IMDb > Masters of the Universe (1987)
Masters of the Universe
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Masters of the Universe (1987) More at IMDbPro »

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Masters of the Universe (1987) -- He-Man squares off against Skeletor in this live action film based on the cartoon

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   9,417 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Gary Goddard

Writer:

David Odell (written by)
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Contact:

View company contact information for Masters of the Universe on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

7 August 1987 (USA) more

Tagline:

A Battle Fought In The Stars. Now... Comes To Earth. more

Plot:

A life-action feature film based on the popular cartoon kids show about a prince turned warrior named He-Man. full summary | full synopsis

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(28 articles)

Conan Cameo For Dolph Lundgren?
 (From Screen Rant. 10 November 2009, 11:44 AM, PST)

J.J. Abrams producing Micronauts movie
 (From Corona's Coming Attractions. 6 November 2009, 7:22 AM, PST)

User Comments:

Cheesy but Enjoyable Sci Fi Adventure! more (145 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:

Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture (USA) (promotional title)
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Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Filming Locations:

Iceland more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

Director Gary Goddard tried to convince the producers that Matthew Modine would be perfect for the part of He-Man after seeing his performance in Vision Quest (1985), but the producers assumed after the success of Rocky IV (1985), Dolph Lundgren would be the next big action star and went with him instead. In what would have been a similar potential casting disagreement, Goddard had Daryl Hannah in mind for She-Ra in a potential sequel/spin-off (if the first film had been a hit), but the producers first choice was Lundgren's Rocky IV co-star, Brigitte Nielsen. more

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: A "stone" statue bounces on the floor when pushed over. more

Quotes:

Skeletor: [to He-Man regarding his allies] I give you a choice. Surrender to me and I will spare their miserable lives, or perish with them on this primitive and tasteless planet. Surrender your sword! more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#1.2)" (1989) more

Soundtrack:

Waitin' Up more


FAQ

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15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
Cheesy but Enjoyable Sci Fi Adventure!, 20 March 2004
Author: Ben Burgraff (cariart) from Las Vegas, Nevada

I feel a bit guilty, reading some of the other reviews posted, but I liked MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE! Perhaps because I was never 'into' the cartoon series, I am more forgiving of characters or plot devices left out, and I certainly recognize that it is derivative of both STAR WARS and FLASH GORDON (particularly in Bill Conti's bombastic musical score), but there is so much energy in the film, such abundant confidence in the ultimate victory of Good versus Evil, and such a wonderfully campy performance by Frank Langella as rubber-masked Skeletor that I get a kick out of it, whenever it airs.

Physically, no actor could be more perfect as the hero, He-Man, than ROCKY 4's Dolph Lundgren. At 6'6" (that's two inches taller than JOHN WAYNE, trivia fans!), with flowing blond hair and blue eyes, the 30-year old Swedish actor combined a Herculean physique (if Marvel Comics' "The Mighty Thor" is ever filmed, he would be perfect as the Thunder God), with a knack for weapons that would earn him the future title of 'King' of 'B' action flicks. True, his English was so poor at the time of filming that his dialog was kept to a minimum, but who watches this kind of film for dialog, anyway?

Supporting Lundgren's He-Man is crusty veteran soldier, Duncan (Man-at-Arms), played by character actor Jon Cypher, who makes up for He-Man's taciturn nature by reminiscing constantly about a life in the military (with observations EVERY soldier has made, through history), and his daughter, Teela (pretty Chelsea Field, one of the busiest actresses of the decade), serving as a "Xena Lite" for the proceedings.

Opposing the Forces of Good with the irreplaceable Langella is one of my favorite actresses, Meg Foster, as the sublimely wicked Evil-Lyn, using her piercing green eyes and barely suppressed sexuality to great advantage. With an array of the cartoon's more colorful villains in support of Skeletor and Evil-Lyn, He-Man has his hands full!

The plot involves a tonal 'key', created by a dwarf, Gwildor (screen legend Billy Barty, in an initially irritating, but eventually endearing role), that can transport individuals wherever they desire. Stolen by Evil-Lyn, Skeletor uses it to capture He-Man's Castle Greyskull and it's resident Sorceress ("St. Elsewhere" alum Christina Pickles). With a hidden prototype 'key', Gwildor leads our heroes into the castle...where they are nearly captured by Skeletor, before the dwarf throws together some random numbers, and transports our heroes...to Earth.

The 'key' is lost, as the four arrive on our planet, to be found by aspiring musician Kevin Corrigan ("Star Trek: Voyager" star Robert Duncan McNeill) who thinks it's a Japanese musical instrument! With girlfriend Julie Winston (future "Friends" superstar Courteney Cox, looking young and gorgeous), the pair are astonished by the musical complexities of the device, unaware that each time it is 'played', Skeletor is getting a better 'fix' of it's location. Eventually, our planet is pinpointed, and Skeletor leads an army of villains to subdue us, and capture He-Man.

With great comic support by bald character actor James Tolkan (BACK TO THE FUTURE), as a bewildered police detective, some spectacular 'set' pieces (Skeletor's invasion force, backed by 'Darth Vader'ish music, is a highlight), and an ending that concludes that "ANYTHING is possible", MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE is great cheesy fun!

Certainly, the film is not a classic, but if you accept it on it's own terms, I think you might find it to be a lot of fun!



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