With Conan the Barbarian being a smash hit, a sequel was inevitable. Dispensing with the original writer/director team of John Milius and Oliver Stone, the directing duties were handed to Richard Fleischer while the admirable original story by a separate writing team was pretty much ruined by a poor screenplay from Stanley Mann. Returning in the role of Conan (at least they got something right) is Arnold Schwarzenegger who is joined by a new sidekick named Malak, a character created to add a lighter tone than there was in Barbarian and who manages to be so annoying he nearly single-handedly ruins the entire film. Also making a welcome return is composer Basil Poledouris who added a significant amount to the original - sadly, for the sequel, he seems to have gotten quite lazy, reusing familiar music from the first film but also adding a new theme for Conan as well as some nice incidental music.
The rushed aspect of the film really shines through. Fleischer was not up to the challenge of satisfying the fans of the exceptional original and as such, the film has a lazy, half-hearted feel to it as well as descending into unwelcomed slapstick and parody. There are maybe some interesting parts but they're few and far between. Overall, it's a very disappointing sequel and not necessary viewing.
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Science Fiction - Director: Hiroyuki Yamaga - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ayako Kawasumi, Fujiko Takimoto
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
![Conan The Destroyer [Special Edition]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/100426163.jpg "Conan The Destroyer [Special Edition]")
Apr 22nd, 2009
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