I remember when the first announcement that Amazon/MGM had decided to tackle He-Man, I, like so many others, was both ecstatic and more than a tad concerned. I grew up on He-Man. I had the figures, the vehicles, even Castle Greyskull itself. This was a beloved franchise from my youth and its themes helped shape many a moral compass of kids from my generation. But it was also, if viewed through the eyes of someone more than 10 years old, a bit silly. How would this ever translate on screen?

As it turns out, in the proper hands, it translates amazingly well.

Director Travis Knight had his work cut out for him in trying to realize on screen, in a way appealing to the uninitiated, the world of Eternia and all its wonderful, colorful characters. It was undoubtedly difficult but he absolutely made it work. The moviemakers leaned into the campyness of the source material but balanced it with a heart and earnestness that makes it accessible. But most importantly, it is a whole lot of fun. It encourages the kid in every audience member to come out and play, and get whisked on an adventure.

The movie is a dream come true for any kid who came of age in the 1980’s, unabashedly acknowledging and drawing from its campy roots in that era. The visuals pack a punch, the colors are vibrant and the design incredibly close to the original. Eternia looks amazing with a very interesting mix of fantasy and sci-fi in the aesthetic of the architecture and design. The characters from the cartoon come to life and every one of them that shows up, from Teela (Camila Mendez) Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba) to the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin), will make you uncontrollably “ooh: and ”ahh” at how wonderfully realized they all are.

Adding to the whole 80’s vibe are some rocking riffs from composer Daniel Pemberton of "Project Hail Mary" and "Spider-Verse" fame, and rock legend Brian May of Queen. The music is upbeat and rousing, bringing to mind the music from "Flash Gordon" (also by Brian May’s band, Queen) or Stan Bush’s electric, pop-rock anthems from "The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack."

The tone of the movie is “feel-good” all the way. It is a straight, uncomplicated hero’s journey undiluted with whatever baggage today’s society has floating around, making its themes of friendship, perseverance, and kindness all the more evident. It is straight up good versus evil, a simple concept from a simpler time. It is a welcome throwback to a time when things didn’t always have to make sense, but everything was just so darned cool.

Nicholas Galitzine is Prince Adam / He-Man, who in this iteration of the story was separated from his parents as a child and sent to Earth where he would be safe from the invading forces of Skeletor, played by Jared Leto. Galitzine brings a vulnerability to his character that isn’t usually showcased. In the beginning he’s very much the odd duck, which invites a lot of funny moments. The comedy can feel a bit overdone after a while, but overall Galitzine handles both personas deftly and sincerely, making Adam a bit more well rounded of a character. Some of the humor is textured very much for grown ups, and will, thankfully, just fly over kids heads. But there are also many moments for all ages to enjoy.

Leto let out all the stops, playing Skeletor as a bit of a ham, delivering dialogue with excessive melodrama and exaggerated posturing and preening. This Skeletor has no qualms about who or what he is. He is the villain, and he is relishing the role.

I remember someone online questioning who the movie was for. Was it really just for the few fans who still love this forty-plus year old franchise? The answer of course, is no, and Travis Knight, as much of a fan as he obviously is, was able to extract enough of the essentials to please long-time fans while also making it fresh and new enough for newcomers. "Masters of the Universe" is for everyone young and young at heart, hardcore fans and newbies alike. It is a thrill, it is positive, and more than anything, it is a whole lot of fun.