The Conan Movie thread!

[banthafett]

So whats Conan got going for it?

If it doesnt have Arnie, it has nothing going for it.

austin

[Eamon]

I'm shocked that this franchaise is still around. When I think Conan, I think highly forgettable cheesy 80s movie. I know the property has been around for a long time. I've seen the statues and occasional collectible, but nothing about it speaks to me at all.

I heard that the Conan MMO did fairly well. I played the free trial for a few days while looking to kill some time, and while the cinematics were impressive, I just couldn't get into it.

So whats Conan got going for it?

Conan is about civiliazation vrs barbarism and the trapping of each. A subject I find eternally facinating and relatable.

It's far more insightful and in depth that most give it credit for.
That's simply because of the god aweful way his license has been sold to people with no care for the true nature of the character or the author Robert E Howard.

Bad movie, TV shows and now this will do nothing but further deminish the character.

He's a literal character first and foremost.

Without Conan you would've had no MOTU.

Conan is sword & sorcery.

Dontcha think that its' a bit of a redundant question asking what it's got going for it on a He-man message board? Big dudes with swords?!

If it doesnt have Arnie, it has nothing going for it.

austin

Your opinion.

Say that on the Conan message board and see what happens.

[BCI Guy]

So whats Conan got going for it?

80 years of history, 20+ stories by his creator, more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories by other authors, nearly 40 years worth of comic books.

Unfortunately like Eamon says, he's a character that has been handled absolutely brilliantly in print, and equally poorly everywhere else.

[wyldman11]

I didn't start reading the original Conan stories till fairly recently. Read the first collection by Del Rey then moved to Solomon Kane then stopped midway for a change of pace.

Conan in the original stories is quite a bit different then portrayed in the movies and most other media (except certain portions of the comics, which are at time direct translations of). He isn't some barbarian on a personal vendetta against someone who wronged him many years ago. He just at a somewhat early age decided to leave home and adventure. Over this time he becomes a pirate, thief, King etc, he typically does things more out of his own personal desire or because he gets himself into a situation and needs to get out of it, not because of an 80s action movie someone killed my girl/child/hamster bit.

Typically it's his barbarian ways that get him into trouble, but as Eamon said the civilized portions aren't shown be to better with Conan's personal commentary being that it is often unnecessary or only understandable by those who were brought up in society.

[banthafett]

Your opinion.

Say that on the Conan message board and see what happens.

Oh no! Would they type words? Better watch out.

austin

[vazqjose]

Taken from http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie_posters.php?id=12555

About the year i dont know, theres another one that says 2010 so ill just wait when its finished

[Eamon]

Red Sonja is to Conan as She-Ra is to He-man for some fans. ie. a not so good spin off.

For me Conan represents that spirit that feels cilvilization, order, religion and governments aren't always a step forward.
At the same time there's the short sighteness of his native villagers which he finds frustrating.

A truly great character if ever you feel out of place.

[supes78]

I'm worried anytime Lionsgate is attached. Have they every put out anything better than passable rental films? At 6ft 4in, Momoa has the height but he needs to do some serious bulking up to get to Arnie's level.

I'm actually surprised they didn't go with Roland Kickinger. Not only does he look like a younger Arnold, but he played him in a TV movie and has the same accent. I don't know about his acting skills though. Of course, this is assuming they wanted to stay rooted in the original film mythology.

[Eamon]

Roland was also the body double for Arnold in T4!

[gbagok]

The Momoa casting is kind of strange. His acting is not that impressive on Stargate Atlantis. I mean he's adequate as a pretty boy surfer turned bouncer, but I have doubts he can carry a decent Conan movie. An effort to make a more faithful film of Conan than the Milius movie is admirable, but only if it leads to an as good or better movie rather than an inferior one. The casting leads me to expect something simply mediocre like the Scorpion King prequel that starred the former Power Ranger. Hoping for something I will like, but I'm not expecting a classic. Lowered expectations are probably wise anyway.

And this is a minor thing, but I doubt they'll have music that even approaches the greatness of the Anvil of Crom.

[Krueger]

I know next to nothing about Conan. So I’ll just watch this film as a fantasy/action film. I do see the film actually getting made as quite encouraging, though, as Conan has been locked in the prison of Development Hell just as long as He-Man has. Next inmate to be released, He-Man!

[He-Man54]

Red Sonja is to Conan as She-Ra is to He-man for some fans. ie. a not so good spin off.

For me Conan represents that spirit that feels cilvilization, order, religion and governments aren't always a step forward.
At the same time there's the short sighteness of his native villagers which he finds frustrating.

A truly great character if ever you feel out of place.

Eamon, this completely describes what Conan is to me. This is what makes him such a great character.

[Mer-Man's Minion]

After the way NBC treated Conan, I definitely think he deserves his own movie.

[Firefly]

From what I've seen so far, I haven't been overly impressed with this film. I'll probably just rent it.

[Eamon]

Yet again we do not get Robert E Howard's!

However,saying that, this movie looks like tonnes of Sword & Sorcery fun so I cannot wait.

[krosfyah]

new red band trailer is up, looks badder than Leroy Brown!!! search it out I don't think I can post it here. still hate the rock theme for the trailer, hope its not in the movie. doesn't fit for me. but otherwise I'm very excited!!

for my facebook friends I posted it on my page.

[Tallstar]

[Patreek]

The previews for this look great! Loving the pic above!

[hopewell]

I am looking forward to this movie. I'm a huge fan of the "Sword and Sorcery" world though I can't cite one particular movie or form of media as a great example of the genre. I think there's only been flawed fun films like Beastmaster, Conan the Barbarian, Other than Lord of the Rings, I can't remember any quality versions of "Sword and Sorcery" and those aren't even really "Barbarian" movies.

So I'm looking forward to this new Conan movie. I'm hoping for something that I can show people and say "This is what's cool about this particular niche genre". But if it simply entertains me, then that'll suffice. I still have MOTU and the various books.

But the Arnold thing definitely needs to be put to bed. Conan can be so much more than that 80's series. Look at Superman, we still can't get a new fresh take on the man of steel because people can't get rid of Christopher Reeves in their head. And the comic Superman looks a lot bigger and bulkier than that actor.

[Tallstar]

[krosfyah]

If it doesnt have Arnie, it has nothing going for it.

austin

your opinion, but I for one am THRILLED that a live action Conan doesn't have an austrian/german accent. I hate that people expect that. I can't take arnie seriously, he's entertaining but campy.

[gbagok]

I don't mind that the Milius Conan isn't exactly Howard's version because it is a very good movie on its own merit (not commenting on Destroyer) and I think it set a high standard for costume design too. I'm doubtful this new movie will accomplish the same, but its possible. Unless they just reuse the score, I'm sure the music won't be as good, but at least it now looks like it has good production values. No Kull the Conquerer cheapness here like I dreaded after the first several images. But still, another chance to adapt Howard's version of the character was missed! Maybe the success of Momoa's Game of Thrones on HBO will motivate someone to get wise and adapt the Howard stories into a series. I could see a whole season just about Conan and Belit, or another with his rise to the throne paralleling the fall of Thoth Amon. Yeah, I hope for a lot sometimes.

[Mara999]

So far I've seen nothing that would make me look forward to this movie. The two main reasons for why I don't have any high hopes are the rushed-looking trailers and the fact that it's directed by the guy who made Patfinder.

Patfinder was a movie with lots of potential: Competent actors (like Clancy "Kurgan" Brown) and an awesome art direction inspired by Frank Frazetta, which should have made it at least enjoyable to watch if not actually good. What killed the movie was mainly done in post-production: All the colours are muted into a drab gray that together with the frenetic editing makes it difficult to tell what's going on, even telling characters apart. Then there's the stupid-looking CGI-blood (it's either bloodpacks or nothing), as well as the poorly made bluescreen-shots. All that I've mentioned made the movie visually unappealing for me, which together with severely lacking characterization in many places ruined a potentially epic adventure movie.

The trailers for the new Conan seem to imply that everything I disliked about Pathfinder would reappear in this movie as well. The art direction looks very cool and promising, but everything else has me worried, particularly Jason Momoa. He doesn't exactly scream "Conan" when I look at him, because despite his muscular body he looks too youthful to convincingly play a character like Conan. But I was willing to ignore it and let his acting speak for itself. However, finally hearing him talk in the trailers has further lowered my expectations, because his voice lacks gravitas and he doesn't sound very threatening when talking about "taking the villain's head". Momoa just seems so out of place as a main character in a Sword and Sorcery-movie, much more fitting as a supporting character or even as an imposing goon. But Conan the Cimmerian barbarian? Not according to what I've seen so far.

[Tallstar]

Who's hitting up the theatre this weekend to see this? If we want to increase the likelihood of seeing some MOTU entertainment, I think it'd be wise for all us to make an effort to support Conan opening weekend.

[gbagok]

Who's hitting up the theatre this weekend to see this? If we want to increase the likelihood of seeing some MOTU entertainment, I think it'd be wise for all us to make an effort to support Conan opening weekend.

I don't know. August is when I always revisit the original in all its operatic greatness (and if you do not listen, then the HELL with you!), and I don't think this movie can win with that kind of taste in my mouth. I've finally got the Import of the original soundtrack too (plus tracks from Destroyer), and I'm just crying that we lost Basil Poledouris. If he'd been involved...well, what's done is done. I heard John Milius's King Conan script was a mess, but this new movie will be a success for me if I don't walk away from it wishing I'd rather have seen even a mess by Milius instead.