Reviews & Ratings for
"Masters of the Universe vs. the Snake Men" More at IMDbPro »"He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" (original title)

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27 reviews in total

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15 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
A Vast Improvement on The Original, 30 April 2003

Author: Ken-120 from London, Ontario, Canada

I used to watch the original He-Man series, but eventually I grew out of it after realizing just how poorly budgeted and written it was, albeit with with notable exceptional episodes.

However, this series is a perfect example of the best kind of remake. The producers obviously examined the original series thoroughly and set out to play up the best elements of the series and rectify the weaknesses. As a result, the series boasts vastly superior animation that avoids the constant cycles and other crudities of Filmation's work. There is also wonderful writing with stories that are so well paced that each episode has the feel of a feature film with the amount of content they manage to pack in. The characters are formed with intricate detail and it allows for a truly compelling viewing experience.

It is a pleasure to see a remake finally be everything that it should be.

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16 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
Dare I say it, better than the original, 25 August 2003
Author: rhoberic (rhoberic@hotmail.com) from Cardiff, Wales

So, the new He-Man cartoon on CNX. Is it good, telling a good story while at the same time making us all nostalgic for the original, or is it just a big pile of elephant turd? There haven't been many re makes of 80's cartoons yet, except for a couple of attempts at new Transformers series, which I have to say, were pretty appalling. So, I was kinda sceptical about the new He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. But, I have now watched enough episodes to make a judgement. I will do so by listing the good points followed by the bad points. Good points: 1: The new looks for the characters. They have modernised, and dare I say it, improve upon the look the of characters, making everyone look very cool, while still remaining incredibly faithful to the way they looked in the original. For example, Man At Arms helmet always looked kinda stupid in the original, but with the updated look, seems pretty cool. Beastman looks pretty much the same, but is now also really rather large, which works better for the character. So the new look is actually an improvement. 2: Todays animation techniques are obviously better than they were 20 years ago, and this has worked very much in He-Man's favour. Everything about the cartoon looks incredible and moves fluidly. But just look at the locations. Most of the time, they have enough character of their own. 3: The characters really haven't changed. Everyone is pretty much what they were in the original, with only slight updates to keep up with the times. Sure, Adam and Teela are younger, but again, it just seems better. 4: Cringer/Battlecat doesn't talk anymore. This is one of the biggest differences to the original, but I prefer it this way. Having Cringer just mew like a frightened kitten, then roaring and snarling when he becomes Battlecat works better than having him talk. He seems more like what he's supposed to be now: the loyal pet. 5: The voices. Most of them sound pretty similar to the voices from the original. Skeletor particularly. The actor doing Skeletor's voice is one of the best things about this series. 6: The humour. There's some very funny moments in the new series, and I don't remember there being very many of those in the original. For example, have a look at the episode where the Masters try to defeat Skeletor once and for all by attching a device to him which hurts him whenever he say's or does anything bad. Watching Skeletor trying desperately to be nice and polite to his minions is hilarious. 7: Where else on television today are you going to find characters with such great names like Buzz-Off, Mechaneck, Man-E-Faces and Ramman? 8: It wipes away any memories of the awful Dolph Lundgren film Bad points: 1: They changed the theme tune! All right, so maybe the original theme tune just wouldn't work in this day and age, but come on! 2: He-Man doesn't hold his sword in front of him now when he say's "I have the power!". He just keeps it pointed skyward. That just seems wrong somehow. So there you go. The good points far outweigh the bad, and lets face it, how tiny and petty are thos bad points. So I say that the new He-Man is a triumph. It's at least an equal to its predecessor, if not better in some ways. Lets hope this paves the way for some decent re makes of other classics. I for one would love to see the Thundercats come back in a good cartoon, and it's about time the transformers came back in a cartoon that did justice to the fantastic originals. And lets also hope that the new He-Man goes on for long enough that they remake the Secret of the Sword movie which introduced She-Ra and we get a new She-Ra cartoon. That'd be cool.

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13 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
A great re-do of a classic series., 15 June 2004
Author: crap8 from oswego NY

If you loved the old He-man then this show will appeal to you. It's got all the same characters, but the character development and plot is crisper. There is more internal conflict. And more inter character relationships. This series is filled with drama between the characters you loved in the 80's. And the animation looks better. Personally, I don't think the way the fights are animated, a sort of cheap dragon ball z type reuse of the same 'flying' shots over and over again. It's not bad, it just gets old if you watch them too often. But over all it's really quite enjoyable. Since this post is referring to the pilot movie in particular. I must say it's a great story that was never told in the original series. It tells how Skeletor came to be. And how he got that cute skeletal face of his. It give backround that you've been dying to know since the early 80's. It's worth watching for that alone. ANd it tells how Prince Adam first became He-man. Which was also left out of the 80's show. Watch it. You will not be disappointed.

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9 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
The power rekindled, 21 October 2004
Author: Derek MacDonell (ThePaladin1) from Calgary, Alberta

I was born in 1983 (the same year the original series first came out) so it's not too far of a stretch to say that I literally grew up with it, in any case it remains one of my all time favourites. So, when I heard they were coming out with a remake I was hopeful, but skeptical. I've seen too many fall flat and too many are blatant money ploys with little bearing on the original (like a certain movie that I won't name.).

That said, when I first watched the series I was pleasantly surprised. This is obviously a labour of love that gives as much respect to old schoolers like myself as it does to those who have never even heard of Eternia. I was amazed to see the amount of detail, from Evil-Lynn's hair to the long standing Keldor/Skeletor rumour, that was brought into it.

The characterization is also terrific and they've even expanded on as are many of the details and relationships that weren't as heavily addressed in the old one. The animation is much richer and smoother and the series lacks the classic "80s cheese" (oh well).

Not to say that there aren't some points that I don't think work well ie: my biggest problem is Cringer not talking, though that's a rant I've done elsewhere.

This is a strong series that I've really enjoyed up to now and is, so far, a worthy successor to the original.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
So glad its back, hope it stays, 11 November 2004
Author: brandellewilliams5000 (brandellewilliams5000@hotmail.com) from Australia

I was a huge fan of the he-man cartoon in the 80s, but being so young i didn't get to see as much as i would've liked. This 21st century version of the Masters of the universe cartoon is a great re-make of the old cartoon and better overall i have to say. The storyline and plot in this cartoon is much better than the original and the action sequences are a lot more explosive and entertaining. Remember the old MOTU cartoon was made in the early 80s and cartoons have come a long way since then, so the animation is advanced better and the characters are much more detailed and better looking.The new cartoon is not as goof ball and childish as the old cartoon and the majority of the characters are seen in more than one episode and get to be involved in the plot and unlike the 80s version this cartoon is not merely a vehicle in which to promote the sale of Mattel toys as it was the case before.I like the fact that all of the old characters from the 80s version that were in like one or two episodes then had an action figure made out of them, do actually appear in a few episodes and have their character developed more than in the original.Villains like Skeletor and Evil-Lyn are more cunning and evil than the goofy roles they had before and I'm glad that this cartoon rarely resorts to the slapstick action that so often spoiled the original.As i said i do think this is a better cartoon overall, but i do like the original version of the He-man character more than this one, he looked more brawnier and had a better voice and i like the old transformation sequence where prince Adam turns into he-man better than the new one. But this cartoon is much better written and its nice to see that effort is put into the story and the dialogue. I enjoy this version of the Masters of the Universe cartoon very much and its great to see it being done the way it shouldve been done in the 80s, but all cartoons were goofy back then anyway, I'm over the moon that its back for a whole new generation of viewers to enjoy, i just hope it sticks around for a few years.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Bringing back the childhood magic!, 21 September 2002
Author: william-charles wenham from Arcata, CA

Growing up in the 80's, specifically a boy growing up in the 80's, it's not surprising I am very fond on He-Man. However, just this past summer I watched one of the first episodes that I would have grown up with and didn't understand all the fuss. Why did I like this show so much? The writing was terrible - the animation....well, no good animation came out of the 80's in retrospect in my opinion. I guess the only thing the short lived, but heavily remembered, animated series had going for it was the plot.

I grew up with the action figures - possibly the largest array of action figures ever known - but slowly the names and the ongoing plots faded in my mind and soon my own creative imagination took over and created my own adventures, combining various sets of Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was getting further and further away from the concept of the show - and then before I knew it, I grew up forgot all about Orko and and Beast-Man. That is, until I saw that terrible excuse for an episode.

It was bad, there's no denying that, but then why did I have such fond memories of the show? I guess it's the same with any show - limited technology never meant it was bad, but we've acquired higher expectations on television these days.

Not too long ago I heard of a new line of He-Man action figures. "What's the point?" I would ask myself, but really, they were pretty cool looking. And then I discovered the new series of action figures was arriving the same time as the new animated series itself!

Eventually I was able to download the show to see what all the hype was about - and truthfully, I was not disappointed! While not the most brilliantly animated show on television, it far surpassed my expectations, and even made me tolerate the dreadful Japanese Anime, since this new cartoon imitated it to an extent. The colors were stunning and the characters were dead-on. Everything was perfect - the enchanting and rich tale was still fresh and nothing could ruin it.

This show has done the unthinkable for me: it's preserved a child's forgotten yet rose-tinted memories of a show to which every other cartoon has always been compared with....yet it proved me right. He-Man is worth saving and marketed back in the mainstream of the public. He's truly a hero for everyone, 5 yr olds and even 20 yr olds like myself.

And who knows the same thing may happen 15 years from now and I'll be remembering this show was rose-tinted memories. Maybe I'll catch an episode on late-night television - you know, the time slot for insomniacs who don't care what they watch - and maybe then I'll wonder why the hell I was watching it back in the day as well. But for now, I'm reveling in the moment that one of the greatest tales ever told is being told to a new generation, and this time I can get a hell of a lot more out of my favorite animated star.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
I Have The Power!!!!, 12 October 2003
Author: Mr_Garak from Cuba

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!

He-Man is back for the 21st Century, after the failed attempt to bring him back during the very early 1990's and that whole traveling to the future nonsense, mattel/myp brought he-man back to his roots and did a kick-a** job in the process.

forget Transformers, they've wasted too many oppertunities to bring Transformer back to it's greatness, He-Man delivers a non kiddyfied 22 minute toy commercial filled with great action and brilliant voice acting and animation.

This show totally blows the original out of the water, they've updated almost all of the characters but kept them looking like they did in the original show and improved on the characterization, Skeletor is totally evil in this new series having originally been called Keldor who attempted to steal the powers of the elders had his face burnt off by acid ment for captain randor, he fled back to snake mountain with his minions and was trapped in the dark hemisphere for many years because of the mystic wall created by the sorceress and man at arms, but was destroyed by Skeletor and his minions who where now free to conquer the light side of eternia and steal the elders power, unknown to skeletor the Elders had transformed themselves into pure energy and had been hidden away in castle greyskull since Keldors defeat many years ago, another factor to add is that Kobra Khan is not a part of Skeletors minions this time infact he has his own agenda to free King Hiss who was imprisoned within the void deep inside Snak Mountain by the elders and the mystic Zodak who's brother was killed by King Hiss, Snake Mountain was originally built by King Hiss's snake army as a fortress to launch a full scale invasion of eternia from.

another factor to add is the flash back of Hordak who this time does not appear to be a Cyborg who can shape shift into rockets and other thing, but insted seems to be a Warlord who also seemed bent on ruling eternia, but so far has only made a cameo appearance in a flash back, but rumors say that the Horde may show up near the end of season 2 or early season 3.

an excellent series to enjoy whether you're young or older a fan of the original or a new fan, masters of the universe does not disapoint, unlike a certain other Transformers series which fails to impress again and again.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Excellent reinvention of the classic series, 3 July 2005
Author: Sentinel-15 from Antwerp, Belgium

Being a fan of the original series (and yes, the toys as well) I was thrilled to see this new series.

It is brilliant! It reinvents the old characters and manages to stay true to its origins. Finally these "masters of the universe" deliver action living up to their title. Skeletor at last is the powerful menacing character he should be. He-Man is the good-hearted force of nature he always was, slightly updated for these times.

And then I hear about its cancellation. Say what?! The inmates are running the asylum, it would seem. Why cancel it?! This series has so much potential... What is wrong with people?!

Bring it back! It showed so much promise!

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Again Cartoon Network Lies, 28 May 2005
Author: Shane McDonie (PhantomKnight) from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

For Everyone out there that forgot they hyped this show up at least a year before it's PILOT ever aired. It lasted about a year maybe 2. A Horrible GBA game came out and it disappeared.I've Always Been a Huge fan of He-Man and this show never disappointed It was good although it was kinda strange how in the 80's he was He-Man, and in this one he TRANSFORMS into He-Man I knew BattleCat but I also Knew Prince Adam Did not, He just hid that he was in fact He-Man, anyways Great Animation They even created new stuff in the show:Battle Armor a new shield some other stuff. The voices were great.Animation very top-notch no details spared. I always Kept thinking teela would sooner or later catch on that Prince Adam ran away and there comes He-Man. There was much character turmoil,conflict and change. Adam always struggled with his alter-ego what Hero didn't? But then again Cartoon Network as soon as it became a hit torched it they moved it to 6am and then yanked it for what?That crappy transformers remake?They wouldn't know what to do with a real hit, that's why DragonBall is pushed under everything else and that's the show that actually made em popular but whatever they're better after 11 p.m If this ever comes to DVD rent it watch it you'll love it all over again

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
I LOVE YOU, CARTOON NETWORK!, 27 September 2002
Author: sickink2

Words cannot describe the combination of blissful nostalgia and childlike wonder I experienced while watching this new version of my favorite cartoon for the first time. I've been hoping for years that Cartoon Network would air the old MOTU episodes, but I never expected an all-new series! Finally, they've got an original action cartoon worth watching!

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