The animated 80s hit show "He-man" about the strongest man in the universe, the title hero, protecting his country against the evil forces of Skeletor was one of my very personal and favorite series when I was a child. But today, as a movie buff familiar with Fellini, Pasolini, Kubrick, Capra, Wilder and others, I just have to face the music: "He-man" wasn't such a good product. One of it's main flaws is the one dimensional view of the makers. For them, every man in that world was strong and had muscles like a wrestler, while every woman was thin, attractive and always wearing make up. Not only that, but He-man/Adam is a pretty stiff character. That's why the cynical Skeletor is often much more realistic and amusing ( his priceless line "Bring them to the dungeon and make sure they are made...uncomfortable!" to his henchmen when they capture a few men ). Plus the story doesn't have a straight beginning or an end.
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Season 1 is simply very weak. Even the best episodes, the ones on DVD, like "Teela's quest" and "Prince Adam no more", seem like campy travesties. Luckily, the second season is a lot better, featuring some great stuff, like "Into the Abyss" where Teela gets stuck in Greyskull's pit : when Adam transforms into He-man, thousand light beams fall down into the abyss, and then back up again, creating a magic scene. So there is something about "He-man". The animation, although over recycled, is fantastic and realistic, reminiscent of Japanese anime. The idealism, emotions, honesty and the sheer innocence of it's good characters is somehow beautiful, almost as if the makers still believe in human kind. It makes you want to be a better person.
And, in some traces, there are brilliant situations operand. Just take 2 of my favorite episodes, both written by J. Micheal Straczynski, "Double trouble" and "Mistaken identity". In "Trouble" Skeletor accidentally discovers a mirror which creates opposite clones of one person. Evidently, it creates his clone, a good Skeletor, who tries to help He-man. In "Identity" Tharan, a teenage boy, goes on a date with his girlfriend Kareel, but she always keeps going on and on how great and perfect He-man is. The jealous Tharan then lures He-man into a cave with a help of false dragon sounds, and exits afterwords, making Kareel think that he is actually He-man. Of course, she gets all excited, but then he is kidnapped by Modulok. Kareel calls for Adams help, boldly stating how "Tharan, her boyfriend, is He-man and in trouble". I wish there were more such sweet episodes, and less those formulaic about how He-man just simply defeats Skeletor. But compared to some todays "kids" shows, you really can't complain about "He-man".
Grade: 5/10
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Season 1 is simply very weak. Even the best episodes, the ones on DVD, like "Teela's quest" and "Prince Adam no more", seem like campy travesties. Luckily, the second season is a lot better, featuring some great stuff, like "Into the Abyss" where Teela gets stuck in Greyskull's pit : when Adam transforms into He-man, thousand light beams fall down into the abyss, and then back up again, creating a magic scene. So there is something about "He-man". The animation, although over recycled, is fantastic and realistic, reminiscent of Japanese anime. The idealism, emotions, honesty and the sheer innocence of it's good characters is somehow beautiful, almost as if the makers still believe in human kind. It makes you want to be a better person.
And, in some traces, there are brilliant situations operand. Just take 2 of my favorite episodes, both written by J. Micheal Straczynski, "Double trouble" and "Mistaken identity". In "Trouble" Skeletor accidentally discovers a mirror which creates opposite clones of one person. Evidently, it creates his clone, a good Skeletor, who tries to help He-man. In "Identity" Tharan, a teenage boy, goes on a date with his girlfriend Kareel, but she always keeps going on and on how great and perfect He-man is. The jealous Tharan then lures He-man into a cave with a help of false dragon sounds, and exits afterwords, making Kareel think that he is actually He-man. Of course, she gets all excited, but then he is kidnapped by Modulok. Kareel calls for Adams help, boldly stating how "Tharan, her boyfriend, is He-man and in trouble". I wish there were more such sweet episodes, and less those formulaic about how He-man just simply defeats Skeletor. But compared to some todays "kids" shows, you really can't complain about "He-man".
Grade: 5/10