In most cases, books/movies that appealed in one's childhood turn out to be not so appealing when revisited with a more knowing frame of mind; but there are occasions when such stuff actually seems a great deal more worthy of appreciation on second-run. Examples like this include the Sherlock Holmes TV series, Superman: The Movie...add Conan The Barbarian to that list.

My previous recollection of CtB is from the hazy, dark, well-worn, cropped full-frame videotape rental that used to be the standard entertainment for us kids of the 80's. I sort of liked it then but in a lukewarm manner and definitely secondary to other action fodder like Terminator, Rambo and Commando. Now finally seeing it as it was originally intended to be seen, my appreciation of this movie has been thoroughly upped.

The character of Conan was first realized in a series of hyper-masculine leather and steel fantasy pulp fantasy stories by Robert E. Howard who wrote with a ferocity that transcended the printed page. It is to the credit of director/writer John Milius (who wrote Apocalypse Now for Francis Coppola) and his team (including script writer Oliver Stone, before he made Platoon) that, apart from a couple of Hollywood-style "relay-shun-ship" moments, this world is brought to vivid life on screen: The men are hulking, the fights are pleasingly bloody and the Gods are unapologetically pagan.

A stunning amount of attention to detail is on display in the design of the film, from the crude milieu of our barbarian hero to the striking snake motifs of his adversary Thulsa Doom. The wide-screen photography is plainly awesome and composer Basil Pouledoris serves up a thumping score to accentuate the heroics on screen: Entire scenes go by where barely a few lines are spoken, yet we are completely immersed in what we see and hear. The climax is a wordless affair that stuns the senses, leaving only enough room to think "Rob E. Howard would have loved this!". Milius is clearly an intelligent director and has done a brilliant job here.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in the title role may not be as much the flamboyant rogue as Howard's written character but with his massive frame fills in the role of savage warrior. Along with the rest of the crew, he seems to be having a great time and this sense of fun is easily transferred to the audience. Aficionados of the sadly dying breed of manly adventure films will find CtB a thoroughly satisfying ride.