Barbarically under-rated.

''Do you want to live forever?''

The epic tale of child sold into slavery who grows into a man who seeks revenge against the warlord who massacred his tribe.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Conan

''What daring! What outrageousness! What insolence! What arrogance!... I salute you.''

Conan the Barbarian is one of Schwarzenegger's fun movies. Forget the big budget blockbusters and special-effects-tour-de-force-romps of the eighties and nineties. Along with `Pumping Iron,' his bodybuilding documentary, CTB represents the perfect showcase for Arnold's natural talents (including the self-confidence of ten action film stars, a commanding physical presence, and a whip smart sense of humour).
It does not hurt that Conan the Barbarian follows a predictable, albeit proven formula, the three classical unities of the kung-fu genre: wrong doing – the snake cult massacres Conan's family; rebirth – Conan learns the 'riddle of steel' during his years as a pit fighter; and revenge – Conan goes after the snake cult to avenge the killing of his parents. CTB also boasts several veterans of the screen, including Max Von Sydow and James Earl Jones, and a moving and powerful score by Basil Poledouris.

''For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts. This you can trust.''
[Points to sword]

Conan the Barbarian is not restricted or relying upon dialogue or what is spoken between characters. Entire scenes that are central to the plot unfold without Conan even uttering a single line of dialogue. Take for instance the scene where Max Von Sydow charges Conan and his companions with the task of rescuing his daughter; the scene between Conan and Valeria where she tries to talk him out of accepting the rescue mission; the death of Valeria; and the climax where Conan confronts James Earl Jones. But every scene sells itself and Arnold's co-stars are able to fill the void left by Conan's respective,thoughtful silence. After all, Conan is a man of action, not a man of words.
Instead, Conan the Barbarian is about the unspoken bond between friends, lovers, and family. Arnold is able to convey with stares, smirks, and laughter what lesser actors and films do with rambling, awkward, unbelievable dialogue. Two shining examples of this, less is more approach, include the scenes where Conan cremates his lover and silences the King's daughter with a menacing look.
When Arnold does speak, his timing has never been better and his delivery never more convincing. Arnold seems completely at ease and comfortable in this role. He does not fumble over dialogue and corny one-liners. If Arnold were to make just one more movie, it should be the third installment in this series.

Arnold is certainly no Deniro or Spacey, but he is wildly charismatic and easier to understand as a person than either the complex Brando or manical Nicholson. Thus, while Conan the Barbarian never experienced much renowned attention or success, at least it has achieved cult-classic status, which is more than can be said for some dull, forgettable Oscar winners. Anyone who does not like this film simply will not allow themselves to. To Conan the Barbarian detractors, I say give it a chance and do not take it too seriously, Conan the Barbarian is abit of fun, romance, revenge and action all mixed into one fantastical story.

Mongol General: What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

8/10