Masters of the Universe Review: With his dynamic Hindi voice, Jaaved Jaaferi’s Skeletor is as much fun, bigger, and more realistically minded than Masters of the Universe. The movie is a family-friendly fantasy adventure, and it will take you to He-Man, Skeletor and the world of Eternia in real life with lots of colorful fun and speedy action. It makes for a fun film but also serves as a reminder of the movie’s biggest fault.
The film’s emotional depth and maturity are far from what many nostalgic fans would hope to find in a modern blockbuster adaptation. However, this movie never becomes dull. Rather, it’s a lighthearted adventure that’s much more suited to younger audiences and it doesn’t deny its fantastical roots. It won’t be a revolution, but it certainly does an effective job of bringing back a childhood favorite world with a fun, imaginative spin.
As with many people who watched He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as children, I was excited to see how the popular animated franchise would adapt to the live-action setting. I was hoping for something big, spectacular, maybe even somewhat like the slick realism of today’s superhero movies. What I found instead will be discussed in the review.
A world far away and fantasy-filled, this is the setting for the battle between the heroic He-Man and the fearsome Skeletor. The setup is somewhat reminiscent of the inception of many famous comic book characters who were banished from their home planets, but Masters of the Universe soon makes its own point. Rather than striving for realism, the film embraces fantasy in its purest form. The creative decision is distinctively theirs, as it gives the film a distinct personality, but it also restricts some viewers from having an emotional connection to the movie. The human element is not the most salient in the story, which is set mostly in some other realm of the world, and the emotional impact of the events is not as strong as it could be.
Nevertheless, the best thing about the film is entertainment. The pace of action is quite fast, the visual world is imaginative and the film does not take itself overly seriously. I wanted something more serious and grown-up, but I slowly came to the conclusion that it’s not a dark, realistic superhero film, but a family fantasy adventure. That means that children aged 7-15 are likely to have much more fun with it than any adult looking for a real grown-up blockbuster.
One aspect that pleasantly surprised me was the humour. Not all the jokes go over well, but enough of them do to keep the atmosphere lively. The situational comedy doesn’t really fit in with the superhero aspects, but it works pretty well. The film doesn’t have any notable peaks or highs but it also doesn’t become boring or uninteresting.
The Hindi dubbing version is an added attraction to the movie for Indian viewers. Veteran actor/performer Jaaved Jaaferi adds a lot of energy and charisma to Skeletor’s voice. His dubbing really does add to the viewing experience and really does bring the character to life. Meanwhile, his son Meezaan Jafri lends his voice to He-Man, creating an interesting father-son dynamic behind the scenes. If you’re a big fan of the original, Jared Leto plays Skeletor, who starred in Morbius and interpreted the Joker in Suicide Squad. It was up to my personal choice between Hindi & English, but it was super interesting to see the Hindi dubbing.
A key advice for viewers is to sit through the entire movie, after which. There are three post credit scenes in the film. The sequences definitely have some suggestions as to what might happen in the future and what maybe a continuation of the franchise, so it’s definitely a show that’s worth staying for.
I had the feeling that Masters of the Universe had comfortably become one of the “just right” category when the credits rolled. It isn’t different or a letdown. It provides diversion, fun moments, a visual imagination and family friendliness. It will probably not turn heads of those who have come to expect the same level of depth and realism as today’s Marvel or DC comics, but it does a fine job of respecting the essence of its source material in a non-threatening fantasy adventure.
Rating: 3/5
