Conan the Barbarian (1982) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel

[@frodofraggins]

Of all the things to criticize, the music was not expected lol.

[@d9103365]

What is best in life? Basil Poledouris music

[@petros_adamopoulos]

Yeah, "the music, i wish there was less of it"; that moment where the reviewer loses all of his credibility.

[@Vingul]

He was referring to the action scene they showed, specifically. Not the entire film.

[@frodofraggins]

@@Vingul well the music was perfect for the battle scenes imo

[@smileybubbles9894]

I wanted more music like a powerful Metallica theme

[@jmalonemyth]

Shocked they liked it but even more shocked Gene wanted less music. This might be one of the best, if not the best score in cinematic history. There might be other movies with a single piece of the score that matched or exceeds Conan but I don't think any other movie has a score as strong as Conan from start to finish. I remember rushing out to get the score after seeing this one on cable tv. You can't find a better opening tune for your workout regiment than Anvil of Crom.

[@sandal_thong8631]

Very good score.

[@jimbobeire]

Totally agree. I love Ennio Morricone's 'Ecstasy of Gold' from _The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly_ , but for a complete score that elevates the entire movie... Basil Poledouris's score for _Conan The Barbarian_ is my favourite by far.

[@richardcahill1234]

Not even Basll P's best score.

[@valleyoforion1]

The music is one of the greatest soundtracks of the 1980s !

[@mrnocal]

I'm pleased that they reviewed the movie for what it was...just entertaining fun with performances that fit the tone of the movie.

[@akfreed6949]

I agree with Oliver Stone saying they sold it short compared to his original script BUT his script would have been way too expensive to put it on film . John Milius put as much as he could for the budget he had . And Basil Poledouris's music was icing on the cake . Awesome movie .

[@nevskislake]

I was pleasantly surprised by this review. I thought for sure Gene and Roger would dismiss it like they do so many other action films. I still love the early Conan movies. They are so much fun, and they both have excellent soundtracks.

[@d9103365]

I too was surprised by their review. I have no tongue for it.

[@sandal_thong8631]

It's one of the few fantasy/sword-and-sorcery movies to make money in the 1980s at the box office. It (and others) made a lot more on home video sales and rentals.

[@Arizona-ex5yt]

Crom approves of your reviews. Approves from his mountain.

[@moisesreid283]

i guess I am pretty off topic but does anybody know of a good place to watch new movies online?

[@masonandres7679]

@Moises Reid lately I have been using flixzone. Just search on google for it :)

[@jamescollins9178]

CROOOMMM!

[@tinderbox218]

No one has ever given this sort of material both the seriousness and wit that John Milius did.

[@Followme556]

Conservative hollywood died with John Milius.

[@Myndir]

@@Followme556 With his career. He's still alive.

[@Followme556]

@@Myndir you know what i mean .

[@parapoliticos52]

''less music'' 95% of the movie is the music. And that although the other 5% is a good action movie, that's how good the music is. 2 dozens exquisite themes of what is probably the best and most complete OST in the history of Cinema. This is not a movie, it's an epic symphony equal in value to the classics of the 19th century , with video to compliment the music.

[@StillLateToTheParty]

PARAPOLITICOS This is truth. I feel the same way about Conan... and Star Trek the Motion Picture. Symphonies with images... One energizing, the other healing

[@Followme556]

Yes.

[@iancarroll1246]

“Too many notes” 😄

[@gspendlove]

If only Robert E. Howard, the author who created Conan, had lived to see Arnold Schwarzenegger play his creation onscreen (and he might well have; he was born in 1906 so he would've been 76 years old when this movie came out). I like to think he would've grinned and said, "Yep, that's my Conan. He's perfect."

[@docholiday7975]

There's some not insignificant differences between book Conan and movie Conan. Conan in the books is far more intelligent and philosophic than otherwise given for what is the archetypical barbarian, keeping much more in line Nietzscheism in his outlook. Compare and contrast the following quotes: "Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad, why we fought, or why we died. No, all that matters is that two stood against many, that's what's important. Valor pleases you, Crom, so grant me one request. Grant me REVENGE! And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!" ~ Movie Conan _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ "What of your own gods? I have never heard you call on them." "Their chief is Crom. He dwells on a great mountain. What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. Better to be silent than to call his attention to you; he will send you dooms, not fortune! He is grim and loveless, but at birth he breathes power to strive and slay into a man's soul. What else shall men ask of the gods?" ~ Book Conan _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mongol General: Conan, what is best in life? Conan: Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women. ~ Movie Conan _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ "I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I seek not beyond death. It may be the blackness averred by the Nemedian skeptics, or Crom's realm of ice and cloud, or the snowy plains and vaulted halls of the Nordheimer's Valhalla. I know not, nor do I care. Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content." ~ Book Conan

[@zncuentertainment712]

I love the fact they enjoyed this!

[@TobeyStarburst]

So happy to see these reviews!!!

[@bloodeagle6458]

The music is timeless

[@kevinnakagawa1829]

Thanks for adding all these!

[@CobrettiKai]

Ebert had his pulse on the film, he understood what he watched and rated it appropriately. While Siskel, despite liking the movie, I don't think he understood what he was watching. He wanted less music, from the single greatest film score ever produced, and he thought the movie was funny.

[@captainharris8980]

Decemt film. Not my favorite, but I don't mind seeing it every now and then. Good fun for an afternoon's viewing.

[@sandal_thong8631]

Seems unbelievable their early shows as Sneak Previews showed so much of a clip. Feels like the KZbinrs are adding longer scenes, just because. But I guess the studios gave S&E long scenes for them to use, and maybe they didn't spend as much time talking in their show!

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

Someone said that the Conan stories are set in "the Stoned Age"!

[@patrickshields5251]

James Matthews It sort of looks like a cross with The Stone Age and The Dark Ages.

[@fredcasdensworld]

Yeah you do need to be high to wrap your head around some of the plots the books had

[@duncansalyer2999]

“Subotai, I don’t think that was stygian weed we just smoked”

[@parapoliticos52]

He is a cimmerian, so it's the Iron age. 1000BC in middle east. Cimerians were an east European tribe from the Balkans that migrated in the area of modern Kurdistan conquering their way there

[@dennissmith5807]

greatest soundtrack ever.

[@MrJthomas70]

the music was the 4th character of this epic.

[@Followme556]

"THIS you can trust."

[@justinbergmans36]

How can you criticize the legendary score?

[@CR41489]

A silly but fun early 80’s action adventure film. Man, what a score by the late Basil Poledouris. He is missed.

[@d9103365]

Crom laughs at your silly review

[@CESSKAR]

Silly you say?

[@dougmaclennan8654]

The Riddle of Steel is not silly.

[@Followme556]

Silly my ass, this is a movie that captures what it means to be unapologetically masculine. Every father should give his son the speech that Conan's father gives him in the beginning.

[@ronaldshank7589]

There was, admittedly, a bit of silliness in Conan The Barbarian, but it humanized the movie enough to make it palpable for me. It's always good (& sometimes, necessary!), to have some moments of silliness, comedy, levity... whatever you want to call it, in order to make a very dark, somber movie about revenge, easier to deal with.

[@BradiKal61]

Leave it to Gene to snark about the Basil Poledouris score. SMH

[@RIP_Greedo]

I get Gene with the music. The score to this movie is great; I think the sound mixing on this movie is kind of wack and it mixes the music way too loud compared to other sound effects in a way that may not land with everyone. What’s great about this movie is that it’s more than the sum of its parts. Very basic and predictable plot, kind of cheesy action, like I said rather weak sound, etc. but it is all elevated by Milius’s direction into a cohesive and very satisfying whole.

[@bobthebear1246]

It was a good movie. I liked it. I saw it back in like 2002. I should see it again soon.

[@ronaldshank7589]

For once, I totally agree with Siskel and Ebert! They saw, possibly, some very minor flaws in this movie, but liked it. They both gave it a Thumbs Up, and I totally agree with them! Considering what came out two years later, Conan The Destroyer, Conan The Barbarian was a gem! Conan The Destroyer, on the other hand, was, in my opinion, fairly good, but it couldn't hold a candle to Conan The Barbarian! I won't even talk about Red Sonya. That was bad, to say the least-And, by not talking about it, I'm actually doing Red Sonya a kindness.

[@raymontoya4311]

All of Arnold's music sound epic Conan total recall terminator all cool

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

on one hand i agree with everything they said but i find it baffling considering all their controversial opinions of popular movies that theyd like this like, they semi-slammed the thing and predator but liked this, weird as hell

[@KrushgrooveOG]

I don't recall Ebert semi slamming Predator. In their defense of The Thing, the majority of critics and viewers alikes hated it when it first came out. It as was a box office dude. A lot of folks were grossed out by it. Thankfully it found it's audience later some people/critics have changed their opinion. Its one of my favorite films of all time.

[@mikesmith3813]

conan is just great !

[@michaelperkowski641]

Fun movie a little silly and out dated today but still enjoying to watch.

[@d9103365]

You shall contemplate your silly review on the tree of woe.

[@Xayjohns]

I subbed, dude

[@tommyboy6267]

AGAIN!!! Thumbs up for Conan The Braindeadian...but thumbs down for Apocalypse Now...Ohhhh...the humanity....

[@wildwest1832]

IDK I think its a pretty dam good movie if you keep in mind its a dungeons and dragons movie. Its supposed to be over the top like a fantasy

[@reneedennis2011]

This is a guilty pleasure.

[@movieman104]

conan was great 2 was cool should have made a 3 instead of making red sonja

[@sandal_thong8631]

They should have made all 3 like an epic opera.

[@movieman104]

when is next time an arnold movie would get 2 thumbs up? well twins but out of action films i think t2

[@adamquiles2468]

Nahhh never liked this movie I am a big Arnold fan but everything got better after Terminator

[@peterjpalmer4441]

Oriental Martial Arts expert?

[@victorellifritt3034]

Racism goes deep, they hate to c it

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Oh boo fuckin' hoo.

[@alexlabarda2871]

🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ well...sword fighting and archery are kind of martial arts related lol

[@taokodr]

I hear that and thought the same thing :D

[@RIP_Greedo]

This is how boomers talk, he doesn’t mean ill by it