"Masters of the Universe," a new feature-length adaptation of the cult 80s franchise from Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel, has premiered worldwide.
The story follows Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) living on Earth as an ordinary office clerk, not even remembering his past. Everything changes when he finds the Sword of Power. The hero returns to Eternia, which has fallen under the rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto), and teams up with warrior Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan (Idris Elba) to reclaim the throne and become the protector of the Universe – He-Man.
Travis Knight ("Bumblebee," "Kubo and the Two Strings") directed the film, and his long-time colleague Chris Butler wrote the screenplay.
Critics have given the film a mixed reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, the rating dropped to 66%, and on Metacritic, it stands at 52 out of 100. Journalists praise the visuals, action sequences, Daniel Pemberton's soundtrack, and Jared Leto's performance, whose Skeletor often steals the show. However, some critics found the 142-minute runtime too long and the humor intrusive. Some reviews also pointed to an overloaded tone and noticeable Amazon product placement.
Audiences, on the other hand, received the film much more warmly: on Rotten Tomatoes, the user rating is 88%, and on Metacritic, it's 7.7 out of 10. In reviews, the film is most often praised for its adventurous atmosphere, spectacular Eternia, music, and respectful treatment of the source material. Many franchise fans call the film exactly the "He-Man" adaptation they had been waiting for decades, although some viewers also note the lengthy runtime and an excess of jokes.
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