Conan

[rogue trooper]

Make that "The Thing in The Crypt", and it was really just the sequence of Conan inside the crypt and finding the sword with the giant skeleton that is from that particular story. They also took elements from "Queen of The Black Coast"(Valeria returning from the dead to aid Conan), and "A Witch Shall Be Born"(Conan crucified).

 

[Nivek]

Yes, but Milnus, Stone and other writers added unnecessary un-Howard elements like the Cimmerians being slaughtered and Conans parents killed, Conan being a child slave, and Gladiator Pit Fighter. I love the first film, it was a noble effort, and has kick-ass bleeding out of it then that music starts blaring out of the speakers. I didn't even mind Conan the Destroyer when I was little, but as I got older it greatly lost its appeal to me.

But I would really like to see a more visceral, Howard oriented Conan films.

 

[That-Guy]

Routh as Conan? Goddamn, that would be interesting. How could he play a badass though? I could imagine him in the role, the look, but how would he play it. He has a soft voice. I'd put the man through hell to make him badass. Extensive dicipline and training, etc.

Hey, he's not Supes anymore, we'll see how Dylan Dog goes (which sounds really cool)

LOL... I was joking...

 

[rogue trooper]

Exclusive interview with Marcus Nispel on Conan:http://www.conanmovieblog.com/2009/...iew-with-the-director-of-conan-marcus-nispel/


Exclusive interview with the director of Conan – Marcus Nispel

Some weeks ago we started a blunt project and collected questions from the community on this blog and in the official Conan forums for an interview with Marcus Nispel, the director of the upcoming Conan movie. Even though the success of the project was not sure at start, we send it off into the aether in hope to get an answer back, from the powers that be and by Crom we got an answer!
Here is the exclusive interview with Marcus Nispel, the director of the Conan movie.
Interview with Marcus Nispel

How important is it to you to stick to the Conan character of the original REH stories?

The character of Conan is what most attracted me to this project. He is the last of the reality-based superheroes and the most unapologetic one at that. I find that refreshing in these politically correct times.
​

Did you read the REH Conan stories, and if so, which one is your favorite story and why?

I have no favorite story – the character is what intrigues me, following him through life.
​

What do you think are the predominant qualities of the Conan character?

Well, it’s all spelled out on the opening page. Conan is “a man of great mirth and great melancholy”. Though, I had to look up what “mirth” meant, I certainly dig the melancholy aspect. To me, that really sets Conan apart from other heroes.
​

What are your thoughts on the previous Conan films? What did you like or dislike?

The original “Conan” movie was written by two master storytellers, Oliver Stone and John Milius, giving us a tough act to follow! Their movie also features the best beheading ever in a major motion picture. Besides, perhaps “Let the Right One In”, which is another perfect example of creativity over special effects.
Like all movies they have to be understood in the context of the time they were produced. Our collective consciousness changes every generation, though and we can’t step into the same river twice. “Conan the Barbarian” was initially released in the disco era, on the heels of “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back”. The original film must have hit people like a freight train upon its release. Today is a different time entirely. As a society, we are more cynical in times of depression. We have been overfed with high gloss and contrived CG imagery and seek something we can grasp. As our consciousness has shifted, so will the image of Conan.
​

What guidelines for the actor who portrays Conan would you give to your casting director?

We’re not interested in doing an Arnold look-alike contest!
​

What are your thoughts on the REH themes (”barbarism vs civilization” and “existentialism”)

As I already said, we are all getting a little fed up with our own civilization. I’m guilty of several remakes, but am fully aware that a remake of great material does not automatically equal success. A movie like this needs to hit the zeitgeist.
In all of my movies, I am drawn to tribal behavior since I grow easily bored with the antiseptic world in which we live. I like to give people a second hand idea of what its like to have dirt under your fingernails. Most of all, I like getting dirt under my nails making it! I want to create a cathartic experience!
​

Are you aiming for an ‘R’ rating with this movie?

I’d love to do the x-rated version!
​

What do you have in mind for sword fights? More asian swirling swords, or more realistic fighting?

Conan is no Errol Flynn and there will be no “frozen moments”, but he will spar with a host of characters that fight in their unique own ways. We all know that Hyboria is an ethnically diverse world. Conan will have to adapt his style slightly to conquer them.
​

Will you aim to make a movie with varied pacing and different emotional moods, or a high-paced action epic?

I will include different emotional moods in a high-paced action epic. One approach need not exclude the other.
​

 

[ChickenScratch]

How important is it to you to stick to the Conan character of the original REH stories?

The character of Conan is what most attracted me to this project. He is the last of the reality-based superheroes and the most unapologetic one at that. I find that refreshing in these politically correct times.
​

Did you read the REH Conan stories, and if so, which one is your favorite story and why?

I have no favorite story – the character is what intrigues me, following him through life.
​

What do you think are the predominant qualities of the Conan character?

Well, it’s all spelled out on the opening page. Conan is “a man of great mirth and great melancholy”. Though, I had to look up what “mirth” meant, I certainly dig the melancholy aspect. To me, that really sets Conan apart from other heroes.
​

Makes me think he's never read a Conan book before.​

 

[rogue trooper]

Makes me think he's never read a Conan book before.

Well, regarding not citing a specific favorite story could mean 2 things; either he hasn't read any, or he loves Conan the way Howard wrote him and doesn't see the harm in creating new stories while at the same time keeping true to the spirit of Howard's Conan. Maybe.

 

[Panthro]

Brandon Routh as Conan? Hmm... not sure that would work. But I guess with Superman going nowhere, Routh has to find SOMETHING.

 

[Doctor Jones]

That Guy, you actually gave me an idea for Routh. That COULD work.

 

[rogue trooper]

Guys, seriously!! I mean, fans have been waiting to hear or read what Marcus Nispel has had to further say on the film, and now we have it, and here we are still talking about Brandon Routh!! Funny!

 

[Panthro]

Exclusive interview with Marcus Nispel on Conan:http://www.conanmovieblog.com/2009/...iew-with-the-director-of-conan-marcus-nispel/


Exclusive interview with the director of Conan – Marcus Nispel

Some weeks ago we started a blunt project and collected questions from the community on this blog and in the official Conan forums for an interview with Marcus Nispel, the director of the upcoming Conan movie. Even though the success of the project was not sure at start, we send it off into the aether in hope to get an answer back, from the powers that be and by Crom we got an answer!
Here is the exclusive interview with Marcus Nispel, the director of the Conan movie.
Interview with Marcus Nispel

How important is it to you to stick to the Conan character of the original REH stories?

The character of Conan is what most attracted me to this project. He is the last of the reality-based superheroes and the most unapologetic one at that. I find that refreshing in these politically correct times.
​

Did you read the REH Conan stories, and if so, which one is your favorite story and why?

I have no favorite story – the character is what intrigues me, following him through life.
​

What do you think are the predominant qualities of the Conan character?

Well, it’s all spelled out on the opening page. Conan is “a man of great mirth and great melancholy”. Though, I had to look up what “mirth” meant, I certainly dig the melancholy aspect. To me, that really sets Conan apart from other heroes.
​

What are your thoughts on the previous Conan films? What did you like or dislike?

The original “Conan” movie was written by two master storytellers, Oliver Stone and John Milius, giving us a tough act to follow! Their movie also features the best beheading ever in a major motion picture. Besides, perhaps “Let the Right One In”, which is another perfect example of creativity over special effects.
Like all movies they have to be understood in the context of the time they were produced. Our collective consciousness changes every generation, though and we can’t step into the same river twice. “Conan the Barbarian” was initially released in the disco era, on the heels of “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back”. The original film must have hit people like a freight train upon its release. Today is a different time entirely. As a society, we are more cynical in times of depression. We have been overfed with high gloss and contrived CG imagery and seek something we can grasp. As our consciousness has shifted, so will the image of Conan.
​

What guidelines for the actor who portrays Conan would you give to your casting director?

We’re not interested in doing an Arnold look-alike contest!
​

What are your thoughts on the REH themes (”barbarism vs civilization” and “existentialism”)

As I already said, we are all getting a little fed up with our own civilization. I’m guilty of several remakes, but am fully aware that a remake of great material does not automatically equal success. A movie like this needs to hit the zeitgeist.
In all of my movies, I am drawn to tribal behavior since I grow easily bored with the antiseptic world in which we live. I like to give people a second hand idea of what its like to have dirt under your fingernails. Most of all, I like getting dirt under my nails making it! I want to create a cathartic experience!
​

Are you aiming for an ‘R’ rating with this movie?

I’d love to do the x-rated version!
​

What do you have in mind for sword fights? More asian swirling swords, or more realistic fighting?

Conan is no Errol Flynn and there will be no “frozen moments”, but he will spar with a host of characters that fight in their unique own ways. We all know that Hyboria is an ethnically diverse world. Conan will have to adapt his style slightly to conquer them.
​

Will you aim to make a movie with varied pacing and different emotional moods, or a high-paced action epic?

I will include different emotional moods in a high-paced action epic. One approach need not exclude the other.
​

Cool find.

 

[That-Guy]

That Guy, you actually gave me an idea for Routh. That COULD work.

(sigh)

 

[Doctor Jones]

I still have no idea who could play Conan though. It's gonna be a tough find.

 

[terry78]

Has anyone on here read a Conan book before? I know I haven't.

 

[rogue trooper]

I still have no idea who could play Conan though. It's gonna be a tough find.

So far, the most decent suggestions are Kevin Durand(my personal favorite pick for the part), Ray Stevenson, and Paul Telfer.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Has anyone on here read a Conan book before? I know I haven't.

I have, All the REH, Jordan, DeCamp and a few of the other authors.

 

[rogue trooper]

I have read most of the REH-written Conan stories. I believe I've read one or two by Robert Jordan, as well as L. Sprague de Camp.

 

[terry78]

Will this be more of a "grounded" thing like Nispel said or will see some of the more fantasical creatures like giant snakes and what not?

 

[Nivek]

Has anyone on here read a Conan book before? I know I haven't.

Yup, started with Savage Sword of Conan magazines when I was little, read most of my uncles collection of Decamp/ Howard novels in my early teens, and I'm reading the Dark Horse comics adoptions now.

 

[rogue trooper]

Will this be more of a "grounded" thing like Nispel said or will see some of the more fantasical creatures like giant snakes and what not?

Well, reading the interview, I would assume Nispel wants to do something more "grounded" as he kinda' says he's fed up with the overuse of cgi in films. However, the Donnelly/Oppenheimer script has alot of "fantastical" creatures. Dragons, four-armed archers, giants, and so forth.. In Dead of Night they are using more animatronics and outfits than they are cgi. That could be a way to go for Conan, maybe. Or the way Guillermo Del Toro did in Pan's Labyrinth and some of the Hellboy elements.

 

[rogue trooper]

Who do you think should play the popular title role in the Marcus Nispel-directed film?

 

[BloodyWolverine]

No Body for nothing wrong with the Arnold/ James Earle Jones movie.

 

[rogue trooper]

No Body for nothing wrong with the Arnold/ James Earle Jones movie.

It was a very well made film, no doubt. However, like Tim Burton's Batman, it was not quite a definitive adaptation of the character.

 

[ChickenScratch]

The closest one on the list is Paul Telfer. But Javier Bardem looks exactly like Howard described Conan so he's always what I have in mind. I imagine him with that No Country For Old Men look, with the hair just a bit longer.

 

[gwynplaine]

I can't think of anyone who could play Frazetta or Buscema's Conan.
Not that I would really want it but maybe they should go the way of Beowulf.

 

[rogue trooper]

I thought Arnold kinda' resembled Buscema's Conan a little, except with lighter colored hair.

Most of the guys on the list could very much resemble these two artists' renditions after makeup is applied.