I read the online Guardian review of the new Conan movie yesterday and had a wee smirk to myself. Marcus Nispel’s film did not, as I expected, get a good review. I haven’t seen it yet but I am looking forward to it. Let us be honest, now; it will not be up for Oscars; it will continue to be universally slagged in reviews; it will likely make a stack of money; there will be more Conan movies.
Us fantasy fans are pretty poorly represented at the cinema. Since the Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter movies reignited the public’s appetite for cinematic depictions of fantasy, we have been a bit short on options. The odd Narnia here, a bit of Hellboy there, a welcome swash-buckle of Solomon Kane, for sure has helped, but Conan has been a long time coming. I hope it’s good; all the building blocks are there for the film-makers – although, again, like the Arnie attempts (which I am still fond of, particularly the first), this latest Conan is not directly lifted from Robert E. Howard’s source work. A shame.
And there is the Ron Perlman factor! I like big Ron, and believe he generally enhances any film he’s in. Um, for the most part. We’ll forget about the Mutant Chronicles… This Jason Momoa fella I know next to nowt about, bar knowing what he’s been in (Stargate: Atlantis and Game of Thrones), but he is in keeping with the author’s vision of Conan as being dark and swarthy. He’s a big chap as well so should stride through the combat and action scenes, of which there will be many.
I’ve been looking forward to this since the second trailer was released; it depicted epic landscapes, brutal warfare, heroism in the face of evil, etc, etc. I don’t ask for much, but I do want the basics done well. I’m hoping to see it this week so will report back with glad tidings or disappointed grumblings…
Andy Jamieson, Editor
ps – that’s the poster for the American release, above. Pretty cool, non?
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