Oliver Harper can you do, Shadow of the Vampire?

I have an old DVD version (pre-Blu Ray), and the commentary is hilarious. It's worth watching for that Commentary. John Milius is incredibly detailed and remembers everything so clearly about how he would set up the shot, and then Arnold would say "haha yas I remembuh dat." And that's it. Milius Commentary and Arnold is like his audience.

Arnold recently gave an update on King Conan, now in 2019. Short version is there's a young guy who has the rights. He has tried to get funding for 3 movies, but failed. He then tried several TV-Studios, including Netflix, but this failed as well. I don't think much more was said. And from there on I find it confusing how King Conan, starring Arnold, could have problems getting funding. Except, the last Conan with Mamoa bombed hard. My idea would have been King Conan telling his grandchildren or great-grand children about the past, while he sits on the throne, mostly. Some action with Arnold, but this movie/these movies are more King Conan reminiscing about the past, and a younger Conan is played by Calum Von Moger. Not "The Adventures of Young Conan", but Conan after he killed Thulsa Doom, ignoring the other 3 Conan movies and the TV-Series. I'm not against Mamoa playing young Conan again, especially now that he seems to be an actual body-builder. But then it's a bit tricky to link him to killing Thulsa Doom. The solution is Mamoa playing a separate Conan, like "The Adventures of Young Conan", following his Conan movie. Conan has had many experiences, so if Arnold's King Conan does not choose to tell the stories about the Mamoa Conan, that's not hard to achieve so both versions can go on and have their separate story lines. Oh! you forgot to mention the Conan TV-Series, or didn't you know about it? The live action one. Don't watch it. Isn't there also a cartoon? Or am I mixing this up with some Hanna-Barbera cartoon?

@@karstenvonfjellheim5321 Von Moger would be perfect... if he can act. They need to make this happen! Yeah, the TV series was worse than the Mamoa movie.

@@karstenvonfjellheim5321 And it needs to have a music score like Paledouris.

John Milius approves of this comment.

and this my man is the ridlle of stel

So... Nietzsche for the win, then?

@@lilliedoubleyou3865 If you have seen the movie, it starts out with a quote of his...

You blew my mind!!!

Crom laughs at their reviews. Laughs from his mountain!

wtf they said that? One of the best fantasy movies of all time.

CONAN THE CUMMER

I think Doug called the film a 'guilty pleasure'. It's not. It's just a pleasure.

NC is hit and miss, JonTron just flat out sucks.

😂 Well said.

This man speaks the truth. And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!

Crom lives in the earth my friend.

This comment is the reason I come to the comment section.

LOL

Exactly.

Very well said.

Even like the epilogue, he has his kingdom and still he is brooding.

Yes, yes.

Thulsa Doom was a Snake (the last of a dying race) That learned how to transform into a man. This is why he was raiding villages. When he turned into a man he became fixated on understanding the things of men (tools, weapons). This is also why you have the Human sacrifice rituals (mutilated bodies cooked into food, young virgin girls offered for sacrifice) its to feed the snakes. The reason Conan's mother dropped the sword when he stared at her was because he was putting her under a spell with his eyes. Thulsa Doom Tried to do the same trick on Conan but as he looked down at his father sword he started thinking about his family and his purpose and that broke the spell he was under allowing him to swing a final blow to the snake's neck.

+Big R Maybe that was Milius' intention but I think most people found it right. English speakers, that is. I would have casted another actor; someone with a smarter look. As Conan is supposed to have studied "the poetry of Sung, the philosophy of Khitai".

jgfjgfify I know he is smart. But some people hear the accent and see the gigantic muscles and don't think that way, especially those who for some reason can only remember the "camel punching". Maybe it's just the accent or the acting that doesn't work completely for me. I'm not a Howard fan, so I don't mind for that. Only the idea of Milius of this nietzschean- viking- samurai- knight-errant.

+Big R He also seemed the 'Deeds not words' type that the character is most famous for. The old stories made him out to be this guy capable of being very erudite time to time, but mostly a gruff asshole who's in it for the money. This Conan seems more like he's been singularly focused on revenge for so long, that nothing else seems apparent when you see him. Arnold gets a lot of shit, but I rather enjoy his performances when he's got something going on.

CESSKAR Yeah, but I know a lot of guys who were stuck in prison (like Conan basically was in the movie) who also studied out of having nothing else to do, but they didn't suddenly look smarter. And Conan is played by Arnold...Arnold is smart, even if he doesn't look it.

CESSKAR I heard Arnold really did hit that camel...which is proof barbarians can be smart AND impetuous.

Every look, every movement, is like overflowing with the energy of the character he is living. Incredible.

lmao keep it up and Pazuzu gonna get you

@@n051de4 YES

Fact's!!

@@n051de4 well ita the voice of darth Vader himself

Thulsa sounds like Trump, a con man

@@kamuelalee He's more like Conan, specializing in decapitating snakes (democrats)

@@kamuelalee fuck off libtard

Well said !!!

I always thought of it as he made his "savings through'" if you play D&D you know what i mean

Matthew Thomas Damn right Matt!

Agreed. I actually loved the "low key fantasy". Conan is one of the few movies which match my understanding of fantasy worlds. I would love to see a hobbit movie with a similiar approach. Less action, less eye candy, less talking more world and story exploration

Everything I ever wanted in a film. Perfect.

I kind of prefer Highlander's soundtrack but this is damn close.

Basil Poledouris is pure genuis here. Conan isnt a movie, its a Music Video. Without Basils score it would be empty.

Yes! Basil Poledoris' best work.

Yes! Poledouris rocks. Also one of the best movies of all time.

+TdeMona truth fact. I saw this with my parents when it came out. Sandahl Bergman was my idol after that. I don't agree with this reviewer's take on Schwarzenegger's performance either-- I thought he was really effective. (otherwise, great review though.)

Shit man...If I was (still) feeling that way, for my favorite theme - "The Kitchen/The Orgy"...I don't know what I should be wanting to start doing! ;P :D

Damn right!!!

hemmingwayfan Exactly!!!

For him, it was Tuesday.

One thing I often think about to this day is how Doom was arguing that Conan ought to be grateul for "giving" him his strength and resolve. It gets to the question of intent in debates about morality. Was it Doom's intent to make Conan strong? Of course not, but since that was the result does that absolve him of wrongdoing? If I tresspass on someone's land and shoot at him but I miss, hit the ground, and a geyser of oil erupts which the landowner can sell to become rich, have I done more good than harm?

@@Bingbangboompowwham Just typical quick witted cult leader psychopathology. "whatever I do is for YOUR benefit son... even when I take your money and your wives and daughters it ALL contributes to making you a better stronger person, free of the insecurities and obligations that make you weaker... Without me you would be nothing..." Jim Jones would be proud.

Thanks

In camera special effects are still the best

Diogo Catalano Yep

Technically it should be Conan A Barbarian since there are more than one.

Some prayer! Lol!

I know I'm a bit late, but sorry for your loss

@@taklampan650 Thank you so much. It has been almost 3 years now and still have some days that are easier than others. Thanks for your kind words...

Thats a lovely memory to have. I hope time has helped you. You never get over losing your parents but you kinda learn to live with it and cherish the memories you made. I have a memory of going to a local rental store to get this with my dad. We brought it home all excited to watch it and it was the Betamax version rather than VHS version… gutted but i do remember him taking it back. Unfortunately, I don’t actually remember watching it with him, but I’m know I did. My dad introduced me to so many films that I love today.

God damn YOU ARE LUCKY like an ANGEL **Both my parents REFUSED I watch it MAYBE it's because their NOT dead yet**

Yeah but he was crying when he was laying on the fountain

not Simerian?

@@michaelyork6915 No it's spelled Cimmerian.

@@ravenshadowz2343 oh i had no idea thanks

got a brain like swiss cheese these days

Yeah, it just ages like fine wine, man..

-"Conan, what is best is life?" -"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!" -"Aye, that is good."

That's right.

***** People can say what they want about Arnold but his prayer to Crom is one of my favourite speeches in a movie.

The second movie became that type of the movie but the first one is great.

The secret of steel does exist. It's the bellows-fired, oxygenated forge. The secret is no secret.

pinz2022 It is funny how the Atlantean Sword cleaves Conan's fathers sword in twain, which make one wonder if he really knew what he was doing when he forged it.

Cybopath It often gets confused with it's sequel.

Unfortunately, the audience for this kind of film is not enough to make films like this anymore.

We can only hope for Conan the King with Arnold.

Wasnt such a project sadly cancelled?

@@DieHardjagged Yeah, it was. But as long as Arnold can play the part of an aging king.. we can hope.

And Max Von Sydow as king!

throatgorge2 i

I'll fully admit that nostalgia could be interfering with my ability to have a completely objective opinion BUTT I don't think Arnold's acting is bad in this movie. I think his accent (which isn't even crazy strong in this movie) leads people to believe he's a shit actor. He's not an amazing actor but I've seen more sub par wooden performances from A-List (or former A-List?) guys like Kevin Costner or Keanu Reeves. Scharzenegger's was just fucking right for this movie.

He would have had something resembling an Irish accent. The movie Conan has jack shit to do with Howard's original vision.

throatgorge2 you’re absolutely right! In the novels and EU, Conan was always described like a Norseman.. a unique voice and of course his physical size

@@joshuaadams3255 Conan is a Cimmerian, which in the original novels are suppose to be proto-Celts (Conan is an Irish name). (In the real world, the Cimmerians were steppe nomads from what is now Ukraine and Russia).

I feel the same. My last hope is arnold's new Conan movie rumored. But I guess I shouldn't expect it to be as good as the 1982 film.

cDynasty001 Well, I feared that the Lord of the Rings movie would be a joke of a movie, but was pleasantly surprised. It didn't follow the books perfectly, but it captured the books more than any film before. Hopefully, this will also be the case of the new Conan movie if it is made. It needs to follow the original books by Robert E. Howard more closely. Having read them many times, there are dozens of stories that would make good films.

This is a good movie and I do own it, but the 2011 is so much closer to Robert E Howard's original writings. One mans opinion.

elric6661 Oh no, it was closer. But that doesn't make it better. The whole movie felt fake as shit. The swords looked and felt fake, the CG was annoying and the acting was wooden. Don't get me wrong, Jason Momoa played a DECENT Conan, but he just wasn't as physically imposing as Arnold. For example, when Arnold would open his arms wide up with a sword in one hand and then bring them together to hold the sword two handed. You got to see how crazy big his physique actually was. It made you think, yeah man, that's how Robert Howard thought he would look. Sure Arnold wasn't the greatest actor around that time in his career, but the locations, props, and other actors (ahem Mako) made this movie a classic right out of the theater. Sadly I was only a child when it came out.

I agree. Look at the old Conan paintings that graced the covers of the original Conan books and this Jason Momoa wasn't even close. Conan needs to be physically imposing. He wasn't .

Watching this it's amazing how much of the cast is in their first movie. Lots of credit to the director and writer(s?). But, definitely a happy set of accidents too, for this to have turned out so well.

The pasting?

@@ThatGingerCuntFromTerminator2 Probably meant pacing.

Greatest Sword and sorcery movie ever made. Makes Game Of Thrones look like a disney production. This is how it should be done!

You were still a child then

Exactly. Conan has already beaten the best that Doom could throw at him. Now he had to master the will to resist Doom's seduction, and that was his greatest victory.

I watch it about two times every year. I work out to its soundtrack.

Thank you. That whole riddle of steel has plagued my mind for years.

Never feel guilty about liking this movie 😎😎

same

@innpea sea Absolutely!

Brother John She was heat incarnate!

Brother John Valiera is one of the hottest fantasy chick characters

Teela sort of ripped off Valeria.......

John Collins She still is stunning. It's sad she didn't get much work in film after this. I thought she was the hottest actress in business when this came out

She gave me the tingles ...I was 13 , I thoroughly enjoyed it

One of the best villains ever. Do you know the type, that kills their closest minions when they fail? Not him. The two guys were spared and treated as friends, making him an intelligent villain. This also just supports the ending when Thulsa didn't summon giant snakes and armies and such, just wanted to subdue, hypnotize Conan with force of will, and (on my opinion) making him an ally... just theorizing, and having goosebumps, so terrifying Doom was...

One wonders if the writers of The Walking Dead drew inspiration for the Governor from Thulsa Doom.

A lot of people think James Earl Jones played Darth Vader because he did the voice.

I thought it was quite ingenious hint of him being a member of the original race from which all humans steam. He had long dark and straight hair (asians), dark skin (africans) and blue eyes (northern europeans).

James Earl Jones' performance as Thulsa Doom is one more reason why this film didn't need to be remade.

+Turd Ferguson Cheers buddy!

Every Arnold movie is the coolest man movie ever. Predator, Commando, Terminator etc

@@nimazsheik5152 Not Batman & Robin.

@@jp3813 I disagree - Even Batman & Robin!

I have to disagree. The greatest movie for guys who love movies came a decade earlier - Dirty Harry. Clint Eastwood is the type of person every man wishes he was.

@ He said coolest, not greatest.

i need to give the black robe a re-watch.

@@notthesamecc1927 As well you should. It's a very well-done film. A few others include The 13th Warrior, Flesh & Blood, and The Last Valley.

Agreed, but Beastmaster was good.

@@hippychikforever Yeah that is a hell of a film. I think the only thing that drops it a point below Conan, is some of the acting. Parts are astounding, but there are some actors who just don't nail it. Whereas in Conan, the acting feels within range with the actors..... well, apart from JEJ who dominates every scene.

I do believe Conan The Barbarian was among the first to kill off a love interest that way.

Po Chia Rambo II did that to.

Valeria’s death comes from a similar plot thread in one of the original stories-Queen of the Black Coast.

The most recent mad max film has a to woman die.

@@TheThejayman32 Another way this film respects the source material.

UnderdogTactics bb

This is one of those movies I'll toss in the Blu-Ray player while waiting for dinner to cook thinking I'm just going to watch the opening sequence and the first battle, then two hours later I'm still glued to the screen and wondering what's on fire in the kitchen but not able to tear myself away to find out.

Yeah buddy...I love sceen with him and sumiti before the battle...

*Arnold's life

Brother John Conan made a successful Save vs. Spells. ;)

um doom did turn into a snake? that did happen in the movie.

MR.Chickennuget 360 yes that happended

I though the "enigma of steel" wasn't metaphorically but an actual powers the whole time in the father's sword.which is why it could pierce through thulsa doom's enchantment and magics

The reason Thalsa Doom gets his head cut off without a fight is because this is a mirror of the beginning when Doom hypnotizes Conan's mother then cuts off her head. Its the first harsh lesson in life Conan learned. Thalsa Doom unwittingly taught Conan to kill him by seeing through his manipulation. Its poetic justice that the same sword that decapitated Conan's mother also decapitated Thalsa Doom, ending the quest for vengeance. Thalsa Doom was right about the riddle of steel, the will that wields the sword is more powerful than the blade itself. Its just that he unwittingly gave Conan the power to defeat him by making Conan's will for vengeance unbreakable.

Ironically,Conan the destroyer trying to envisioned the original robert e howard's vision of Conan

Conan the destroyer was a result of people liking the first one, and Hollywood attempting to squeeze in bigger stars. Terrible movie in comparison.

I respectfully disagree. I think the tone of Destroyer seemed more tongue in cheek, like self-aware that they're a bunch of grown adults standing around in furs and leather. Lots of jokes and cringey character development scenes (telling rather than showing). Even the violence was toned down to get more kids in the audiences. The Hyborean world of Conan the Barbarian feels darker, more menacing, and totally immersive, and IMO, much more like the Howard books.

Earthworm Jim: AMEN!

@@Shoegazebasedgenre0. The early Conan stories by Howard were a mixture of The Noble Savage trope (particularly influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs) and Lovecraftian horror. I suppose the movie was trying for that, but really came off to me as a cash grab with actors just moving around and saying lines. Was very disappointed by it.

same. too campy, cheap and colourful. i wonder if a muted filter would help in a rewatch to make things look less stupid. maybe b and w.

Anyone that says these movie are boring probably has garbage taste in movies.

you could add blade runner and legend

Mako's voice-over set the whole tone. It put you at the right spot in time to understand where it was going. If you used lets say James Earl's voice, it wouldn't have been as mystical. It wouldn't have seemed exactly as Basil wrote the soundtrack "Sit by the fire and let me tell you the story of Conan". It takes a gravely grandfather voice to tell this story.