Dark, stylish and oozing atmosphere: By Crom, this Conan reboot might actually be good!
When you hear the name “Conan the Barbarian,” it’s hard not to think of Arnold Schwarzenegger who played the part in two movies back in the eighties. But, with a new century comes a new Conan, and if this trailer’s anything to go by, he might just give Arnie a run for his money.
The new Conan is played by Jason Mamoa, who has most recently appeared as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, as well as Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis. The reboot’s plot is similar to the first movie’s: Conan’s family is slaughtered by a warlord, leaving the young Cimmerian to seek revenge. But rather than grow up as a slave and gladiator, as was the case in the Schwarzenegger film, Conan survives as a thief, pirate and a warrior, which is a little more in keeping with Robert E. Howard’s original Conan stories.
As well as Momoa, the movie stars Stephen Lang – who played Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar – as the villainous warlord, Khalar Zym, Rose McGowan as Zym’s equally villainous and more than a little sorcerous daughter, Marique, and Ron Perlman – of Hellboy fame – as Conan’s father, Corin. Conan the Barbarian is directed by Marcus Nispel, who seems to be something of a go-to-guy when it comes to reboots. He’s also directed the new versions of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th.
I have to say, the movie looks surprisingly good. It has a dark and gritty feel to it, and Mamoa looks great as Conan. There are only a few snippets of the action though, so it’s hard to tell whether it will actually be as fun to watch, or whether it will be a letdown. All the same, cautious optimism seems like a good position to take here.
Source: Blastr
