By the power of Numbskull! I remember the cheesy cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe from my childhood, but this isn't it: this is even cheesier. Apparently someone felt that the adventures of the supernaturally-strong blond Adonis-like hunk were not properly told in the original 1980s series, and therefore warranted a new retelling. Ergo, these 13 Cartoon Network-aired (and expanded) episodes from 2002 about the young and dumb Prince Adam, scion of the royal family of the planet Eternia, where the Mystic Wall holds back evil (in the form of monsters who seem to be the reincarnation of the Three Stooges, except with claws and Crayola-colored fur), until it doesn't anymore—at which point the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull turns Adam into He-Man and he fights the Stooge monsters. A lot. The only thing surprising in the least about this collection is how seriously it takes itself: you'll find three video commentaries and five audio commentaries here, for Pete's sake, as if there's anything deep or hidden to be explored in the simplistic, nay boneheaded, stories. Additional DVD extras include a series overview featurette, image galleries, and episode animatics. Not a necessary purchase. (M. Johanson)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Volume One
BCI, 3 discs, 286 min., not rated, DVD: $26.98 May 26, 2008
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Volume One
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