Masters of the Universe

Masters of the Universe is a reboot of the sword-and-sorcery franchise that launched in the 1980s with a live-action version and an animated series. What I expected from this new interpretation was a big, loud, cheesy, colorful, bombastic spectacle. And you know what? That’s exactly what it gives its target audience, more or less.

The movie stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, a young man trained for battle on a fantasy planet called Eternia in a city called Eternos. He’s the son of King Randor (James Purefoy), who lives in Castle Grayskull. Their planet is taken over by a demonic entity known as Skeletor (Jared Leto), and Adam is sent through a dimension to Earth.

Years later, the adult Adam is an office worker and has a desire to reclaim the Sword of Power from his home planet, which will give him what he needs to save it from Skeletor. When monsters from Eternia invade Earth, it’s only a matter of time before Adam conveniently finds the Sword and returns home.

Camila Mendes stars as Teela, Adam’s childhood friend, and Idris Elba is Duncan, her father and Adam’s mentor. Once Adam returns, he reunites with them to help destroy Skeletor’s reign of dominance, but Adam isn’t convinced he’s the one to save Eternia. I give Galitzine credit for crafting scenes that portray the character as milquetoast rather than immediately going into action-hero mode.

The movie is heavy on special effects when it needs to be and does a good job of giving its characters time to develop. It looks and feels like a cross between Lord of the Rings and Thor, but it ends with more than a semblance of pretentiousness. It has the same cheese factor as Conan the Barbarian or The Scorpion King.

The movie attempts to balance action with storytelling, but its formulaic plot makes much of that effort feel wasted.

Masters of the Universe is heavy on setting up its characters and world and doesn’t quite succeed on the same level with setting up its story because it’s trying to leave a loophole for its inevitable sequel (if we get one). Plus, its climax is overstuffed, and when it stops for its resolution, it’s anticlimactic and unsatisfying.

Maybe if the movie is a success and we get a sequel, the filmmakers will observe its shortcomings so the next installment will be more refined.

By the power of Grayskull, fans will be satisfied enough, but for me, Masters of the Universe is an affectionately missed opportunity.

Grade: B-

(Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action, some suggestive material, and language.)

Reviewer’s Note: I saw this movie at Liberty Cinemas in Hinesville.