Honest Trailers Commentary | Masters of the Universe (1987)

[@adamten1192]

Dan is just as happy here as he is making charts!

[@daijishinomori9161]

Dan's joy at finally making this trailer could not be contained. And the Gwildor riff is just a Gift. Loved the trailer for this stupid movie (watched the movie when I was young, didn't know WTF I watched), and I LOVE the commentary more. They're now added in my regular rewatch list.

[@Burentsu]

I am with Dan on this one. I love this dumb movie.

[@telectronix1368]

If it's.....good.....enough for 'How Did This Get Made', it's good enough for HT.

[@GoddessGirl2121]

This is one of the weirdest examples of so bad it’s good from my childhood that I actually still watch today

[@emilyplunkett6034]

The Alan should be the name of your end of the year movie awards.

[@roguechevelle]

and the Alan award goes to....lol

[@ReXtion88]

Fran Kranz was pretty jacked in Cabin in the Woods which is why he doesn't take his shirt off when they go swimming. His posture meant it was tough to see but the dude is surprisingly shredded

[@chadkittleson5447]

I approve of the new format of trailer and commentary on different days. Good work.

[@Molson-xg9hs]

Teenage Kevin Fiege: “I think I can run with this scene after the credits idea.” Was fun remembering a time when movies were a little more innocent and stupid.

[@jbearclowater]

I did not expect that Gwildor impression out of Dan, but it was a welcome surprise.

[@craigfarnham268]

I’m 100% with Dan. I was 7 yrs old when this movie came out, and I loved how great Skeletor was, so I’m sure I forgave its failings and it still manages to hit the nostalgia points for me.

[@jbearclowater]

Frank Langella working out was mentioned in the He Man documentary "By the Power of Grayskull" as well.

[@u710274]

I want a whole season of Canon Films Honest Trailers

[@kadosho02]

It may cause a ripple effect in time and space. Alright let's go

[@vincenthalfprice9930]

OMG YESSS Death Wish 3 Honest Trailer would be the greatest thing ever made

[@fabycho6791]

Dan's happiness is melting my heart

[@Buska324]

Chidi from The Good Place is surprisingly buff!

[@Born2beSPRA]

I love Alan raptor too much thank you for him

[@chrisp9824]

I keep imagining Lon as a baby, but with same beard and talking in same manner going around cinemas :)

[@MoramothHauntz]

Lon was a Boss Baby

[@arceuslordofcreation8824]

That is accurate

[@tristang444]

"It's like a Kobayashi Maru" That made me laugh, so please keep imposing all your niche fandoms on us!

[@SilverAlaunt]

35:42 Now you've commited yourselves to making a Krull Honest Trailer.

[@kdragon4046]

Yes! Please make an honest trailer of Krull!!

[@endorbr]

I would watch it.

[@evilallensmithee]

Alaunt, Yes, that, Please Sirs, Yes!

[@kadosho02]

o_o oh my god. Yes they must

[@williammcnirlan4820]

If they do a Krull HT, I want them to do a Hawk the Slayer one.

[@ahorn03]

All 80's movies that had the Authority Figure Actor "James Tolkan" took place in the same universe, he just happened to be in different jobs at the time.

[@chrisdtgordon5331]

He's the Stan Lee of the 80s!

[@kevinw712]

Just imagine if he and the principle from Breakfast Club/police chief from Die Hard were in the same movie... ALSO with William Atherton!!

[@stiimuli]

Lon nailed it. So many of us kids saw this movie expecting the cartoon setting and characters and were left thinking "WTF was that????"

[@carlrood4457]

And they keep doing it. They did it with THE SMURFS.

[@natasha1537]

Dan reminiscing about that pre-MCU end-credit scene is the kind of wholesome content I needed!

[@Houldey]

Dan Murrell : SKELETOR IS SO COOL. - welp, never thought i'd hear that.

[@Krassus7101]

Houldey I thought Frank Langella played him to be much cooler in this movie than he was in the series. In the series Skeletor was more of a funny, cowardly goblin with a high pitched voice, but in this movie Frank Langella plays him as a scary, black-clad badass with an great voice. Props to FL, I say

[@ronaldfrechette2045]

Skeletor was always cool.

[@hindsightpov4218]

As a kid I had no idea how kinky “Masters of the Universe” was. Now I’m like dang.

[@k1ngk4gl3]

Screen Name checks out... 👍

[@orangeslash1667]

@@k1ngk4gl3 He man is back.

[@adventuresinAI1982]

Thanks for the mention of the Electric Boogaloo documentary. Decided to rent it right while I was watching this. Did not disappoint.

[@SirDupree]

I did not know about the after credit scene until my 30s. My inner 8 years old mind was blown.

[@brianbell2176]

I believe the only childhood tv show turned film I wasn't disappointed in was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. In fact, I still love it.

[@pittland44]

Yes, still a good movie.

[@spiritchannels]

Remember the bonus soundtrack? Growing up in fishbowl with chameleons and tadpoles, it isn't easy to find that there's something better than this... Pizza power! is the thing that keeps us going.. Pizza power..!

[@brianbell2176]

Oh I had the Coming Out of Their Shells album and concert.

[@spiritchannels]

@@brianbell2176 Master Splinter slowed it down and sang "standing on water that looks like glass... skipping stones..."

[@NotMeNaNaNa]

Yea then they crapped on that idea by doing Ghostbusters 2 and for good measure threw in an outdated He-Man reference, lol, I don’t know what was worse this movie coming out 5yrs too late in ‘87 or those bratty kids who wanted He-Man at their party when us kids in ‘89 wanted either the Ghostbusters or Ninja Turtles? 😎

[@Laineiselaine]

I love seeing Dan so happy! I'm glad he got to make this. Great job guys!

[@jeromeschmidt7805]

Definite nostalgia. One of the very first movies I saw in the theaters as a kid, still remember it.

[@MarisuSedai]

The suggestion that bad movies can be money laundering schemes blew my mind. Now I’m rethinking what went wrong with Dragon Ball Evolution...

[@tomtalks23]

There's a long standing theory that The Room was a money laundering scheme.

[@GoatPopsicle]

Marisu Uwe Bole used to make all those crappy video game movies, because German tax laws meant he would always get his money back, plus millions in tax write-offs. Once they closed that loophole, he’s suddenly not making movies in Germany anymore, but super-low tax rate Ireland(2%)

[@Nellwin_The_Ace]

I have this on VHS and Betamax and recently bought it on blu ray. I regret nothing and I am not sorry about it. I'm with Dan, I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!

[@stmfuller]

I have this on DVD. I would buy a 4k HDR version if it came out.

[@fusionspace175]

One vote here for "I love this dumb movie." I'm in the tiny window that loves this movie unironically, mostly due to nostalgia goggles. I last watched it for fun about a month before the trailer came out. It's dead on and maybe my favorite HT yet. But it changes nothing about my love of Dolph lundgren movies. Check out his Punisher movie, it's so dark. He just drinks wild turkey naked in the sewers brooding by firelight, then he kills roughly one million ninjas. Okay more like 200, but still a shocking body count even for the 80s.

[@williestyle35]

You gotta watch 'Red Scorpion'. Dolph reprises a different kind of Ivan Draggo .

[@Shawnie721]

Speaking of weird 80's movies in line with the pulse of America - Do the Last Unicorn! Blockbuster Summer followed by How does this Exist Autumn?

[@u710274]

I really like how the Gwildor calling gets more intense as the movie reaches de climax

[@icantthinkofaname1009]

My favorite Cannon Films story is that Golan and Globus apparently wanted to expand their horizons and break out of the company’s niche, so they greenlit an adaptation of King Lear and managed to land Jean Luc Godard as director. Except they hired him based solely on recognizing him as a famous director and weren’t all that familiar with his work. The two were shocked when they saw the final project which was pretty much exactly what you’d expect from late era Godard: abstract, bizarre, confusing, and only tenuously related to its source material on a surface level. One of them left an angry voicemail and Godard inserted it into the beginning of the film. It’s not particularly entertaining to watch, but there’s this wonderful underlying sense to it that Godard is just trolling Golan and Globus because he knows that anyone who actually knew his work would know he wasn’t a good fit for Shakespeare.

[@williestyle35]

Good pull. The Cannon films history is .. odd.

[@chrisdtgordon5331]

I am so happy that Dan was able to make this honest trailer!

[@eddeenicolas271]

One of guilty pleasures for years.. Thanks Dan Spencer Lon Danielle for the memories.....

[@ramblinman07]

Thank you for the Masters of the Universe Honest Trailer, Dan!

[@ramblinman07]

@Demiclea Sorry. I don't know anything about that. I'll have to see what I can find out about that.

[@keithybrinson7804]

Masters of the universe is a triumph!!! People are only just now flying over the English Channel on hover boards and blade is permanently RAD!!! Frank Langela’s rants are absolutely captivating!!! It’s awesome and you have to actually imagine being a kid who’s into swords and princesses

[@clarissa182]

I'm with Dan. I love Masters of the Universe. He-Man and She-ra were like my favorite cartoons when I was a kid. It's Awesome...

[@scottmiller364]

Effective product placement - I saw that sink scene and got myself an orange.

[@R.J.Godzilla81]

Dan my friend, I could not agree more. You are 125% right, and yeah Skeletor is AWESOME!!!! It is bad and at times disappointing, but God damn it Skeletor makes up for all of it. God I love this movie (not ironically). @10:50_But part of what made Skeletor SO threating was the fact that he did kill his hentchmen.

[@williestyle35]

Dan Murrell , good on you for calling out the talent on this movie, including Anne V. Coats.

[@PaulRizzo]

I still maintain that MOTU wasn’t a bad movie, just a massively missed opportunity due to Cannon and their budget cutting. It’s very well made.

[@Frostyd241]

From one Dan to another Dan. I agree with the love of this movie. And of knowing who Tom Paris is from Voyager. Man brings back all my feels. I know.....super late to the conversation.

[@hindsightpov4218]

38:45 Snooka-style is correct. Frank Langella was buff during the time of filming because he was already going to the gym a lot so he wanted to show his physique when playing Skeletor. But the director didn’t want Skeletor to be sexy but rather look dominant and powerful. So Langella was disappointed he didn’t get to show how he was in good shape while wearing his tent Skeletor costume. Langella says it himself in the documentary “The Power of Grayskull” available on Netflix streaming. He says it a little after the 1:01:10 mark. I just checked.

[@SimonBuchanNz]

Sexy Skeletor was a missed opportunity

[@kennyteeology3526]

6:30 After hearing the whip preparing to strike, He-Man is wincing in anticipation of the blow.

[@robbwillmott1958]

Dear SJ, If you watch the He-Man "The toys that made us" on Netflix, it says that they also wanted to sell more toys by making new characters, like they had in the cartoon, so kids would want to by Blade and Karrg.

[@yazminerne2094]

Honest trailer for The shadow 1994

[@jamesbowen2088]

Or The Phantom with Billy Zane!

[@Norvik_-ug3ge]

@@jamesbowen2088 Kristy Swanson...yummy!

[@Norvik_-ug3ge]

Great call. Penelope Ann Miller smashes it out of the park.

[@yomamma359]

Good pick

[@JaemeelRobinson]

Margo!!!!!!

[@LivingDeadDrummer]

Cannon Films was the LJN of cinema, and I LOVED IT!

[@bethperforms6191]

This whole trailer effort was worth it just so the world could have a recorded sample of Dan’s Gwildor impression ;) Love it!

[@SeekerGamesStudios]

I realize schedules are not easy, but in the future if you guys could get the honest voice guy as a guest on this show for some of his behind the scenes comments, that would be exceptional! As always keep up the great work guys!

[@nicholasfitchett9345]

The key sound has been my ringtone for years!

[@frankstojespal9805]

28:16 "Why couldn't she have worked at Burger King?" Because then you'd have to re-enact the McDonalds birthday party scene from Mac & Me only instead of an alien in a teddy bear costume it's Naked Dancing Gwildor dabbing on the order counter.

[@cm7686]

Are we doing Lon/Gwildor comparisons or no?

[@meloD30]

No.

[@elaguajdo]

Never tied it in before, but Courtney Cox's first big role (the Springsteen video doesn't count) featured a hideous, malignant dwarf creature and Jennifer Aniston's first big role (Leprechaun) also featured a hideous, malignant dwarf creature. Is there one of these in Lisa Kudrow's "closet" that I'm not aware of?

[@elaguajdo]

@drevni.bradonja "Malignant" might be a bit harsh, but I could easily argue that he isn't always one of the "good guys" in this film, lol. ;)

[@mikevanhelder7867]

John C. McGinley is terrifyingly buff.

[@MsZeeZed]

I’m older than #Dan, this movie is for him is what Disney’s “The Black Hole” was for me (speaking of Star Wars’ cash-ins). My Cannon fave is Lifeforce, that I’m sure Dan had to be 21 before he could see it 🙂

[@josephmora5230]

I was a die-hard He-Man fan and when I saw this at theaters (I was 9), I knew the film was going to be a dissapointment just by the opening shot of Castle Greyskull, which was basically the Crystal Chamber castle from Dark Crystal. It was also the first movie experience of a let down but since my Skeletor looked badass, I still have a special place for this movie. It's so bad it's good, plus the final battle scene is still cool. Years later, it's a known fact that this movie had a low budget, which is why it's mainly set on Earth but one has to wonder with such a massive world that He-Man had, why give a small budget? BTW He-Man fans, this weekend Power-Con 2019: The He-Man and She-Ra Toy & Comic Book Experience at Hilton Anaheim (across from Disneyland) 😉

[@johnathannichols1853]

I love these kind of trailers. Do more of them.

[@MoramothHauntz]

I remember watching a Smallville commentary with John Glover. He was asked if he would be Skeletor. He said it was a rumor, but he wishes. I would see that

[@kyolicious]

Yesssssss, finally! I was also 4 when this movie came out, and I also remember being vaguely disappointed. Now that I’m older I have the movie on DVD and watch it probably once a year.

[@grahamcann1761]

Yes Spencer, there is a Blockbuster. It's just south of my house. I've been there! (Okay, so it's about three hours south, and I went just to say I was there, and there's a good restaurant nearby, but still...) And I do (still) enjoy the movie, (though I was a wee bit older than 10 (23) when it was released and I first saw it,) especially because of Frank Langella, Meg Foster, and the great Billy Barty. (Not Paul Williams, who for years I thought had been Karg (Robert Towers). Nice call Dan on Robert Duncan McNeill. I'm sure I must've noticed Ensign Paris in He-Man, but I didn't remember it. And don't forget, Frank Langella was once Zorro! As always thank you so very much all for the video. (And Heyy, how about a MST3K trailer. It wouldn't be easy. You'd have to decide which series, or all? But Heyy!)

[@DeathStarKitty]

The story of Canon Films is worth at least a Cram-It. They were selling an unmade movie to theaters based on a poster then use the money to also make 5 different super low budget movies.

[@RonnieBarzel]

"Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films" is a great documentary. Last I knew, it was streamable on Netflix (U.S.).

[@antonnewton]

Would love to hear either of the Dans take on "Hawk the Slayer"

[@guyincognito5320]

Ned Flanders is surprisingly buff.

[@saladbarjoe]

Stupid sexy Flanders.

[@darunia5632]

@@saladbarjoe *internal echo* nothing at all, nothing at all

[@williestyle35]

I hope that the Honest Trailer used the requests that have been posted in the past asking for 'Masters of the Universe' .

[@margotvirzana9943]

I love that you mention and have seen “the apple”! Rifftrax make it extremely watchable.

[@Polycomical]

People who are weirdly buff- Michael Sheen, Maggie Smith, Jaleel White, Greg Evigan, Rowan Atkinson, Peter MacNichol, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Sarah Jessica Parker, William Atherton, Angela Lansbury and Gilbert Godfried.

[@Spyweb88]

Angela's a beast

[@endorbr]

Meanwhile... in an alternate universe... there's an honest trailer commentary talking about Val Kilmer's portrayal of He-Man in this movie.

[@matthewtapia1669]

In that universe we probably got s duff luberan batman forever and willow performance .

[@blessonenriquez2744]

Guys any chance of EQUILIBRIUM trailer?

[@thomasbell8451]

That shot of the hologram skeleton talking to eternia is one of the most memorable images of my childhood and still holds up.

[@ViggoMor10sen]

Adam Driver is weirdly buff. He doesn't have a face you'd think would go with a wide, muscular body, and yet it does.

[@brandonandcharlene9527]

I was 11 when this came out and was a huge he-man fan. It left theaters before my parents could take me, but it came to video super quick, like about 3 months after it was on theaters. I was super disappointed. The toy line also died in 1987, and thus did my childhood.

[@Doran.]

Here's a thought: rig up a remote that Spenny can hit to pause the trailer when someone at the table wants to comment. That way there wouldn't be as much pressure on JTE to have lightning reflexes to hit pause.

[@Clarinetboy82]

My 5-year-old daughter and I finished watching the He-Man cartoon and original She-Ra cartoon last year. She really enjoyed them too.

[@toddhollen]

While we are on the subject of weirdly buff and topical: Carrot Top

[@texasxgrrl]

By far the weirdest of the weirdly buff.

[@u710274]

Having watched a Jim Henson miniseries on Defunctland channel, I can say that both Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal were attempts from Henson to do a mature story with puppets cos he always wanted to distance himself from the thought that puppets were only for children

[@Mickylad]

Do Condorman. Lack of superhero movies in my childhood made me embrace every single superhero movie they threw at me

[@Molson-xg9hs]

Hank Azaria is noticeably, but weirdly, buff. He had a whole run in the early 2000s (America’s Sweethearts, Along Came Polly, Run Fatboy Run) where he would always be shirtless and look like a UFC featherweight, like 140 pounds but ridiculously jacked.

[@eurbiim]

Just like Danielle: I remember liking the cartoon and going the theater with a lot of expectation. Also, I recall my pre-teen head to articulate this exact thought: they did it wrong!

[@GitShiddy]

Scott Mantz is weirdly buff as is his son Hal.

[@mrmacross]

I was 7 or 8 when the movie came out, and I thought Skeletor was quite frightening. It was quite the contrast with the Filmation series.

[@alexwong7324]

The point Lon was making about mixing castles and modern tech is kind of like Asgard in Thor The Dark World.

[@captainbryce1]

16:46 The one complaint that I don’t agree with. The blending of fantasy and sci-fi predates this film and was established on the cartoon series. Both Man at Arms and Skeletor’s forces often used advanced technology, vehicles, and energy weapons, and it was combined with sword fighting, magic and sorcery. So that’s not a fair criticism of this film when this was established in the the Universe early on.

[@slave2leia]

Did you guys know when you posted this trailer that Power Con, the He-Man and She-ra convention is happening this weekend in Anaheim?

[@screenjunkies]

slave2leia ......Of course....that was the plan all along. Yeah, that’s the ticket - Dan

[@telectronix1368]

@@screenjunkies #Flawless

[@glennmejorada7395]

I would like to express my sincerest apology to Mr. Dan Murrell. I have written some "not-so-nice" comments about him. I think it was on their review for Venom. But after seeing how happy he was reviewing this movie that a lot of people "hate" (including myself) made me truly realize that at the end of the day, we are all just fans with different tastes. I hope this apology reaches him. Sorry Dan... You know what, after watching this Honest Trailer Commentary, I felt glad that the 80's movie existed. Though I hope someday Hollywood will do right by this IP. I can just imagine how exuberant fandom will be.

[@ingolf82]

I loved American Ninja. I think number 2 was my favorite, I still have the whole 5 movie collection.

[@GeneralNerd]

I was upset there were no Star Trek Voyager jokes at the expense of Robert Duncan McNeill. EDIT: Glad they mentioned why at the end. Surprised Dan was the only one who knew about that.

[@sugami82]

Reminds me of the Mo-Larr: Eternian Dentist Robot Chicken sketch xD

[@NotMeNaNaNa]

@Sugami best one was the villain car pool where Skeletor farts in the car, does his evil laugh and then locks the windows 🤣

[@arceuslordofcreation8824]

Mattel actually created an officially licensed Mo-Larr action figure they loved that sketch so much😂

[@chriscarantit5285]

Sounds like Dan has the same relationship with this movie that I do. I love this film enough to make my friend's sit down to watch it.

[@Norvik_-ug3ge]

I think the dorky but fun movies make for better Honest Trailers, keep them coming.

[@ZombieZebra3]

Okay, Discount Hoggle made me laugh :)

[@pfcribbs5645]

So, uh, when are we getting a return to oz trailer? I think that is one everyone is waiting for. Literally everyone.

[@joelgetty]

Agreed!

[@timescape5191]

YES!

[@LuinTathren]

OMG! YES! YES! YES!

[@samieltheinfamous]

Except me.

[@telectronix1368]

@@ThreadBomb This thread alone disproves that.

[@alesiaperkins8376]

Surprised no joke referencing star trek Voyager's Robert Duncan McNeil being in the movie.

[@captainalphabet]

Somewhere I read that part of the Mattel deal also involved including new characters that they could later make toys from.

[@jhuddleston328]

Did anyone notice that the Sorceress of Castle Greyskull is played by Christina Pickles, who also plays Courtney Cox’s mom on Friends?

[@jhuddleston328]

Dan said it right after I typed it! Lesson learned, don’t comment until you watch the whole video! Ha!

[@Cinsavant]

Eternia had swords and guns. He-man's mom was a female astronaut from Earth and his dad was king of this magical world.

[@hurricanemeier]

My brother and I used to imitate Dolph saying “Victory” at the end of the movie . Lol.

[@JackHabiger]

PLEASE DO AN HONEST TRAILER FOR THE FINAL DESTINATION SERIES!!!!!!!!

[@viccla]

Well, JK Simmons was in Oz a couple of decades back and had to have medium buffed body for it. Maybe he has kept it up since then... while not visibly aging many days

[@Cobralalalala]

The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long - and Cannon Film Group burned so very, very brightly. In addition to Electric Boogaloo, I recommend watching The Go-Go Boys. It came out around the same time and directly involved Golan and Globus. It's not as good, and far more self congratulatory, but it's a nice companion piece I absolutely love Cannon (I even have the t-shirt). During their 10 years in the industry they managed to not only do the insane low budget stuff, but they got an Oscar and ever so briefly laid claim to being the 5th major studio. Of course, the shady business practices made their business unsustainable. The pre-sold movies to a degree that if anything went wrong, the whole thing would fall apart. And with the under performances of Life Force, He-Man, and Superman, that's exactly what happened. Still, while they were around they were incredible and unbelievably fascinating. :)

[@williestyle35]

Good comment