Hollywood's embrace of 80s nostalgia continues with the release of the long-awaited, semi-live-action remake of Masters of the Universe, a well-known property among older millennials and younger Gen Xers. This new iteration, produced by Amazon/MGM and directed by a team that includes a former child actor, is set to hit theaters and Prime Video. The film is based on a fantasy cartoon and comic book series that itself was reverse-engineered from a line of action figures featuring the elegantly named He-Man, a warrior from the planet of Eternia. The original 1987 movie, produced by Cannon Films, was a box office flop, making less than the animated The Care Bears Movie from 1985. Despite this, the new movie is expected to outgross the 1987 version, adjusted for inflation. The 1987 film, with Dolph Lundgren playing Prince Adam (also known as He-Man), was a Hail Mary attempt to boost toy sales and video rentals, and it failed to capitalize on the original toy line's popularity. The new movie, however, is more coherent, prettier to look at, and better-acted, although it lacks the authentic 80s charm of the original. The 1987 film, with its fantastical costumes and creature-y make-up, hits a pleasure center of old-fashioned tactility, making it a nostalgic kick even for those who don't know He-Man from Adam. The new movie, while more polished, is puffed up with knowing fandom, and it winks at and revels in its 80s-ness, with a soundtrack filled with referential period hits and a brighter, more garish color scheme. The 1987 film, despite its careless and slipshod appearance, has plenty in common with modern blockbusters, including a post-credits scene with Skeletor promising his imminent return. The new movie, while more coherent, is expected to underperform, and it may be a sign that audiences are demanding less at a greater expense. The author, Jesse Hassenger, questions whether filmmakers and audiences have actually gotten more sophisticated or if they are just demanding less at a greater expense. The film's success or failure remains to be seen, but it is a testament to the enduring appeal of 80s nostalgia in Hollywood.
