[film] Conan the Barbarian

[inulro]

I've never seen a Conan film before (I loathe Arnie) nor read any of the books. I'd not have bothered with this one either, but I liked Jason Momoa a lot when he was in Stargate Atlantis.

I'm still not sure. Yes, the acting was terrible. It's very silly, but that's part of the appeal. The depiction of women is problematic but not terrible (Conan's mother dies fighting in sensible armour, after all).

I am now, however, absolutely fascinated by the mythos. The fact that the barbarians are the good guys and the civilised people do all the nasty things as a part of being civilised- whoah! there's some major colonial/post colonial angst going on there. I now know Howard was American and have no idea how that fits in. The cities which were like something out of Arabian Nights - also fascinating (my PhD started out being in Romantic Orientalism so that was bound to grab me).

Overthinking? Just a little, because it's not like the film was occupying that much of my brain.

I'm glad I watched it, though I can't recommend it unhesitatingly.

And naturally I might now be intrested in reading some of the stories.

Edit: Also some interesting similarities to Solomon Kane, also based on stories by Howard...Yep, definitely overthinking...

Comments

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

I think some of the mythos ties in with Lovecraft as well, since they worked together on Weird Tales. I gather the books are pretty smart, at least smarter than the film adaptations.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I've just been reading all about that on Wikipedia...slowest day ever at work!

[jhaelan.livejournal.com]

Aye, Robert Howard was by all accounts a strange chap...

[inulro.livejournal.com]

Good to see you around these parts, sir!