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Conan the Barbarian [1981]
from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cassandra Gaviola, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Sandahl Bergman, James Earl Jones
directed by John Milius

Features:

• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

The film that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's international career, Conan the Barbarian is still regarded by many as his finest hour. Limited to a mere handful of lines and expertly directed to play up the Nietzschean strength of the character by John Milius, the Austrian Oak has never looked more suited to a role, his muscle flexing and sword twirling apparently effortless. The extraordinarily finely detailed production design ensures that the barren Spanish countryside perfectly suits the Hyborean-era backdrop envisioned by author Robert E Howard. Whether dressed in rags or riches, Schwarzenegger and companions Subotai (Gerry Lopez) and Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) look believably born to their surroundings. Backing their own very fine performances are brilliant supporting roles from James Earl Jones as serpentine baddie Thulsa Doom and Max Von Sydow as doomed King Osric.

Plot-wise the film is simply the transformation of a wild barbarian into a worldly-wise king who, via a quest for revenge, finally learns the riddle of steel. The script is highly regarded for its dazzling set-pieces (the opening village raid, the orgy of body parts) and quotable dialogue ("They shall all drown in lakes of blood"), and it comes complete with an anti-peace movement reactionary subtext for anyone who cares to look close enough. One other element deserving mention is the extraordinary score by Basil Poledouris, which inspires the film with a sense of operatic grandeur.

On the DVD: Conan the Barbarian appears as a suitably mythic special edition DVD. Sadly the magnificent score can only be heard in a mono mix, but the very fine picture is presented in 2.35:1. The extras package is phenomenal, too. Several deleted scenes have been re-edited into the film, but are available to view independently as well. There's a quick split-screen special effects feature showing how the ghostly spirits were added to Conan's resurrection. "The Conan Archives" is an 11-minute slide show of drawings, costumes and advertising. Best of all is the fantastic 53-minute "Conan Unchained" documentary interviewing every conceivable contributor who all reminisce with great fondness. It's slightly better seeing Schwarzenegger and Milius than hearing them talk in their commentary, which inevitably re-tells many of the same anecdotes in between puffs of Arnie's stogies. --Paul Tonks

DVD Special Features:

Commentary by Arnold Schwarzenegger and director John Milius
Documentary -- Conan Unchained: The Making of Conan
Deleted scenes
Cast and crew biographies
Production notes
The Conan Archives -- video montage of stills
Special effects split screen video
Theatrical trailers
Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic
Language: English, Dolby Digital (5.1)

Years after the brutal murder of his parents, Conan the Barbarian (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sets out on a perilous quest for vengeance on the evil Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones). With his trusted companions, Conan has a series of marvelous adventures which culminate in a face-off against Thulsa Doom. The film, directed by John Milius, is vigorous and bloody sword-and-sorcery epic featuring Schwarzenegger's breakthrough role.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Epic - best fantasy flick ever
  Ah, Conan the Barbarian. As a shaggy haired, Metallica T-shirt wearing adolescent i was obssesed by this tale of blood, gore, vengence, beards, swords, furskin boots and all things manly. Now, as an educated, clean shaven, suit wearing proffesional i decided to revisit this with little more in mind then to satisfy my curiousity as to why i loved it so. To my surpise, i found that this was indeed a real classic film of high calibar and, if anything, i enjoy it more as an adult then a boy.
  There are some... more info

• The standard by which to set all sorcery fantasy films
  John Milius got it right first time with this genre - and clearly still had fire in the belly fresh from his previous work on the mighty Apocalypse Now. The casting for this film was spot on with Arnie in his most convincing performance, and non-actors such as Gerry Lopez, Sandahl Bergman and Ben Davison were very watchable. But if BOTH Max von Sydow AND James Earl Jones sign up to appear in the same film, something has to be good. This film is very good, and I'll say it - all in all, not least considering... more info

• CLASSIC ARNIE
  Arnie at his peek. Never the Shakespeare candidate, this was his speciality. Man of few words (thankfully) the film is full of sword fighting, sorcery and monsters. A good adventure film with a basic but okay storyline. Well worth a watch.

• great film, hilarious commentary.
  i remember seeing this as a kid and loved it. it still stands up as a good film to adult eyes. ok, a little bit hokey at times but it never crosses the line into 'crap'. for me, though, the real treat is the unintentional comic genius of the director's commentary in which Arnie sounds almost drunk and comes out with winning stuff like "..and now we are running." in his trademark drawl. great.

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