Starring: Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan, Ron Perlman
Director: Marcus Nispel
Rating: 3/5
We haven't seen a Conan movie since Arnold Schwarzenegger took on the title role in Conan The Destroyer back in 1984.
But Jason Momoa has stepped into very large shoes this year as the franchise was given a reboot by director Marcus Nispel.
Since birth, Conan’s life has been marked by violence.
And after watching his fellow tribesmen and his father brutally and cruelly killed, Conan vows to avenge his peoples’ slaughter, even if it means sacrificing his own life in the process.
Now if you want a sword and sandals style movie with plenty of action and blood and gore than Conan the Barbarian is just what you are looking for - however if you are looking for character development and a meaty script then you really have to look elsewhere.
Yes Conan The Barbarian is about as deep as a puddle but it really is good fun - if you are willing to accept if for what it is.
Momoa is perfectly cast as the brooding Conan, who has plans and thoughts of nothing more than avenging the murder of his father.
It's a physically demanding role for the actor and he steps up to the plate well - never was a Schwarzenegger fan so, for me, a vast improvement on the original!
Tamara had the potential to be a really great female character but the script cannot decide what to do with her, meek & mild or sword wielding heroine - sadly this leaves her stuck in a sort of limbo as she moves between the two.
As I say fleshing out of characters is almost none existent so who she really is, why she is important to the story is pretty much glossed over - just go with it!
There relationship goes exactly where you expect it to go - which I found a little too predictable for my tastes.
Plus does a sex scene really have to be thrown into the middle of a movie like this? Honestly this scene is just awful and has been put in there for the sake of it which is a real shame.
Stephen Lang & Rose McGowan make two perfect baddies - McGown in particular looks fabulous!
But characters have been slightly over looked in favour of CGi special effects and set pieces - and they really do work and make the film very enjoyable.
Conan The Barbarian is a movie that is soaked in blood and gore - which is exactly what we were expecting.
Sure with a meatier script and more rounded characters the film had the potential to be much more but a solid foundation has been laid for any further movies.
Conan The Barbarian is out on DVD & Blu-Ray now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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