New Conan

Off Topic
161

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

Because it will. They seem to be making movies now, even action movies, to please the women in the audience. I am not sure why.

[/quote]

If the pool of potential moviegoers is 100 people (50 men/50 women), the most the movie company will likely get from a movie like Commando is (randomly) 0 women and 25 men (because half the men today are too Nancy for that kind of movie). But a movie that appeals to women will get 25 women, plus the 25 men that got dragged along, plus the other 25 men who just want to watch it.

It makes sense financially to make all movies for women.

I would love to be proved wrong.[/quote]

That seems fairly astute. You should be in marketing.

162

If you are at all familiar with the original source material, it is very hard to find a convincing Conan. Robert E. Howard once described the character as a combination of every tough guy he ever knew living in Texas…oil rig guys, prizefighters etc. Conan is the sum total of everything aggressive and unwavering about manhood. You need a damn convincing actor to pull that off given what is dancing around Hollywood anymore and it is compounded 10x over by the need to physically depict a giant, hyper-muscular Celt.

Even though it was pretty good, Arnold’s portrayal was flawed in a number of ways if you are a Conan purist.

I knew all along they never had a chance of getting it right.

Ahhh. Sign of the times I guess. I guess I’ll have to watch Conan the Barbarian for the 100 time when this comes out.

163

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]corstijeir wrote:
This guy played Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis. I bet hollywood could pay for a good trainer to make him fill in.

They also picked him after he shot some scenes. Why don’t we wait and see what happens, after all if it sucks they’ll just do a better version in a year or two later ( ex, the hulk ).

Or lets see some actors who could actually, you know-- act.

Even when trying hard to look badass this dude still looks like a pussy…anyway how a skinny black dude can all of a sudden become a huge muscular Celt? Are they going to rewrite the Conan saga? What’s next? Brad Pitt playing the young Nelson Mandela?
[/quote]

He’s Hawaiian. And The Rock is black and Samoan and most people would have applauded his choice as Conan, so your focus on his ethnicity really makes no sense. Regardless of that, Conan’s grandfather was described as being dark and from the South and Conan’s appearance in all the Robert E. Howard stories I remember reading describe him as dark with black hair and blue eyes, so at the very least, he wasn’t pale.[/quote]

My bad, he’s Hawaiian.
Anyway being dark doesn’t mean you look like African, South Asian, Hawaiian, Samoan…the main issue is not only the color of the skin…I mean some Chinese, Korean have fair rosy skin, so let’s get some white skinned chinese dude playing Adolf Hitler, Churchill or King Arthur?
In the context of the Conan saga a Hawaiian, Samoan, African…would be out of place. Conan is described as dark with black hair and blue eyes from the caucasus region so we can safely guess that his overall physical features are those of a caucasian. One of my little bros is dark skinned with almost blond hair and blue eyes (after half a day in the sun he’s as dark as your average Arab can be and yes the chicks dig him…) Guess what? Despite of his unusual skin color for a white dude he definitively still look like a caucasian.

Sure the Conan saga is fictional but still based on some true historical/geographical facts.
And yes The Rock as Conan would be an awesome choice! His decent physique and tremendous charisma can compensate for the lack of accuracy…[/quote]

This is getting stupid. Conan was also written as being a descendant of the Atlanteans…which means HIS ETHNICITY IS FUCKING MYTHICAL. Why the hell are some of you trying this hard to act like he looked like the average white guy?

Hollywood has a long history in this country of putting white actors in lead roles even if the subject material was quite different…like the Movie Spawn where Al’s best friend in the comics is black but was played by the guy from Fire in The Sky who is white. I heard no outcry against this when it happened…yet now?

LOL!!!

164

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]corstijeir wrote:
This guy played Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis. I bet hollywood could pay for a good trainer to make him fill in.

They also picked him after he shot some scenes. Why don’t we wait and see what happens, after all if it sucks they’ll just do a better version in a year or two later ( ex, the hulk ).

Or lets see some actors who could actually, you know-- act.

Even when trying hard to look badass this dude still looks like a pussy…anyway how a skinny black dude can all of a sudden become a huge muscular Celt? Are they going to rewrite the Conan saga? What’s next? Brad Pitt playing the young Nelson Mandela?
[/quote]

He’s Hawaiian. And The Rock is black and Samoan and most people would have applauded his choice as Conan, so your focus on his ethnicity really makes no sense. Regardless of that, Conan’s grandfather was described as being dark and from the South and Conan’s appearance in all the Robert E. Howard stories I remember reading describe him as dark with black hair and blue eyes, so at the very least, he wasn’t pale.[/quote]

My bad, he’s Hawaiian.
Anyway being dark doesn’t mean you look like African, South Asian, Hawaiian, Samoan…the main issue is not only the color of the skin…I mean some Chinese, Korean have fair rosy skin, so let’s get some white skinned chinese dude playing Adolf Hitler, Churchill or King Arthur?
In the context of the Conan saga a Hawaiian, Samoan, African…would be out of place. Conan is described as dark with black hair and blue eyes from the caucasus region so we can safely guess that his overall physical features are those of a caucasian. One of my little bros is dark skinned with almost blond hair and blue eyes (after half a day in the sun he’s as dark as your average Arab can be and yes the chicks dig him…) Guess what? Despite of his unusual skin color for a white dude he definitively still look like a caucasian.

Sure the Conan saga is fictional but still based on some true historical/geographical facts.
And yes The Rock as Conan would be an awesome choice! His decent physique and tremendous charisma can compensate for the lack of accuracy…[/quote]

This is getting stupid. Conan was also written as being a descendant of the Atlanteans…which means HIS ETHNICITY IS FUCKING MYTHICAL. Why the hell are some of you trying this hard to act like he looked like the average white guy?

Hollywood has a long history in this country of putting white actors in lead roles even if the subject material was quite different…like the Movie Spawn where Al’s best friend in the comics is black but was played by the guy from Fire in The Sky who is white. I heard no outcry against this when it happened…yet now?

LOL!!![/quote]

Well, fair enough. I’m not totally convinced but you got a point.

165

this sucks ass! as someone already said the mamoa used to play ronon dex on atlantis, i dont know if anyone used to watch SG-1 but the “muscle” guy in that was big, and on top of it, in the story line, he was a bit superhuman. somehow they downgraded to this lame asswipe. but there is still hope, according to some google searches hes 6 4 and 210, there must be some potential to add some muscle there

166

[quote]lickyourelbow wrote:
this sucks ass! as someone already said the mamoa used to play ronon dex on atlantis, i dont know if anyone used to watch SG-1 but the “muscle” guy in that was big, and on top of it, in the story line, he was a bit superhuman. somehow they downgraded to this lame asswipe. but there is still hope, according to some google searches hes 6 4 and 210, there must be some potential to add some muscle there[/quote]

Yeah, 6 4 and 210 (I heard 6 5 too) - perhaps he’ll surprise us just a little bit? Surprise us enough to be able to forget about it and enjoy the film. Let us hope.

167

[quote]The Savage wrote:
I had lunch today with my wife and I told her about the new Conan. I explained who the new Conan was. When I said he’s the guy from Stargate:Atlantis she said “Why not?” I asked her if she was serious and she said he was pretty jacked but maybe too dark… she was confused with Tulc (sp) from SG1. Then she had a pause and said, “Ohhhhh… no ew, doesn’t he have to be muscular at least like Arnold was?” Then she said why can’t they get a bodybuilder or someone from WWE like Batista?

She then said “I predict a flop if he goes as he looks now minus the dreads in place of straight hair, people expect a larger than life character.” She then went on to say “What next a blonde Wonderwoman?”…

At least she understands that movies should make an attempt to keep to the source material.[/quote]

Tulc would be way better!

168

Well shit I know it’s doomed now with a guy like that directing it. Hollywood is fucked, a thousand directors and writer teams with well fleshed out CVs, but they give it to the dude who did fucking Pathfinder!? Give up any hope of this being any good, trust me, just go away and buy the original and best on DVD.

169

In 5 years this will be on the Scify channel everynight. It will either be total cheese, or total hollywood big production 3d shit. Arnold was good cause he was raw power and displayed that on screen. I do not know this guy but I really doubt he can portray that power. Cause thats what Conan is power fucking kick ass take names power. Hollywood does not do that now, the power is not in the actors but in the special effects.

170

[quote]DJHT wrote:
In 5 years this will be on the Scify channel everynight. It will either be total cheese, or total hollywood big production 3d shit. Arnold was good cause he was raw power and displayed that on screen. I do not know this guy but I really doubt he can portray that power. Cause thats what Conan is power fucking kick ass take names power. Hollywood does not do that now, the power is not in the actors but in the special effects.[/quote]

Very true!

Arnolds presence on screen was the main draw for most people and they probably want to move away from that and focus on a 3D, CGI, 300 style action fest where the limelight is on the whole picture.

Today’s stars shine a lot less brighter than they used to. More focus is put on the special effects guys who create the LOOK of a movie. It might end up like a quick fix leave your brain at the door kinda film and in some instances that’s a good thing but in this instance I hope they try and engage the audience with a story line worthy of the character.

171

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]Berserkergang wrote:

[quote]corstijeir wrote:
This guy played Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis. I bet hollywood could pay for a good trainer to make him fill in.

They also picked him after he shot some scenes. Why don’t we wait and see what happens, after all if it sucks they’ll just do a better version in a year or two later ( ex, the hulk ).

Or lets see some actors who could actually, you know-- act.

Even when trying hard to look badass this dude still looks like a pussy…anyway how a skinny black dude can all of a sudden become a huge muscular Celt? Are they going to rewrite the Conan saga? What’s next? Brad Pitt playing the young Nelson Mandela?
[/quote]

He’s Hawaiian. And The Rock is black and Samoan and most people would have applauded his choice as Conan, so your focus on his ethnicity really makes no sense. Regardless of that, Conan’s grandfather was described as being dark and from the South and Conan’s appearance in all the Robert E. Howard stories I remember reading describe him as dark with black hair and blue eyes, so at the very least, he wasn’t pale.[/quote]

My bad, he’s Hawaiian.
Anyway being dark doesn’t mean you look like African, South Asian, Hawaiian, Samoan…the main issue is not only the color of the skin…I mean some Chinese, Korean have fair rosy skin, so let’s get some white skinned chinese dude playing Adolf Hitler, Churchill or King Arthur?
In the context of the Conan saga a Hawaiian, Samoan, African…would be out of place. Conan is described as dark with black hair and blue eyes from the caucasus region so we can safely guess that his overall physical features are those of a caucasian. One of my little bros is dark skinned with almost blond hair and blue eyes (after half a day in the sun he’s as dark as your average Arab can be and yes the chicks dig him…) Guess what? Despite of his unusual skin color for a white dude he definitively still look like a caucasian.

Sure the Conan saga is fictional but still based on some true historical/geographical facts.
And yes The Rock as Conan would be an awesome choice! His decent physique and tremendous charisma can compensate for the lack of accuracy…[/quote]

This is getting stupid. Conan was also written as being a descendant of the Atlanteans…which means HIS ETHNICITY IS FUCKING MYTHICAL. Why the hell are some of you trying this hard to act like he looked like the average white guy?

Hollywood has a long history in this country of putting white actors in lead roles even if the subject material was quite different…like the Movie Spawn where Al’s best friend in the comics is black but was played by the guy from Fire in The Sky who is white. I heard no outcry against this when it happened…yet now?

LOL!!![/quote]

Well, fair enough. I’m not totally convinced but you got a point.
[/quote]

You can safely assume that the majority of people recognise Conan using Arnold as the main reference point hence all this guffaw about his LOOK.

Films like Spawn and the deliberate change in character profiles usually go unnoticed by the regular movie goer, just like Red in ‘Shawshank’ who was actually a big ginger irish man in the book.

Maybe some commenters are race motivated, I don’t know, but one thing is for sure Arnolds portrayal of Conan is seared into all our minds, herein lies the problem. Jason Momoa has some big hairy boots to fill…

172

They should have used the CGI effects of Arnold from Terminator Salvation… kidding. Well actually that was one of the highlights of Salvation for me.

Back to topic, if he can get some Hollywood muscle in a short perdiod of time say 20 lbs in the right places like shoulders and arms (or where ever may be the best by camera angles) and use padded pants instead of loin cloth do you think he may pull it off? Hugh Jackman did an OK job as far as Wolverine, and he wore jeans most of the time, I still thought he wasn’t muscled enough however he did pull off the attitude somewhat and has good acting chops…

I’m really crossing my fingers for this one, perhaps a miracle will happen…

173

[quote]The Savage wrote:
I had lunch today with my wife and I told her about the new Conan. I explained who the new Conan was. When I said he’s the guy from Stargate:Atlantis she said “Why not?” I asked her if she was serious and she said he was pretty jacked but maybe too dark… she was confused with Tulc (sp) from SG1. Then she had a pause and said, “Ohhhhh… no ew, doesn’t he have to be muscular at least like Arnold was?” Then she said why can’t they get a bodybuilder or someone from WWE like Batista?

She then said “I predict a flop if he goes as he looks now minus the dreads in place of straight hair, people expect a larger than life character.” She then went on to say “What next a blonde Wonderwoman?”…

At least she understands that movies should make an attempt to keep to the source material.

Tulc would be way better! [/quote]

Teal’c

Yeah I nerded out.

174

Dude doesn’t have what it takes. Conan is a larger than life character, and say what you like about Arnold’s raw acting ability but he commands the screen in every scene he’s in. Schwarzenegger exudes power. Can anybody honestly say that about this guy? He doesn’t look like he could pick up the sword.

You could search for decades and not find another actor up to the job of playing Conan, why don’t they just let it be? Conan isn’t meant to be gritty and realistic, it’s meant to be silly pulp fantasy.

I wish Hollywood would stop raping my childhood memories with watered-down bullshit. I think T-Nation should descend upon the studio like a barbarian horde and show them how it should be done. Who’s with me?!

175

[quote]corstijeir wrote:

[quote]The Savage wrote:
I had lunch today with my wife and I told her about the new Conan. I explained who the new Conan was. When I said he’s the guy from Stargate:Atlantis she said “Why not?” I asked her if she was serious and she said he was pretty jacked but maybe too dark… she was confused with Tulc (sp) from SG1. Then she had a pause and said, “Ohhhhh… no ew, doesn’t he have to be muscular at least like Arnold was?” Then she said why can’t they get a bodybuilder or someone from WWE like Batista?

She then said “I predict a flop if he goes as he looks now minus the dreads in place of straight hair, people expect a larger than life character.” She then went on to say “What next a blonde Wonderwoman?”…

At least she understands that movies should make an attempt to keep to the source material.

Tulc would be way better! [/quote]

Teal’c

Yeah I nerded out.[/quote]

right! that’s what it was. … its been a while since i’ve seen it.

176

Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!

177

Thanks wol! That’s going to come in handy for me.

178

[quote]Professor X wrote:

This is getting stupid. Conan was also written as being a descendant of the Atlanteans…which means HIS ETHNICITY IS FUCKING MYTHICAL. Why the hell are some of you trying this hard to act like he looked like the average white guy?

LOL!!![/quote]

I have been a Robert E. Howard, era Conan reader since I was pretty young, like 9.

PX, is dead on when he says this ‘Conan is a white dude’ shit is nutz.

Actually, while I like the Arnold Conan, I was stunned when his hair was so light, compared to the original, in the shorts/novel. His tan did not seem to make him dark enough, there is a difference between having naturally darker skin, and a tan/oil. His eyes weren’t a dark enough blue either.

Reading the original Conan shit as a kid, I always picture the dude, as something that didn’t quite exist in the real world, some ancient looking type of Primordial Man, partly why Conan MUST be hyper-masculine, as Conan, is actually barely ‘human’ as compared to the hyper-masculine men of his Fantasy world, ‘over’ masculine even, to men that sounded like they came from world full of T-men.

179

If they’re going to CGI the shit out of him, why not use someone awesome like Clint Eastwood.

180

[quote]Antares wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

This is getting stupid. Conan was also written as being a descendant of the Atlanteans…which means HIS ETHNICITY IS FUCKING MYTHICAL. Why the hell are some of you trying this hard to act like he looked like the average white guy?

LOL!!![/quote]

I have been a Robert E. Howard, era Conan reader since I was pretty young, like 9.

PX, is dead on when he says this ‘Conan is a white dude’ shit is nutz.

Actually, while I like the Arnold Conan, I was stunned when his hair was so light, compared to the original, in the shorts/novel. His tan did not seem to make him dark enough, there is a difference between having naturally darker skin, and a tan/oil. His eyes weren’t a dark enough blue either.

Reading the original Conan shit as a kid, I always picture the dude, as something that didn’t quite exist in the real world, some ancient looking type of Primordial Man, partly why Conan MUST be hyper-masculine, as Conan, is actually barely ‘human’ as compared to the hyper-masculine men of his Fantasy world, ‘over’ masculine even, to men that sounded like they came from world full of T-men.

[/quote]

Agreed…and this may be why they chose this guy to play him because hasn’t he played an Atlantean on tv?

People of Atlantis aren’t written as “white people”. They come across more like Aborigines with dark skin but blond hair and light eyes.

I will also say that I will write a full length post about how wrong I was if this guy can actually bulk up enough to not look silly playing this part.

The truth is, Arnold was actually a little “too white” for the part.