He-Man has now returned to entertain a new generation.
This June, the beloved hero is coming to the big screen for a live-action adventure, as he faces off against his old enemy Skeletor in another classic adventure.
Raised in the magical realm of Eternia, the young Prince Adam is separated from his family and friends after an attack on their castle, Grayskull, and is sent to Earth. Raised as a regular human, he never forgets his origins, but finds very little sympathy, or belief, from those to whom he tells his story. Stuck in a mundane human resources job, Adam is convinced he must locate his sword of power, which came with him to Earth, if he is ever to return home.
It will come as no surprise that he succeeds, and once back in Eternia, he will find a barely recognisable world, ruled by the malevolent Skeletor. Reunited with iconic characters Teela, Duncan the Man-at-arms and Fisto, he realises he has a lot of proving to do, in order to convince his old companions that he is the same Adam who was sent to Earth all those years ago.
Over the course of the film, the underground forces of the old kingdom fight a guerilla war against Skeletor, who proves an intimidating, if entertaining and ferociously witty, antagonist. Indeed, while most of the film’s heroes follow a very traditional model, Skeletor stands out as the most interesting, and multi-dimensional, personality.
Adam will learn to wield the sword of power and gradually adapt to his identity as the new leader of Eternia, though he will need to grow up significantly over the course of the film. Beginning as a relatively callow young man, he will gradually come to be recognised as the mature adult that is known and loved from the 1980s series.
The film is very CGI heavy, which is unsurprising, given the vast and extraordinary landscapes that are depicted, as well as the array of mythical creatures. It stretches far beyond the realm of believability, though this should not bother fans. Many of the landscapes are actually quite extraordinary, with mountain ranges reminiscent of Lord of the Rings and exotic forests of epic proportions.
The sword and sorcery and science fiction genres mesh surprisingly well on screen, given the world of limitless possibility in which they take place. Viewers can expect to see both sword fighting and futuristic gunfights throughout the movie.
As with its source material, the story is very formulaic, and none of the plot will surprise the viewer. However, it is a fitting tribute in the modern times for those who grew up with the show and may introduce a new generation to the cartoon. The humour is also quite agreeable, with a mix of light hearted jokes and even some sharp, and witty, social commentary. Viewers will further be delighted by a very heartfelt reference to the show at the film’s end.
Overall, for fans who grew up with the show, and all others seeking a two-hour joy ride of imagination, this is the film for you.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Rated: M
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing International
In cinemas now
