When I first heard that a new “Masters of the Universe” film was in the works a year or so ago, I was ecstatic. Like many of my generation, I grew up with “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” cartoons and action figures, and they were a huge part of my childhood. I would religiously watch new episodes, and I had all of my favorite action figures — even the massive Castle Grayskull. Joy filled my bones when the live-action “Masters of the Universe” film hit the big screen in 1987, and I vividly remember going to my local movie theater to see it. While I didn’t realize how campy it was at the time, it worked its way into my heart, and I’ve absolutely loved it ever since.

I make it a point to watch it at least once every year or so. There’s just so much to it that makes it both an awesome and awesomely terrible ’80s movie. With Dolph Lundgren at the helm and 1980’s Courtney Cox doing what she did best, with help from Frank Langella, Meg Foster, and Billy Barty, it almost had enough star power to make it work. It was an intergalactic sci-fi action ’80s flick that had everything a 9-year-old kid could want — special effects, great (okay, maybe just good) music, big-ish stars, and all of the action heroes in my toy box brought vividly to life on the big screen.

As far as campy, ’80s movies go, this one has to be up there. It cost around $22 million to make (quite a bit at the time) and brought in just $4.9 million on its opening weekend. It rounded out at just over $17 million during its theatrical run, and while I’d love to sit here and tell you it’s one of those gems that became a much bigger hit with fans after leaving theaters, that’s certainly not the case.

Don’t say goodbye, say good journey

So what exactly am I going for here? All I’m saying is that if you’re at all interested in checking out this summer’s “Masters of the Universe,” I’d highly recommend watching the 1987 version — shockingly also titled “Masters of the Universe” — before you head out to theaters.

This, along with a slew of other classics from the same era, lives rent-free in my brain, often forgotten until something jarring — like a “remake” — jostles them free into my consciousness. Those who didn’t grow up in the pre-streaming (heck, even pre-VHS) era will never know the thrill of checking the local paper for movie times — or later, calling Movie Phone — then heading to the theater with cash in hand for what you hoped would be an amazing experience. If you loved it, you couldn’t just watch it again on your couch the next day; you had to go back to the theater to see it again — and in some cases again and again. It’s something that my generation will always cherish, and perhaps that’s what makes this one stick in my head so much.

I can’t say watching “Masters of the Universe” will make you a better person or enrich your life in any meaningful way, but it will certainly give you perspective on the nostalgia of a 1980s action flick built on a kids’ cartoon created simply to sell toys and action figures. I’m sure my expectations weren’t high when I walked into the theater back in 1987 or 1988, but I can say that little piece of cinematic history has carved out a special place in my heart, and maybe the latest installment in the franchise will do the same for my kids. It’s a long shot — but maybe!!

Masters of the Universe

August 7, 1987

When He-Man is driven from Eternia after Skeletor seizes Castle Grayskull, a stolen portal device strands the fight on Earth, where a pair of teenagers become entangled in a war that spans worlds.