Conan The Barbarian (1982) Retrospective / Review
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- Conan The Barbarian (1982) Retrospective / Review
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Oliver Harper can you do, Shadow of the Vampire?
I have an old DVD version (pre-Blu Ray), and the commentary is hilarious. It's worth watching for that Commentary. John Milius is incredibly detailed and remembers everything so clearly about how he would set up the shot, and then Arnold would say "haha yas I remembuh dat." And that's it. Milius Commentary and Arnold is like his audience.
Arnold recently gave an update on King Conan, now in 2019.
Short version is there's a young guy who has the rights. He has tried to get funding for 3 movies, but failed. He then tried several TV-Studios, including Netflix, but this failed as well. I don't think much more was said.
And from there on I find it confusing how King Conan, starring Arnold, could have problems getting funding.
Except, the last Conan with Mamoa bombed hard.
My idea would have been King Conan telling his grandchildren or great-grand children about the past, while he sits on the throne, mostly.
Some action with Arnold, but this movie/these movies are more King Conan reminiscing about the past, and a younger Conan is played by Calum Von Moger. Not "The Adventures of Young Conan", but Conan after he killed Thulsa Doom, ignoring the other 3 Conan movies and the TV-Series.
I'm not against Mamoa playing young Conan again, especially now that he seems to be an actual body-builder. But then it's a bit tricky to link him to killing Thulsa Doom. The solution is Mamoa playing a separate Conan, like "The Adventures of Young Conan", following his Conan movie.
Conan has had many experiences, so if Arnold's King Conan does not choose to tell the stories about the Mamoa Conan, that's not hard to achieve so both versions can go on and have their separate story lines.
Oh! you forgot to mention the Conan TV-Series, or didn't you know about it? The live action one. Don't watch it. Isn't there also a cartoon? Or am I mixing this up with some Hanna-Barbera cartoon?
@@karstenvonfjellheim5321 Von Moger would be perfect... if he can act. They need to make this happen! Yeah,
the TV series was worse than the Mamoa movie.
@@karstenvonfjellheim5321 And it needs to have a music score like Paledouris.
I hate that Conan the Barbarian isn't getting the appreciation it deserves since Nostalgia Critic and JonTron reviews as if it's universally accepted as "so bad it's good" kind of film. It isn't. Conan the Barbarian is a genuine good epic.
Crom laughs at their reviews. Laughs from his mountain!
wtf they said that? One of the best fantasy movies of all time.
CONAN THE CUMMER
I think Doug called the film a 'guilty pleasure'. It's not. It's just a pleasure.
NC is hit and miss, JonTron just flat out sucks.
Conan's father believed the answer to the Riddle of Steel was the sword.
Only in your sword can you trust.
Thulsa Doom believed the answer to the Riddle of Steel was flesh.
The hand that wields the sword commands all.
The ending scene where Conan holds the severed head of Thulsa Doom in one hand, his fathers broken sword in the other, shows both answers to be wrong.
The true answer to the Riddle of Steel is the unbreakable will of the warrior that wields both flesh and sword.
Brilliant movie!
John Milius approves of this comment.
and this my man is the ridlle of stel
So... Nietzsche for the win, then?
@@lilliedoubleyou3865 If you have seen the movie, it starts out with a quote of his...
You blew my mind!!!
It's a masterpiece. Crom laughs at your critique and everything that came after 1982. Laughs from on top of his mountain.
😂 Well said.
This man speaks the truth. And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!
Crom lives in the earth my friend.
This comment is the reason I come to the comment section.
LOL
The ending is one of the best endings ever. Thulsa wasn't a fighter like conan, His power lay in his way of persuading and hypnotizing people ( Flesh is stronger than steel ). He used all his power to try and convince conan that he made him into what he is, a strong and well feared man, and that he therefor metaphorically is his father( no star wars pun). Conan doubts but in the end found the willpower to see through Thulsa's lies and hacks of his head. He then picks it up and shows thulsa's cult that their leader is nothing but a dead and headless man and therefor ends thulsa's reign of power and all that he worked for . Conan litteraly cut of the head of the snake. That's a great boss battle if you ask me.....
Thulsa sounds like Trump, a con man
@@kamuelalee He's more like Conan, specializing in decapitating snakes (democrats)
@@kamuelalee fuck off libtard
Well said !!!
I always thought of it as he made his "savings through'" if you play D&D you know what i mean
I think Arnolds accent and the fact English isn't his first language was an asset to the part of Conan, not a negative. Conan himself would have been a foreigner with an accent in the places the movie took place.
+Big R Maybe that was Milius' intention but I think most people found it right. English speakers, that is. I would have casted another actor; someone with a smarter look. As Conan is supposed to have studied "the poetry of Sung, the philosophy of Khitai".
jgfjgfify I know he is smart. But some people hear the accent and see the gigantic muscles and don't think that way, especially those who for some reason can only remember the "camel punching". Maybe it's just the accent or the acting that doesn't work completely for me. I'm not a Howard fan, so I don't mind for that. Only the idea of Milius of this nietzschean- viking- samurai- knight-errant.
+Big R He also seemed the 'Deeds not words' type that the character is most famous for. The old stories made him out to be this guy capable of being very erudite time to time, but mostly a gruff asshole who's in it for the money. This Conan seems more like he's been singularly focused on revenge for so long, that nothing else seems apparent when you see him. Arnold gets a lot of shit, but I rather enjoy his performances when he's got something going on.
CESSKAR Yeah, but I know a lot of guys who were stuck in prison (like Conan basically was in the movie) who also studied out of having nothing else to do, but they didn't suddenly look smarter. And Conan is played by Arnold...Arnold is smart, even if he doesn't look it.
CESSKAR I heard Arnold really did hit that camel...which is proof barbarians can be smart AND impetuous.
This movie had soul, real feeling. John Milius poured his heart into its production. Also: Greatest. Musical. Score. Ever.
Matthew Thomas Damn right Matt!
Agreed. I actually loved the "low key fantasy". Conan is one of the few movies which match my understanding of fantasy worlds. I would love to see a hobbit movie with a similiar approach. Less action, less eye candy, less talking more world and story exploration
Everything I ever wanted in a film. Perfect.
I kind of prefer Highlander's soundtrack but this is damn close.
Basil Poledouris is pure genuis here. Conan isnt a movie, its a Music Video. Without Basils score it would be empty.
James Earl Jones is a god tier actor. Every scene he’s in is flawless.
Every look, every movement, is like overflowing with the energy of the character he is living. Incredible.
lmao keep it up and Pazuzu gonna get you
@@n051de4 YES
Fact's!!
@@n051de4 well ita the voice of darth Vader himself
The final fight was supposed to be anti-climatic. That is why Conan sits on the steps brooding. His whole life was shaped by his desire for revenge. He gets it, but then what?
Exactly.
Very well said.
Even like the epilogue, he has his kingdom and still he is brooding.
Yes, yes.
Thulsa Doom was a Snake (the last of a dying race) That learned how to transform into a man. This is why he was raiding villages. When he turned into a man he became fixated on understanding the things of men (tools, weapons). This is also why you have the Human sacrifice rituals (mutilated bodies cooked into food, young virgin girls offered for sacrifice) its to feed the snakes. The reason Conan's mother dropped the sword when he stared at her was because he was putting her under a spell with his eyes. Thulsa Doom Tried to do the same trick on Conan but as he looked down at his father sword he started thinking about his family and his purpose and that broke the spell he was under allowing him to swing a final blow to the snake's neck.
One of the best movie soundtracks of all time!
Yes! Basil Poledoris' best work.
Yes! Poledouris rocks.
Also one of the best movies of all time.
+TdeMona truth fact. I saw this with my parents when it came out. Sandahl Bergman was my idol after that. I don't agree with this reviewer's take on Schwarzenegger's performance either-- I thought he was really effective. (otherwise, great review though.)
Shit man...If I was (still) feeling that way, for my favorite theme - "The Kitchen/The Orgy"...I don't know what I should be wanting to start doing! ;P :D
Damn right!!!
One of my favorite things about Conan the Barbarian is the fact the Thulsa Doom has no idea who Conan is. In other movies the villain would be all, "Ah yes, you were that child from years back. I took great pleasure in killing your parents." But in this movie, after capturing Conan Doom is more like, "Who are you? Why are you pestering me? What, I killed your parents and burned your village? Must have been when I was younger. Oh well, get him out of here." It's a small thing, I know but it elevates the movie from "good" to "great" territory for me.
hemmingwayfan Exactly!!!
For him, it was Tuesday.
One thing I often think about to this day is how Doom was arguing that Conan ought to be grateul for "giving" him his strength and resolve. It gets to the question of intent in debates about morality. Was it Doom's intent to make Conan strong? Of course not, but since that was the result does that absolve him of wrongdoing? If I tresspass on someone's land and shoot at him but I miss, hit the ground, and a geyser of oil erupts which the landowner can sell to become rich, have I done more good than harm?
@@Bingbangboompowwham Just typical quick witted cult leader psychopathology. "whatever I do is for YOUR benefit son... even when I take your money and your wives and daughters it ALL contributes to making you a better stronger person, free of the insecurities and obligations that make you weaker... Without me you would be nothing..." Jim Jones would be proud.
Thanks
I miss epic movies like Conan the Barbarian with a great story, genuine charismatic characters and amazing score. Good old days !!!
It's insane to me that people criticized Arnold for his acting in this - he played a barbarian AND HE IS A BARBARIAN
Really think this is a really underrated film. Its looked upon by many as a cheesy B-Movie when it really was a well made dark fantasy epic.
***** People can say what they want about Arnold but his prayer to Crom is one of my favourite speeches in a movie.
The second movie became that type of the movie but the first one is great.
The secret of steel does exist. It's the bellows-fired, oxygenated forge. The secret is no secret.
pinz2022 It is funny how the Atlantean Sword cleaves Conan's fathers sword in twain, which make one wonder if he really knew what he was doing when he forged it.
Cybopath It often gets confused with it's sequel.
Conan The Barbarian is a masterpiece. Great script, fantastic soundtrack. And no CGI that makes these kind of films so fake. Those were true visual special effects.
In camera special effects are still the best
Diogo Catalano Yep
Technically it should be Conan A Barbarian since there are more than one.
I met Arnold a few months before the film was released at a bodybuilding seminar in Manchester UK, I asked him directly how he thought the film would be received, you could tell he was excited, and spoke very enthusiastically about it.
In my opinion, this truly one of the if not “the” greatest adventure/fantasy films ever made!! I absolutely love this film :D
That's right.
He is Conan, Cimmerian, he won't cry, so I cry for him.
Yeah but he was crying when he was laying on the fountain
not Simerian?
@@michaelyork6915 No it's spelled Cimmerian.
@@ravenshadowz2343 oh i had no idea thanks
got a brain like swiss cheese these days
Every time I watch this film my respect for it raises higher.
Yeah, it just ages like fine wine, man..
-"Conan, what is best is life?"
-"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"
-"Aye, that is good."
"Grant me revenge. And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!"
Some prayer! Lol!
LOVE this movie! Begged my Dad (whom I lost earlier this month) when I was 12 to take me to see this. He did and is a memory I will always treasure.
I know I'm a bit late, but sorry for your loss
@@taklampan650 Thank you so much. It has been almost 3 years now and still have some days that are easier than others. Thanks for your kind words...
Thats a lovely memory to have. I hope time has helped you. You never get over losing your parents but you kinda learn to live with it and cherish the memories you made. I have a memory of going to a local rental store to get this with my dad. We brought it home all excited to watch it and it was the Betamax version rather than VHS version… gutted but i do remember him taking it back. Unfortunately, I don’t actually remember watching it with him, but I’m know I did. My dad introduced me to so many films that I love today.
God damn YOU ARE LUCKY like an ANGEL
**Both my parents REFUSED I watch it
MAYBE it's because their NOT dead yet**
There will never be another movie like Conan The Barbarian. Real swords, that were actually sharpened, making real clanging noises. James Earl Jones and Arnold, with their ultra intense personas.
Now it's just pretty boys fighting cartoons in a studio with plastic weapons and armor.
Unfortunately, the audience for this kind of film is not enough to make films like this anymore.
We can only hope for Conan the King with Arnold.
Wasnt such a project sadly cancelled?
@@DieHardjagged Yeah, it was. But as long as Arnold can play the part of an aging king.. we can hope.
And Max Von Sydow as king!
Dude just tell it like it is. Often imitated, never replicated, this film gets fresher and fresher as more garbage comes out; the definition of a classic. And don't undersell Poledouris' soundtrack. As a whole it is a genuine masterpiece, evocative, distinct and enduring. Just hearing the songs is enough to replay whole scenes in my head. Truly inspired.
"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of the women" is quite simply one of the greatest move quotes ever spoken.
I love this film. I thought Arnold's performance was a home run. When covered in blood, lying on the steps of the adversary's temple, he screams: "You killed my mother, you killed my father, you killed my people!" I got goosebumps. It was emotional and powerful. He was perfect for the role. This is a classic adventure film. 10-10.
Conan The Barbarian is my favourite fantasy film, to this day, I judge every fantasy film to this.
The narrative, visuals and soundtrack are almost perfect. Sadly the sequels and reboot always felt like cheap knock offs.
I feel the same. My last hope is arnold's new Conan movie rumored. But I guess I shouldn't expect it to be as good as the 1982 film.
cDynasty001 Well, I feared that the Lord of the Rings movie would be a joke of a movie, but was pleasantly surprised. It didn't follow the books perfectly, but it captured the books more than any film before. Hopefully, this will also be the case of the new Conan movie if it is made. It needs to follow the original books by Robert E. Howard more closely. Having read them many times, there are dozens of stories that would make good films.
This is a good movie and I do own it, but the 2011 is so much closer to Robert E Howard's original writings.
One mans opinion.
elric6661 Oh no, it was closer. But that doesn't make it better. The whole movie felt fake as shit. The swords looked and felt fake, the CG was annoying and the acting was wooden. Don't get me wrong, Jason Momoa played a DECENT Conan, but he just wasn't as physically imposing as Arnold. For example, when Arnold would open his arms wide up with a sword in one hand and then bring them together to hold the sword two handed. You got to see how crazy big his physique actually was. It made you think, yeah man, that's how Robert Howard thought he would look. Sure Arnold wasn't the greatest actor around that time in his career, but the locations, props, and other actors (ahem Mako) made this movie a classic right out of the theater. Sadly I was only a child when it came out.
I agree. Look at the old Conan paintings that graced the covers of the original Conan books and this Jason Momoa wasn't even close. Conan needs to be physically imposing. He wasn't .
CTB is one of these movies that aged REALLY well. Its a fusion of quality production, solid direction and many happy accidents. Its not by chance that the only fantasy movie that managed to compete the quality of the sets is LOTR 20+ years and 10000 computer gadgets/sofware after. I wish they had let Milius to complete his trilogy back then. He clearly demonstrated that the only way to create a good fantasy movie, is to take it seriously. It might seem funny to most but I always believed that CTB is an art house movie disguised as a sword and sandal flick.
Watching this it's amazing how much of the cast is in their first movie. Lots of credit to the director and writer(s?). But, definitely a happy set of accidents too, for this to have turned out so well.
The ending was perfect. Thulsa dooms power was predicated on his control of flesh or rather the mind itself. Conan broke his spell then his body
The Kitchen/Orgy to Battle of the Mound still is one of favorite movie scenes.
I love this movie to death.
Ever since I was a child I wanted to watch this movie since it had everything I was into: epic folk tales, low fantasy and Arnold. But somehow it never happened. Later I gave up on it and told myself that it is probably cheesy, has aged bad and that I am now too old and experienced to feel the immersion.
Then in my early 20s I finally gave it a shot. Watched it on my netbook on a train ride and I was blown away.
The pasting, the soundtrack, the effects...the whole thing. It is epic in every way. I felt like a child again getting carried away by the story.
I have since showed it to friends who had not watched it either and they all enjoyed it greatly and described a similar effect to me.
The pasting?
@@ThatGingerCuntFromTerminator2 Probably meant pacing.
Greatest Sword and sorcery movie ever made. Makes Game Of Thrones look like a disney production. This is how it should be done!
You were still a child then
3:30 absolutely incorrect! Arnold's delivery of lines in broken English was an asset to his flawless portrayal of Conan. The film makers probably didn't even know this, but Robert E. Howard's original description of Conan said that "he spoke in a thick, barbaric accent."
throatgorge2 i
I'll fully admit that nostalgia could be interfering with my ability to have a completely objective opinion BUTT I don't think Arnold's acting is bad in this movie. I think his accent (which isn't even crazy strong in this movie) leads people to believe he's a shit actor. He's not an amazing actor but I've seen more sub par wooden performances from A-List (or former A-List?) guys like Kevin Costner or Keanu Reeves. Scharzenegger's was just fucking right for this movie.
He would have had something resembling an Irish accent. The movie Conan has jack shit to do with Howard's original vision.
throatgorge2 you’re absolutely right! In the novels and EU, Conan was always described like a Norseman.. a unique voice and of course his physical size
@@joshuaadams3255 Conan is a Cimmerian, which in the original novels are suppose to be proto-Celts (Conan is an Irish name). (In the real world, the Cimmerians were steppe nomads from what is now Ukraine and Russia).
I re-watched it last night after more than 20 years. I must say I was truly surprised by the whole experience: the constant music, the landscapes, the simplistic but effective dialogue. A wonderful cinematic masterpiece, that does much more than scratching your nostalgia itch!
I watch it about two times every year. I work out to its soundtrack.
Some dads teach their sons about the birds and the bees. My dad told me The Riddle of Steel.
Easily one of the best Hollywood soundtracks ever scored. Just amazing. The entire movie is one of my guilty pleasures. I love the use of imagery and the unspoken silences throughout. It shows not tells. And the photography is astonishing. Most of it was shot out doors making amazing use of natural light. That raid on the village through the woods in the beginning is just breathtaking.
Never feel guilty about liking this movie 😎😎
The soundtrack is what makes this movie so good. It was the one element of the recent reboot that was truly disappointing and made it a forgettable experience.
Watch the movie before you watch this. He basically gives away the whole plot vs a genuine review. With that being said, this is the best epic fantasy ever made. This movie is an all time classic, holding its own to any modern day epic. Directing, editing, sound track....all one in a million. I was glad to experience a movie like this in my lifetime.
Man they don't make movies like this anymore. It's so real, you can feel it with your eyes.
Sandy Bergman looks incredible in this movie. A stunner :)
Brother John She was heat incarnate!
Brother John
Valiera is one of the hottest fantasy chick characters
Teela sort of ripped off Valeria.......
John Collins She still is stunning. It's sad she didn't get much work in film after this. I thought she was the hottest actress in business when this came out
She gave me the tingles ...I was 13 , I thoroughly enjoyed it
I also actually prefer the way Thulsa Doom died to a climactic battle. It shows him as someone who actually has less power than everyone believed. His persuasive voice is his only real power (the snake transformation is never shown as anything powerful) and he dies like any ordinary man which makes all his believers abandon his cult. He may be able to turn into a snake but he's really nothing special, just a manipulator like so many evil men in history.
Exactly. Conan has already beaten the best that Doom could throw at him. Now he had to master the will to resist Doom's seduction, and that was his greatest victory.
To me, this will always be a perfect movie.
same
@innpea sea Absolutely!
The music, the set design, costume, photography, the story, and Arnold. Perfection.
This movie is special, it's something apart from other heroic-fantasy movies. Its Nietschean spirit makes it pretty powerful.
If I had to choose I'd say that "Conan" has my favorite soundtrack of all times. It's like a main character of it's own.
The ending was perfect. Conan is almost convinced by Thulsa Doom that his whole identity is a result of Thulsa Doom; as he would have never become the great warrior he was if it weren't for his desire to get revenge. Conan realizes this is true but then, by Crom, he remembers his Father and Mother, and delivers justice to Thulsa Doom. He goes on to show the severed head of Thulsa to the cultists, before throwing it down the steps. Your god was just a man! The film closes with Conan contemplating the answer to the riddle of steel; it is not steel that makes us strong, or the flesh that wields it, but the will that guides it.
Thank you. That whole riddle of steel has plagued my mind for years.
RIP Basil Poledouris, your achievements as a composer will inspire generations.
This is a great retrospective on Conan the Barbarian. You just don't see movies like this anymore.
Tha sountrack man! The soundtrack!!!!! its orgasmic!! its engrossing, it makes you travel far away! Without it the movie power would be greatly diminished.
The fact that critics didn’t like Arnold as Conan validates they didn’t know jack shit about the character. ANYONE who grew up reading Howard’s Conan books/comics would tell you one of the most defining characteristics was as you pointed out..he didn’t say much, but also it was his f-ing vocal dialect?.? He was always questioned about it in the books, ‘a man from the North,’ which made Arnold’s rough English 100% accurate of the character. Easily my favorite movie of all time!!!
Im not saying this for nostalgia reasons, I genuinely believe that the 1980's was the golden era for Hollywood, even the effects, they leave you wondering 'I know its a model, but how did they actually do it? - A SNAKE HEAD IN A RUBBER MASK - *genius!!'..... what a great film...
Yeah, James Earl Jones's hairpiece is pretty funny, but I wouldn't dare laugh at Thulsa Doom.
One of the best villains ever. Do you know the type, that kills their closest minions when they fail? Not him. The two guys were spared and treated as friends, making him an intelligent villain. This also just supports the ending when Thulsa didn't summon giant snakes and armies and such, just wanted to subdue, hypnotize Conan with force of will, and (on my opinion) making him an ally... just theorizing, and having goosebumps, so terrifying Doom was...
One wonders if the writers of The Walking Dead drew inspiration for the Governor from Thulsa Doom.
A lot of people think James Earl Jones played Darth Vader because he did the voice.
I thought it was quite ingenious hint of him being a member of the original race from which all humans steam. He had long dark and straight hair (asians), dark skin (africans) and blue eyes (northern europeans).
James Earl Jones' performance as Thulsa Doom is one more reason why this film didn't need to be remade.
One of my favorite films. Saw it at the theater, bought the VHS, then the DVD, then the Blu-Ray, then on Vudu. One of the best movie soundtracks ever created. Truly Epic. Everything about it is just awesome. Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe.
By the standards of 1982, a long time ago, this was a badass motherfucking movie -- and led the so-called Sword and Sorcery movies of that time period, though it wasn't the first one out of the gate. Conan the Barbarian had strong graphic violence mixed with a character -- Conan -- that had not really been developed in movies before. Arnold was born to play the role. The movie had a lot of other great actors, namely James Earl Jones as the villain.
Fantastic movie!
Fond memories of having my plastic sword....made up armor, and riding in the sofa pretending it was my horse.
Epic soundtrack.
One of the most underrated films of all time. Stands the test of time, after all these years. Beautiful film. The most amazing soundtrack ever put to film.
The cinematography, the music that accompanies this amazing scenery, the symbology in the movie, the character development with minimal dialog. It was a picture story book movie, more than a movie it was an experience. The scenes of violence tempered by the wildness of nature and the silence as the fire cracks. The music invoking emotion. This movie was a masterpiece.
One of my favourite movies of all time. So underrated... it is one of the best hero-journeys in movie history. The way he changes from "...crush your enemies..." to where he saves the princess and liberates a whole bunch of people from a toxic sect... So fluidly done. Such an amazing movie...
This, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and Black Robe are probably my three favorite movies due to acting, atmosphere, and soundtrack.
i need to give the black robe a re-watch.
@@notthesamecc1927 As well you should. It's a very well-done film. A few others include The 13th Warrior, Flesh & Blood, and The Last Valley.
One of the best movie ever.The music perfectly fits with picture
Conan was my favorite comic book from Marvel! Savage sword was awesome too
the most underrated film ever made
This guy is literally the best at creating his own trailers.
+Turd Ferguson Cheers buddy!
Coolest man movie ever.
Every Arnold movie is the coolest man movie ever. Predator, Commando, Terminator etc
@@nimazsheik5152 Not Batman & Robin.
@@jp3813 I disagree - Even Batman & Robin!
I have to disagree. The greatest movie for guys who love movies came a decade earlier - Dirty Harry. Clint Eastwood is the type of person every man wishes he was.
@ He said coolest, not greatest.
The amazing thing is Dino de Laurentis argued with John Milius about the music. Milius wanted his friend Basil Poldoris to do it, envisioning the film as being "drenched in music" and de Laurentis wanted to use contemporary pop songs, along the lines of Highlander. I think we can all be thankful Milius prevailed.
Seeing this as a 14 yo -- great time, great movie.
The brilliance is not just from John Milius but from Basil Poledouris. His music tells the story perfectly. It really does feel like a grand opera. His score is one of the best ever (IMO only rivaled by the brilliance of John Williams).
The new movie MUST be directed and scored similarly or the fans will not be happy.
As usual top notch work.
To address one comment: I actually like the way Arnold hacks Thulsa Doom's neck as the climax of the film. What I got out of it was how much stronger Conan's vengeance was than Doom's mental power. His pure, unrestrained hatred overcame even the strongest mesmerism the ancient world had to offer, which for me was cooler than another big fight. Plus it sort of alludes to how if you push people hard enough even the greatest charisma will not protect you from their wrath.
18:50 - You forgot Dragonslayer ( 1981 ) there. 10:16 - I thought the animator Richard Williams did THAT. It certainly looks like HIS STYLE.
This is the first rated R movie my dad saw in theaters. He loved it.
To bad they didn't save the X-rated version for later release. I know there is footage of Valeria fighting as gladiator the same time as Conan and more gladiator scenes with Conan.
I thought the supernatural elements were so much more frightening because of their low-fidelity. The animatronic snake was terrifying because it was uncanny.
Love this movie. It has aged extremely well. Holds up easily today, and the soundtrack is absolutely legendary!
This is one of those movies that shaped my childhood! I loved Conan back in the day! They dont make movies like this anymore
Great video really captured the spirit and epicness of the first movie
Conan 1982 proved that hot women are as likely to die as the random dude. I can't remember a mega blockbuster fiction adventure movie that did that.
I do believe Conan The Barbarian was among the first to kill off a love interest that way.
Po Chia
Rambo II did that to.
Valeria’s death comes from a similar plot thread in one of the original stories-Queen of the Black Coast.
The most recent mad max film has a to woman die.
@@TheThejayman32 Another way this film respects the source material.
When i think adventure, i can only think of the scenes where you see Conan and Subotai running in nature, with big open fields and mountains in the backdrop, with that endearing and mesmerizing music
Both the film and the soundtrack were heavily inspired by Alexander Nevsky. There's a lot of scenes in Conan that pay homage to Alexander Nevsky, particularly the charge of the Riders of Doom which is a low-key reproduction of the charge of the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of the Ice. Also the scene at the beginning of the movie, where they destroy young Conan's village. That's clearly inspired by the raid on Pskov and many original scenes are being reproduced. For example the way Thulsa removes his helmet (and even his hairstyle), it's a 1:1 reproduction of the Alexander Nevsky scene where the Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order removes his helmet. The music is also quite reminiscent of Prokofiev's score for Alexander Nevsky, perhaps too reminiscent...
I just wish more people would be aware of this. Alexander Nevsky might be forgotten today, but it was a true masterpiece when it came out in 1938, and it influenced countless movies which came after for decades.
I don't think it sounds too much like Prokofiev's score at all, although it was obviously inspired by it. I do have to say Nevsky's score is the better of the two. Otherwise Nevsky was a very influential movie and great for its time, but is pretty badly dated - the close-ups of the characters fighting are downright laughable compared to Conan's fight choreography. (I picture Eisenstein with a megaphone shouting "Okay, a BIG swing to the left at an offscreen opponent, now a BIG swing to the right at an offscreen opponent...") And the acting is more than a bit stiff, obviously still very influenced by stage acting conventions.
(What's really funny about Nevsky is the theatrical release history - it was released widely in December 1938 with tremendous success, abruptly yanked from theaters with no explanation as if it had never existed in late August 1939, then returned to theaters en masse as if it had never gone away in late June, 1941. Even casual students of history should understand the context of those dates given the film's theme of fighting off the evil Teutonic invaders. I have to think Orwell was thinking of this when he wrote "Oceana had always been at war with EastAsia.")
Poledouris was always open about drawing heavily from Prokofiev's Alexander Niefski.
Yes, absolutely. Good comparison.
@@brucetucker4847 Poledouris' score is much deeper, more complex and better.
One of the very few movie scores I've sought and purchased - unbelievably good, and I love that they start with Mako's voice-over
Mako's voice-over set the whole tone. It put you at the right spot in time to understand where it was going. If you used lets say James Earl's voice, it wouldn't have been as mystical. It wouldn't have seemed exactly as Basil wrote the soundtrack "Sit by the fire and let me tell you the story of Conan". It takes a gravely grandfather voice to tell this story.
Favorite movies of all time, if you have not seen the extended edition it is awesome. It has seens that where cut out put back in and they are great Conan and Sumiti have this talk before the battle of the mounds and it is so good and the seen where the princess helps Conan infultrate the mountain of power are awesome. Also is commentary by Arnold and the director, Arnold has not seen the movie in years and he was floored by some of the shots, like the opening seen when Dooms raiders are attacking the village the fog and lighting are incredible
Yeah buddy...I love sceen with him and sumiti before the battle...
This movie is SO watchable.
If I happen upon it while flipping through the stations I can immediately just start watching it, no matter where it is in the story. It is nowhere near perfect (except for the score) but it has a real story, most of the acting is pretty good (Arnold has some very good scenes such as when they are discussing whose god is greater), costumes, sets, and the FX are mostly believable.
John Williams has written some epic scores and deserves the praise he gets, but I never felt compelled to buy any of them. As soon as I saw the Conan soundtrack I bought it without a moments hesitation.
This is one of those movies I'll toss in the Blu-Ray player while waiting for dinner to cook thinking I'm just going to watch the opening sequence and the first battle, then two hours later I'm still glued to the screen and wondering what's on fire in the kitchen but not able to tear myself away to find out.
This movie was epic. I grew up watching this flick. Whenever it was on I would watch it, either that or pop in the VHS version. The remake was a sad watered down version of this classic(unrecognizable). Btw I didn't even listen to this English guy blather on with his review. I just went an watched it again. When something is great you don't need someone to confirm or deny it for you.
If only The Destroyer would have followed in the footsteps of this masterpiece.
Thr first movie has aged really well
-Amazing soundtrack
-Deep themes
-Visual masterpiece
Its not just a great score. Its the greatest score to any movie ever written.
I believed it when I saw it in theaters and still believe it now 40 years later.
I get where you're coming from with regards to the ending. However, I feel the final confrontation with Thulsa Doom is perfect as it is. He makes an attempt to persuade/hypnotise Conan, it fails, and gets his head hacked off in front of his entire cult. It shows his cultists that, while they might believe he's a god-like figure, he's just a man that bleeds and dies like everyone else.
A big action set piece would, at least in my opinion, undermine the dramatic theme in that moment.
One of my very favorite films that deals with one of my very favorite characters. Thanks for this Ollie, you're utterly invaluable for us movie geeks on youtube.
One of the best reviews for this film I've seen. Great work.
this is quite simply the most anabolic movie known to man. The soundtrack is godlike in its masculinity
I love the Conan the Barbarian (1982) movie.
When it came out, I had just finished reading the entire Howard book series, I bought the Frazetta posters and calendars, and followed the Conan comic avidly.
I would not readily admit this among my highbrow critic friends, but, Conan the Barbarian remains one of my top 10 guilty pleasure movies.
Also, I think the soundtrack is among the top 10 scores of all time.
There's a very good reason why Conan simply cuts Doom's head off. Doom's power was imagined. Conan's power was based on real world power, the power of blood and steel.
Magic is crap in the face of material world force ;)
Brother John Conan made a successful Save vs. Spells. ;)
um doom did turn into a snake? that did happen in the movie.
MR.Chickennuget 360 yes that happended
I though the "enigma of steel" wasn't metaphorically but an actual powers the whole time in the father's sword.which is why it could pierce through thulsa doom's enchantment and magics
The reason Thalsa Doom gets his head cut off without a fight is because this is a mirror of the beginning when Doom hypnotizes Conan's mother then cuts off her head.
Its the first harsh lesson in life Conan learned. Thalsa Doom unwittingly taught Conan to kill him by seeing through his manipulation. Its poetic justice that the same sword that decapitated Conan's mother also decapitated Thalsa Doom, ending the quest for vengeance.
Thalsa Doom was right about the riddle of steel, the will that wields the sword is more powerful than the blade itself. Its just that he unwittingly gave Conan the power to defeat him by making Conan's will for vengeance unbreakable.
I really hope that King Conan finds its financial backing. I've been waiting about 20 years for that movie. At this point in Arnold's, I think he and Conan will have quite a bit, thematically, in common.
Great show as always, Olly.
*Arnold's life
I absolutely love the soundtrack to conan the barbarian. It's amazing. I play it in the background when I host D&D games.
my favorite all time movie. great story, action, visuals (for the time), not too flashy, but still draws you in with the amount of tragedy you see him encounter his whole life as well as the opportunities for growth, all in his pursuit for revenge for his parents and his people.
They caught lightening in a bottle for this one. So many cool things in this movie. One of my favorites...
UnderdogTactics bb
Such a shame that Valerie Quennessen died so young. She was beautiful in this film.
Greatest fantasy film made (if sticking to Earth)
Its one of the few films ever made where the world feels real, I mean you can spin the camera 360 and feels as though you would see no blue screens/props/cast-crew/cameras.
Now as for the score, its tough, there are many greats but a few really stand out as perfect, this to me is joint best score ever made.
Basil Poledouris work on this score is amazing, it helps if you have a good setup and really let it fly, the only other score that I love as much is Vangelis-Blade Runner.
To me, this is the best Arnie film, I would pick this over T1 or T2.
Agreed, but Beastmaster was good.
@@hippychikforever Yeah that is a hell of a film. I think the only thing that drops it a point below Conan, is some of the acting.
Parts are astounding, but there are some actors who just don't nail it. Whereas in Conan, the acting feels within range with the actors..... well, apart from JEJ who dominates every scene.
Arnold's voice acting is what makes the film a classic! I have German friends that watched it German before where Arnold dubs it into German himself and they were not impressed but then I showed them the English version and they were converted! His accent defines the character perfectly. Who can forget his hilarious growls of pain and his irreplicable definition of what is best in life!
One of my favorite movies.
Red Sonja is a joke, the destroyer is just disappointing. The Original is still good and holds up
Ironically,Conan the destroyer trying to envisioned the original robert e howard's vision of Conan
Conan the destroyer was a result of people liking the first one, and Hollywood attempting to squeeze in bigger stars. Terrible movie in comparison.
I respectfully disagree. I think the tone of Destroyer seemed more tongue in cheek, like self-aware that they're a bunch of grown adults standing around in furs and leather. Lots of jokes and cringey character development scenes (telling rather than showing). Even the violence was toned down to get more kids in the audiences.
The Hyborean world of Conan the Barbarian feels darker, more menacing, and totally immersive, and IMO, much more like the Howard books.
Earthworm Jim: AMEN!
@@Shoegazebasedgenre0. The early Conan stories by Howard were a mixture of The Noble Savage trope (particularly influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs) and Lovecraftian horror. I suppose the movie was trying for that, but really came off to me as a cash grab with actors just moving around and saying lines. Was very disappointed by it.
The set pieces, the practical effects, the none pretentious storyline,rawness of the actors and the music score. I’m so glad that I stumbled across this movie when I was a kid. We need more practical effects now days too much cgi.
I really like this movie. It's one of those which marked my childhood. Funny, Oliver did not mention the orgy scene from the movie which was one of the most impressive from entire movie.