We're really down to the top picks where no one should feel good about downvoting any of them. But from my perspective,
Conan the Destroyer stands head and shoulders (literally?) above
Krull. Yeah, Krull had some neat stuff in it. Looking back almost 40 years, however, we just seem to be more forgiving about its shortcomings. But the plot was weak, the acting was weak, and the whole thing had trouble coming together as something cohesive and thought out. Mostly, I just remember it being disappointing. They made such a big deal about the Glaive, and it ended up being underused. The lack of emotional connection between the two characters who were supposed to be married made the whole thing feel forced. Campy, cheesy, and plot holes, I can forgive. Bad scripts and forced attachments, not so much.
So how is Conan any better? I'm so glad you asked.
Conan is approached by Queen Taramis with a quest: to escort her young, headstrong niece (Princess Jehnna) on a dangerous journey on behalf of their patron god, Dagoth. "Approached" is a loose term as Taramis first tries to capture the barbarian and his companion, Malak, instead of just offering them a quest. So the adventure opens with some action (i.e. light combat) rather than just an obligatory hook to join whatever quest the DM throws on the table (+1). That tactic fails, obviously, as Conan takes down four horsed soldiers on his own (Malak offered minimal assistance). But Taramis has a backup plan.
Taramis is not only Queen, but apparently, a priestess as well. Using a combination of suggestion, hypnosis, and illusion, she compels Conan to reveal to her what would motivate him to do what she wanted. Ultimately, the barbarian reveals the one thing he truly cares about: his beloved Valeria, who died in the previous movie. Still under the effects of the mind-affecting powers, Taramis convinces Conan that she can bring back the dead. This becomes the single motivation for Conan, and the quest is accepted without question.
During the entire quest, Conan's friends suspect Taramis has bad intentions. They try to convince him of the dangers, and what consequences may befall if they succeed. But Conan is blind to their warnings, fixating only on the reward of having Valeria restored to life. His friends remain loyal, staying with him throughout the adventure until he finally realizes the Queen's betrayal. In the end, he decides to save the young girl, not out of affection but because she is an innocent pawn also being betrayed by Taramis. He also has a score to settle with Bombaata, as well as Taramis, and also to stop the monstrous demigod that will bring destruction into the world.
