CONAN THE BARBARIAN
Rating: R
Studio: Lionsgate
MSRP: $39.99, but Amazon has it for $22.99
Running Time: 113 minutes
What’s Going On?:
Not so much a remake, but a remaining of sorts of one of the greatest heroes on film. This version of Conan the Barbarian has the benefit of more sophisticated special effects and let’s face it, Arnold is cool, but so is Jason Momoa.
Who’s In It:
Jason Momoa reprises the role made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger and does a great job making the role his and in turn making the film fun. There’s also roles played by Rachel Nichols (Alias) Stephen Lang (Avatar) and in a small but still awesome role, the great Ron Perlman.
If You Like…:
Kickass violent films with a flair for the old style of filmmaking. There’s still some CGI to be seen, but for the most part there’s a very nostalgic feel to the film.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary with Director Marcus Nispel: It’s an odd commentary because you never get the sense that as a filmmaker, Marcus Nispel isn’t very proud of this film.
Audio Commentary with Actors Jason Momoa and Rose McGowan: A very funny commentary full of great stories, including the body double for Rachel Nichols on set who was upset that she didn’t get to have sex with Jason Momoa. It doesn’t offer up anything compelling, but it’s a good listen.
The Conan Legacy: Nispel and key members of his crew discuss Conan from his inception and also talk about they brought about forging the character today.
Robert E. Howard: The Man Who Would Be Conan: A great look at Conan’s creator, but it’s way too short and a longer featurette would have been welcome.
Battle Royal: Engineering the Action: A montage of all the action scenes without all that dumb talking and plot exposition.
Staging the Fights: An unnecessary extra, but one that features some cool pre-fight visualizations.
Theatrical Trailer
The Technical Gist:
Conan has never looked better and here the film is presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. This film has the advantage of being shot in some really beautiful landscapes which make for sublimely beautiful photography.
The Verdict:
For all intents and purposes, this isn’t a “good” film. It’s fun, and it’s rewatchable which matter a lot to me. I’d say this is definitely worth a BUY. It’s a remake featuring an iconic character, one that was previously thought to be irreplaceable. By no means has Jason Momoa replaced Arnold Schwarzenegger, but he has secured his own place in the legend of the character of Conan and he proved a worthy addition to this franchise.
