Review of Conan the Barbarian (1982) by Rick R — 18 Jun 2009

Conan the Barbarian (1982).

Based on Robert E. Howard's pulp sword and sorcery stories, (and of course, Milwaukie's own Dark Horse Comics). John Milius did the screenplay and directed this movie true to Howard's stories. Arnold Schwarzenegger was brilliant to take on this character, just as he did in the Terminator franchise, and when you think of Conan you think Schwarzenegger. There hasn't been anyone else doing this until The Rock did the Scorpion King (well, then there was Kevin Sorbo).

The movie follows young Conan from a young boy whose village was attacked by men led by Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) and he is sold into slavery. Later, he is taught to fight, and becomes a wondering killer and mercenary. He teams up with an archer, Subotai (Gerry Lopez), an old wizard (Mako, who also narrates), and a female warrior, Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) who he falls in love with.

Conan is obviously more brawn than brains, and he knows that his power is no match against witchcraft that he finds along the silk route type world that he wonders through. However, his fighting skills can take him far.

Conan is caught stealing from a king (Max Von Sydow) and will be pardoned if he will rescue his daughter from the clutches of an evil snake cult. While ransacking the riches of their temple, he discovers a standard that he remembers from his boyhood, and he goes after Thulsa Doom and his men.

I wore out a copy that I taped off of HBO back in the 80s, but I've been hearing that there is a second (Collector's Edition) DVD that has anamorphic wide screen that is highly recommended.