294 replies to this topic

[Gin-Wulf]

a little of topic but the black stranger is a great story!!!!

[amster]

The Black Stranger is a great story. One of the best. The Treasure of Tranicos, on the other hand, is an abomination. Hope that helps!

[Gin-Wulf]

oh ya thats right there was 2 versions of that in print. i have not read the one the other author re hashed.
back on topic, after watching both conan the barbarian films this morning, ya i know got nothing better to do while healing ,lol, but there are things i liked about both but JM still comes far closer than arnie did, the one thing id change about the way JM portrayed conan , is that he was always "on" . i know conan is intense but he is not always not stop intense in the stories, he does have his "down" time, or thinking and reflecting on things in some stories.
the only one i can think were conan is non stop intense would be frost giants daughter, and it works well as it is a shorter story.

[thedarkman]

The Black Stranger is a Howard story, while the Treasure of Tranicos is a DeCamp version, highly modified. Two different stories, really.

You must choose, wisely...

[thedarkman]

Oops! Took me so long to reply to this thread, my comment is late and out of sequence!

Stupid computer....

[TheDarkslayer]

The Black Stranger is a Howard story, while the Treasure of Tranicos is a DeCamp version, highly modified. Two different stories, really.

You must choose, wisely...

I'll have to modify. I am talking about The Black Stranger. I have a copy for Wandering Star that is a reprint of what came right off of REH's type-writer. It's a great collectible. Re-reading it, letter page by letter page. I'll be finished this weekend, but there is very little that needed edited.

[RJMooreII]

Arn

@ Amster, I would respectfully offer that IMHO on-screen charisma isn't subjective. That's why it's so special... It's very objective. A person can hate an actor (or their performance) but still feel that charisma. I don't like Robert Downey Jr., but does he have on-screen charisma? Yes. Dwayne Johnson... all charisma. John Wayne... limited as actor... amazing charisma! Many times that charisma can show even in a bad movie. IMO, CTB(2011) didn't have that.

Arnold is very charismatic, but that doesn't mean he was a good Conan. It's rather like saying that John Wayne's portrayal of Genghis Khan is superior to Asano Tadanbu's. It's a lazy argument, one that someone with absolutely no knowledge of the original Conan stories can get by with. The question is which actor best portrayed Conan. This isn't a beauty contest. Are any of you "Arnold has more charisma" guys able to indentify what characteristics define the charater that Howard created and explain how Arnold's performance captured those characteristics better than Momoa?

Not commenting on the Arnold thing, but I think Chingiz probably looked as much like John Wayne as he did Tadanbu. A tawny-haired over-six foot quasi-Turkic horseman is not the same thing as a modern Japanese dude. Asians are not interchangeable.

[Konorg]

Momoa in attutude and obvious lines taken from REH Conan stories was the better Conan,but they still could have done it better and been more accurate.

Refernces to Acheron ,Xaltotun , BUT NO FREAKING HEART OF AHRIMAN come on they where throwning refrences to Conan:Hour of the Dragon all over the fricking place without making a movie out of the novel,and then certian things so that people would not relaize they where pulling from HoD to make their movie.

Thats pertty much what TICKS ME OFF about this movie. If you are going to make refferences to a novel of REH"S keep all refernces accurate don't try to sno-job us Howard fans for the almight fricking DOLLAR!

Needless to say I staretd out when i viewed it liking it but when I saw how much of a twist up and a cluster $%^& they made of the refrences to HoD I staretd to hate the movie!

Edited by Konorg, 07 May 2012 - 02:06 AM.

[BarbaricBludgeoning]

Arnold i don't care if i get flammed for this

[Dave the Rage]

Arnold i don't care if i get flammed for this

Could you elaborate on this, and why you think he did a better Conan than Momoa based on Howard's works?

Any ERB fans out there who wanna do the same question for Tarzan too since they have discussed the making of a new one?

[johnnypt]

Any ERB fans out there who wanna do the same question for Tarzan too since they have discussed the making of a new one?

I'm chime in once you start it up

[Ascalante]

Arnold's Conan was more of a real character. Arnold's Conan conveyed a relaxed confidence which I believe is truer to Howard's Conan.

When Arnold falls into the tomb of the Atlantean sword and slowly and effectively delivers the word "Crom" with awe and wonderment, it rings true to Conan's character. As a viewer you feel Conan's awe of mystery and magic.

When Conan explains his belief in Crom to Subotai, Arnold connects effectively and the viewer sees Conan as more than just a pissed off loner, but a character of strength and depth.

Arnold's laugh is hearty and truer to Conan's mirth.

This all conveys feeling and empathy to Conan's success. With Arnold's Conan you get a better portrayal of the complexity of Conan and actually care more about the character.

Mamoa's Conan was one-dimensional, stressed, uncharismatic, and lacking depth which is not the Conan I see in Howard's stories.

[TheDarkslayer]

The Black Stranger is a great story. One of the best. The Treasure of Tranicos, on the other hand, is an abomination. Hope that helps!

Wow, I just finished it a couple of days ago. I can even begin to imagine how someone could have butchered the story. Nothing needed changed, other than the typo's Howard marked. Did the DeCamp version have Thoth-Amon as the Black Stranger?

[TheCimmerian]

I watched the newest Conan film in theaters shortly after reading a sizeable block of Howard's original Conan tales. Going in I was prepped to pick out the film's departures from the text, though I was expecting some of the typical turns and alterations one finds in an adaptation. I must say that I truly enjoyed it.

It's understandable that many people still have strong feelings for and ties to Arnold's Conan. I'll always base all of my opinions on adaptations from Howard on how I feel about the original Howard stories, though. I won't allow other folk's dedication to an older adaptation, which was arguably just as different from the classic material as the new film (if not more so), affect my opinion of a new one.

Here's my review written after seeing Momoa and Nispel's Conan in theaters:
http://random-verbos...-at-movies.html

Edited by TheCimmerian, 29 August 2012 - 04:46 PM.

[StevenXVX]

Hey everyone! Im new to the forum and excited to learn more about this wonderful story and meet fans of Conan and Robert E. Howard! And look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions!

I agree with most of you who stated Momoa fits the description in classic tales such as The Phoenix on the Sword, and The Frost-Giants Daughter's...

Jason Momoa did a good job, especially using the head of the jailer to get in for the kill, classic Conan. And I loved the way they should young Conan! In the stories he was not your typical Cimmerian. By the way Ron Perlman...amazing.
I feel Arnold did great as Conan. He really was a deep-thinking warrior, and scenes of Arnold deep in thought really nailed it for me. Arnold's portral was more than just a
brutal barbarian.

Momoa was the best choice for the new Conan film among other actors today!

Edited by StevenXVX, 27 October 2012 - 08:28 AM.

[Andradir]

Neither Momoa nor Schwarzenegger.
IMHO the best Conan was Lucy Lawless as Xena, Warrior Princess. Seriously.

[Dave the Rage]

Neither Momoa nor Schwarzenegger.
IMHO the best Conan was Lucy Lawless as Xena, Warrior Princess. Seriously.

Yes I can see REH description, sleak and pantherish all over her, ready to pounce on me like coiled steel ready to attack.

Edited by Dave the Rage, 02 November 2012 - 10:39 PM.

[Dave the Rage]

I watched the newest Conan film in theaters shortly after reading a sizeable block of Howard's original Conan tales. Going in I was prepped to pick out the film's departures from the text, though I was expecting some of the typical turns and alterations one finds in an adaptation. I must say that I truly enjoyed it.

It's understandable that many people still have strong feelings for and ties to Arnold's Conan. I'll always base all of my opinions on adaptations from Howard on how I feel about the original Howard stories, though. I won't allow other folk's dedication to an older adaptation, which was arguably just as different from the classic material as the new film (if not more so), affect my opinion of a new one.

Here's my review written after seeing Momoa and Nispel's Conan in theaters:
http://random-verbos...-at-movies.html

Good honest read imo. Chears for sharing.

[gungnir_1972]

The thout has crossed my mind and maybe it is a crazy thought...that in the new movie Jason Momoa could play the younger Conan.I think it really a waste to not have him return.He nailed Conan the image I see when I read the stories is closer to him than Arnold ever was.But could the two versions mesh in one movie to be believably the same character?Arnold and Jason as one Conan.

This movie is sure to be Arnolds last appearance as Conan and someone is going to havve tp step into the role.But then again Jason being in Arnolds last Conan film might ruin future films for him if he were ever to return to the role.I would definetley be down for seeing another Conan film starrinh Momoa...a good majority of fans agree he did a great job with the part.

Then again having both in the same movie would likey mean the movie fighting against itself,trying to be two things at once.Much like the 2011 movie tried to be new and different but yet was saddled by too many simularities with the 82 version neither being a true reboot or remake.If 2011 had tried to gp its own way more maybe it would have been a better movie...at least more accepted.I one to see more of the younger Conan before he becomes King.Arnold's TLOC might do great but I still wish we could see Jason complete his version....from beggining to King.