5 stars!? Come on people it's atleast a 8!
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IzzyNoya — 12 years ago(October 09, 2013 05:34 PM)
That's an awesome double-feature.
They were nearly gone in my day, but I caught one at age 11, I went for "Street Fighter" but it started my love for STTNG with "Star Trek Generations." Yes, "First Contact" is infinitely better. -
andrewsk8s — 12 years ago(May 07, 2013 05:19 AM)
That's a good assessment of Conan the Destroyer's intent and it's fantasy classmates (from the D & D popularity spike).
Assuming that the OP was serious, my reason for rating this film low goes beyond just the films merits (or lack thereof). It's primarily because this is the film that essentially slayed the Conan franchise, which I had high hopes for.
Conan the Barbarian was rendered seriously by the director and showed an unflinching (R-rated) view of Robert E. Howard's Hyperborean world (with adult level violence, pillaging, blood, gore, nudity, drinking, drug use, sex, beastiality, homosexuality, cannibalism and an orgy). It had a good (inspired) cast and one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. And, as you said, the storyline was even inspiring. They were off to an auspicious start for the series.
Conan the Destroyer was aimed at a much younger audience and there is nothing wrong with that (I'm sure a PG movie was a smarter business decision at the time). But, in doing that, almost everything that made the first movie good has been diluted and dumbed down. I think they tried to do the same casting formula which worked last time, but as much I respect their accomplishments, both Grace Jones and Wilt Chamberlain are woefully bad as actors. Plus they re-hashed the music from the first movie out of context and even repeated some of the fight choreography. -
benjebobs — 17 years ago(January 22, 2009 07:25 AM)
I've just given this 8 stars, which it very much deserves. It's got great action, superb lines ("We didn't steal everything he had" "We didn't have time!" and "I need you!" "I'm yours") and some red hot women. What more do you want from a film!?
In comparison, Barbarian is really dull. I already have this argument with my friends in the UK who say the opposite. They're smart fellas, but in this instance they're wrong, wrong, WRONG!
Actually, I take that back; Barbarian is really dull, but compared to Destroyer it's absolutely awful! -
exorcissy72 — 16 years ago(May 31, 2009 07:15 PM)
Actually, I take that back; Barbarian is really dull, but compared to Destroyer it's absolutely awful!
Well, okay compared to Destroyer, Barbarian doesn't have as straightforward a plot. But I mean Destroyer is so, so, so, so goofy. I kinda love the movie for its outright zaniness but, the original Conan film is truly an epic, with great acting, fights, and while it doesn't follow the original Robert E. Howard stories to a T, it does retain the bleak semi historical feel of them, whereas Destroyer is a a better than average 80's sword and sorcery flick.
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http://vimeo.com/2001955 -
GreatWhiteApeofBarsoom — 16 years ago(June 01, 2009 12:23 PM)
How about a non-cliche plot, characters who have more depth than cardboard, a hero with a brain larger than a peanut, and competent special effects? That's what I want in a film, Ben. It's really sad. Richard Fleischer made films like 20,000 Leagues under the Sea and Compulsion, doing excellent work in each version. Then three decades later, he lost whatever competence he had as a director. So sad.
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mccthulhu — 17 years ago(January 28, 2009 09:55 PM)
I only gave it a 6 as well. Pleading with someone that has seen hundreds of movies to give it a 10 when the other movies on your '10' list are of dubious standards, well, it doesn't sway opinion. Conan The Barbarian was lacking in that it took a right turn from Robert E. Howard's stories and went off on a story line all its own. However, what it had going for it was a great musical score and incidental music similar to The Seven Samurai, a very good James Earl Jones character and his 2 menacing henchmen, Conan and 2 devil-may-care companions (all very Howard-esque, even down to the fact they were people of few words but a lot of actions), and Mako, whom I have always thought a brilliant actor and in this, a brilliant narrator.
Move a few years forward to Conan the Destroyer. We have an utterly slapstick companion, an airhead princess, a bad guy, who when he actually appears slaps a few people around then gets his hynder handed to him. Even Conan gets in on the slapstick with the drunken scene talking about the promise he was kingdomed. Yeahawesome It became what a whole host of fantasy genre films of the 80s were, people in loincloths waving swords around and a few cheap laughs.
When you compare the two movies there is no comparison. Even the score of Destroyer is variations on themes from the first movie where there is a lot more 'scherzo' type moments in the music. When the music isn't even as serious as the first, you know what to expect. -
Cyclone_Chyno — 17 years ago(February 13, 2009 02:29 PM)
I just watched it for the 1st time, I have a lot of DVDs (Not actually counted them) and have an above average IQ and I think it's a piece of crap
Now I usually avoid movies commonly decreed as bad so I can honestly say it is one of the worst movies I have ever seen and sat all the way through
The DVD cost me nothing and yet I still feel ripped off -
CMRKeyboadist — 17 years ago(March 27, 2009 07:14 AM)
8/10 is being a bit generous. It's a fun movie and a good way to kill over an hour and a half of time but compared to the first one it falls flat. For me, there is way to much comedy relief. But the movie was at least filled with much action and adventure. I'd give it a 6/10. The first one is easily 10/10. Just my opinion.
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jimanchower — 16 years ago(May 02, 2009 08:59 PM)
This movie is a total POS.
It's a shame they dumbed it down and made it PG. The first Conan movie is great, this one is like a kiddie version.
Seriously, the source material for Conan is great. They couldn't have picked a story out and faithfully made it into a movie instead of this family friendly PG crap? -
zarreff — 14 years ago(October 15, 2011 01:48 PM)
I gave Conan the Destroyer a 9 rating, and I gave Conan the Barbarian an 8 out of ten. I really love both films in their own right because they are both set up to be different viewing experiences. Barbarian is the "epic" of the two and the mood of it is much darker. Destroyer is more like a fun journey. A lot of people give Destroyer crap for this reason but like I said its a different viewing experience. The only reason Destroyer gets a point higher score is for me it has been an easier movie to sit down and enjoy. The Barbarian's run time is a tad too long in comparison. I did have both of them rated as an 8 at one time but I gotta give destroyer a 9 just because of its shorter run time.
The movies that I have rated as 10's are as follows
John Carpenter's The Thing
Pitch Black
Total Recall
V for Vendetta
Casino
Live Free or Diehard
Rush Hour 1 & 2
The Pest
Heavyweights
Terminator 1 & 2
(listed in no particular order, except The Thing is my all time favorite film.) -
xchrisxmanxgx — 13 years ago(August 03, 2012 01:46 PM)
yea i give it an 8 i liked it but the first was a lot better because i thought the second was more silly and the wrestling scene is so funny because it was so awful but it had its moments and i enjoyed it but i just thought the first was better
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Cobra1986 — 13 years ago(September 06, 2012 01:52 AM)
I think script wise it's a definite 6/10. Much more cartoonish than 'Conan The Barbarian' and there was an obvious attempt by the filmmakers to get the kids on board with this one. But that being said, it's a solid 9/10 in terms of entertainment. It's not terrible, and it's not greatbut it's a decent film in it's own right despite it's obvious problems.
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schlob77 — 13 years ago(October 26, 2012 07:14 AM)
8!?!!? lol this movie was absolutely awful. Compared to the first one this could be one of the worst movies made. It's campy and just really stupid (and NOT entertaining, liek the first one). And sorry I own over 1,000 dvd's and that doesn't make me an expert either (just like the OP) lol
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BHt88 — 12 years ago(April 28, 2013 09:17 PM)
8 here a little better than the original
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