MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (Gary Goddard, 1987)

[Jox]

Goddard genuinely tried to make to make a more epic film than it ended up.

[Jox]

Varese Sarabande honoring composer Bill Conti for his 70th birthday

[Jox]

Good news and bad news...!

The good news is that Gary Goddard and Roger Lay Jr went on to continue their collaboration (TOY MASTERS & THE MAKING OF CAPTAIN POWER) to make a documentary on the making of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE for a potential 25th Anniversary re-release.

The bad news is that after being on board, Warner Home Video said they "would not move forward with their plan to re-issue the film at the moment".

Yet we may see the documentary on the release of TOY MASTERS (genesis and controversy over He-Man)...

http://www.he-man.org/news_article.php?id=2508

Over the last couple months Gary Goddard -- the director of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: THE MOTION PICTURE, and Roger Lay Jr -- the director of the upcoming documentary feature film TOY MASTERS had been working on producing an all new documentary which focuses on the difficulties faced by cast and crew during the making of MOTU: THE MOTION PICTURE. The live action film was produced in 1986-1987 during the later days of the toy line when sales had begun to decline drastically and to make matters worse the film was being produced by Cannon Films - a studio that was on it's way to going out of business. Goddard had to face these and other major challenges on a daily basis to complete the film. This new documentary would've revealed those details through a series of all new interviews with the film's key creative personnel and cast members.

Last year Lay and Goddard began discussions to develop and produce a new version of Goddard's cult classic science fiction series CAPTAIN POWER AND THE SOLDIERS OF THE FUTURE. The first step to reintroduce the franchise was to release the classic episodes on DVD so Lay set out to produce a 25th anniversary DVD set of the complete series with over 6 hours of all new special features including the feature length documentary OUT OF THE ASHES: THE MAKING OF CAPTAIN POWER AND THE SOLDIERS OF THE FUTURE. The 25th anniversary DVD went on to receive an overwhelmingly positive series of reviews and quickly sold out at the distributor level. The set has now gone into a second printing. Inspired by the success of the CAPTAIN POWER DVD set Goddard approached Warner Home Video about re-releasing the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE film on DVD for it's 25th anniversary including all the new special features he and Lay had begun working on. Even Bryan Singer (Director, X-MEN, USUAL SUSPECTS) agreed to come onboard to moderate an all new commentary track with Goddard and Frank Langella (Skeletor).After months of communication and positive response from the studio, Goddard was told that they would not move forward with their plan to re-issue the film at the moment.

Both Lay and Goddard were immensely disappointed since they had begun compiling and creating a plethora of all new content which would have made this reissue a very special DVD for fans of the film and the Masters franchise.

Here's a short sample of the new documentary that was meant to be the centerpiece of the new DVD reissue of the film. If the new anniversay DVD won't be released, Lay still plans on including this material in the special features of his upcoming TOY MASTERS film when it is released on DVD / BLU-RAY.

Here's an 11 mins preview!

[viendammage]

Watched this off the Facebook page and all I can say is: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Take my money and give me more!

That's a bummer WB backed out, especially with all of these golden bonus features. It's too bad Goddard always refers to Langella in such a positive light and Dolph in a more subdued, neutral one.

[savagesketch]

Watched this off the Facebook page and all I can say is: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Take my money and give me more!

That's a bummer WB backed out, especially with all of these golden bonus features. It's too bad Goddard always refers to Langella in such a positive light and Dolph in a more subdued, neutral one.

I was thinking the same... I've listened to Goddard's commentary a couple times, and he never really says anything positive regarding Dolph... Almost like he was forced to have him in the film and really didn't like working with him. It's no wonder Dolph maligned the film publicly in early '90's interviews...

[Jox]

That is the subtext that emerges from this clip (and in the commentary GG just barely mentions DL, nothing negative though). Of course you have a seasoned and acclaimed actor like Langella (on MOTU it's like having Al Pacino or Marlon Brando in the cast) and a young rookie Lundgren who came from nowhere becoming a star over night after appearing in one movie with almost no dialog acting). But in my 2 hour interview with him, Goddard was very positive about Dolph and how dedicated he was and good to work with. He also understood how difficult of a position it was for Dolph. He also said he could tell how Dolph already seemed very interested in directing (probably influenced by having seen an actor/director like Sly at work on his first picture). The only downsides were about his acting being better in the rehearsals than when the cameras were rolling, and Dolph sometimes listening to his acting coach's directions more than GG's.

[savagesketch]

That is the subtext that emerges from this clip (and in the commentary GG just barely mentions DL, nothing negative though). Of course you have a seasoned and acclaimed actor like Langella (on MOTU it's like having Al Pacino or Marlon Brando in the cast) and a young rookie Lundgren who came from nowhere becoming a star over night after appearing in one movie with almost no dialog acting). But in my 2 hour interview with him, Goddard was very positive about Dolph and how dedicated he was and good to work with. He also understood how difficult of a position it was for Dolph. He also said he could tell how Dolph already seemed very interested in directing (probably influenced by having seen an actor/director like Sly at work on his first picture). The only downsides were about his acting being better in the rehearsals than when the cameras were rolling, and Dolph sometimes listening to his acting coach's directions more than GG's.

Dolph has gone on the record a number of times by saying that there was a lot of pressure and stress for him on set of MOTU. It makes sense; It can't be easy going from the silent Ivan Drago to a cultural icon like He-Man. Plus, the financial difficulties of Canon and Mattel couldn't have been easy. Still, Goddard never once publicly says anything good about Dolph's performance, nor does he admit that Dolph did an adequate job as He-Man. Come on... in the 1980's, a blonde actor who could embody the physical prowess of He-Man, other than some wrestler, Dolph did a great job... and was a fairly big name at the time. He was He-Man. For GG to make statements like, "Dolph came with the picture..." and "I wanted to surround him with an accomplished group of actors..." seem a tad rude. Dolph hasn't mentioned anything about contributing to the doc, and judging from their comments, I doubt he was even asked... Even though Dolph has since embraced the film, can't say I blame even him if he declined...

[Jox]

Contradicting info re the re-release (though this doesn't mean this would be coming out soon, remastering could often be happening long long before a release date is locked):

Pat Miller, the master colorist at Warner Bros., has begun mastering Masters of the Universe tonight for Blu-ray. He told me that the film is in bad shape and the opticals need a lot of work. I know the movie is a guilty pleasure for some of you, so soon you will have another 80s Cannon film to enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/CapedWonderSup ... 8116323732

[lilbandit]

i just watched the doc preview and was a bit sad to find Dolph didn't get much of a positive mention. I can't say his performance in that film was amazing or anything, but he did a good job for what they were asking of him at the time.
he really did look the part though. i always hoped there would be a sequel with that little tease at the end credits. i have to admire GG for what he managed to do with the film for the budget it was on. i think it looks fairly decent. by no means a "good" film, but always entertaining, IMO.

[viendammage]

i just watched the doc preview and was a bit sad to find Dolph didn't get much of a positive mention. I can't say his performance in that film was amazing or anything, but he did a good job for what they were asking of him at the time.
he really did look the part though. i always hoped there would be a sequel with that little tease at the end credits. i have to admire GG for what he managed to do with the film for the budget it was on. i think it looks fairly decent. by no means a "good" film, but always entertaining, IMO.

I feel Dolph did an excellent job considering what the role was, which was first and foremost, a guy running around with no clothes on fighting a guy with a skull for a mask. What could/should have been A LOT cheesier ended up being an exciting, semi-epic cosmic adventure. Can you imagine any serious actor in that role? Pumped and oiled up in every scene? It's not like today where comic book movies and being in shape are the norm.

Viva Masters of the Universe!

[Mosquito]

Can you imagine any serious actor in that role? Pumped and oiled up in every scene? It's not like today where comic book movies and being in shape are the norm.

Viva Masters of the Universe!

You know what? I've watched the trailer of Thor and I thought "How cheesy and sissy is that?" - I think even tough it was a cheesy setup back then, Dolph was much manlier and tougher than this Helmsworth guy. I didn't even care to watch that new movie. MotU is not among my favorite Dolph movies but I'm convinced that he was better back then as Helmsworth was today. Dolph has the aura, he'll never come across as sissy even if they put him in a tutu.

[viendammage]

Can you imagine any serious actor in that role? Pumped and oiled up in every scene? It's not like today where comic book movies and being in shape are the norm.

Viva Masters of the Universe!

You know what? I've watched the trailer of Thor and I thought "How cheesy and sissy is that?" - I think even tough it was a cheesy setup back then, Dolph was much manlier and tougher than this Helmsworth guy. I didn't even care to watch that new movie. MotU is not among my favorite Dolph movies but I'm convinced that he was better back then as Helmsworth was today. Dolph has the aura, he'll never come across as sissy even if they put him in a tutu.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog ... e-universe

Thor is an enjoyable popcorn movie though, especially if you're into comic books like I am. Agree that Dolph is manlier without even trying. It's a byproduct of a bygone era, a guy like Dolph with his varied background in education and karate competition just comes off as seasoned, experienced and ready for the job. Unlike many of today's "action heroes" a la Matt Damon, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, etc, they're just actors doing a job. You wouldn't really think any of them would be ready to kick ass in real life.

[Nikolai Cherenco]

If this franchise is an absurdity that there is still no new film. The Making of me was still unknown.

[Jox]

Gary Goddard should be at the next Power-Con convention (In Torrence, CA September 22-23)
http://www.thepower-con.com/2012/04/gar ... uest-list/
Anthony de Longis (Blade) shall also appear.

[Jox]

I was just advised that MOTU played last night on the big screen at London's Prince Charles Cinema as double bill with CYBORG!



Custom artwork by James White:


his blog
http://blog.signalnoise.com/2012/05/25/ ... se-poster/

Here is the first poster created for the Prince Charles Cinema in London. One of my favorite childhood movies, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE will be playing at the cinema this coming Monday so be sure to check their schedule to see this sucker on the big screen. It’s on a double-bill with CYBORG too. Wish I could be there.

I had a great time on this one, creating something more stripped down and stylized as compared the the “likeness heavy” posters I’ve been doing. The influence for this one came right from early STAR WARS posters, depicting a heavily silhouetted character. Maybe channeling a bit of Olly Moss in there too. I wanted He-man to resemble Dolph Lundgren from the live-action film, but posed exactly like the He-man from the cartoon. I also wanted Skeletor to double as Castle Grayskull in the background, again a reference to the cartoon. I love the live-action film but it really missed a few of those nice cartoon cues.

Since the show at the PCC is in 3 days, we’re as yet unsure about the printing of this one. But I assure you we are on the case to get things sorted out. I’d love to have a screenprinted copy of this one and already have some variant ideas in the works.

“By the power of Grayskull!”