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Amazon.co.uk Review
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
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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive Editon ? Afraid not... :(,
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This review is from: Conan The Barbarian - Definitive Edition [DVD] (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.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive Conan..,
This review is from: Conan The Barbarian (2 Disc Special Edition) [1981] [DVD] (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. This DVD is a must for your collection and I insist you order now!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
CONAN THE BARBARIAN,
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This review is from: Conan The Barbarian (2 Disc Special Edition) [1981] [DVD] (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.
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