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Conan the Destroyer (1984) - Arnold K.O.'s animals and pushes doors open in early-career fantasy, 80's extravaganza



Epic poster for Richard Fleischer's Conan the Destroyer

QUICK REVIEW:

This is the sequel to John Milius' successful Conan the Barbarian (1982), which most critics prefer. Destroyer is more humorous, less looong, less violent and is also a less showy production.
But this 80's kitsch classic has other things to boast about. Today the film is laughable, - but that might not be so terrible, - because it is down-right hysterical. Although as an action-adventure movie, it is also awfully predictable.
Conan's comic sidekick Malak, played by Tracey Walter, doesn't seem to have any reason to be in the film, but other things counter-weigh Conan the Destroyer's problems: The overstated characters, especially Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)) and Grace Jones (A View to a Kill (1985)) are in spectacular shape and play memorably. - The ape monster, the incredible costumes and the repeated times that Schwarzenegger hits animals in the heads or pushes stone doors open also contribute to the fun. And then there's Wilt Chamberlain (The Grizzly Six (2000) writer), the 7'1'' NBA-player-legend and, in an uncredited role as the monster, André the Giant.
For anyone with a penchant for 80's movies, Conan the Destroyer has its very own kind of classic status radiating from it.

Click to enlarge this still that has in it (from the left): Tracey Walter, Grace Jones, Schwarzenegger, Olivia D'Abo and Wilt Chamberlain


It is directed by Richard Fleisher, who won an Oscar very early in his career for the documentary Design for Death (1947) and later in life directed such huge films as Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Soylent Green (1973) and Red Sonja (1985). 

Related posts:

Top 10: Best fantasy movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Conan the Barbarian (1982) - Prehistoric fantasy opus stretched out beyond its maximum 

German poster for Richard Fleisher's smash hit Conan the Destroyer

Hyperbolic, fun original trailer for Conan the Destroyer

Budget: 18 mil. $
Box office: 100 mil. $
= Big hit

What do you think of the two old Conan movies?
If you've seen the recent Jason Momoa-version reboot Conan the Barbarian (2011), how was it?

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