Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and years of rising son of Aryans, there was an age undreamed ... Hither came Conan the Cimmerian, black hair, eyes cross, sword in hand, a thief, a Reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholy and great joy, to tread the jeweled thrones of Earth under his feet sandled.
Nemedius Chronicles
Conan the Barbarian was one of the most anticipated releases in 1982, especially by those who considered themselves to be a fantasy / sci-fi fans. Conan, the pulp hero created by Robert E. Howard in 1930, was at the height of its popularity in late 1970 and early 1980. In recent years, the so-called gender "swords and sorcery" experienced a boom (due in part to the growth of a new role-playing game called "Dungeons & Dragons", and partly due to the increased number of book titles available in traditional stores ). In addition, dozens of "original" pocket books in detail to take advantage of Conan (collection written by Howard L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter) has had a series of new novels, and at least three comic books: "Conan the Barbarian "," King Conan ", and" Savage Sword of Conan ".
Conan began life nearly 70 years in the magazine of weird tales. Before his suicide in 1936 at age 30, completed or Howard started more than two dozen stories of Conan, of which 18 were published. Of all the mythical heroes, he writes about, including the likes of King Kull and Solomon Kane, Conan was the most popular. In the late 1960s, committed L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter, two established writers who admired the work of Howard, in a vast project to organize and clean the barrel Conan existing and write new stories to fill time gaps. This resulted in a series of 12 volumes was printed as it hit bookstore shelves in the period 1967-1968.
Conan the Barbarian is designed to entertain the fans in the history of Howard and those who are unfamiliar with the character. The movie takes place about 12,000 years ago in a legendary time where magic is real, monsters roamed the earth, and occasionally the gods walked the Earth. Free loans from the official Conan canon, the film chronicles the early years of barbarism, starting with the sacking of his people and the murder of his parents and ending with revenge on his greatest enemy first. Elements from various stories Howard has carved a niche in the script (written by director John Milius and Oliver Stone - yes, Oliver Stone). Fans especially will notice the similarities to "The Thing in the Crypt," "The Elephant's Journey," "Queen of the Black Coast" and "A Witch shall be born."
Milius most successful Conan the Barbarian was the creation of an entirely new and believable world. The settings are spectacular special effects are low profile but effective and the costumes and trappings idea of the correct time. In short, the land of Conan, a rich and detailed, the place long ago, it feels as real as New York City today. This is the kind of world in a great adventure, intrigue, magic and heroic battles can be done without jeopardizing our suspension of disbelief. Milius may have made some mistakes in its approach to Conan, but is not one of them.
Another wise choice was to rent by Basil Poledouris composes music. Dino De Laurentiis, the man ultimately responsible for Conan the screen, wanted soundtrack of pop music, but Milius said something more traditional. Eventually the director won, and the result was one of the best performers of the '80s. Poledouris music ', which includes both choral and instrumental compositions, material is a powerful and fully married. It 'hard to imagine that the film is funny without this part of the production.
The plot has a large and adventurous, a lot of elements that have made the popular Conan: voluptuous women, muscled men, sorcerer vile, grotesque monsters, Sidekicks loyal, and a lot of violence, action, bloody battle. Those who have an inherent distaste for this kind of entertainment value Conan the Barbarian is impeccable production values, without them the story, everything else is swept away by the spectacle of cinema. Conan is not designed to appeal. It is a well-made film, but it's close ties to the genre.
As the movie opens, Conan (Jorge Sanz), is the son of learning, "Riddle of Steel" from his father. Shortly after, a young barbarian with chains, a prisoner magician Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) and his partner Rexor (Ben Davidson), who burned his village and killed his parents. Conan is growing as a slave, and when he is an adult (now played by Arnold Schwarzenegger), becomes a gladiator and master of the slave used to raise the main warehouse. Eventually, his owner, Conan the fear of physical prowess, to free it. After stealing a sword and pick up the crypt and steal a fellow named Subotai (Gerry Lopez), his direction of the riches of civilization. City of Zamora, he will meet with Valeria, Queen of Thieves (Sandahl Bergman), and through him, to steal the Tower of the Serpent. He and Valeria become lovers, but only temporarily sated Conan is on, drink and sex gold.
The flame of revenge burning in him, and he gave valuable information to find Thulsa Doom, when King Osrik (Max von Sydow), the master of Zamora, the challenges to the palate, with a proposal.
Level of work is really one of the Conan the Barbarian strong suits (although it is much better here than at, Conan the Destroyer). Despite the very limited, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is an excellent choice to drive. The only things required for Schwarzenegger is that he bends his muscles, looking good fight, and she smiles from time to time the line of dialogue - which is cleverly. There is great emotional depth, Milius and Schwarzenegger does not require extending the limits of his talent. The role was a breakthrough of bodybuilder-turned-actress. Previously, the back of the muscle-bound parts of the movie cheese, Conan puts it in a hurry. Only two years later, its star, James Cameron's Terminator.
Schwarzenegger was not the only actor to appear non-Conan the Barbarian. Sandahl Bergman Dancer matches its woodiness. Mako and Gerry Lopez, playing Conan Sidekicks are available, primarily a comedian. Two of the players in honor of all to mention by name. First, James Earl Jones doing pretty bad, but too few scenes in which radiates a real evil. Instead of going over-the-top interpretation of Jones' Doom is submitted, which limits its effectiveness. At the same time, Max von Sydow is a little entertainment Osrik King Canute. Von Sydow, Ingmar Bergman, on a regular basis, you feel strangely at home in part, that some consider it below.
So far, Conan the Barbarian was one of the few success Swords and Sorcery films to theaters. Other competitors (such as Willow, Dragonheart and Kull the Conqueror) failed to follow the footsteps of Conan wide. The reasons for this performance film is not difficult to understand. It treats its characters and themes without becoming seriously disturbed. There is some humor, but for the most underrated Milius, and tips to avoid an open field. Conan the Barbarian is the adult in nature - the battle will be bloody and naked women. Most of the films in this genre (like Conan the follow-up) goes out in the territory of comics, has nothing to do with their main characters with dignity and cleaning things to get the coveted PG-13 rating. Instead, a little 'exaggerated aura of epic Conan, the majority of other films to accept jokey tone. 17 years after its release, Conan the Barbarian still weaves a spell for fans ensorcelling fantasy adventure.
United States, 1982
U.S. Release Date: 5/14/82 (wide)
Running Length: 2:08
MPAA Classification: R (Violence, nudity, sex)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman, Ben Davidson, Cassandra Gaviola, Gerry Lopez, Mako, Valérie Quennessen
Director: John Milius
Producers: Raffaella De Laurentiis, Buzz Feitshans, Edward R. Pressman
Screenplay: John Milius and Oliver Stone, based on the stories by Robert E. Howard
Cinematography: Duke Callaghan
Music: Basil Poledouris
U.S. Distributor: Universal Pictures
