Exploring Masters of the Universe - From the Toystore to the Movie Theater 

Frank Langella actually enjoyed playing Skeletor as his son said it was his favorite character and villain from the toyline and animated series

Might not be said enough, but we appreciate all the time and effort you put into each episode. This show is by far one of my favorites.

Sylvester Stallone was said to have come on the set while making Over The Top. He noticed Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and asked the director, "You gave him lines?"

Over 35 years later and I still enjoy watching this movie from time to time. I’ll never forget the weekend when my Grandma rented it for me to watch while at her place shortly after it was released on VHS. We pigged out on junk food & watched this and a couple others we picked up for the night.

Langella in this film is my absolute all time fav villain.

Damn I choked up on the Billy Barty quote. You always do such good work on these vids and the research. I love GoodBadFlicks and I hope you go on making these for a long time.

this movie has a HUGE place in my childhood memories. And seeing videos like this, just make those special reveries THAT MUCH MORE. Thank you.

In a fun coincidence, the actress playing The Sorceress later played the mother of Courtney Cox's character on "Friends".

I was really going to get in your face if you didn't mention Richard Szponder. Can you imagine how exciting it must've been for him to not only be on that set, but to have a small part in a movie based on the toys he loved so much? And those pictures of him with the cast are just beyond heartwarming. I'm glad Cannon and Mattel decided to do the right thing by him and stick to their commitment to put him in the movie, even though it would've been easier to just say, "Look kid, I know we promised, but there's just no way to fit you in. We're really sorry about that. Here's a check for $10,000 and a $200 gift certificate to Toys 'R Us. You can get as many MOTU toys as you want with that." He'll always have fond memories of his time in the spotlight, however brief, and that movie is something he can show his kids and say, "There I am! That's me!" And that's sweet.

The quote from BIlly Barty was the perfect way to cap off this amazing retrospective. The production troubles of the film are almost more entertaining than the finished movie. Frankly, it seems like a miracle that it even got made. GBF always brings us the best!

I recall an anecdote about Masters of the Universe that was in the "Electric Boogaloo" doc. Sylvester Stallone visited the set one day and noticed Dolph was the lead. He told the director: "You gave him a majority of the lines?"

I unironically love this movie. It is "campy" in the best way in that the characters do not think it is ridiculous. They are all sincere and it works. Langella is PERFECT as the villain Skeletor. Lundgren works as He Man and is physically the perfect specimen to play the character. I had the biggest crush on Teela growing up. Basically despite what you said I find the film near perfect. And Skeletors entrance into Earth is one moment that cannot be denied as awesome. And the moment for "I have the POWER" is a perfect moment of film.

I LOVED this movie as a kid and I've loved every re-watch. Kinda lost a lot of love for Dolph when i heard him trash this movie while I fell madly in love with Langella after his interviews. He was SO enamored with the drama and camp of his role and his complaint was that they didn't let him go shirtless because 'why would anyone want to deprive the audience of his sexy bod.' PRICELESS.

This was my first favorite movie and I've sought out any & all behind the scenes articles, interviews and videos for it for, literally, my entire life (I was 3 when the film came out) and this is the most well edited, informed and presented "Making Of" I've ever seen. Bravo & thank you for putting this together. Side note - before Goddard's horrific history came to light, I met him at an anniversary screening of this at The Egyptian theatre in Hollywood. He was there in attendance then did a Q&A after it. For a fan, it was sensational to applaud and cheer with an audience at various parts of the film (the "I have the power" moment being the best) and I asked Goddard after the screening what it felt like to experience his film with a crowd like this and he said that it brought him to tears and that he'd wished for something like this for 30 years.

One of my favorite Cannon Films ever! 1987. I'm six years old....saw this movie in the theatres so many times!

Oh man, I remember seeing this film with my dad when I was ten and being embarrassed a bunch of younger kids in the audience came dressed up with their power swords hoisted in the air during every action scene. I also remember that Eternia felt underused and being confused why there weren’t any classic supporting villains, and why they had replaced Orko with some giant-eared mac and me reject was beyond me… but overall the action scenes, skeletor performance and plot thrilled me and I remember feeling quite emotional watching country cox’s character saving her parents from having their inevitable plane crash. Also the Cosmic Key was pretty damned magical. Amazing seeing the full story of what went on behind the scenes and what was sacrificed for budget or plain bad decision-making. Would kill to see that swashbuckling finale filmed properly! Thanks GBF for the story and bringing back fun 80s memories. 😊

Massive credit to Frank Langella for carrying this film with as much ham and cheese he could bring. Dolph does try, but I can see why he was so embarrassed by the film. But this is such ‘80s product placement it’s hilarious

That Billy Barty quote was unexpectedly deep and got me right in the feels. Also I wish they had stuck with the idea of making Tom Paris the Adam character and Dolph Lundren the He-Man version. I think that would have been cool and much closer to the original concept of the character in the cartoons/comics. I get why they decided against it, though, and I don't think the story suffers too much from having full time Lundren. He was a good He-Man. All in all, it's not a bad movie IMO. It's fun, and definitely watchable. Parts of it are really clever and memorable. Like so many other movies you cover on your channel, this one has a lot of "what ifs" attached to it. I think my big one is, "what if they'd said yes to Warner Bros right away and not held out for the Cannon disaster?" It definitely would have been a very different movie, but not necessarily a better one. Alas, we shall never know.

Frank Langella was fantastic as Skeletor. He was even allowed to change his lines to make them more epic.

I went to see this movie with my father at a mall theater. I remember the sticky floor and being happy to go see a movie. I watch this movie every few years and I think it is underrated. Skeletor is such a good villain in this movie.

I Certainly Agree With Billy Barty R.I.P❤️. Imagination and Dreams are Important to The World ❤️.

People can knock on how many children's properties were toy commercials in the 80s and 90s but the amount of effort put into a lot of the shows and characters is why they are still remembered today.

I watched Masters of the Universe maybe a hundred times when I was a kid. Still one of my all time favorites, great video as always; HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Remember my first time renting this in the early nineties. Love it then. Thought it was badass as a 6 year old and 30 years later I still love it. This is hands down my rainy day movie. Will watch it anytime anywhere.

Meg Foster as Evil Lynn is a major influence on why I have had some really weird relationships in my life.

Frank langella was the perfect choice for skeletor and his portrayal of skeletor made this movie legendary easily one of the best acted villian performances of all time

Animated Skeletor is one of my favorite villains of all time.

This is without a doubt the very best explanation I've seen about the mess we call Masters Of The Universe. Thanks so much for your efforts.

just gonna say you’ve been the gateway into my love for not only horror but independent movies. thank you for all the creative and well done analysis of these cult classics!

This was a journey of a film production. I greatly appreciate the work you put into these. The older I get, the most fascinated I get by film production. And the work that goes into it.

Exploring Cyborg on the way? Fuck yes, one of my favourite production histories. RIP Albert Pyun, a true filmmaker.

Hey Cecil, another Cannon documentary to check out is 'Electric Boogaloo:The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films'. Dolph, Goddard and others are interviewed for the MOTU portion of the documentary.

Have always enjoyed this movie. Yes, we were all missing Orko and more direct tie-ins to the cartoon, but I still always had a good time watching it. They got quite a bit out of a too-small budget, and the actors all gave sincere performances. It's an underdog of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy epic and I love them for it.

Not letting He-Man fight Skeletor is like not letting Matt Hunter blow up Rostov with a rocket launcher.

LMAO at "Roadblock"...

I always love the depth you have in the "exploring " series!

Great video! As a young girl growing up with many male cousins, I had to watch the cartoon and play with the toys. I didn't enjoy that much but this movie blew my mind! Still love it to this day after seeing it on HBO when it came to television for the first time.

I was SOO excited to see this movie as a kid being a big fan of the toys and the cartoon. I still have some! My parents took me to see it and I loved it. As I got older I could see the flaws in the film but it still holds a strong nostalgia feel for me. It's funny looking back seeing young Robert Duncan McNeil and Courtney Cox before they became more well known in the 90s for Star Trek Voyager and Friends. Frank Langella's performance as Skeletor is still one of the movie's highlights for me. Great job on this one Cecil!

In the toys that made us, The guys in charge of the He-Man toy line said that part of the reason why they start to lose sales was that they had expanded the line without keeping stock of the primary cast. It made it harder for kids to start the collection when they can't get the main hero or villain

I saw Albert Pyun post a pic of the MotU sequel. Always heard it took place on earth again with Skeltor being a CEO of some major corporation. Always wanted to read it. Great video. RIP Albert.

This film awakened things in young me and I'm forever grateful.

This movie hold a huge place in my heart growing up and wacthing it on tv as a kid. Despite it's flaws I love this film. Always love learning behind the scenes of filmmaking.

YES!!!!!!! Cecil! This is awesome. Masters of the Universe is a favorite of mine, from a different time, when movies were allowed to be fun. I love this movie. I especially love the score. Conti could have phoned it in but he didn't. He turned in something awesome. Not afraid to say, the Billy Barty quote got me a little misty eyed. Right on, Mister Barty, Right on. May you rest in peace.

I loved this! I was disappointed with the film when I saw it, as a kid in 87, but I appreciate it now. Cheers boys!

What a great way to end 2022 😚 I was 9 years old and LOVED my He-Man toys but this film never landed with me 😬

Honestly, I have to say, I really think the cut to black ending could have worked. It's a hell of a cliffhanger. In an alternate universe where the film did well and got a sequel

That live action Conan show at Universal Studios was great. I went there around 1989 or so and back then the original Universal Studios was not nearly as impressive as the new ones are today. Most of the attractions were just looking at things like Kitt from Night Rider or one of the A team vans or seeing the Psycho house from a distance. But the Conan show went all out and you could feel the heat from the dragons fire breath. Saw it twice that day.

Looking forward to this , top class youtube creator , wish you & all your family the best for 2023 , love from Ireland 🇮🇪

Happy new year and thank you for the amazing videos.

We just watched this movie by chance for New Years, introducing the kids to it, and then I log on RU-vid and see THIS in my feed?!?! Good journey!

The links between Masters and Captain Power are really interesting, especially with characters/costuming.

actually remembered like watching it when I was a kid, just sad to think it did poorly due the mixture of budget, producer interference, and being mad just a few years to late and still hundred times better than that Adventures of Teela netflix series

Thank you for putting in so much work to do justice to my #1 favorite movie of all time. My cat is named Gwildor after Barty's character.

I'm glad you brought up the allegations against Goddard, your honesty as a creator is why you're one of the best

Want to know the best part? The masters of the universe toys are still played with, there is a bin of them among other toys still getting action! Playsets, toys still work are great! My mom said it wouldn't be a tv room without that green skull base on it! Great video

Absolutely fascinating nearly 50 minutes, talking about 1987's Masters of the Universe film. Cecil. I loved it, thank you. have a happy new year. :)

Dude I am with family and can't even watch this now bit I know it's gonna be awesome, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU MR!!!!

I love this movie. Saw it in the theaters as a kid and loved it then, and still love it now.

Good journey!

When MOTU hit the Cinema in 1987, my mom wouldn't let me see it, cause it looked too dark. That same year, she let me watch Beverly Hills Cop II, so I have trouble with the logic of all that. Then again, my mom resented me for being born, so that's probably why... I digress. My Grandfather took me to the theater to see it, and we loved it so much, we stayed for a second screening. Whenever I watch MOTU now, it's like getting to see my Grandpa again. It was such a warm and spectacular memory. RIP Harvey Bagley (Grandpa) - 1935-2012.

YES!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉🥳🎉🎈 I HAVE THE POWER! The props that were going to be used in the cancelled Masters Of The Universe Sequel were used in Cyborg in 1989.

That opening scene in the film where Skeletor is walking through Castle Greyskull is so epic I can only imagine how excited those kids were when watching the film in theaters. Sure the movie was a bit silly, and it's definitely something that would have appealed more to kids than adults, but i caught this one around probably a couple years after it came out and still to this day I enjoy the film very much. This deserves a very good 4k remaster and collectors edition, and hopefully an interview with Lundgren. But wow.... what a total sh*tshow of a production. 😂🤣

This is easily the interesting dive into MOTU I've seen. Excellent, quality content. This is one of many classic 80s/90s films I saw in the theater as a youngin'. Batman 89, Roger Rabbit, Dick Tracy, what an era, even if MOTU isn't perfect.

Frank Langella is fantastic as he doesn't play it camp, makes Skeletor a terrifying force and that makeup job is stunning.

31:40-31:50 A really fantastic impression there Cecil LOL! 37:11 OMG That would've been lackluster. 43:32 YES! I look forward to that ''Exploring'' episode Cecil''COME ON!!!''-Van Damme voice 46:28-46:44 I agreed with him may he Rest In Peace. A very wonderful job this was the very first film my grandmother took me to see at the movie theater it was playing at local theater in my neighborhood that one movie ticket would get you 2 films to watch back to back in a double feature so the film they was showing before this film was ''Invaders From Mars'' remake which me&my grandmother hated but then when we saw ''Masters of The Universe'' we both enjoyed it for what it was I watched the cartoons at the time no it's not the god honest ''He Man'' film but still it was a very fun fast paced action/fantasy film that I never ever hated yes I will admit Dolph his gone on to do a lot better films over the years hell my #1 favorite films of his is ''Showdown In Little Toyko'' #2''I Come In Peace'' #3''The Punisher''(I never give 2 F's that he doesn't wear the Skull because from 2000 to 2017 in the films Logan/Wolverine never ever wear his custom that he wears in the comics or 90's cartoon nobody ever says jack or shit about it) #4 ''Men Of War'' #5''Red Scorpion'' that's my top 5 right there what's yours Cecil? BTW May you&your family have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Masters of the Universe is a great movie. Happy 85th Birthday, Frank Langella!

This video answered a question for me that had been literally plaguing me for decades. In my youth I watched a tv show featuring people running around in shiny armour, firing lasers. But I could not for the life of me remember what it was, in fact, I thought I was misremembering the old Battlestar Galactica. Nope, Captain Power. Almost 34 years, solved by what appeared to be a minor comparison.

Oh wow. 47 minutes? Cecil really putting in the work, y'all. Respect. Love it, man. keep up the great work!

Such nostalgia! I loved this movie as a youngster when it came out to theaters and still love it as an adult 💯👏👍😀

The fact this movie got eerily prophetic about Courtney Cox on "Friends"... Anyway, I am excited about the new version with Kyle Allen, although it'll truly be set on Eternia. You don't suppose that Jim Henson dinosaur project was what became the TV show "Dinosaurs"? And David Odell was also a writer on the later seasons of "The Muppet Show".

@ 44:25 That's literally my favorite ride ever I went to that when I went to universal I felt like I was in the movie u get sprayed wit mist an feel an hear the shots such a omce in a lifetime experience!

Nice way to end the year!

I didn't know the story of Pigboy! That is really cool that they sent him the costume.

I had a cousin that collected the toys and sometimes when I went to his house we’d play with his He-Man toys. I used to watch the cartoon (and She-Ra went it came out as well). I remember me, my brother, and my cousins going to the theater and seeing the movie…one reason I remember it so well is because half way through the movie, the film messed up and we all had to wait 10-15 minutes for them to fix it so we could finish the movie. I actually believe the spirit of He-Man was captured in this movie. The music is fantastic! I still watch this movie and listen to the score from time to time. I think the movie overall is well done. Perhaps, with the way special effects and everything is today, they could make an even better real version of He-Man as a movie!

I can't wait to see that exploring episode of cyborg, this was an awesome review

Master of the Universe was cool n'all, but Ulysses 31 was where it was at for me.

I had that Battlestar Galactica toy!

Great vid mate, nobody does it better.

Happy New Year Cecil and everybody.

Now this is a movie close to my heart. I was born in 81 and had the He-man figure, plus a few others. I also had snake mountain. The last toy I ever got before growing out of them was Stinkor and it was the last gift I got from my great aunt, who always gave a toy every time she visited. I would only see her one other time after that before she passed. So MOTU is a huge part of my childhood. The funny thing is, despite the changes made from the cartoon the movie changed my percrption of how a cartoon or comic book can be presented on screen. I went in that cinema expecting to see something close to those live shows at shopping malls with exact costumes made of Styrofoam, or something. This movie made me realise that costumes, weapons and sets can be more realistic and grand compared to their source material.

What a great birthday gift, thank you.

Great video Cecil! I remember going to the theater to watch Masters of the Universe when it premiered with a friend. We had both been big MotU fans, but we both were getting older. If it had come out a year or two earlier, I think I would've loved it.

Childhood guilty pleasure amplified in regards to this movie! Need to find it and watch for nostalgia’s sake!

Billy Barty was 63 in 1987, likely 62 when filming, not 73. He died at 76 in 2000.

Thanks very much for a great Exploring episode, Cecil. I knew you would cover a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff on what was clearly a troubled production. I was in college when Masters Of The Universe was released and therefore, I was "too cool" to watch a "kid's movie". Years later, I saw it on VHS rental, and it was way better than its reputation. I knew the filmmakers couldn't recreate the TV show, but I am impressed with what they were able to work with. It's too bad we never got a sequel.

Why do they put their food on these sticks? 🤣 One of my favorite lines from any Sci-fi movie ever

What a great way to end the year!! Happy New Year, Cecil!

I loved this film because of how hammy it is. The cast did well on their part, but the absolute stand out were Frank Langella, Meg Forster, and Courtney Cox. Lundregn did have his awesome "I have the power!" Moment. I can quote Langella's lines from memory coz I watched this film relentlessly on VHS as a kid

Well happy new year to you too nice drop after the mini hiatus.

These longer videos are totally fucking awesome.

Great video to end 2022 on! Thanks so much for this one, Cecil, and looking forward to more episodes of Exploring in 2023!

Great documentary on He-man movie. I thought it was really cheesy as a kid but looking back it's more fun. More respectful to the Masters of the Universe series than the Kevin Smith Netflix show.

Thank you so much for doing this. I saw you posted it and waited to watch it with my full attention. Heman and Shera are some of my most fav things still to this day at 40 years old. Heman got me through a really tough childhood. I loved this movie as a kid and I still love it as an adult. Seeing how difficult it truly was for them to make this actually makes me love it even more.

Loved this movie when i was a child Thanks for making this video Feliz año nuevo señor goodbad flicks

they never did Karg figure in vintage line, that was a very well done custom. About the Movie they did indeed Saurod, Gwildor, Blade and 2 special deluxe things Laser Power He man and Laser Light Skeletor non movie related at 100% but very inspired (laser He man had Dolph face for example, skeletor laser was the "dad" of the new adventures one)

every year since i was a child this was my traditional new years eve movie im so glad you glad you made an episode on it

Orko in the movie would've been cool!! Love your Videos man... Please keep'em coming

Well I am British an could understand him to say I met him at an convention such was an great person to meet. And on another piece of trivia Langella went on to voice an villain for the video game destiny two made by bungie .

'Tell me of the loneliness of good He Man, does it compare to the loneliness of evil?' Suprisingly profound words from skeletor

43:52 they made figures of Saurod, Blade and Gwildor in 87. That Karg figure came out 20+ years later.