In a cinematic era defined by remakes and spin-offs, reviving any beloved franchise is a creative feat, and yet by the power of Grayskull (and Travis Knight), He-Man is back! Masters of the Universe introduces Eternia to a new generation and welcomes longtime fans home. Victim to one of Skeletor’s destructive rampages, Masters of the Universe follows Prince Adam (a transcendent Nicholas Galitzine) as he is forced to flee from Eternia to Earth, taking with him — and misplacing — a sacred totem, the Sword of Power. After fifteen years of obsessing over the lost weapon, the Sword resurfaces and guides Adam back to Eternia, where he must embrace his fate as He-Man to save his home.
Knight’s (Kubo and the Two Strings) Eternia is larger than life: bursting with radiant, vibrant colour in every frame and housing a killer ensemble, all working to create tangible and faithful characterisations of comic royalty. Jared Leto (Tron: Ares) as Skeletor is a clear standout, unhinged and unrecognisable. Leto’s villain is uninhibited and unforgiving. Amplified by an incredible character design, Leto gives a masterclass in theatrical villainy.
Camila Mendes’ (Do Revenge) Teela is charismatic and assured, and Mendes’ familiar chemistry with her co-stars — notably Idris Elba (Duncan) and Galitzine — helps strengthen Teela where the script fails her, and several of her female counterparts. Whilst Masters of the Universe spares no expense in adoring its heroes in lavish gowns and intricate armour, cheap objectifications and recurring representations of female characters as subservient throughout the film are impossible to ignore, and frankly, cringeworthy.
Of course, Galitzine is a star, the star of the show. His physical transformation from the Earth-bound cat-jumper donning, HR employee Adam to leather-clad, glistening muscle-bound He-Man is genuinely incredible — audience reactions (myself included) certainly agree. Yet beyond his striking superhuman physique, Galitzine’s performance as Adam is nothing short of brilliant. Emotionally charged and all-encompassing, he conveys Adam’s embrace of heroism with zealous humanity and dedication.
Truly a comic come to life, Masters of the Universe joins the ever-expanding cinematic canon of live-action superhero films identifiable by their radiant world-building, impressive CGI and a strong cast. Yet, what separates this from its cinematic counterparts is the unashamed advocacy for hope, which is intrinsic to the film’s narrative. Underneath its cliché superhero popcorn-movie appeal, the film is ultimately a call for audiences to believe in themselves and one another.
The world is becoming a scary place, and Masters of the Universe reaffirms and indulges the age-old universal audience desire for escapism. Whilst other sequels and reboots often feel like empty cash-grabs, Knight’s sci-fi epic is charming and timeless, and I am confident Galitzine’s Adam will inspire a new generation of softhearted superheroes.
★★★★
In cinemas on June 5th / Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Alison Brie, Sam C. Wilson, James Purefoy / Dir. Travis Knight / Amazon MGM Studios / Sony Pictures / 12A
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