Conan the Barbarian

I've never listened to the Conan commentary. That's pretty cool. Arnold yelling Sven when he was on screen. I have had the opportunity to watch Conan Unchained.

 

So the film is on HBO right now and I'm watching it and a couple of things occur to me that had not before despite my many viewings.

In the beginning Conan's father tells him about the riddle of steel, ending by pointing to the sword and telling him it was the only thing he could trust. Thusla Doom later tells Conan "What good is the hand compared to the hand that wields it?" meaning that the human drive or soul is the real weapon. Inadvertantly, Conan's father has already told him that the only thing he can trust is himself when he points at the sword.
Also, this very idea is what saves Conan at the end. Thusla Doom tries to hypnotize Conan, luring him under his influence. Conan is not simply snapping out of it when he shakes his head and kills him. He takes both lessons, the Riddle as told to him by Doom and more importantly by his father that the only one he can trust is himself. So Conan remembers this and is able to resist Thulsa Doom for Conan knows he cannot trust him, he can only trust himself. That is why he could resist Thusla Doom at the end.

 

Yeah that's a good observation. I've had a similar observation about the sword. His father tells him that the sword is the only thing he can trust, but then that same sword was used to kill his mother. In the end though the sword breaks when Rexnor uses it to fight Conan, in effect redeaming itself. Although once again it betrayed Rexnor that time. So the lesson is you can't trust swords.

edit: Again going back to the riddle, that will is more important than steel.

 

" Look at the strength of your body - the desire in your heart. I GAVE THIS TO YOU! Contemplate this on the Tree of Wo. Crucify him! "


* shivers uncontrollably *

 

I have experienced the Tree Of Wo...sorta.

I was in the Navy in the early 1990's. And as you have seen on a news report here and there, forms of hazing do take place. So, one year my birthday rolled around a friend of mine ratted me out. I say that because I certainly did not want anyone to know it was my birthday. And the reason was beacuse of the Table Of Wo. This was the table in our berthing area where you were held down while the 32 members of our division gave you a "Pink Belly". This is where each person open-hand slaps you on your stomach. Now you'd think maybe the first few hits would be ok and it would get painful as you went. NO! The first one hurts and it gets worse from there.
I did get my revenge of course. When my friends birthday came around I made sure it was common knowledge. Given his loud-mouth sort of attitude it was gonna be a massacre. I claimed first and last hits. The latter being a jump from a chair to get some extra momentum.
Beware the Table Of Wo.

 

It seems that Milius had his own themes in mind before he picked up the Conan material.

 

True enough, but the scene on the Tree of Woe (including Conan crushing the throat of a vulture with his teeth) were all part of Howard's writing. Speaking of which, I am just about finished with Red Nails and am really looking forward to the forthcoming animated version.

 

Right on. By the way that's http://www.conanrednails.com

Many bits and pieces of Howard's stories were used in Ctb and CtD in a sort of Hyborian cole slaw, including a couple of elements from the Kull stories. Valeria is from Red Nails, but the coming back from the dead is from Queen of the Black Coast, and oh that would be Belit. It's actually a fun train-spotting game to see which parts were lifted out of the originals. Everything, but the plot, it seems.

 

I love Conan the Barbarian.

It's one of the great pulp-fantasy films ever made. Arnold is great and James Earl Jones is a great villain. Its also got a hilarious dvd commentary from Arnold:

Director John Milius: (attempting to be deep and pretentious) "The sword and steel is symbolic of power", "It symbolizes a man's thirst for conquest".

Arnold: "Yah, I get laid a lot in dis movie and I really enjoyed punching ze camel!"

Another hilarious Arnold line:

"This is John Milius and if you believe that then there are Richard Simmons Jr.'s running around!"

And yes, its a shame Conan the Destroyer was utter crap. Though the one scene that was great was in the ice tower when Conan fights the demon lord (played by Pat Roach of Indy fame). Then Conan defeats the demon through breaking the mirrors.

 

That really sucks.

 

Conan won't be the same without him.

 

Rest in peace Mako.

 

I'm watching T2 right now, and i have a habit of looking up movies on IMDB or Wiki when I watch them. This lead through other links which lead to a quote of Arnold lamenting the PG rating that was being sought for Conan The Destroyer.

[From an interview expressing concern over making Conan less brutal in its sequel]: "I think it's a mistake. I know Sylvester Stallone made an extra $20 million because he got a PG rating for Rocky III, but its a matter of how much you want to stay within the character's reality. Can you slaughter people and never see blood? Is it possible? You must have battles. That's part of life, war, and the world of Conan."

So Arnold had the right idea as some of us have mentioned.

 

I listen to a few tracks of the soundtrack everytime i'm in the gym. R.I.P. Basil.

 

Has anyone heard anything about the planned animated film of Robert E Howard's Conan story Red Nails?

 

Last I heard it would be released this year. I'll probably watch it but I'm not all that excited about it.

 

I've not heard about the animated story. I have seen screen shots from the Conan MMORPG. Looks pretty nice.

 

I really want to know why this movie is not on Netflix.

Oh and love this movie. One of my all time favorite childhood era movies.

 

I busted out the movie score for this film last night after I saw both Mako's and Basil's images during the memorium presentation at the Oscars.


LN

 

I was just watching Conan the Destroyer on HBO and decided to look up some Wiki info which had a couple of links I had not seen.

Conancompletist looks good and has a gallery section which also features one of the orgy girls who was also a Playboy playmate. Yes, warning: nudity.
There is also a huge section detailing the deleted scenes. (Conan is in a pit fight with a female, Valeria in a pit fight).

Barbarian Keep appears to be a long article talking about production and such. I have not read it through yet.

I have added a Frazzetta painting as a pic in my profile.

 

I'm so glad they used the Riddle of Steel theme for Gladiator trailer. It's just inspirational.