Conan The Barbarian is an epic fantasy adventure which would also be a breakthrough role for Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character.
Schwarzenegger was well known as a Mr Olympia 7 title winner who won 7 times. He later retired from bodybuilding to commence a career as an actor which would turn out to be a larger than life masterstroke.
In a coincidence while I complete my review, Conan The Barbarian was released on this day in 1982.
Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a former child slave who is later trained to be a gladiator after growing up to be a powerful and muscular man, winning many fights against other opponents. As a child, Conan witnessed the brutal slaying of his parents at the hands of Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) during the ruthless massacre of his village Conan and his parents lived in. Conan and the other children were captured and later put to work as child slaves. After Conan receives an education and further training to act civilized amongst other villagers, he is later freed and sent out by himself into the world. Conan is determined seek out Thulsa Doom to avenge his parents deaths. Along the way, he befriends a thief and skilled archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez), Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) a female swordsman and romantic interest of Conan's, and the Wizard of the Mounds (Mako). Conan and his newfound friends are also offered a large reward by King Osric (Max Von Sydow) to save his daughter from Thulsa Doom who is now a part of his cult.
The cast is great. Arnold Schwarzenegger was made to be Conan. I can't picture anyone else back in the day that would be cast in the role in the titular role. It's also an added bonus that Schwarzenegger is in peak physical condition. James Earl Jones who is always well suited to roles where he has a commanding presence was intense and powerful as the ruthless Thulsa Doom.
Directed by John Milus and written by Oliver Stone and and John Milus based on Robert E. Howard's Conan series, Conan was an enjoyable sword and sandals fantasy adventure movie. 40 years on, Conan The Barbarian still stands victorious as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's classic movies.
Unfortunately, later movies in the Conan series have not enjoyed the same success as the original movie. Schwarzenegger returned for the sequel Conan The Destroyer (1984) however was a disappointment due to making the movie more family friendly and less violent. I haven't seen Conan The Destroyer since 1993 and I barely have any memories of the movie. I will have to watch it the next time I get the chance. A reboot of Conan The Barbarian (2011) by Jason Momoa was a box office bomb, and I certainly have no desire to watch the reboot.
If you're an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan like myself, Conan The Barbarian will always be an enjoyable experience.
8/10.
Schwarzenegger was well known as a Mr Olympia 7 title winner who won 7 times. He later retired from bodybuilding to commence a career as an actor which would turn out to be a larger than life masterstroke.
In a coincidence while I complete my review, Conan The Barbarian was released on this day in 1982.
Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a former child slave who is later trained to be a gladiator after growing up to be a powerful and muscular man, winning many fights against other opponents. As a child, Conan witnessed the brutal slaying of his parents at the hands of Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) during the ruthless massacre of his village Conan and his parents lived in. Conan and the other children were captured and later put to work as child slaves. After Conan receives an education and further training to act civilized amongst other villagers, he is later freed and sent out by himself into the world. Conan is determined seek out Thulsa Doom to avenge his parents deaths. Along the way, he befriends a thief and skilled archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez), Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) a female swordsman and romantic interest of Conan's, and the Wizard of the Mounds (Mako). Conan and his newfound friends are also offered a large reward by King Osric (Max Von Sydow) to save his daughter from Thulsa Doom who is now a part of his cult.
The cast is great. Arnold Schwarzenegger was made to be Conan. I can't picture anyone else back in the day that would be cast in the role in the titular role. It's also an added bonus that Schwarzenegger is in peak physical condition. James Earl Jones who is always well suited to roles where he has a commanding presence was intense and powerful as the ruthless Thulsa Doom.
Directed by John Milus and written by Oliver Stone and and John Milus based on Robert E. Howard's Conan series, Conan was an enjoyable sword and sandals fantasy adventure movie. 40 years on, Conan The Barbarian still stands victorious as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's classic movies.
Unfortunately, later movies in the Conan series have not enjoyed the same success as the original movie. Schwarzenegger returned for the sequel Conan The Destroyer (1984) however was a disappointment due to making the movie more family friendly and less violent. I haven't seen Conan The Destroyer since 1993 and I barely have any memories of the movie. I will have to watch it the next time I get the chance. A reboot of Conan The Barbarian (2011) by Jason Momoa was a box office bomb, and I certainly have no desire to watch the reboot.
If you're an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan like myself, Conan The Barbarian will always be an enjoyable experience.
8/10.