Masters of the Universe (1987)

Director: Gary Goddard

Writers: David Odell, Stephen Tolkin, Gary Goddard

Composer: Bill Conti

Starring: Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Meg Foster, Billy Barty, Courteney Cox, Robert Duncan McNeill, Jon Cypher, Chelsea Field, James Tolkan, Christina Pickles, Tony Carroll

More info: IMDb

Tagline: A battle fought in the stars. Now... comes to Earth.

Plot: A prince turned warrior named He-Man battles against the dark lord Skeletor on the planet Eternia. He-Man and his comrades arrive on Earth and discover two teenage lovers to find the magical Cosmic Key.

My rating: 4/10

Will I watch it again? No.

This came out my first year of college, making me too old to have played with the toys or watch the Saturday morning cartoon they inspired.  I had no interest in seeing this even now except that it looked like it could be a fun CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) knock-off.   It starts off that way but it doesn't take long before He-Man & Co. find their way into modern day society.  That's when it goes from tolerable to please end quickly.  Nearly all of my issues stem from not taking place in some ancient fantasy world.  Gwildor (Barty) is the comic relief for the kiddies.  I could do without that but I forgive them as this is aimed at kids and not me.  The rest of the cast does well with what they've got to do.  it's neat seeing James "Mr. Strikland from BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)" Tolkan as Detective Lubic and Jon "Chief Fletcher Daniels from HILL STREET BLUES (1981-1987)" Cypher as Duncan.  Meg Foster as Evil-Lyn was fun and you can't go wrong with having Frank Langella play the villain (Skeletor).  Conti's score serves its purpose but nothing can change taking these fantasy characters out of their world and dropping them into ours 15 minutes into a very long hour and forty-five minute flick.  After twenty minutes of that I was watching the clock.  Not cool.  Great poster (below), though.