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He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic '80s duo teams up in battles, bravery, friendship.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Based on 1 parent review
The Positive side of the 1980's
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What's the Story?
She-Ra is Prince Adam/He-Man's twin sister, but she doesn't know it yet. In this collection of the first five episodes of her spin-off show combined into a feature film, Adora is loyal fighter for Etheria who was kidnapped as a baby from her home with Adam in Eternia, and Adam is sent on a mission to make contact. Can he help her realize her true identity and true destiny as protector and guardian of Eternia, before the Evil Horde army lock Adam away for good?
Is It Any Good?
Parents will get a nostalgia kick out of these retro sci-fi/fantasy cartoons, but appreciate their positive messages about honor, loyalty, and courage, too. Kids of any age will enjoy these campy characters who use their magical powers for good.
He-Man was a staple of '80s cartoon viewing, and its memorable setup of prince by day, most powerful man in the universe by night battling the evil forces of Skeletor at his Castle Greyskull was a riveting watch. The cartoons were at the forefront of concerns about TV violence for their use of hand-to-hand combat, but in retrospect, the violence seems positively innocuous compared to the more ratcheted-up stuff of today's animated fare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different landscape for cartoon violence in modern cartoons compared to earlier eras. How does the violence in He-Man and She-Ra compare to modern cartoons you watch today?
In this film, He-Man and She-Ra are shown as equally strong and courageous. Can you think of any shows today that feature male and female heroes?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: May 6, 2008
- Cast: John Erwin , Melendy Britt
- Director: Ed Friedman
- Studio: RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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