Grayskull: Masters of the Universe - Part 2

[the_ultimate_evil]

the woman from MOs looks superb for evil lyn but honestly after seeing rise of an empire i do think eva green could pull it off superbly

 

[Pink Ranger]

What version of Shrek were you watching? Once Shrek learned that Fiona turns into an ogre at night he realized that they COULD be together.

The point I was making, that I might have skimmed over too quickly, was that kids can kind of intuitively recognize the dynamics of impossible love, and respond to it as a story element. That's why they understood so well why it was a "happy" ending that Fiona was left as an ogre. It was kind of cool when six-year olds, including boys, were cheering in the theatre when Fiona was finally left as an ogre, because they knew what that meant.

Similarly, kids kind of "understood" why Esmeralda did not marry the true hero Quasimodo, and perhaps felt it was unfair.

 

[Thundarr]

The point I was making, that I might have skimmed over too quickly, was that kids can kind of intuitively recognize the dynamics of impossible love, and respond to it as a story element. That's why they understood so well why it was a "happy" ending that Fiona was left as an ogre. It was kind of cool when six-year olds, including boys, were cheering in the theatre when Fiona was finally left as an ogre, because they knew what that meant.

Similarly, kids kind of "understood" why Esmeralda did not marry the true hero Quasimodo, and perhaps felt it was unfair.

It doesn't necessarily have to be an age difference though. The problem could be political. Adam is a prince, Teela is a commoner. While there may be an attraction between them, their feelings can never be consummated. Or, if it is, then it's done in secret, which then leads to a whole new set of problems if they're found out. Like in Anna & The King/The King & I (I forget which title the animated version used). The king's eldest son had fallen in love with a peasant girl, a servant in the palace. The king found out and forbade them to see each other. I never watched the whole thing, so I don't know how it all turned out. But I do know that kids are a lot smarter than most adults give them credit for, and they will understand the general idea of why Adam and Teela can't be together. It's a theme that has been used in many other fantasy based romance stories as well.

 

[Pink Ranger]

It doesn't necessarily have to be an age difference though. The problem could be political. Adam is a prince, Teela is a commoner. While there may be an attraction between them, their feelings can never be consummated. Or, if it is, then it's done in secret, which then leads to a whole new set of problems if they're found out. Like in Anna & The King/The King & I (I forget which title the animated version used). The king's eldest son had fallen in love with a peasant girl, a servant in the palace. The king found out and forbade them to see each other. I never watched the whole thing, so I don't know how it all turned out. But I do know that kids are a lot smarter than most adults give them credit for, and they will understand the general idea of why Adam and Teela can't be together. It's a theme that has been used in many other fantasy based romance stories as well.

That is interesting, and I did think of that. And the fact that He-Man is a wild barbarian gives him the freedom to be himself around Teela, in a way that Adam as a prince cannot. Unfortunately, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Evangeline Lilly kind of already covers that territory, badly I might add.

The problem I keep having with an adult Adam, or even a 18-year-old Adam, is that the audience has to buy into the character. And quite frankly, a fully grown man so ineffective, even if he's deliberately doing it as an act, I just don't see the audience reacting well to that.

 

[Thundarr]

That is interesting, and I did think of that. And the fact that He-Man is a wild barbarian gives him the freedom to be himself around Teela, in a way that Adam as a prince cannot. Unfortunately, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Evangeline Lilly kind of already covers that territory, badly I might add.

The problem I keep having with an adult Adam, or even a 18-year-old Adam, is that the audience has to buy into the character. And quite frankly, a fully grown man so ineffective, even if he's deliberately doing it as an act, I just don't see the audience reacting well to that.

How is Adam ineffective? In the original series he was, because Marlena wasn't the only queen in that royal family. But in the 2002 reboot (which I maintain that the movie should be based on)? He might not have been a He-Man as himself, but he was no slouch either. He had some moves. It's just that when battling Skeletor and his band of cronies, you kinda NEED He-Man.

 

[Pink Ranger]

How is Adam ineffective? In the original series he was, because Marlena wasn't the only queen in that royal family. But in the 2002 reboot (which I maintain that the movie should be based on)? He might not have been a He-Man as himself, but he was no slouch either. He had some moves. It's just that when battling Skeletor and his band of cronies, you kinda NEED He-Man.

But that's the point right there. You make jokes about adult Adam (rightly so perhaps), and that's exactly what the audience is going to think too.

So we're on the same page in terms of a teenage Adam (he seemed a bit younger to my eyes than he did to yours, I am sensing, but let's leave that aside for now). I guess the question then is why Teela should also be a teenager, instead of a fully grown woman like in the 1980s.

My feeling is A) I want Teela to be captain of the guard, and even in a fantasy world a 16-year-old girl is going to look strange in that role and B) then you have the situation where there is romantic tension between a 16-year-old girl and a fully grown, powerful male adult. THAT'S problematic to a greater degree.

 

[Thundarr]

But that's the point right there. You make jokes about adult Adam (rightly so perhaps), and that's exactly what the audience is going to think too.

So we're on the same page in terms of a teenage Adam (he seemed a bit younger to my eyes than he did to yours, I am sensing, but let's leave that aside for now). I guess the question then is why Teela should also be a teenager, instead of a fully grown woman like in the 1980s.

My feeling is A) I want Teela to be captain of the guard, and even in a fantasy world a 16-year-old girl is going to look strange in that role and B) then you have the situation where there is romantic tension between a 16-year-old girl and a fully grown, powerful male adult. THAT'S problematic to a greater degree.

I think Adam should be a teen just not a young teen. He needs to mature a great deal, but emotionally and psychologically rather than physically. There should still be a huge difference between He-Man and Adam physically, I just don't think Adam should be the total pansy he was in the 1980's series. He looked like he should be dating Robin Williams in The Birdcage.

As for Teela, even if she's written as being in her early twenties I think Captain is a bit too high of a rank for her. Lieutenant for sure. Maybe Lieutenant Commander (if you want to go with a more nautical/Star Trek type of ranking system for the royal guard). But Captain? That's a bit much for someone so young, even if she is the adopted daughter of Man-At-Arms.

 

[Panthro]

First of all let me just thank everyone who agrees that Faora would be an awesome Evil-Lynn - and having just watched 300: Rise of an Empire myself I'm sure Eva Green would do well in the role too.

I see Gerard Butler as closer to Randor than Stratos, and after seeing 3:ROE today I'd like to toss Sullivan Stapleton's name into the list for Man-At-Arms.

As for Chris Hemsworth and his Thor physique, I'd say the man's as big as he can get without actually being on steroids. I have a feeling though that even if Chris were open to playing He-Man his contract with the Marvel guys might prevent that.

A 16 year old Teela as Captain of the Royal Guard would be hard to pull off, even in a film with all the fantastical elements MOTU is known & loved for. If one did want to go with a 16-18 year old Teela it would probably be best for her to be working towards that goal, with Man-At-Arms having a line like "She's not ready yet, but give her a few more years and I'd say she'd have a good shot at it."

But isn't Adam supposed to hook up with Teela and complete the cycle, the two of them beeing the first king and sorceress to be a couple since Greyskull's days?

Where is that from? I do not consider the bio information from the new action figures canon, or even usable material. A company that cannot even figure out an effective supply chain does not belong within 100 miles of this movie.

It's always kinda been there in the subtext - Teela's the daughter of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, and it's always been hinted at that her destiny is to one day take over the job from her mom (there was even an episode from the 80s where she got tasked with standing in for her mom & defend the castle using powers that she was not really trained to use), and we all know there's a little something between her and He-Man/Adam, and as a close to the story you expect your official couple to be together.

It comes up most prominently however in the 2002 series episode that deals with the story of King Grayskull, great ancestor of He-man/Adam, where we see that King Grayskull (who looks like an even bigger, more barbaric version of He-Man) was married to a Sorceress of his own during his reign, which sets up that cycle vibe that once our modern day protagonists get done beating up Skeletor and all the other assorted villains He-Man/Adam & Teela will hook up, date for a while, tie the knot & then make Castle Grayskull their home & re-establish it as the center of Eternia as it was in the past.

Also: see Skywalker, Anakin and Amidala, Padme (Encyclopedia of Crap Movies).

Those characters do not exist.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Those characters do not exist.

Panthro, you're breaking my heart!

 

[TheVileOne]

The new movie isn't really beholden to any continuity because there isn't really any one definitive continuity for He-Man. Some fans are still stuck on the Filmation series. Some fans prefer the mini-comics. Some fans like the new history that's being built from the bio cards that basically combines all the previous iterations.

So any movie could be its own thing. That doesn't mean Teela has to become Sorceress or whatever. She could, but whatever.

 

[Airwings]

Are there any other suggestions for Adam than just Liam?

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Liam Neeson!

 

[Airwings]

Liam Neeson for Prince Adam? Is he supposed to be born the same year as his father, King Randor? :P

 

[terry78]

Are there any other suggestions for Adam than just Liam?

Nope, he is the only guy we can think of. Our reference pools are very small.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Liam Neeson for Prince Adam? Is he supposed to be born the same year as his father, King Randor? :P

In this version, they're twin brothers. He burns his face of and calls himself Skeletor.

 

[747]

(other than the fact I think Adam might have been gay, or at least that's how he comes off to me anyways).

sorry, but wut?

i have strong doubts that in a Filmation cartoon from the 80s, Adam would be gay. And nothing except from prejudged values suggests he was.

 

[Octoberist]

So you're doubting that Adam had some glitter in his shoes? JK, people, JK!

 

[Gabe99]

A PHANTOM EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Wadlow Will Direct MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!

 

[terry78]

Whaaaa?

Frankly the thing was never gonna get made unless someone signed on to take it.

 

[Heretic]

The director of Kick Ass 2 and the writer of The Lone Ranger?

Ouch.

 

[Octoberist]

I think He-Man should be schlocky, but in the veins of 'Fast 5'. Not 'Legend of Hercules'. Like what I said before, popcorn films should have some sort of standard too.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

The director of Kick Ass 2 and the writer of The Lone Ranger?

Ouch.

Stop reminding me of The Lone Ranger I HATE that movie for what it did to the heroes. And I hate Kick-Ass too...

I'll be right back, must...beat up...Johnny Depp.

 

[Lord]

The Lone Ranger wasn't that bad, the main character just needed to evolve more.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Good things about Disney's Lone Ranger (in name only):

1. The eject button on my DVD player.

2. The DVD can be used as a frisbee or a beermat.

3. The movie failed.

4. There won't be a Lone Ranger 2

5. I gave the DVD away for free(I regret that...should have destroyed it)

 

[Octoberist]

I didn't hate The Lone Ranger, but it had some major problems. I feel like the whole plot device with Old Tonto was so pointless. It just didn't work in the film.

And the Ranger himself was so passive. Even at the end, nothing was earned.