Conan - Part 1

[ChickenScratch]

It's all very exciting. Of all the movies this summer I'm looking forward to, I think I'm most looking forward to this and GL over all.

 

[afan]

Conan didn't pick up a bow and arrow until he was out of Cimmeria correct?

George Washington was actually pretty big, well over 6 foot and considered a giant among men back then. He was impressive - you should pick up a biography on him and read it. He was unbelievable with the things he accomplished and the things he went through/survived on his own guts and stamina alone.

As I recall Conan had a strong distaste for the bow and arrow as a weapon. It allowed for dispatching an enemy in an impersonal method without honor. That's not to say as King of Aquilonia he wouldn't recognize it's tactical worth on a battlefield, but it was not a weapon of personal choice for him.

 

[rogue trooper]

New image from a French magazine: http://www.elbakin.net/fantasy/news/conan/14193-Conan-dans-Mad-Movies

 

[Shon]

Went to the movies yesterday and the teaser trailer played, fairly negative reaction. The older guy in front of me who I would think would enjoy this type of film (in his 50's?) commented "That looks ******ed" and people around him snickered.

Anyone else gotten a reaction in the theater from the teaser - pos or neg?

All I have heard is neg, heard some pos on these forums and that is it

 

[rogue trooper]

Look, the Howard purists have actually gone from being negative to neutral towards the film. It seems as more has been shown(like the Empire magazine pics), the more at ease they've become, so far.

It's really the Arnold aficionados(whom most of em' probably haven't read a Howard book) who are at odds. They hate that Momoa doesn't look like the Governator.

The ones who seem to be more excited at how this film is looking so far are the fans of the Marvel and Dark Horse Conan comics.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Arnold and his diehard cultist fans can go enjoy The Governator cartoon. All two episodes of it before it gets cancelled.

I do hope they release a better trailer soon though. The teaser was okay, but it felt a little direct-to-DVD to me. Not exactly sure why. I guess just because they showed so little in it and what they did show really wasn't that interesting. I did like Conan's lines though. I really hope Momoa does a good job because it's tough to step into a role that is so tied to another actor. The sad thing is that it's not even tied to a GOOD actor.

 

[SatEL]

Arnold and his diehard cultist fans can go enjoy The Governator cartoon. All two episodes of it before it gets cancelled.

I do hope they release a better trailer soon though. The teaser was okay, but it felt a little direct-to-DVD to me. Not exactly sure why. I guess just because they showed so little in it and what they did show really wasn't that interesting. I did like Conan's lines though. I really hope Momoa does a good job because it's tough to step into a role that is so tied to another actor. The sad thing is that it's not even tied to a GOOD actor.

Get to the chopahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

[Doctor Jones]

You philistines. Arnold is a thespian at whatever he does. The range, the emotion, encompasses everything an actor wishes they could do with their so-called "abilities."

 

[regwec]

Arnie is a good screen presence. He looks and sounds extremely distinctive, which prevents him really acting in a meaningful sense, but he isn't bad at plausibly conveying different attitudes and emotions. In my opinion he is a better performer than the Jean Claude Van Damme or Dolph Lundgren's of this world. Making a character like Conan tolerably likeable, or the T800 sympathetic, isn't all that easy.

All the same, I am really looking forward to a different spin on the Howard stories. I really enjoyed the Solomon Kane movie, and hope this can be a good counterpart.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Man, I'm aching to watch Solomon Kane. It's on youtube, but it doesn't deserve to be watched on there.

 

[Shon]

Look, the Howard purists have actually gone from being negative to neutral towards the film. It seems as more has been shown(like the Empire magazine pics), the more at ease they've become, so far.

It's really the Arnold aficionados(whom most of em' probably haven't read a Howard book) who are at odds. They hate that Momoa doesn't look like the Governator.

The ones who seem to be more excited at how this film is looking so far are the fans of the Marvel and Dark Horse Conan comics.

Basing your comments on your opinion is pointless.

I got my start on Conan from the Marvel comics - then the first film - then the horrible second - then the novels.

I still enjoy the old Marvel comics, Savage Sword Magazines and the new Dark Horse issues as well as the books and yes I still enjoy the classic film. The second film I can leave behind and not miss, whatever.

I will be there for this film - opening night - and have low expectations based on the film makers involved. I think Momoa is a good choice for the character but wish that he would not have been so rushed into the the filming process. Give the guy more time to work out! Otherwise he has the right height, hair color and such, just too skinny.

Arnold had the right build, just wrong hair (should have been colored but whatever) and at 6 foot 2 a tad on the short side.

Arnold had the classic Buscema/Chan body that most of the other artists interpret Conan to look like from the source material.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

I have the first couple volumes of Essential Savage Sword of Conan, it's pretty badass. AMAZING art.

 

[rogue trooper]

Basing your comments on your opinion is pointless.

I got my start on Conan from the Marvel comics - then the first film - then the horrible second - then the novels.

I will be there for this film - opening night - and have low expectations based on the film makers involved. I think Momoa is a good choice for the character but wish that he would not have been so rushed into the the filming process. Give the guy more time to work out! Otherwise he has the right height, hair color and such, just too skinny.

Arnold had the right build, just wrong hair (should have been colored but whatever) and at 6 foot 2 a tad on the short side.

Arnold had the classic Buscema/Chan body that most of the other artists interpret Conan to look like from the source material.

Well, for that matter, yours is pointless, too.

Yes, Arnold looked like Buscema's rendition. Well, Momoa looks like Barry W. Smith's, as well as Mark Schultz's renditions in the The Coming of Conan TPB(specifically The Tower of The Elephant). Your whole "skinny" argument can be easily dissmisable(not to mention a tired one).



As screenwriter Sean Hood stated: "To perfectly cast REH's Conan, you would have to find an actor with the body of Arnold, the athleticism and flexibility of baryshnikov, the fighting skill of a world-class martial artist, the charisma of a cult idol, and the acting chops of a Royal Shakespeare Company Thespian. No such actor exists in the real world."

 

[rogue trooper]

This is funny. Conan vs Thor vs Green Lantern(Ryan, Conan is not Mongolian): http://www.conanmovieblog.com/2011/04/02/conan-vs-thor-vs-green-lantern-at-omg-com/#more-1730

 

[Wolvieboy17]

REH's Conan is never described as that big anyway, he's described as more 'panther-like'. Also he's frequently encountering human enemies who are bigger than him (and obviously cleaving their skulls in twain :P) so to find people decently bigger than anyone Arnie sized would be ridiculous.

I think he looks great, 10 times better than Arnie as a representation of the REH Conan. The quality of the film will not live or die on how much he does or doesn't look like Arnie, however, it will fall on the script, director and acting. It's funny how little that stuff has come into question in this thread, no, it's all about ethnicity and muscle mass.

 

[Shon]

REH's Conan is never described as that big anyway, he's described as more 'panther-like'. Also he's frequently encountering human enemies who are bigger than him (and obviously cleaving their skulls in twain :P) so to find people decently bigger than anyone Arnie sized would be ridiculous.

I think he looks great, 10 times better than Arnie as a representation of the REH Conan. The quality of the film will not live or die on how much he does or doesn't look like Arnie, however, it will fall on the script, director and acting. It's funny how little that stuff has come into question in this thread, no, it's all about ethnicity and muscle mass.

Howard describes Conan's movement as panther like, not his build. Keep reading.

Howard describes Conan as being giant and deep of chest. Yes he describes people bigger than Conan, but to me deep of chest is someone of somewhat bulky muscular build. Momoa is not this, as stated before - he could be a perfect young Conan with the current build if he wasn't as old as he is.

Well, for that matter, yours is pointless, too.

Yes, Arnold looked like Buscema's rendition. Well, Momoa looks like Barry W. Smith's, as well as Mark Schultz's renditions in the The Coming of Conan TPB(specifically The Tower of The Elephant). Your whole "skinny" argument can be easily dissmisable(not to mention a tired one).

Windsor Smith's Conan was young and fresh out of the hills of Cimmeria, late teens - not fully developed physically.

I hope this movie is good and makes money so a sequel is made, expectations are low but hoping it happens, so Momoa has time to develop a proper frame and grow into the character. I think he can take this into a good direction if this works out. Doubt we will ever see it however.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

But isn't Momoa's Conan fresh out of the hills too? This is a reboot, yes?

You are so fixated on the body type, this is exactly like the Captain America thread before casting. There is more to Conan than his muscle, so much more.

Guess what, Arnie had all the muscle but had zero presence. Conan is the kind of character who just captures a room the moment he enters it. It's the whole picture, his statue, build, eyes, voice etc. Same with how Captain America is so much more than buff and blonde, Conan is so much more than 'arnie build'. If from reading those comics and Conan tales, you came away feeling his muscle mass is the most important part of him, then I feel you are perhaps missing out on the more imporatant parts of the character.

Also, you say his movement is panther like but not his build? Have you ever seen a Rhino move with the speed of a panther? He's supposed to be agile and limber, which is not a body builder's build. To be honest, knowing something about muscle mass building, it would not make sense for Conan to have a body builder's muscle mass anyway, from the lifestyle he leads.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

To me, all those are perfect Conan.

 

[rogue trooper]

Windsor Smith's Conan was young and fresh out of the hills of Cimmeria, late teens - not fully developed physically.

I hope this movie is good and makes money so a sequel is made, expectations are low but hoping it happens, so Momoa has time to develop a proper frame and grow into the character. I think he can take this into a good direction if this works out. Doubt we will ever see it however.

Windsor-Smith also drew the "Red Nails" adaptation, which takes place in Conan's more mature years, and he drew Conan with very much the same physique he had done previously.

Also, Christian Bale at his 30's effectively played a "Batman:Year One"-young Bruce Wayne/Batman in "Batman Begins". I don't see why Momoa shouldn't be able to pass for a young Conan.


I've no doubt Momoa will bulk even more for a sequel. Hey, Arnold got even more jacked-up for "Conan The Destroyer". Hugh Jackman got even bigger for Wolverine in "Origins" than he was in X2 & 3. That doesn't mean, though, that Jackman looked significantly less impressive in X2. Same with Momoa in this Conan film.

 

[LongDong]

I've no doubt Momoa will bulk even more for a sequel. Hey, Arnold got even more jacked-up for "Conan The Destroyer". Hugh Jackman got even bigger for Wolverine in "Origins" than he was in X2 & 3. That doesn't mean, though, that Jackman looked significantly less impressive in X2. Same with Momoa in this Conan film.

Actually Shwarzenegger was smaller for Destroyer. He had lost mass for the original movie and lost even more mass for Destroyer, he was no longer body building. Thankfully, at he height of his BBuilding days, he would have been way too big to play Conan or any character other than the Hulk. Go check out pics of him when he was actually building, he was HUGE.

Fact - the only time Shwarzenegger ever lost anything to Lou Ferrigno (or anything for that matter) was when he tried out for the role of the Incredible Hulk. They said he was not tall enough.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

I just watched Arnie's Conan again, and honestly, the only thing in any of those films that feels even vaguely Conan is the locations. Everything else just feels so generic fantasy, with Arnie as a generic barbarian. I think it's such a shame, that for some many people, that is the definitive version of Conan. I think he is just as poorly portrayed as Bane is in Batman Forever.

Why do strong characters like Conan always just get distilled down to brutish and muscly? They do the same thing with The Punisher, distill him to some guy who just kills people. No effort at exploring the depth of torment behind him, in the same way they ignore the intelligence and cunning of Conan. But it doesn't matter, right? As long as he's as muscly as Arnie.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

A lot of Conan fans feel like the first Schwarzenegger movie is a terrible Conan film but an awesome Hyborian Age one.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

Yeah, I can dig that. I just wish it wasn't 'Conan'. It could have been anyone. He certainly wasn't a Cimmerian, that's for sure.

You know what bugged me about Arnie the most? In almost every REH Conan tale, some 'civilised' person see's Conan and says something like "What will you do, you're just another stupid, ignorant Barbarian" and then Conan would gut him and say "Fool, i'm a Cimmerian!". With the REH Conan, it was always awesome to see how underestimated he was, but with the Arnie Conan, that would pretty much be an accurate summary. He's not even a skilled fighter, he just seems to have raw strength. Arnie Conan is just the kind of enemy that REH Conan would fight circles around.

 

[rogue trooper]

A lot of Conan fans feel like the first Schwarzenegger movie is a terrible Conan film but an awesome Hyborian Age one.

Some would say it is a better Kull-like movie than a Conan movie.

 

[Thundarr]

Why does everyone on this thread assume that being big and muscular = being slow and clumsy? Has anyone here ever watched a pro wrestling match? Has anyone here ever seen the amazing feats of athleticism performed by people like The Undertaker? The Rock? Mike Awesome? Bill Goldberg? I've seen The Undertaker, at 6'10" and 300 lbs, dive over the top rope onto his opponent on the floor. I've seen The Rock, at 6'6" and 275 lbs, do a nip up. Same for the 6'6", 300 lbs Bill Goldberg. Mike Awesome was 6'4", weighed 280 lbs, and was often described as "a superheavyweight who flew like a cruiserweight". So why must Conan be either a skinny gymnast in a fur loincloth or a clumsy bodybuilder in a fur loincloth? Why can't he be a bodybuilder with the speed and agility of a gymnast in a fur loincloth? That's what Conan is supposed to be anyway.

I also don't get the hate for the Arnold movie. I thought he did a great job in the role. In fact, that movie is what got me interested in the comics and, later, the novels. And when I read those comics and novels? In my mind, all of Conan's dialogue is in an Austrian accent. And who says that Arnold's Conan was just a mountain of muscle who didn't know how to fight. I mean, did you actually WATCH the movie? Conan was taken east, "where the War Masters taught him the deepest secrets". And Arnold himself had to study for months with a master swordsman from Japan in order to prepare for the role. He may even have adopted kendo training into his regular exercise regemine. Try watching the movie with the feature length commentary, and the special features on the DVD. And do so with an open mind, not a preset "this is the Arnold version so this is gonna suck" mindset.