Rodriguez (Sin City) Developing Conan?

[Dark Jezter]

The Rock's too, you know, like, jovial, or something. He doesn't BROOD. And Conan needs to BROOD.

And Vin Diesel does it not at all for me. He's got a lot of making up to do after XXX and Riddick before he's back in my good books.

Frankly, I don't see anybody on the horizon who suits the role. They just don't make 'em like that anymore, I guess.

Yeah, I definately agree with this. The Rock does have the physical look of Conan, but he has too much of a "nice guy" vibe going. He can't scowl or look threatening nearly as good as Arnold can.

 

[Desdichado]

As for the merits of the movie, I can see that somebody already posted a link to the essay "A Critical Appreciation of Conan the Barbarian", which, while not reflecting my exact thoughts on the film, does show that the movie has geniuine merit.

I have read that essay in the past. While it's possible that the guy who wrote it is just reaching and pulling this interpretation out his nether regions that had nothing whatsoever to do with the movie , it seems to be reasonable enough.

That actually makes me like the movie considerably less, though. If all that nonsense about Nietschian übermensch was really part of Milius' plan all along, then he didn't care much at all for Howard at all. Before I read that, I just assumed he was a hack, making typical B-movie nonsense. After reading it, if I believe it, then it says to me that Milius merely conveniently grabbed the name of Conan and nothing else to make his own movie about his own character.

Not that that hasn't been done over and over again before, but it does tend to tick off the fans of the original source material, and in this case, I'm quite the fan of Howard's original source material. I'm quite surprised that fans have stood for it. Heck, Conan is still trotted around by many fantasy fans as exemplary of the fantasy genre on film. It's enough to make me weep.

Actually, that comment was directed more toward's Mr. Kaze and anybody else who thinks that Conan is about nothing but a loincloth-wearing guy who carries a sword that's too big to put away, but thanks for calling me stupid.

Huh? I'll take your word for it, but that sounds extremely odd. In an otherwise consistent litany of disagreeing with me on that point, that really came out of left field.

But if you didn't mean that to apply to me, then I do apologize for my post overall. It was really that whole paragraph that set me off; the implication that I had no idea what I was talking about.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm sorry, The Rock is not an "accomplished" actor, he's a wrestler trying his hand at being an actor. And I HAVE seen several of his movies. The Scorpion King was... okay... I guess, but I didn't have any real expectations about that film. His best role, that I've seen, is in Walking Tall. In that movie, he wasn't a bad actor, yet he wasn't a good one, either. The Rundown was... okay... but not great. Seann William Scott is what made that movie good, not The Rock. I haven't seen Be Cool yet, but then again I haven't seen Get Shorty either, which I would want to watch first.

So, your thought that I haven't seen his performanaces is unfounded. I have and The Rock might become a good actor, someday, with more work and training. However, I DON"T think he'd make a GOOD Conan. He isn't the right type of personality, IMO. It is like barsoomcore said, he doesn't BROOD well, which is vital to the Conan character.

Now, as for Vin Diesel, his performances have ranged from very good (Pitch Black) to very bad (The Pacifier), and I'm not sure if he would or would not make a good Conan. If he pulled off one of his good performances then maybe. Regardless, at least Diesel is an actor first and foremost. He may not being doing Shakespeare any time soon, but he could do the BROODING warrior type that is required for Conan. Would it be a great performanace, I don't know. We'd have to wait and see.

But I'd choose him over Triple H anyday, and would prefer him over The Rock, as well, for the reasons mentioned above. In reality, he doesn't look enough like REH's Conan. But then again neither did Arnie.

Anyway, I'll just agree to disagree with you about it.

I don't know about this brooding part. I watched Conan the Barbarian DVD many times over, and I don't think Ahnold is brooding. More like pouting. And just so you know, Ahnold wasn't an accomplished actor back then. His only prior film credit aside from that bodybuilding documentary (with rival Lou Ferrigno, aka "The Incredible Hulk") where he admitted to "inhale," is Hercules in New York and his voice was dubbed over.

Sheesh. One mention of Conan and all the Purists come out of the woodworks.

 

[Desdichado]

Sheesh. One mention of Conan and all the Purists come out of the woodworks.

I don't know if that comment was directed at me or not, but I'll just point out that I'm not a Howard purist. I just happen to think that the movie isn't very good. If it differed from Howard as much as it does and was good, I wouldn't be complaining.

 

[Ranger REG]

AFAIC, Conan the Barbarian is good. The sequel however not so much (made the film kid-friendly, even including a 15-year-old Olivia D'Abo).

If any film studio think they can do a better job than that -- AND rake in large box office sales -- they are welcome to try.

 

[Desdichado]

If any film studio think they can do a better job than that -- AND rake in large box office sales -- they are welcome to try.

I'm sure they're thrilled to have your permission.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm sure they're thrilled to have your permission.

About as thrilled as having my first ingrown toenail.

 

[Klaus]

AFAIC, Conan the Barbarian is good. The sequel however not so much (made the film kid-friendly, even including a 15-year-old Olivia D'Abo).

If any film studio think they can do a better job than that -- AND rake in large box office sales -- they are welcome to try.

For me, the main problem with Conan The Destroyer is not having MORE Olivia D'Abo, IYKWIMAITYD...

 

[Warrior Poet]

The Rock's too, you know, like, jovial, or something. He doesn't BROOD. And Conan needs to BROOD.

Agreed. Another reason I didn't like Arnold in the role. Seemed too goofy to me.

Frankly, I don't see anybody on the horizon who suits the role. They just don't make 'em like that anymore, I guess.

This is why I think they should find an unknown. There must be someone (probably several) out there, struggling to make a career, wanting to find a fun role, get started, whatever. Brooders, but also with a wicked sense of humor, with good physiques (I'm not convinced they have to be body-builders), not "pretty," unknown, who can really disappear into the role. I think they have to go outside the machine on this one, but I'm not calling the shots, nor ponying up the money, so they won't listen to me.

Soft-body compression. Fluid kinematics.

I just learned a new way to compliment my girlfriend!

Warrior Poet

 

[Nebulous]

I was VERY dissapointed to hear that Rodriguez was picked to helm Conan over Milius. The original Conan is one of my favorite fantasy movies ever, and i like the big snake and the flower girls of Thulsa Doom and the geysers of blood. Yeah, it's not canticle Robert E Howard but it's still great stuff. In fact, if they don't get Arnold back to do it, then i would just as soon see a retelling of the whole thing, rather than getting someone else to fill the shoes. But Conan should be a gold franchise, in my opinion, assuming they don't water it down to PG-13 bs.