Not familiar with the style of Howard's comics, but I have always enjoyed
Conan The Destroyer
. Its not as epic or austere as Barbarian, but it certainly has a nice mix of otherworldly magic running throughout its veins and clips along quite nicely. It also still delivers the goods in the action/fantasy violence arena and is quite bloody for a pg rated installment.
A lighter Conan over the darker more ponderous original, but the film-makers knew what they going for and it surprisingly works. The use of miniature foregrounds, matte paintings, optical visual effects and creature makeup effects are excellent. I feel very transported to this mythical, mystical and legendary realm it creates and I would even say the design of the film is sublime in aesthetic.
The support cast is terrific and I never had an issue with Walter. He was a side-kick for Conan, but he knew how to step up to survive when he had too. This film had me begging for more. What we got instead was a step down, with the dry and lacklustre
Red Sonja '85
by the same director and not up to the same quality or standard. Tacky and weak.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?