PRE-SCREENING OF THE NEW CONAN MOVIE

Went to see a pre-screening of the new Conan movie last night and I must say I was not disappointed overall. Jason Momoa plays quite a convincing Conan. Much of Howard’s conception of his creation was apparent and easily identified. The movie neither adds nor takes away from Howard’s concept of Conan. This was refreshing and respectful to Howard’s creation I thought considering some of the other productions that came before. The other movies were good in their own respect, but this new one is authentic, not someone else trying to recreate Conan in their on concept.

The 3-D effects were better than I expected. The story though was a bite on the shallow end, still not bad. Great battle scenes, lots of action, just a good all round adventure. I would like to think Robert Howard would be happy with the movie.

The movie opens with Conan’s birth on the battle field, followed by the most recent trailer where Conan kill several Pict Warriors and the attack on his tribe, which resulted in the death of his father. From that point the movie moves quickly into the story line.

Nicely done!

Sure there are some things about the movie that wasn’t right, honestly there minor overall. One aspect about the movie that impressed me was it had an ancient Hyborian Age feel to it, with all it richness and flavor.

In my opinion you will not be disappointed. It was like see an issue of Savage Sword of Conan and the first run of the Dark Horse comics come to life.

Excellent! I'm looking forward to seeing it.

In 1982 I was at the USA premiere of Conan the Barbarian in Atlanta Georgia, a fantastic movie as far a first attempt to bring the iconic character to the screen, but still hardly the Conan I knew according to Robert E Howard’s writings. At the time I remember leaving the theater feeling disappointed to some degree and trying to digest watch I just saw. This was not the Conan I thought, but then again it wasn't a bad one all things considered. The fans were disappointed that I spoke with at the time coming out of the theater, claiming pretty much the same as they are doing now. Largely the complain centered on the movie being John Mulinus’s version of the character, not Robert E Howard’s. Sounds like the familiar criticism concerning the new film?

All I read at the time from producer and directors was you cannot transfers Howard’s books to film; certain liberties have to be take for the general public to grasp the movie as a whole and who Conan is. Same as to day it seems and for the most part this is understandable. The critics at that time by and large trash the movie for the same reasons they are doing with the 2011 release. Saying the film was mindless; Conan in general is just an ignorant barbarian buffoon and should be treated as such. If you think about it what are these critics actually saying about the fans? Is this how they view a Conan/Howard fan as a rule?

Conan the Destroyer met the same fate and largely was a total flop, although I thought the movie was better than the first, except for that stupid drunken scene that was supposed to be funny. None the less one thing was for certain again, no one had a clear idea of what Conan should really be like on screen.

The first two movies certainly dumb down the character I thought. Conan was supposed to be daring, strong will, possessing strong intellect and muscular prowess which was fitting for a conqueror for his era. Both movies were interesting, but fail to produce a true Conan image to the fans and created a misplace one with the general public’s eye that we still live with today. CONAN IS DUMB!
Then there was the TV series, which was okay if you were desperate just to watch some Conan. Ralf Rudolf Möller was an excellent Conan overall for TV, but he did not stand a chance. The directing was awful, story lines were even worse, scripts were bad, and special effects look like something I would do. The 1990’s cartoon series was better overall than the TV show. Well enough said here.

Once again Conan failed to meet the general idea of the true characterization Robert E Howard created.

Now we have the new movie. Is this best Conan movie to date or is it time to pull out the board swords and cut it to pieces? The new movie is hardly perfect and neither takes away or adds to the Robert E Howard lore. It is just what it is a rendition of an issue of Savage Sword of Conan or even the online game if you think of it. This is what the general public is looking for, at least according to all the other action movies to hit the theaters recently and this is what they got. The new movie may not carry the exact Robert E Howard story line, but then again it is there. Even “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy was hardly true to Tolkien’s stories either.

All over the question seems to be who the hell is Conan and where is he? Can anyone, either actor, director, script, special effects and so on ever make a movie that can meet our expectations? It seems everyone has a general idea who Conan should be as actor, or who should direct the film or whom should do the special effects, and so on, but that’s the problem there is just a general idea. With a character that is so celebrate as Howard’s Conan it is hard to pin it down. The comic book fans have a general idea; the gamers have an idea; book enthusiast; etc…

Time has been kind to the first two movies. Now they are much celebrated, especially the first one and time will hopefully do so for the 2011 movie. The one thing Conan fans may consider asking our self before and after we see the new movie is; have we already made our minds up that the movie is going to fail our expectations’, even though we don’t know what we are looking for the most part. It easy to pick out all the things that don't work in the new movie, but we don't seem to mention the parts that do work or describe exactly what were saying, other than the movie isn’t what we were looking for.

Be mindful of what you say. There is much on the line here. Don’t bash the movie unless you can give true constructive criticism. Personally I would like to see a sequel, but if the numbers and fans aren’t there and/or our reaction to the movie is a total negative position, well we may not see Conan come to the screen for another 20 years. Hell, I’ll be too old to care even, not really.

So take care of what you say. Support is critical for this film. Lions Gate Films and others who invested into this venture is watching and if they drop it, well like I mention it may be another 20 years before we see another Conan movie. We should give them praise for even making an attempt to give us something. A proper response will always allow for growth, a negative reaction always closes the door. Once again let’s not trip over our on preverbal board sword, so to speak.

Jason Momoa is an excellent Conan overall. To the general public no one even knows who Jason Momoa is except those of us who watch Star Gate Atlantis, which by and large gave him the acting experience needed to play Conan. True he still may look like Ronan from SGA, but who cares. He is performed a good all round Conan.

Last year at a local SCIFI/Gamming convention I spoke with Jason about the new film briefly. I tried to pull aspects about the upcoming film out of him, but he said he was under contract and could really talk about, so we talk in general about the character of Conan. From what I remember he said that he was happy overall with his portrayal of Conan. Then said it’s just not as easy as you would think to transfer Howard’ Conan unto film if you appreciate the character the way I do. He stated that he is very familiar with Robert E Howard and namely Conan. An added that his goal was to be Conan, not just act a part. I got the impression he appreciated the character and wanted as much of Howard’s concept to be seen as possible and to bring the fans a believable Conan.

Please note I am not quoting Jason Momoa. It’s been a year since we spoke and I don’t know him.

Now, am I a Conan fan, oh yeah! Am I a Robert E Howard fan you can bet your life on it. Am I bias you're damn straight I am, but I am more than that, as the same as most of you. We as a fan base look at our self as being a part of the fanfare, not just a generalized participant. We are not the originator, but we do carry the torch forward so to speak. The works of Howard is a part of my life, not just a book I read or a movie I’ve seen. My opinions written here are probably one sided, but I feel hits the preverbal nail on the head, even if the nail got a little bent in the process. Guess I’ll be buried with an issue of Savage Sword under my arm…

Conan 2011 is a good movie, full of adventure and sword play. Hopefully there will be a sequel. We need a Conan Trilogy!

Truly well said. I saw the movie this evening and I loved it! I agree, it was very Savage Sword, and this Conan was given more depth, as was the world he was in.
I was a bit disappointed in the soundtrack. The music was good, but not as nearly as iconic as the Polidouris scores.

I don't really understand the need to put one version of Conan over the other. I loved the Milius project. I own the director's cut and still watch it often. I loved this as well. It was different, and I felt went closer to the heart.

You are certain correct about Milius's CTB. The soundtrack is one of the best, it is on my IPod. The production, script, and the overall feel of the movie were certainly as you said, "closer to the heart."

As far as having a need to place one film over the other, I concur. There are strong and weak points about all the Conan films. Just enjoyed them for what they are a movie. The Conan novels is another example that I have read over the last 40 years is just that stories. I can't say I like all of them and some are slightly off either in direction or story line, but that’s okay. It is just a book, same as the movies or any other media of this nature, just enjoy it. If it is more than you can handle either put the book down or get up and walk out of the theater.

The Conan Tv seires is another example I thought it was okay for what it was. It would have be nice to of had the same attetion Xena or Hercules had, but it was interesting if you look over the telephone poles in the background.

It is as if fans get so involve that they lose the objectivity, their sense of perception. I'm probably guilty of this myself by and large, but fandom is something I have fun with, it is not who I am or my life.

Wow...I don't know 3-D added so much more to a film!

That was a horrible film, all the way around: the acting, the costuming, the plot...it just goes on and on...

I judge the film on it's own merits, and not on how much it reflects Howard's works. Nor do I compare it to the Milius film at all. Richard Roper the Conan Film Blog critique were both right in their assessment. As a film, it was terrible! There was nothing about it that was inspired, nothing that stood out, no sense of awe about any of it. And Momoa's Conan was as one dimensional, and wooden as everyone claims Arnold's was, most likely due to the writing.

I expect to walk out of a theatre having been deeply emotionally affected: Like what happened when I saw '82 CTB or Braveheart, even. This? it was no different than any other crappy barbarian type flicked churned out by uninspired directors and half assed efforts...

And if you do not agree...to Hell with you!

I was at the O2 centre premiere screening of this movie as hosted by Jason Momoa. Its an awful mess of a film. I really rooted for "King Conan : Crown of Iron" and to see this pitiful excuse for an attempt at cinema is just heartbreaking for ALL Conan fans. Sure Milius' King Conan script needed rewriting a little (without Waschowski bros. horrid interference though) but I'm sure it would have worked out really well. This was not even enjoyable. It would have served better as a sequel to "The sword and the sorcerer"-which was at least enjoyable in its own way.

I'd recommend the movie "Ironclad". Decent movie and far better than some of the bigger budgeted junk.