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Conan the Barbarian Blu-ray Review

By Chris Chiarella

The Movie

Both the beginning and the summit of the modern sword-and-sorcery genre, Conan the Barbarian drew upon the novels of Robert E. Howard of course, but it also rode the popularity of Marvel Comics' take the musclebound character. And who better to play the bigger-than-life warrior than a young, eager bodybuilder and budding actor named Arnold Schwarzenegger? This would be Arnold's breakthrough role and--backed by a script co-written by Oliver Stone, music by Basil Poledouris, inspired production design by Ron Cobb and more--the dark, serious epic would resonate with audiences and with many a copycat filmmaker.

Intended as the first in a trilogy, The Barbarian is an origin of sorts, as both of wee Conan's parents are brutally killed by marauding warlord Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones in one of his few feature film appearances during his initial tenure as Darth Vader). The boy is made a slave, growing into a gladiator, later surviving as a thief. And so he is hired to steal back a king's daughter from an increasingly dangerous snake cult, not just for the rich payment, but for a chance at revenge.

The Picture

There is some grain and varying levels of noise in this new 2.35:1 HD remaster, but the reclaimed details are undeniable, in grasses and furs and elsewhere. Smoke and mists are generally stable, while the snowy landscape is quite pure. Instances of soft focus are well-maintained, while the range of hues is subtle but nonetheless impressive. I noted some edge enhancement, and blacks don't surrender much information, but at least they are inky and natural.

The Sound

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Across the front soundstage at least, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is big and full. The rears are touched by minor effects and wind and powerful thunder at times, but frankly I think the remixers missed opportunities for some of the wilder fantasy elements to really exploit the surrounds. The musical score remains an outstanding listen however, its highs particularly clean and airy.

The Extras

All of the DVD extras have been ported over, in standard definition but some with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 sound. There are five-and-a-half minutes of deleted scenes, a comprehensive 53-minute "making of" and a minute-and-a-half before/after special effects comparison of the wizard's spell scene. Still art and photos are presented as about 12 minutes of video with music. Director John Milius also reunites with his star for the audio commentary.

New for Blu are a 14-and-a-half-minute weapons documentary, including a look at how the modern collector replicas are made, along with a new presentation of recently rediscovered vintage 1982 interviews (ten minutes), both in HD. The disc can connect to the internet via BD-Live, and is and pocket BLU-enabled.

Final Thoughts

Significantly upgraded for Blu-ray, this new Conan the Barbarian disc is worth adding to your collection, particularly if you're a fan of the character, the genre, or the former governor of the state of California.

Product Details

  • Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sandahl Bergman, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow, Mako, William Smith
  • Director: John Milius
  • Audio Format/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
  • Subtitles: English SDH, French
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rating: R
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • Release Date: August 2, 2011
  • Run Time: Approx. 129 minutes
  • List Price: $26.98
  • Extras:
    • Audio Commentary by John Milius and Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Deleted Scenes
    • "Conan Unchained: The Making of Conan"
    • "Art of Steel: Sword Makers and Masters"
    • "Conan: From the Vault"
    • Special Effects
    • "The Conan Archives"
    • D-Box Motion Code
    • pocket BLU
    • BD-Live with Universal Ticker

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View all articles by Chris Chiarella
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