Conan the Barbarian

Rating:
Summary: Do you want to live forever?
Review: John Milius (Red Dawn) directs this marvelous epic. Epic is not a word I like to use for two-hour movies, or movies without a sequel that further explain the story. However, Conan the Barbarian is a movie that could have stood on it's own without a sequel, and still have been an epic. Milius did a splendid job painting the story of Conan growing up, and then leading the crusade against Thulsa Doom.

Conan is by far one of Arnold Schwarzenegger greatest movies. Conan the Barbarian was his first major movie, and in my opinion, he greatest work of art. Maybe it was not as pretty and funny as True Lies, or as imaginative as The Predator. Nevertheless, Conan was the larger then life, super hero esk role that Schwarzenegger brought to life like no one else could.

The villain (title of another Schwarzenegger movie) is played by none other then James Earl Jones; they could not have chosen a better individual to play Thulsa Doom. Whoever cast this movie should have landed an Oscar, all the pieces were perfect, and Jones was brilliant, from the first dramatic sequence with Conan's mother, to the last sequence when telling Conan, "for if I am not your father, who is?" Bravo Milius, bravo.

Sandahl Bergman (Airplane II, Red Sonja) plays Conan's love interest, which hits you with the line that is the title of my review about four times. She does a very good job in this role, and looks the part. She plays, and looks very much like a tough, thief woman, who can take care of herself, and beat most men down, even during the times that this movie takes place.

Conan is one of the greatest movies of the 80's, hands down. It is also the greatest movie of Schwarzenegger's career, and that is saying something when you look at his resume. Conan the Barbarian is a delight in every facet of movie making and viewing. This is a MUST have in you DVD collection.

Grade: A+


Rating:
Summary: entertaining enough
Review: This film is okay, but it would have been far better if they had stuck closer to Robert E.Howard's original story/stories. Also, for all you people that claim Arnold 'is' Conan, make note Conan has black hair and steel grey or volcanic blue eyes like most Cimmerians(and Numenoreans)also his body wasnt hairless like a bodybuilder---in fact he would probably be built more like a lean powerlifter or strongman not some vain bodybuilding fancy lad. and whats with the red haired Pict tracker.....looks more like a Vanir to me.

Rating:
Summary: This IS the original!
Review: In 1982, I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview of "Conan the Barbarian" three months before its general release. This was the version that I saw. The "added footage" was actually taken out when it was offically released three months later. Its nice to be able to see the film as the director meant it to be seen.

Rating:
Summary: "Let me tell you of the days of high adventure."
Review: I first saw Conan in the seventh grade. I loved it back then and will cherish it forever. This was before Arnold was Arnie, when he was campily cool and had no superstar appeal. Back in the days when you could punch a camel, and that damn camel would stay down!

By Crom, this flick is a good time. Today, it's lack of political correctness makes it practically avant-garde. This is a man's movie and its perpetual action and incredily sexy female characters are truly the stuff of intense fantasy.

However, as much as I love the big man, James Earl Jones practically steals the spotlight away from him. His is a perfect Thulsa Doom and yards ahead of the rest of the cast, but what else should we expect? Jones has been great forever.

Additionally, it's worth seeing just for the theme alone. In my humble opinion, that's the finest theme song I've ever heard. I own the soundtrack, but, of course, that's another review. There may not be time for that discussion as "do [we] really want to live forever?"

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Conan is probably the best of the lot when it comes to sword films, it is so believable that it is amazing we are only watching a film. The locale, the costumes, the characters all bring to mind a world of darkness and death. Arnold is superb as the devoid Conan, his brute strength speaks for itself. Look for him painted in black stripes fighting some of the snake guards, truly spectacular!



Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Conan is probably the best of the lot when it comes to sword films, it is so believable that it is amazing we are only watching a film. The locale, the costumes, the characters are bring to mind a world of darkness and death. Arnold is superb as the devoid Conan, his brute strength speaks for itself. Look for him painted in black stripes fighting some of the snake guards, truly spectacular!



Rating:
Summary: If ever an actor was born
Review: to play a certain role, then Arnold was born for this one most other roles he plays are just conan in different settings... Milius and stone do great jobs in capturing exactly what robert e howard would have wanted even though the story is not one of his. The music is a perfect match to the emotions of each scene, and surprisingly catchy.

great stuff !