Conan the Barbarian

(2011, Marcus Nispel)

So what is there to say? Jason Momoa as Conan, with appropriate levels of sexiness, nudity, and violence. Sadly this film lacks the resonance and brilliant character actors of the John Milius original (1982). There are plenty of R.E. Howard-esque moments and Frazetta-like scenery and landscapes but this movie has a dull story and is poorly plotted with a number of very weak edit points and CG. Having once sat on a plane with Sandahl Bergman when I was 8 years old, and considering I think Gerry Lopez is a god, the Milius film will be definitive for me for some time.

Stephen Lang is awesome as a bad guy. I like Said Taghmaoui but he was totally under-utilized. Rachel Nichols is cute and capable and Ron Perlman is the most epic looking barbarian father ever. Rose McGowan is well cast as an evil witch but she seemed wooden or maybe it was just the wooden script. This film at 70 mil. felt made for cable. I will give Jason Momoa this: he has a barbaric backside. Morgan Freeman narration and beautiful Bulgarian backdrops could not save this movie. (5/7)

Trailer

Is it pronounced: KO-NAHN or KONEN?

Go here for more about Texas author and Conan creator, Robert E. Howard