He-Man, and also the Masters of the Universe

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
Details are coming out as to what sorts of “swag” the various theatre chains are getting with the push for Masters of the Universe. Seems like the Power Sword sipper and the “Secrets of Grayskull” snack…kit…thing are going to be available everywhere. Some items are exclusive to certain venues, but I was most concerned about the Secrets of Grayskull thing (the castle with turret drink and popcorn storage, including opening mouth).

Theatre chains are starting preorders for tickets, with an extra advanced screening on Wednesday, June 3rd.


In addition, the Amazon/MGM YouTube channel is pumping out a regular drip of features about the film.

Minor toy news: some promotional images have come out of Battlecat. And it looks like he got a design update at some point…so his toys aren’t EXACTLY on model anymore. There were changes to the helmet, including a number of design details and the addition of his ears now being exposed.
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
For those that have had Target reset their stuff to put out toys…Are you seeing the little $5 Mighty Masters among the offerings? I’m going out of town this week, hoping to hit Target. I’m still on the fence about jumping into the movie toys until I see the movie…but little $5 remakes of the Vintage toys? I’m all for it.
I just haven’t been able to find much online for a reasonable price, and the not even much from official sources about these even existing.
 

Caldwin

Banned for posting Metroid's flesh doors
Citizen
I haven't seen any $5 Mighty Masters. But if those are like blind boxes or super deformed type toys, I haven't really been looking for them.

I just came from Target. As far as MotU, all the had were...

Man-E-Faces Original Concept Art

He-Man Movie - $10 Origins type figures: 1 He-Man, 1 Skeletor, 1 Beast Man, 1 Teela...and a bunch of Battle Cats.

He-Man Movie - Masterverse sized figures: 1 He-Man, 4-5 Man at Arms...and a bunch of Battle Cats.

They seem to be pushing the Battle Cats...or else the Battle Cats are the only things not selling.

IMG_4007.jpeg


I did decide to get the Beast Man, if only because in all my years of collecting vintage, Origins and Masterverse...I somehow never did get a Best Man before...not from lack of opportunities. I just never did for some reason. But now I have corrected that.

IMG_4009.jpeg


Alongside an Origins figure and a Masterverse figure for size comparison.
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
Mighty Masters are a boxed (not blind boxed) mini-figure line Mattel is doing. They're basically half sized Vintage toy remakes, not dissimilar to the WWE Knuckle Crunchers Mattel makes.

Keep in mind that there are "Movie Origins" figures (movie design filtered through the Origins classic MOTU style) and the "Movie Core (or First Ones)" line, which is the low cost, realistic action figures like the Beast Man figure.

My suspicion is that BattleCat is so prominent because he's about the only thing that fits the "mid-sized vehicle" offering for this brand. Though, I wonder if there's too much push given the availability of BattleCat across two different styles at the same time.

As much as I want to "jump in"...I'm restraining myself to see how the movie turns out and what the fall brings. I'm expecting more exclusives and more multipacks this fall, and we'll see what ends up where and for what cost. But I'm not confident the Skelknight is a high refresh priority, and the Mighty Masters just tickle that retro fancy, with the bonus of being cheap.
 

Caldwin

Banned for posting Metroid's flesh doors
Citizen
So, yeah, I guess the Beast Man I got is the less expensive "kid" version. But you know what, not having see the movie Origins figures, I still think the cheap versions look good. Like, I don't even feel the need to qualify that with "for a $10 kid toy." No...these things legit look good.
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
So, yeah, I guess the Beast Man I got is the less expensive "kid" version. But you know what, not having see the movie Origins figures, I still think the cheap versions look good. Like, I don't even feel the need to qualify that with "for a $10 kid toy." No...these things legit look good.
Oh, I agree. Mattel is putting out a DAMN fine product for $10-12. And I actually find myself gravitating to the Kids Core line because I'm in this as a toy fan, and I enjoy the brighter palette these figures are pulling from. And I'm cheap.

Origins Film series is being split between various retailers as exclusive:
Basic assortment seems exclusive to Target, along with the Fright Fighter (which looks to play nice with the Kids Core line). He-Man and Spikor (the only one revealed at the moment) are out now, Man At Arms and Triklops due soon. Given the packaging of the Fright Fighter, Teela is likely coming as well.

Deluxe Trap Jaw (and maybe Roboto) is due at Walmart.

Beast Man is a Mattel Creations Exclusive.
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
I went to a larger Walmart AND Target and guess what I found? NOTHING. Well, nothing at Walmart (I'm shocked at that, don't know what's going on with these southwestern Walmarts), but I spotted a Roton, 3 Core BattleCats, and a single peg of Chronicles (He-Man and Man At Arms) at Target. Kind of a piddly showing, all things considered.

But even during the "push" for the film, Mattel still has new Origins stuff on tap, including the famous Slime Pit-

And a new Battlepack, featuring more generic troops for your various factions: Avion Warrior, Primal Captain (generic beast man), Sepult-Ro Disciple (skeleton mage), and an Aquatican Mer-Warrior.

And during the recent "Sword of Power" featurette, Amazon/MGM dropped a tease for...Moss Man! The film continues adding more characters, enriching the film's world...however it remains to be seen how many of them actually get action figures.
I'll remind that Amazon/MGM have been releasing little featurettes on a regular basis, offering some solid looks at the film. The constructing Eternia feature gives a good look at the impressive physical sets. Articles floating around have further stressed how much practical effects are being used, like in Trap Jaw.
 

NovaSaber

Well-known member
Citizen
And a new Battlepack, featuring more generic troops for your various factions: Avion Warrior, Primal Captain (generic beast man), Sepult-Ro Disciple (skeleton mage), and an Aquatican Mer-Warrior.
Based on the desciptions under the names that's definitely correct, but the actual placement of the figures themselves in the box has Primal Captain and Sepult-Ro Disciple swapped.
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
A set of marketing one sheets featuring several prominent characters of the film. This gives the best looks yet at King Randor, Queen Marlena, and The Sorceress

It would NOT surprise me if some of these…special appearances…by the likes of Moss Man and Karg aren’t simply the work of a passionate production crew and not explicitly called for in the script. Probably means the likelihood of toys outside Chronicles will heavily depend on how successful the film ends up being and how well the toys move.

Further, composer Daniel Pemberton (joined by Queen guitarist Brian May!) posted some of the musical tracks from the film to the Tubes of You. Full soundtrack is slated for a digital release on June 5th alongside the film.
 
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Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
A local theatre is going to have an "advance" screening on the 3rd. I got my tickets.
Eh, my schedule isn’t allowing any of that, but I’ve got the fourth scheduled to be a “movie day”. Sadly, looks like Star Wars has the IMAX screen locked up at LEAST through that day, and the Fifth remains unscheduled for at this point as to which movie will be getting screen.


Amazon seems to be doing solid efforts on marketing on their platform, though. Seems all the “kids” and action FAST channels are getting a decent flow of adverts to watch the trailer online. I’m still…cautiously optimistic..in regards to the financial performance. The film is going against weekend 3 of Mandalorian, weekend 2 of The Backrooms, and is directly going against Scary Movie. Scary Movie could be disruptive, given the return of many original cast members and the pull of nostalgia. Truthfully, I expect MOTU to be a bigger concern internationally (and there is certainly precedent for strong international numbers validating sequel efforts), but I would still be saddened to see such a film (especially if it is as good as we’ve gotten from Knight before) get “beaten” by a nostalgia fueled Scary Movie sequel.


I’ve been listening to the two versions of “Eternia”, and while a LOT of fans have bemoaned the fact it isn’t a direct rescore of the old Filmation theme…my keen ears actually detect a LOT more in common with the original series score than I think many realize. It has a different tempo and instrumentation…but the structure is actually not far off. Regardless, I think it’s a solid “score base” for the film, and I love how eclectic it is, much like the franchise itself. Instead of the typical “epically epic” Hans Zimmer style most studios would go for (or a LotR medieval fantasy style), I’m glad to see them start off with some fantasy choral elements before filtering in some synth and then into full blown guitar riffs. The initial impression gave me some vibes of Queen’s Flash Gordon soundtrack, but the composition actually reminds me quite a bit of the work done for the recent genre throwback, Deathstalker. It’s “main theme” in particular.
Probably those guitar riffs…
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
The film's "World Premiere" was last night, and while reviews are still embargoed until closer to the film's "official" release, social media impressions have been exceptionally positive, with comparisons to Thor Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy. Praise is being given to the film's embracing of its campy roots, solid humor and performances. Of all things, Jared Leto's Skeletor is being widely praised.

Some pics from the premiere, including a nice shot of OG live action He-Man, Dolph Lundgren, sharing the Sword of Power with new He-Man, Nicholas Galitzine.

Also note that the famous TCL Chinese theatre was dressed up with a Castle Grayskull facade for the premiere!
 

Steevy Maximus

Well known pompous pontificator
Citizen
Interviews are going out for the press junket with the actors. Alison Brie is being a joy, and clearly had a ton of fun making this film. But she also revealed how Jared Leto performed on set. Hint, he's still a little crazy and that's probably why he's not in any of the press junkets (I recommend watching the whole thing, but the Leto comments start at 4:15-ish)
 


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