Conan the Barbarian

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max Von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman
Directed by: John Milius
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure
1982

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Years after his parents were brutally murdered, Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) embarks on a quest to track down the murderer (James Earl Jones) and avenge his parents' death.

Review:

Tim: Conan the Barbarian is a movie that perhaps I shouldn't like, but it doesn't really matter, because I do. I really enjoyed this movie from start to finish- it is an exciting, epic adventure that is impressive for both its scope and its entertainment value. It is also an important movie, because it is the film responsible for launching the career of Arnold Schwarzenegger into superstar territory. This is a very solid, very good movie.

Schwarzenegger is absolutely perfect for the role- his muscle-bound physique is ideal for the character, and his strong, quiet performance is exactly what this movie needed. Schwarzenegger not only looks the part, but wins the audience over with his impressive performance. I really liked him in this role. I thought there was a good balance between him just standing there and looking impressive (of which happens quite a bit) and actually having to deliver lines- which he doesso in strong fashion. I think I was impressed with every line he delivered. I also liked James Earl Jones as the movie's villain. He is a charismatic, strong actor with a terrific voice, and works very well as Schwarzenegger's foil.

This movie also delivers because of its scope- this is a fairly epic movie. It feels like an intimate movie- but one that takes place on a fairly grand scale. It would have hurt this movie to appear too small or been saddled with too small a budget, but neither problem is apparent here. We see a number of impressive battle sequences, the creation of a fantasy world that captures our imagination, and a movie that offers exciting, pure entertainment.

As I mentioned early on, Conan the Barbarian is probably not a movie for everyone- regardless, it is a solid, well made movie that has stood the test of time. There is a great deal to like here, and best of all, it entertains. It could have been a few minutes shorter, but the movie's length is used effectively. This is a memorable, strong swords and sorcery movie, and one I really, really liked.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Conan the Destroyer, Red Sonja