Conan The Barbarian

1982 • 126 minutes

About this movie

Through the history of mankind, the times that are most recorded in mythology and song are those of great deeds and fantastic adventures. Such a time was the Hyborean Age. Such a tale is the story of "Conan The Barbarian". The Cimmerian, Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger), is captured as a child after his parents' savage murder by raiding Vanir led by Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), head also of the malignant snake-cult of Set. Fifteen years' agony, first chained to the Wheel of Pain grinding grain and then enslaved as a Pit Fighter, forge a magnificent body and indomitable spirit. Freed miraculously one day by his owner, Conan, with his companions Subotai the Mongol (Gerry Lopez) and Valeria, Queen of Thieves (Sandahl Bergman), sets forth upon his quest to learn "the riddle of steel" which, his father has prophesied, will confer ultimate power, and to kill the arch-villain Thulsa Doom.

Ratings and reviews

Though I was only 4 years old when Conan the Barbarian was released, I feel compelled to review this movie before another attempt hits the big screen. I didn’t fully appreciate this movie until I viewed it as a teenager. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, and even if you are not, this movie has it all. Your introduction to the movie which has absolutely no dialogue(very hard to pull off successfully), just an epic music score (Basil Poledouris) and powerful scenes of a young child witnessing his peoples annihilation and his parents execution. The journey that this movie takes you on is action filled, with bits of sex, humor and lots of violence, I felt immersed into this journey as it was happening. Whether it was the opening scenes watching the craftsmanship of a handmade sword or the conversation Conan’s father has with him about Krom and steel atop a mountain, the attention to detail, character substance and masterful score make this movie great. In my opinion, there are very few fantasy films that have packaged together such a raw, fierce and unapologetic character that Schwarzenegger’s Conan represents.

"Conan The Barbarian" is an extremely outstanding movie that set the standards for swords and sorcery genre. The cinematography is stunning and gorgeous. the filming locations in Spain are superb and breathtaking. John Milius and Oliver Stone were able to put together a wonderful story with solid pace. The movie sets, costumes and weapons are all top notch. This movie also boasts some good-looking photography with solid imagery. The cast was excellent in their roles for the characters. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born for the role as Conan and fits Conan's character both in body and spirit. Arnold Schwarzenegger was able to portray Conan as both sympathetic and brutal. James Earls Jones is flawless in his role as the evil wizard, Thulsa Doom. Mako was excellent in his role as the strange coast-wizard and narrator. Gerry Lopez plays Conan's Hyrkanian sidekick, Subotai, perfectly. Max Von Sydow delivers a brilliant performance as King Osric. The fight scenes are perfectly executed with fantastic action choreography. "Conan the Barbarian" is a very marvelous Sword and Sorcery epic movie from the 1980's. This movie truly recreates the aesthetic and feeling of the Sword and Sorcery genre.

Very little dialog, which services Conan very well by making him unapologetic and dark. But within as much as it affords the characters, incredibly deep questions are negotiated; including loyalty, religion, revenge, and humanity. At its core, it is a true antihero story; until at the very end, when the protagonist graduates to full hero (destroying Doom's snake palace and returning Osric's daughter). Oh, and the score--it never seems to lose its luster. I keep the soundtrack CD in my car.