Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Masters of the Universe Blu-ray Movie Review

How a Line of Toys Became a Film (No, Not THAT One)

Reviewed by Michael Reuben October 4, 2012

Masters of the Universe was a critical and box office failure, but its reputation has grown in the past twenty-five years among a discriminating and increasingly influential base, namely, comic book fans. First-time feature director Gary Goddard admired the work of legendary Marvel artist Jack Kirby, and he intended Masters as a tribute to the great illustrator, even including a dedication to Kirby in the credits (though it was removed by the film's production company). At the time, devoted fans of the Masters comics criticized Goddard and screenwriter David Odell (Supergirl, The Dark Crystal) for various departures from the original stories, but as Goddard explains in the accompanying commentary, he had neither the budget nor the technology to realize a live-action version of many of the comics' signature elements, such as the levitating character Orko (who today would be CGI). Instead, Goddard looked to Kirby for inspiration. Even though Kirby never drew Masters, he has long been regarded as one of the most cinematic among comic book artists. Goddard even tried to get the studio, Cannon Films, to let him hire Kirby as a conceptual artist, but Cannon refused.

The standard explanation for the film's failure is that the popularity of both the toys and the comics had peaked by the time of its release in 1987. If that's the case, then the film prolonged and even revived the franchise's popularity through the staying power that has us today marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the film's release. Goddard may have been a first-time director, but his vision was strong enough to get everyone on the same page, which is a director's essential job. The result was a unique mixture of comic book pulp and live action cheese, anchored by a memorable portrait of villainy in Frank Langella's Skeletor. Dolph Lundgren, who must have relished the opportunity to play the hero after his role as the Russian boxer in Rocky IV, balanced Langella's theatrical turn by obeying the classic command of "less is more". It's an especially useful approach when one is still struggling with a thick Swedish accent.

The peaceful planet of Eternia lies in ruins, victim of a sneak attack by the forces of the evil Skeletor (Langella, delivering his ripely intense performance from within a full skull mask designed by Michael Westmore, future creator of Star Trek's many aliens). The secret of Skeletor's attack is a cosmic "key" invented by Gwildor (Billy Barty, the accomplished little person who would be instantly recognizable from his many roles if not for the immense prosthetic appliances). Gwildor's key is capable of opening doorways to any place or time, and it allowed Skeletor's forces to infiltrate Eternia's fortress, Castle Grayskull, undetected, after Gwildor was tricked into building it by Skeletor's henchwoman, Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster, channeling Lady Macbeth).

Skeletor has imprisoned Eternia's protector, a Sorceress (Christina Pickles), within Castle Grayskull and is draining her power. Eternia's only hope is the people's champion, He-Man (Lundgren), aided by a trusty man-at-arms, Duncan (Jon Cypher), and his battle-hardened daughter, Teela (Chelsea Field). But first they have to rescue Gwildor, whose prototype of the cosmic key is the only way they can gain access to Castle Grayskull in time.

That's the basic setup, but what fun would it be if earthlings weren't involved? Ambushed during their attempt to rescue the Sorceress, the rebel band flees through a door that Gwildor randomly opens, and they land in small-town America, where they become entangled with future stars of Friends and Star Trek: Voyager. If for no other reason, one should see Masters of the Universe to watch Courtney Cox, fresh off her famous "Dancing in the Dark" video with Bruce Springsteen, and Robert Duncan McNeill, eight years before he became Starfleet Lt. Tom Paris, play troubled young lovers Julie and Kevin. (On the commentary track, Goddard is thankful for his casting luck.)

Recently orphaned after losing her parents in a plane crash, Julie is moving east to start over, even though she's still in love with Kevin, who plays keyboards in a local band. As they visit her parents' graves so that Julie can say goodbye, they find Gwildor's "key", which he dropped while falling to earth. Kevin is fascinated by its synthesizer-like tones, but little does he realize that activating the key has given Skeletor a fix on its position. Soon, all manner of creatures are arriving to attack them: first, animal-like assassins, followed by Evil-Lyn and eventually the vicious Skeletor himself with a full contingent of troops. Meanwhile, He-Man, Duncan, Teela and Gwildor rush to defend the locals, and a town cop named Lubic (the reliable James Tolkan) supplies comic relief by trying to take everyone down to the station house.

Eventually, of course, everyone has to return to Eternia for the final battle, and I'm sure no one needs to be told who ultimately prevails. But getting there is a lot of fun, unless you happen to be Charlie (Barry Livingston), proprietor of the local music store to whom Kevin takes the key for his evaluation. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for Charlie's report to his insurance agent.

Masters of the Universe Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Israeli cinematographer Hanania Baer, who is now Henry Jaglom's regular DP, shot Masters of the Universe. As director Goddard repeatedly notes in his commentary, he and Baer took several weeks to find common ground on the look of the film, with Baer pushing for a flatter, more naturalistic look and Goddard insisting on something glossier and more stylized. Goddard's view prevailed, but he points out a few sequences that reflect Baer's preference. Regardless of which photographic style is on display, Warner's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray does a fine job of presenting this effects-laden comic book translation in an accurate fashion, which isn't to say that eyes accustomed to CGI, digital post production and digital cinema will necessarily be pleased with the result. Masters of the Universe was an FX-heavy film, but the effects were done by optical compositing, which produces a softer image than we're used to now, even when the FX plates are shot on 65mm, as they were here by ILM alumnus Richard Edlund. Also, much of the film was shot at night on the streets of Whittier, California, and the entire film was finished photochemically. "Grain" wasn't yet a dirty word, and the film's grain is generally visible, often obviously so, because it's been left intact by the technical crew that created this Blu-ray. Viewers should applaud their efforts, but we know from experience that some will not.

Colors are varied and nicely saturated. In the scenes on Eternia, they never create a sense of a fully realized environment, but I think that was a deliberate effect of Goddard's effort to evoke the graphic world of Jack Kirby's art. Blacks, which are essential for Skeletor's face and costume, are mostly dark and solid; they waver somewhat in multi-layered composites like Skeletor's "holosphere" addresses to the people of Eternia, where everything is fainter and weaker (including detail), due to the compositing process. In general, though, the film's transition to hi-def reveals levels of detail in costumes, make-up and production design that haven't been seen since the film played in theaters.

Masters of the Universe Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The film's original stereo soundtrack is presented as DTS-HD MA 2.0. It's solid and serviceable and has very good fidelity, but little in the way of surround activity, even when played through an advanced matrix decoder. The dialogue is always clear, which is hardly surprising when you consider that most of the characters are Eternians, nearly all of whom speak in a ripely theatrical style that seems to be standard issue for all non-terrestrial life forms speaking English. Composer Bill Conti wrote a truly fine score that manages to evoke the spirit of an otherworldly conflict as effectively as John Williams in Star Wars and Jerry Goldsmith in the pre-Abrams Star Trek films, but without sounding like either one. On the Blu-ray's lossless track, the score sounds as good as I've ever heard it.

Masters of the Universe Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Director Gary Goddard: Goddard is an energetic commentator, but it had been almost fifteen years since he'd directed the film, and he hadn't directed another one since. (He moved from film directing into producing and directing major theme park attractions such as Jurassic Park: The Ride and Six Flags' Monster Mansion, though his company, Landmark Productions.) Rewatching the film is like revisiting an old scrapbook for him, and Goddard shares many memories from the shoot, but one can sense the distance and the shift in perspective that comes with a career change. Many of Goddard's items have been excerpted and listed in the film's "trivia" section at IMDb.



• Trailer (SD; 1.78:1, enhanced; 1:42): The narration is almost laughably solemn.

Masters of the Universe Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It says something about the quality of Masters of the Universe that the film holds up even after the endless parodies of He-Man and Skeletor perpetrated by the creators of Robot Chicken, who seem to have almost as much fondness for this series as for Star Wars. And why shouldn't they? In cost, profit and influence, Goddard's film may be a small stone compared to the giant quarry that is George Lucas' starry franchise, but they have much in common. Both deal with elemental and operatic themes; both are massive costume dramas set in space; and both draw inspiration from cheesy B movies and Saturday morning serials, the most obvious being the Buster Krabbe Flash Gordon adventures. Given some changes in timing and a few lucky breaks, it might have been Skeletor's skull, rather than Darth Vader's helmet, that became the universal symbol of evil ambition. Highly recommended.