The Warrior Gladiator King. Through the history of mankind the times that are most ... more
recorded in mythology and song are those of the great deeds and fantastic adventures. Such a time was the Hyborean Age. Such a tale is the story of 'Conan The Barbarian'. Cimmeran Conan is captured as a child after his parents' savage murder by raiding Vanir led by Thulsa Doom head also of the snake-cult of Set. Fifteen years of agony first chained to the Wheel Of Pain grinding grain and then enslaved as a pit fighter forge a magnificent body and indominitable spirit. Freed miraculously one day by his owner Conan with his companions Subotai the Mongol and Valeria the Queen of Thieves sets forth upon his quest to learn "the riddle of steel" which his father has prophesied will confer ultimate power; and to kill the arch-villian Thulsa Doom...
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Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Action/Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Jack Ging, Marla Heasley, Lance Legault, Melinda Culea, Mr T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict, George Peppard, Carl Franklin
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Advantages: It can be quite funny (without intent) in places Disadvantages: Too much of the original movie is reused
This must have been filmed very quickly after the first film. Both Grace Jones and Arnold have got almost nothing to say, the lines seem to have been passed to those who could speak them more clearly. Despite being a sequal theres no real continuity with the first movie other than its still Arnold playing Conan and that clearly a little bit of time has passed since the end of the first movie.
Basically the plot is this:- Conan doing a favour to try & retrieve a magical gem and get his lover brought back to life which devolves into a rescue movie as only 1 person can touch the gem and Conan has to get her back from the evil wizard who actually has the magical gem they've gone to steal which is rather handy as it kills 2 birds with 1 stone.
The film recycles music from the original (the stuff used during the snake cult which is reused ...
Advantages: Great scenery, Arnie's English improves slightly Disadvantages: Lacks the brutal punch of Conan
, with more creatures and fantastical events than Barbarian, which opted for a more raw, Bronze Age type feel, and many have actually criticised it for lacking the brutal edge of the first film, but Destroyer has its own place as a film, and does appeal to the wider audience, so it does balance out in the end.
Conclusion
A decent sequel, but not a patch on Conan the Barbarian.
The DVD is available from amazon.co.uk for £0.97, used at the moment.
This review may also be posted on dooyoo.co.uk.
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Advantages: Great atmosphere throughout the film Disadvantages: Quite simple, not a lot of dialogue from the star
In 1982, internationally celebrated strongman and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger burst onto the big screen with his portrayal as the title role in Conan The Barbarian, a film directed by John Milius. Arnie, as he has become better known, had appeared in a few films already, but this is considered to be his breakthrough film.
The Plot
As a child, Conan witnesses the vicious killings of his family and clansmen at the hands of a vicious warlord who is controlling of his people and of all the land, Thulsa Doom. Years later, following a childhood of slavery, Conan finds himself as a champion gladiator, and sets his life to finding Doom and exacting his revenge. He teams up with Valeria and Subotai, two thieves, in taking on Doom, his lieutenants and his fearsome warriors, the Vanir, with the blessing and aid of King Osric ...