Conan Movie - Fast Thoughts.
Based on a quick glance at several reviews, I seem to be alone on this... but I liked this movie.
It's not fine art but if you're going into it expecting that, you're going to be disappointed.
That being said, this movie is not as good as the Ah-nold flick from the 80s. It is far, FAR better.
Seriously. There's more references to the original Robert E. Howard stories in the first minute of the new Conan Movie than in all of the Ah-nold films.
Some purists may complain that Hoeard never said that Conan's mom died in childbirth or that his village was destroyed by outsiders. I say, "Well, he never said they didn't either." If I recall correctly, Howard said precious little about Cimmeria, its' people or Conan's family, save in one letter to a fan where he said he guessed Conan was inspired to leave Cimmeria by his grandfather's stories.
But leaving aside all issues of canon and continuity, the Conan Movie is a ripping yarn and fits the spirit of of Robert E. Howard's writing.
And for those of you who care little about how well the legacy of Robert E. Howard is upheld, there's a lot of cool action scenes where lots of blood is spilled and lots of topless slavegirls! There's plenty of eye-candy for the ladies and gay men, with Jason Monoma showing off everything except the Savage Sword of Conan... so to speak.
Long story short, it is epic, awesome and over-the-top in all the ways that matter in a good action movie. A must see for all gamers and fans of the sword and sorcery genre.
It's not fine art but if you're going into it expecting that, you're going to be disappointed.
That being said, this movie is not as good as the Ah-nold flick from the 80s. It is far, FAR better.
Seriously. There's more references to the original Robert E. Howard stories in the first minute of the new Conan Movie than in all of the Ah-nold films.
Some purists may complain that Hoeard never said that Conan's mom died in childbirth or that his village was destroyed by outsiders. I say, "Well, he never said they didn't either." If I recall correctly, Howard said precious little about Cimmeria, its' people or Conan's family, save in one letter to a fan where he said he guessed Conan was inspired to leave Cimmeria by his grandfather's stories.
But leaving aside all issues of canon and continuity, the Conan Movie is a ripping yarn and fits the spirit of of Robert E. Howard's writing.
And for those of you who care little about how well the legacy of Robert E. Howard is upheld, there's a lot of cool action scenes where lots of blood is spilled and lots of topless slavegirls! There's plenty of eye-candy for the ladies and gay men, with Jason Monoma showing off everything except the Savage Sword of Conan... so to speak.
Long story short, it is epic, awesome and over-the-top in all the ways that matter in a good action movie. A must see for all gamers and fans of the sword and sorcery genre.