'Conan the Barbarian' is a Harlequin Romance on Steroids
Hasta la vista Arnold. The 1982 movie that made Schwarzenegger a star has been remade. This new 3D version introduces us to a new young movie star who more than fits the part.
Hasta la vista Arnold. The 1982 movie that made Schwarzenegger a star has been remade. This new 3D version introduces us to a new young movie star who more than fits the part.
Conan the Barbarian is back. Bare chested, bloody, and brutal, it is everything you would expect from a franchise that helped launch Arnold Schwarzenegger's career 30 years ago. Move over "ah-nold" -- there is a new barbarian breaking new ground.
Hawaiian actor Jason Mamoa breathes new life into the role as Conan. Mamoa is best known for his role in the wildly popular HBO show "Game of Thrones" as Khal Drago. Now the long-haired actor, who looks as if he belongs on the cover of a Harlequin romance, brings his muscular physique to a whole new legion of fans.
The storyline for this movie is classic good guy/bad guy stuff. Conan is set on revenge after his entire village is massacred by an evil overlord. He basically picks up a sword and slays everyone who stands in his way.
The film is really a non-stop barrage of bloody battle scenes. One after another, after another. Ron Pearlman plays a decent supporting role as Conan's father, Corin, and Rose McGowan plays the evil Marique (you can't even recognize her).
Most of the acting is really all about action. Conan relies on his sword, rather than his words. I suppose it is hard to say much when you are really busy chopping people up. The flick-o-meter gives Conan the Barbarian a fair three out of five. Mystical Kingdoms, prophets, and soothsayers seem to be popular subjects these days and, with a bloodthirsty barbarian like Conan on the hunt, this film has a built in audience.
There is a good chance you will hear more about Jason Mamoa after this film. New eye candy for the ladies and some guys out there as well.
Scan the QR code in the video with your smartphone or iphone. Tell me what you think of the new Conan film. Take a picture of the barcode, write a message, and send.
And now you know before you go.
Location:
Showtimes for "Conan the Barbarian" can be found in our Smyrna-Vinings Patch at AMC Parkway Pointe 15 at 3101 Cobb Parkway. Daily showtimes in 3D are at 10:45 a.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:05 p.m., and 11:40 p.m. Non-3D showtimes are at 1:20 p.m. and 3:55 p.m.
After the Movie:
Looking for something a little less bloody and barbaric? Well, consider the student edition of Les Miserables, which opens a three-day run at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center tonight at 8. It continues Saturday night at 8 and Sunday afternoon at 3. Tickets are $14 and $16 and can be bought online. The show is one of three annual productions of the Cobb Children’s Theatre.
In This article
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Les Miserables, School Edition
August 19, 2011 / August 20, 2011 at 8:00 pm548 S Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA -
Cobb Civic Center
548 S Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA -
AMC Parkway Pointe 15
3101 Cobb Pkwy Ste 201, Atlanta, GA
Stan
1:32 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
I would say that "Harlequin romance" phrase most aptly describes why this new guy fades in comparason to the unrepeatable performance of Arnold in the 1982 flick. Not only was Arnold the 9 time body building champ before body building champs looked like total freaks, he also had that Germanic background, poor English language ability, and just straight up true-to-life bad-assedness that this cable-TV kid simply cannot match. not even with his angry pout.
Neal Quigley
1:49 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
First, the movie is good. Momoa is a better Conan, looks more like how Howard describes him, and is actually capable of looking like he can fight, not just pose with a sword. Conan and the Cimmerian's were never supposed to be German/Austrian mush mouths with all-pro spitting gaps. They were supposed to be Gaelic (Irish/Scots/Etc.) thus Conan, which is an Irish name. Just put your pre-conceptions aside and go see it. It isn't the 1980s Conan (which wasn't even close to Howard or the comics) it is something new and better, with costumes and scenery based on the newer Conan stuff going around.
Matthew Hornick
2:01 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
If you read the books you would know that Conan was not a huge bodybuilding oaf. In the books he was definitely muscular but more lean and ripped. He was intelligent, quick witted and he could read and write several languages and he was very charismatic. He was not some dumb oaf that pounded his way through every situation like the arnold movie. Howards iconic barbarian was always meant to be someone more like Momoa than arnold. You cannot compare this movie to the 1982 arnold version because that movie was not what Howard would have portrayed as his character in Conan. I think Momoa is a good match and I have read the books.