Review of Conan the Barbarian (2011) by Walter M — 21 Dec 2012

"Conan the Barbarian" is not as you might think an NBC film about Conan O'Brien. Rather, it is set in prehistoric times where Conan is a Cimmerian barbarian born in the heat of battle via emergency C-section. Growing up, he(Leo Howard) impresses his father(Ron Perlman) by killing a group of hostile soldiers by his lonesome. Even then, he still has a long way to go and cannot save his father from being killed at the hands of Khalar Zym(Stephen Lang), an evil warlord, who shows up at their village on Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, looking for a piece of a powerfully mystical mask. As an adult, Conan(Jason Momoa) earns money however he can when he gets a lead on the men who killed his father.

"Conan the Barbarian" is a decent enough attempt to restart this venerable character and unlikeliest of heroes with Jason Momoa giving a relaxed performance that allows for the hint of a smile to cross his lips at times which definitely helps with the mayhem, including one adorably kick ass moment. As well-photographed as the movie is in capturing a past era of brutality and violence, the action sequences tend to be hit and miss with occasionally indifferent editing, just as perhaps the story takes too long to properly kick into gear.