This is a very strong film that tells a VERY modified story of Conan, the character created by Howards in his series of books written in the 1930's. Actually I don't see a good reason for modifying the original stories in those great fiction books... but well, maybe the director John Milius also wanted to put a piece of his imagination on the tale, but it is clearly he isn't a writer that could compete with Howards.
However Milius is a good director in this film; The film is very constant in keeping the mood up, the actors are also good, specially Arnold, to whom the role of "Barbarian" Conan fits more than perfectly. The other main actors have also an acceptable acting, even the role of the wizard.
The special effects are not so bad for the time, only the ghosts that try to take Conan's body look kinda funny, but without the computers of today, I think it was just not easy to represent such things...
Another important thing of this film is the music... The score written by Basil Poledouris s doubtless a classic; Conan without this music wouldn't be the same! This is a good film for the genre.
Just a last advise: If you like this film, please be careful with watching the second film of Conan "the destroyer" which is really, really, really, reaaally crappy, and has not much to do with the first one.
However Milius is a good director in this film; The film is very constant in keeping the mood up, the actors are also good, specially Arnold, to whom the role of "Barbarian" Conan fits more than perfectly. The other main actors have also an acceptable acting, even the role of the wizard.
The special effects are not so bad for the time, only the ghosts that try to take Conan's body look kinda funny, but without the computers of today, I think it was just not easy to represent such things...
Another important thing of this film is the music... The score written by Basil Poledouris s doubtless a classic; Conan without this music wouldn't be the same! This is a good film for the genre.
Just a last advise: If you like this film, please be careful with watching the second film of Conan "the destroyer" which is really, really, really, reaaally crappy, and has not much to do with the first one.