 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Conan the Barbarian
- Review Date: August 19, 2011
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Gruesomely violent sword-and-sorcery tale is terrible.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this extremely violent sword-and-sorcery tale -- which was inspired by Robert E. Howard's 1930s pulp stories, as well as 1970s comic books and two Arnold Schwarzenegger movies from the 1980s -- is in no way a kid-friendly comic book adaptation. There's tons of gruesome blood and gore, including severed heads and body parts, stabbings, bashings, slayings, violence aimed at women and children (including an unborn baby), and many other brutal acts, all of which are even more intense when seen in the movie's 3D version. Conan is motivated by revenge and relies on all of this violence to solve his problems. Women in general are treated like props; several are shown topless for long moments, and there's what amounts to a softcore sex scene. Language is infrequent but includes one use of "s--t," and the heroes drink something alcoholic (mead?) when celebrating.
What's the story?
In the Hyborian age of swords and sorcery, Conan is born during a bloody battle. As a boy, his village is slaughtered by the evil Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), whose goal is to collect all the pieces of a powerful mask. Years later, when Conan has grown into a man (Jason Momoa), he seeks his revenge. Meanwhile, Khalar Zym and his sorceress daughter (Rose McGowan) are hunting for a "pureblood," Tamara (Rachel Nichols), whom they need to help them complete a terrifying ritual. Can Conan find and stop the bad guy and rescue the girl before it's too late?
Is it any good?
Directed by Marcus Nispel, this movie (which would be more aptly named Gron-an the Barbarian) is terrible, terrible, terrible. It starts with stale dialogue, which is delivered badly by all the actors. (Momoa tries for a steely gaze, but he winds up with a silly leer.) The lazy, ridiculous story would have been rejected by the pulps. The action sequences are clunky and incomprehensible, not to mention poorly paced, and the 3D effects are like flat images in a pop-up book.
That could have been the worst of it -- and indeed, that's plenty to make audiences howl with unintentional laughter -- but Nispel goes even further. He has delivered perhaps the most gruesomely violent movie of the year; it's extreme and horrifying. Last, though hardly least, is the movie's despicable treatment of women as props and women and children as the targets of brutal violence. Even the Schwarzenegger movies were better. Don't be conned by this Conan.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence. Is it shocking? Why did the filmmakers choose to go over the top? What makes it more extreme than what you see in other fantasy/action movies?
Is Conan a role model? What positive traits does he show? What negative ones? Are viewers intended to admire him?
If you've seen earlier Conan movies, how does this one compare? Is it more extreme? Why do you think that is? Is it the filmmaker's decision or a reflection of how culture has changed?
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AGE
Pretty Good
This Movie Is Not For Ages 0-17,Ok For 18 And Up Only.
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AGE
dissapouinting
I went in the theater excepting a good movie but's bad
they put gore were thery should'nt
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AGE
CROM! Why have you forsaken me!?
First off, it's pretty much a given that anything under the Conan the Barbarian banner is not for kids. Even in the original written forms, Conan has always been synonymous with gory violence and lusty womanizing. This is exactly why he's a great character, he's testosterone personified! :) But not for kids.
I had high hopes for this movie - but sadly it's one of the most disappointing ever. Visually, they did a good job. Jason whats-his-name LOOKS the part well enough, and the general art direction was good. The problem is basically everything you HEAR.. the dialog, the story you're being told, and the completely subpar music. Was this screenplay written by some amateur Youtuber? Do these people have any understanding of what makes an action/adventure movie WORK? Sadly no. I guess being handed the reigns of a well developed, awesome character with screen-worthy stories already fleshed out and perfect was too difficult for 'em - they had to release this crap. I almost vomited during the final confrontation - a completely non-Conan resolution. Oh well, Arnold... your throne is secure. Though you're not the perfect Conan, you're still the best we've had.
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AGE
Haven't seen it and probably won't
I haven't seen the movie but from what I hear, the story is crap and so is the charecter, Conan
He's hateful, vengeful, and is fighting for all the wrong reasons
He doesn't care who lives or dies so long as he gets what he wants and that is revenge for the death of his father and the destruction of his childhood village
The trailer looks auesome, enphisis on "looks"
The graphics are the best I've seen since Transformers3, but it seems like the writers and preducers were hoping that they would win the 5 stars just because they have good graphics
But the story seems like crap, the "hero" seems like crap, the setting seems like crap, the entire movie seems like crap
Haven't seen this and I never will
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AGE
Give A Shot To Conan The Barbarian
The Movie Was Just Fine You Also Can watch It From
Just Visit
moviesbundle website
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AGE
bloody movie not for kids 18
the worst movie ever its so gory and bloody good for 18
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AGE
blehhh
I hate it! BTW this is the first movie that I have ever seen where the dude boobs are bigger than Heidi Montags! Known fact!
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AGE
CROM is dissapointed that this movie got one star!should get four
I have known and seen all the CONAN movies but this. My friend saw it though and he says that it was the best CONAN movie that he saw. unfourtuantly I dont Have my own account so I have to use my parents. anyway, my friend gave me specific ratings for it and he told me to writethis review or him.
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AGE
conanbaribarrian
bloody sword fight revenge is ok movie
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AGE
Sigh...
Conan the Adventurer was A-OK, but this, not so much. Between gore and nudity, this is not a film for my kid, though I was relieved he didn't want to see it. He said one Conan (he watches Detective Conan, a Japanese cartoon all families should see) was enough for him. LOL.
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| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Marcus Nispel |
| Cast: | Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Ron Perlman |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 19, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | November 22, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity |
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