By Crom! After being away for nearly three decades, somebody felt like there was something left unsaid by those two memorable, but ultimately terrible Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan films. And so here we are with Conan the Barbarian
No longer is Conan being played by a musclebounded Austrian with barely a handle on the English language. The mantle has been taken over by Jason Momoa. a musclebound Hawaiian with a marginal handle on the English language. To be fair, Momoa I think embodies the character far better than Schwarzenegger ever did. He's certainly more expressive and athletic, where Schwarzenegger was a lumbering boulder.
The next time you hear one of those stories about a baby being born in an elevator or a taxi cab, remember that kid's got nothin' on poor Conan's entry into the world of Hyboria. Born literally in the thick of battle, ripped from his dying mother's womb with a sharp blade and held high to the heavens like Simba in The Lion King. His father(Ron Perlman) trains his son to be the toughest and bravest of all, but young Conan also has an unmatched battle arrogance. When his tribe is attacked by the power mad warrior Khalar Zym(Stephen Lang) and his witchy daughter(Rose McGowan), he defies his father's commands and fights. For a story like this, it's a must that Conan's father die, in order for the young warrior to have some revenge to seek later on. It's pretty standard.

Disappointment fuels my attitude towards this film, because there are plenty of things to like. The action is frequent and intense. Momoa is actually quite good, even if every now and then he looks like a lazy surfer. The story is simple sword 'n sandals stuff that will keep fans of the genre entertained. The problem is the director, Marcus Nispel(Friday the 13th
Supposedly Momoa is hard at work on writing a potential sequel, and the door is certainly left open for more. It's a strong, bold move for the relatively unknown actor, who seems poised for some level B-list stardom. Here's hoping he finds a director who can do the classic Conan some justice.