He has said that he had a lot of fun playing Skeletor and I believe that he worked with the director and writers to make him a very real world villain. His theater training helped make Skeletor very Shakespearean and be viewed as someone who could actually exist as opposed to a cartoon/action figure villain.
If you can look up the video (on youtube) where he talks about why he took the role and that it is in fact his favorite role ever. It's pretty cool and made me view the entire movie in a better light.
He's the main reason why this movie is so damn underrated. Bad movies just don't have villains of that caliber. Skeletor has a powerful screen presence, imposing and commanding, yet he's so camp you don't take him seriously and can laugh/appreciate his charm. Really makes him interesting. He's scary when he gets mad and zaps that goon and funny when he's reeling off all this hammy Shakespearean dialogue. He wasn't just a lame cartoon or dime a dozen 2D bad guy.
The juxtaposition of Langella's Skeletor with Lundgren's god-like He Man really gives this film an awesome & unique dynamic.
I think he was the best thing about this movie, but I don't think that the film is otherwise bad, in fact this film is criticised more for not including more elements of Eternia than anything else.
I didn't mean it was a bad movie, I meant most people think this is a bad movie, but in my opinion bad movies don't have characters like Langella's Skeletor, therefore it's a good movie :)
How many a$$holes we got on this ship, anyhow?! reply share
How old is Langella now? Has he retired from acting? If he's willing and able to do it, I'd love for him to reprise Skeletor in the upcoming MOTU movie!
Sad thing about the movie flopping is we never got to see Frank play the role again. Had this movie been a huge hit, he goes down in history as one of the most iconic screen villains of all time..
Just watched this for the first time in decades via Netlfix instant streaming. Yeah, he's really into this alone should account for a few stars on IMDB ratings.
Frank once said he did it for his son because his son was a huge fan of the cartoon, and even though the film flopped Frank says Skeletor still ended up being one of his favorite roles.
Why would you think it was Jack Palance when the credits clearly state it's Frank Langella and Jack Palance isn't even in the credits? Don't you watch and read the credits?
I'll let you know when I come-up with a new signature, .
I'm not going to remember if I saw the credits or not for a movie I saw 20+ years ago. Even try to. All I remembered was that I thought Jack Palance was Skelator.
He also played Nixon in Frost/Nixon, and was Oscar nominated for that role. He has played many villainous roles, like Skeletor and the evil uncle from Cutthroat Island, which tanked epically.
"I hear drinking beer makes you stupid." "No I'm...doesn't!"