He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is one of the first cartoons I remember watching as a child. It was formative to my expectations of both science fiction and fantasy, because it blended both perfectly for 4-year-old me. Unfortunately, the old cartoon doesn’t really hold up these days. Even 20 years ago, I tried watching the Best of He-Man DVDs with my parents. We were all excited because we had watched it together 20+ years before that. It was beyond difficult to watch. And yet…
Some seed it planted endures within me. The action. The adventure. The fantasy of being more than I am. The moral lessons at the heart of the show. Those are the parts I remember fondly. The sense of safety and family are also important takeaways for me. And you know what? This movie has it all.
Prince Adam is a massive dork. That’s been a part of the lore since the beginning. But he also has a good heart and a noble spirit, which is why he is chosen to be He-Man. He-Man, in the cartoons, was confident, cool, and stronger than Adam could ever be. It’s a little different here. He-Man and Adam aren’t separate people with knowledge of each other. They are, in fact, the same person transformed. They possess the same strength of spirit and noble nature, He-Man is just more physically powerful than Adam. And he does the same thing with that power that Clark Kent does as Superman: he protects people and shows them a better way.
Along the way, we see the hero’s origin, from Adam’s training and upbringing in the palace of Eternos on Eternia to his exile on Earth to his becoming the Most Powerful Man in the Universe. The story is pretty standard hero stuff, but the dialogue, acting, and action set pieces elevate it. The cast is an impressive mix of well-known stars and up-and-comers, most all of whom deliver solid performances, along with the leads who knock it out of the park. I especially have to give props to the usually over-the-top Jared Leto as the voice of Skeletor. He chews scenery just like the great Alan Oppenheimer in the 1980s.
Ultimately, this movie is about toxic masculinity versus healthy masculinity. When He-Man declares that he has the power of a god in his hand, Teela gently but pointed reminds him that he is still a man. Skeletor is a perfect example of power corrupting and infecting those around him. Adam, on the other hand, doesn’t fight to conquer or steal. He fights to resist the darkness of Skeletor. He fights for his friends and family. He fights to inspire Enternia.
The element that stands out most in mind, however, is the superb soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton with guitars by Brian May, PhD., of Queen. Holy cow. It’s subtle at times and rocking at times, but it always feels right. I can’t stress how good the soundtrack is and how it elevates the movie. Just like Skeletor, it never lingers too long and always provides the right amount of cheese. And when Queen’s “Princes of the Universe” from Highlander comes on during an escape and fight scene? Oh, I was sold!
Overall, I enjoyed this movie. It ran a little long, but that’s not unusual these days. There’s a lot about teamwork and trying your best and being the man you want to be, and it never gets sappy or syrupy. There are nods to the original show and movie and to She-Ra: Princess of Power. Not to be confused with the excellent Netflix show, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. But those nods are just that: blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hints that there were previous iterations of the property. The best is Dolph Lundgren, He-Man in 1987’s terrible Masters of the Universe movie, showing up to tell Nicholas Galitzine’s Adam, “You’re taking my spot.” It is hilarious and heartfelt all at once.
A man isn’t made by the power he wields, the sword he swings, or the people he conquers. He is made by his choices. Choices define us and our world. You have the choice. You have the power.
