen.

Humor is well-integrated and provides a suitable background for emotional moments. Music is a great way of infusing energy into pivotal parts of the narrative. Eternia seems vibrant and imaginative.

The movie respects the source material without being held hostage to nostalgia. Nods to past works and over-the-top character moments are done with affection. Fans of the original cartoon are sure to notice the little details.

What Did Not Work

Certain CGI shots appear quite obviously less effective in action sequences where the scope is bigger. Inconsistencies like these do at times make even the most impressive scenes less than perfect. Some sequences can also be seen as being just a little bit too overdone by certain viewers.

There are several characters that could have had more of their emotional journeys explored in the movie. Since Adam’s character forms the main plot line of the story, some other characters did not get the attention they deserved.

The style may create a split between viewers who expect a dark fantasy story. Nevertheless, taking away this exaggerated approach will definitely destroy the brand. This is indeed a fine line to draw.

Overall Verdict

Masters of the Universe is able to succeed due to its full embrace of fantasy spectacle typical of the He-Man franchise. Indeed, there is no embarrassment about Eternia, Skeletor, and the grandiose mythos.

It is necessary to note the presence of some drawbacks like an awkwardly implemented CGI and moments when the movie seems excessive. However, such issues are barely noticed due to the strengths of the adaptation, including the emotional narrative and excellent performance and atmosphere.

Prince Adam/He-Man are well portrayed by Nicholas Galitzine, whose performance is both credible and emotional. Camila Mendes and Idris Elba were able to prove that their casting was successful thanks to their acting skills. Skeletor was brought to life by Jared Leto in an interesting and entertaining way.

Along with the strong cinematography and entertaining moments like humor and music, this makes for a good piece of fantasy entertainment. Although the movie is far from being perfect, it manages to succeed much more than fail. For fans and newcomers alike, Eternia seems to be reborn again.