Posted by Don’t expect high art from a film based on an 80s cartoon with characters such as He Man, Skeletor, Ram Man, Fisto and a big green tiger called Battle Cat. Yes, Masters of the Universe has been brought out of hibernation and given a fresh lick of paint, with a big, $200M blockbuster makeover funded by the tax loving Amazon.
Director Travis Knight (Bumblebee) has brought us a big, dumb and colourful spectacle that is full of humour. We see He-Man (an enthusiastic Nicholas Galitzine) turn from scrawny, picked on boy to the buffed up superhero – part Thor part Manowar album cover. The puny child was trained by Idris Elba’s Man-At-Arms Duncan, who is always good value. Then Jared Leto’s sneering Skeletor (appropriately hamming it up) and his army of goons takes over Eternos and ala superman, Adams parents ship him off to Earth to keep him safe. Now Adam must discover himself, find a way back home and save Eternos from the boney baddie.
The story is derivative and the film plays out like bits of other films stitched together, a dash of Guardians of the Galaxy, a smidgen of Superman and a whole lotta Flash Gordon. Like the latter it leans into the tongue in cheek, high camp fun – it is very entertaining that its many flaws, and tiresome plot, get overlooked. Its story may be thin but it does look gorgeous and the fight scenes are silly fun, reminding me of the Power Rangers. Even the soundtrack is OTT, being a crescendo of screeching guitars, urgent strings and synths. Just to hammer home its influences, ‘Princess of the Universe by Queen plays at one point.
You won’t be intellectually stimulated, but you will have a blast.
6.5/10
