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From Amazon.co.uk
The film that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's international career, Conan the Barbarian is still regarded by many as his finest hour. Limited to a mere handful of lines and expertly directed by John Milius to play up the Nietzschean strength of the character, the Austrian Oak has never looked more suited to a role, his muscle flexing and sword twirling apparently effortless. The extraordinarily finely detailed production design ensures that the barren Spanish countryside perfectly suits the Hyborean-era backdrop envisioned by author Robert E Howard. Whether dressed in rags or riches, Schwarzenegger and companions Subotai (Gerry Lopez) and Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) look believably born to their surroundings. Backing their own very fine performances are brilliant supporting roles from James Earl Jones as serpentine baddie Thulsa Doom and Max Von Sydow as doomed King Osric. Plot-wise the film is simply the transformation of a wild barbarian into a worldly-wise king who, via a quest for revenge, finally learns the riddle of steel. The script is highly regarded for its dazzling set-pieces (the opening village raid, the orgy of body parts) and quotable dialogue ("They shall all drown in lakes of blood"), and it comes complete with an anti-peace movement reactionary subtext for anyone who cares to look closely enough. One other element deserving mention is the extraordinary score by Basil Poledouris, which inspires the film with a sense of operatic grandeur. --Paul Tonks
Product Description
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the legendary warrior and hero, Conan the Barbarian. When his parents are killed by a band of brutal marauders and the gang's cold-blooded cult leader (James Earl Jones), the orphaned Conan endures a childhood of merciless slavery only to become a gladiator for the amusement of his captors. Eventually set free, Conan begins a dangerous, full-blooded quest to avenge his parents' massacre. Now, the sword-wielding warrior must vanquish his bloodthirsty enemies in this death-defying action-adventure about courage, strength, character and the triumph of good over evil.
Special Features:
• Commentary by director John Milius and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Art of Steel: Sword Makers and Masters
• Conan: From the Vault
• Deleted scenes sequence
• Conan Unchained: The Making of Conan
• Conan: The Rise of a Fantasy Legend
• Special effects split-screen video
• The Conan archives
• Theatrical trailers
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This new edition of Conan the Barbarian serves up the best quality yet, the picture is slightly better due to the special features being on a seperate disc, but the main improvement is the sound.
The legendary soundtrack is now rendered (at last!)in pure DTS sound providing 5.1 channel perfection and it sounds incredible!
The special features from the 2003 'Special Edition' are reproduced here, with the only new feature (not history of fantasy films as advertised)being a short history of Conan with interviews with various fantasy writers, including those who worked on Marvels comic book adaption, Artists and the great James Earl Jones.
'Conan the Barbarian: Collectors Edition' delivers the goods, and if it were not for the daft censorship of BBFC butchering parts of this glorious film, then I would be quite comfortable in labeling this as Cinematic perfection.
The legendary soundtrack is now rendered (at last!)in pure DTS sound providing 5.1 channel perfection and it sounds incredible!
The special features from the 2003 'Special Edition' are reproduced here, with the only new feature (not history of fantasy films as advertised)being a short history of Conan with interviews with various fantasy writers, including those who worked on Marvels comic book adaption, Artists and the great James Earl Jones.
'Conan the Barbarian: Collectors Edition' delivers the goods, and if it were not for the daft censorship of BBFC butchering parts of this glorious film, then I would be quite comfortable in labeling this as Cinematic perfection.
This DVD is a must for your collection and I insist you order now!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By TJ Doc
Format:Blu-ray
At long last, 'Conan the Barbarian' comes to Blu-ray. I'm sure most of you reading this will already be familiar with the film, so I'll be brief. It's magnificent. The land of Hyboria is brought to vivid life, the action is brutal and exciting, Basil Poledouris' score is simply breathtaking, James Earl Jones is evil incarnate, Arnold punches a camel... Sure, it's also clunky and dated in that charmingly 80s way, and there's some unintentional comedy on offer (not least from Arnie's "UARGHAAAARGHNYUARGH" moments). But it's such a spectacle that almost all of its shortcomings are forgiven.
As for the new hi-def transfer, it's sort of a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that, for the most part, this presents a very pleasing and filmic viewing experience. There are no DNR issues to report (at least none that I could detect), and film grain has been rightfully preserved. This is quite a soft-looking film by nature - the same goes for most 80s movies - but there is still a decent amount of fine detail to be spotted.
BUT, the bad news: edge enhancement. It sticks out like a sore thumb, I'm afraid, and can be very distracting in certain scenes. Just watch the early sequence where Thulsa Doom lops off Conan's mother's head. When the young Barbarian looks unbelievably at his now motherless hand, his fingers are surrounded by jarring, thick white bars.
So a little disappointing, but certainly not a deal breaker. As previously stated, it generally looks fine, and is the best the film has looked since its orginal release. I have no complaints about the revamped HD sound, however. This is Poledouris at his most thunderous/tender/epic/enchanting, I could go on.
I guess the extras do deserve a mention.... Read more ›
As for the new hi-def transfer, it's sort of a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that, for the most part, this presents a very pleasing and filmic viewing experience. There are no DNR issues to report (at least none that I could detect), and film grain has been rightfully preserved. This is quite a soft-looking film by nature - the same goes for most 80s movies - but there is still a decent amount of fine detail to be spotted.
BUT, the bad news: edge enhancement. It sticks out like a sore thumb, I'm afraid, and can be very distracting in certain scenes. Just watch the early sequence where Thulsa Doom lops off Conan's mother's head. When the young Barbarian looks unbelievably at his now motherless hand, his fingers are surrounded by jarring, thick white bars.
So a little disappointing, but certainly not a deal breaker. As previously stated, it generally looks fine, and is the best the film has looked since its orginal release. I have no complaints about the revamped HD sound, however. This is Poledouris at his most thunderous/tender/epic/enchanting, I could go on.
I guess the extras do deserve a mention.... Read more ›
54 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Conan The Barbarian is probably my fave film. Since 2002, this film has been released on DVD 4 times, 2 of which were Special Editions, and now this Definitive Edition. All my life I had been waiting for a uncut version, but once again its the same old, same old - I'm not sure what the previous reviewer was on about concerning some cuts 'restored' but the fact is that like the previous DVD releases, some of the 'horse fall' scenes have been cut, mostly in the final battle sequence. Its particularly poxy because, like before, if you watch the Conan Unchained documentary on Disc 2, you will see one of the cut scenes shown ! (its the scene where Conan, and Rexor on a horse, charge each other, and Conan cuts at the legs of the horse - in the film, the actual fall sequence of the horse is cut, but its in the Documentary - ludicrous). As before, the film features the extended 'directors cut' ending with the Princess reinstated (on the old VHS Pan & Scan copies, the final scene did not have the Princess and is much shorter, but all the DVD releases have the extended ending - the old VHS ending would have been an interesting extra) and also has the short Subotai and Conan remeniscing scene (between the Funeral Pyre and Battle Of The Mounds) which was in the previous version and is similar to the scene early on when Conan and Subotai talk about the gods. I'll give this release one star cos the metal tin case is beautiful ! - but if you want an uncut version, the best route is to buy the US version (Region 1) from Amazon.com or the French "Edition Prestige" from Amazon.fr, which is Region 2 and has the English 5.1 soundtrack.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Yusaf Khan
Format:DVD
HAVING PURCHASDED THIS SO CALLED SPECIAL EDITION, I WAS RATHER LET DOWN, AS ONCE AGAIN IT WAS ANOTHER RELEASE WHICH WAS CENSORED. CONAN FANS DO YOURSELVES A FAVOUR AND TRY TO OBTAIN THE FRENCH 'EDITION PRESTIGE' VERSION, THIS IS UNCUT AND CAN BE VIEWED IN ENGLISH Dts 5.1.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Thought i'd buy Commando on DVD, and saw this box set. Well, it's been cut to ribbons, and BADLY. Why is it an 18 cert? Bambi is more violent. DO NOT BUY IT. If i could give it minus 5 stars i would. Keep your old VHS copy. God knows what they've cut out of Conan and Predator.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
WE HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH A BBFC EDITED VERSION FOR YEARS NOW BUT FINALLY WE HAVE CONAN THE BARBARIAN IN ITS FULL HORSE FALL,CAMEL KNOCKOUT PUNCH,BLOOD THIRSTY GLORY AT LAST.YOU MAY WONDER WHAT IM GOING ON ABOUT IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT AND VIEWED THE BLU RAY DISC AND SEEN IT IS THE CUT VERSION,THE TRICK TO PLAY THE UNCUT VERSION IS TO TURN ON YOUR BLUE RAY PLAYER,GO TO YOUR BLU RAY MENU PAGE AND SWITCH YOUR SET UP FROM ENGLISH TO DUTCH FORMAT.THEN PLACE THE BLU RAY DISC IN TO THE TRAY AND PRESS PLAY AND TO YOUR AMAZEMENT WATCH CONAN IN ITS ORIGINAL FORMAT!!!BRILLIANT!!
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic!
One of my all time favourite films that I will watch every few years or so.
The story is of a boy whose family and village get slaughtered by a clan. Read more
The story is of a boy whose family and village get slaughtered by a clan. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Ross Stenson
3.0 out of 5 stars
poor sound
I bought this as an upgrade from dvd but the surround sound is non exsistent.I replayed the dvd and that gave a more satisfying experience. Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. I. Whiteley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conan the Barbarian (US Blu-ray version)...
The John Milius directed and co-written with Oliver Stone production comes to Blu-ray in the US in August 2011 this region-free 50GB disc is encoded using MPEG4 AVC in full 1080p... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Milt Ingarfield
4.0 out of 5 stars
US Version falling horses
This review is for the US import version of Conan the Barbarian on Blu ray.
Firstly, this plays on my main region B Sony player no problem, this release is not region... Read more
Firstly, this plays on my main region B Sony player no problem, this release is not region... Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conan Barbarian
This film is arguably one of my personal favourite films about Conan who family is killed and he is put in to slavery and joins a band of thieves and outlaws and he is used by a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alawes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Im a wizard mind you!
One of the best Arnie films ever, this is action packed with sorcery and sword play. Great cast and some of Arnie's classic one liners, if that doesnt win you over i dont know what... Read more
Published 3 months ago by kev
5.0 out of 5 stars
good stuff
This is a classic film; really enjoyable if your an Arnold fan! the old ones are the best! buy it!
Published 3 months ago by AA
5.0 out of 5 stars
the ORIGINAL is still the best
much as i like the jason momo conan,this is still the best film,violence,sex,action,sorcery, you have it all here, with the inimitable arnie blundering along as conan,in often... Read more
Published 3 months ago by katana
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wagnerian Viking in a Kurosawa Samurai world..
To some CONAN THE BARBARIAN is nothing more than a soft core porn video shot to look like an Iron Maiden video. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Steven Neville Dilks
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent!
it arrived in fantastic time, and is a quality movie! hadn't seen it before so was looking forward to it, and it didn't disappoint!
Published 3 months ago by Fred
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