OK, Conan pretty much ROCKS

[Chaldfont]

I LOVE the new anthologies of Robert E. Howards Conan stories (starting with The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian). I got the last book in the series lately and my wife and I had to put Conan the Barbarian in the VCR just for old time sake.

How can you go wrong? Great stories. Cheesy movie. A freakin' GOVERNOR for cryin' out loud! James Earl Jones (Darth Vader himself), Max Von Sydow, human head stew, and snakes for arrows.

I know, the books are WAAAAY better than the movie. But I still love them both.

Who's with me?

And for extra credit: Who remembers the Mad Magazine parody of the movie?

 

[S. Baldrick]

I'm with you! I loved the R.E.H's Conan stories plus I liked the cheesy movie as well
I don't remember the Mad Magazine parody but I do remember Crazy Magazine's parady of "Gonad the Barbituate".

 

[David Howery]

I have mixed feelings about the movie... the action was pretty good, it had a decent script.... but... the scene where Conan gets slapped around by Doom's two thugs really bugged me... I mean, Conan wasn't tied up or anything, and he gets slapped around?! That isn't Conan... and then there were the buckets of fake blood splashing all over the place...

 

[Swoop109]

I've been a fan of all of Howard's work since I was introduced to them over 30 years ago. Have to say that the new collection is the best of all of them. Not only are they as REH originally wrote them, but the extra material is well worth the price.
Even witht he radical changes made for the movie it still is something I can enjoy. IMO, it is still the best sword and sorcery film produced to date.
If you enjoy the Conan collections you might want to think about picking up the Solomon Kane and Bran Mak Morn collections also.
In addition, a collection of the Kull stories will be released this October.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Agreed! I really liked the Bran Mak Morn collection; even though there were fewer stories, I thought the writing was some of Howard's best.

That's good news about the Kull yarns being released, too.

To finally read Howard free of lesser writers' pastiches is such an amazing thing. His writing is so brutal and lyric; like Jack London meets Edgar Allen Poe.

you might want to think about picking up the Solomon Kane and Bran Mak Morn collections also.
In addition, a collection of the Kull stories will be released this October.

 

[trancejeremy]

Heh, try watching the TV show after reading the Howard novels/stories. You'll darn near break down and cry...

 

[jester47]

Conan the Barbarian: The Robert E. Howard Cut.

The movie is good if you take out the parts with Valeria. Its messed up. Here is how you progress:

Go from the attack on the village al the way until he punches the camel. Skip the raid on the tower. Skip to the scene where it shows Conan wandering looking for Dooms mountain. Watch until he gets rescued from the Tree of Woe. Skip the ressurection scene. Skip the orgy raid. Skip the funeral for Valeria (even though you loose that great "why do you cry?" line) Go directly to the final fight. watch the rest. This actually creates a movie that makes sense.

Conan and Subotai hear about the towers of set. Then we see that Conan continues to hunt the two snakes facing each other. Its not important as to where he got the medallion, he apparently has found a clue (and where he got this is revealed when he encounters Tulsa Doom later: He stole it from one of Dooms "homes." He goes to the tree of woe, passes out. (this works better for the conan character as in the books Conan takes HIMSELF down) Subotai has been busy elesewhere, but shows up and rescues Conan. What has he been doing? Apparently Subotai has carefully planned the kidnapping of the daughter of Doom while Doom was dealing with Conan. Doom is coming for revenge, to make sure Conan is dead and to recover his daughter. Conan and friends win the day but in a true nihilistic bent Doom tries to kill his daughter. She turns on him and leads Conan into the mountain of power to kill Doom.

The modified story fits much closer with REH style than the original form of the movie.

 

[barsoomcore]

Great effort, Jes, but for me, I think you keep that movie (which shares a main character name with a set of stories by REH and nothing else), and then film "Red Nails" or "Queen of the Black Coast" or something.

Cause I LOVE that movie for what it is: goofy swords and sorcery fun. It ain't Conan, but it's beautiful. And Valeria's the best part of the whole film! Her fight scenes kick everyone else's butts.

But we DO need a real Conan movie. And your description sounds great.

 

[Swoop109]

But we DO need a real Conan movie.

If it ever gets released this looks like it will be the one REH/Conan fans have been waiting for.
now if they would just update the damn site.

 

[barsoomcore]

Meh. Get me live-action. It's just more exciting.