Thanks for praising Poledouris’s score. It’s truly one of the best ever written and always reminds me of the grand style in which those old Biblical epics were scored. It’s filled with as much beauty as braun. The score was recorded a little rough around the edges, which perfectly matches the film itself.
I agree with all the points you raised. The transfer for Conan looks like a nicely preserved 35mm without the oversharpening or pushing the DNR out with the film grain. I haven't seen Conan the Destroyer, unfortunately, only the first film. cinematographer Duke Callaghan designed to appear dark and naturally-lit (the day-for-night shots are difficult to discern, no matter what format you watch the film on). But overall, this transfer looks and feels remarkably fresh. I just hope Arrow release this set in the UK. It certainly deserves a place on my shelf. Thank you for the review.
One of my all time favorite films. I love CTD as well and I’m glad to see it get some love finally. While not exactly REH’s Conan, this movie has so many people involved that I believe REH would strongly approve of. Stone- military man, man with a code, writer, history buff, nut Lopez- champion surfer, athlete Arnold- self made man, weightlifter,Austrian Milius- gun buff, military buff, history buff, writer Berghman- jock dancer
One of the best releases of last year/ this year. It was a real joy revisiting Barbarian. I loved the hdr grade mixed with the faithful filmic 4k quality. Thanks for the review Crusader! And thanks for inlcuding the links to the old scripts. Ill for sure, be checking them out.
I had a chance to meet one of the swordsmiths of the film here in Spain, Chano Romero. I went to his workshop and I could see some designs and stuff never before seen like blueprints and drawings. I was working at the time in a movie called "Tesis" by Alejandro Amenábar and we were creating the set of one character (Chema) and we could use a Conan knife as a prop. You can see it nailed to the wall over the bed, the snakes knife (not the hero prop but another made at the same time and used as regular prop. It is in the movie but I forgot where.)
I'm planning on getting the blu-ray versions of these films in the future. I don't have a 4k player yet, so I'm in no hurry to get the 4k versions. Even if I did, I'd still want the blu-rays as backups. Also, for the collector's swag, I'll try to get each film on their own.
I was just thinking the lost script would be perfect for a comic adaptation. It was really forward thinking to include capable comic writers on the scriptwriting process, the only other examples I can think of from the 80s are Frank Miller for RoboCop 2 and Steve Englehart for Batman.
Great work as always. I too think original audio is most important when it comes to physical media. That said, this is the one time I can think of that an argument could be made for providing a remix. As you said, the producers cheaped out for the mono mix. But its my understanding (and this may be inaccurate) that the score was recorded in stereo for a stereo film but the decision to release it mono came late in the day. I wish Arrow had gone just one more extra mile to give us what we should have got back in the theater: a 2.0 stereo mix. You can listen to score in stereo on the blu ray and it sounds marvelous! Better than the Atmos by a country mile. I just wish you could watch the movie in stereo with score, dialogue and sound effects. Thats really my only one nitpick.
Would be great if the set was fully region free. The 4K is region free but the bluray additional material, I think, is region A. Also not readily available in the UK which is odd as Arrow is a UK company (??) Hopefully they will release this version here in the UK as well as Europe.
@@Graphicxtras1 it’s all down to studio licensing being different in other territories. Arrow like other UK labels has a mix of US and UK exclusive titles all because of this. At the very least it’s easier these days to import titles and get a region free player than it used to be.
Great review. Loved your voice acting. I have the 3 volumes of Conan stories in hardcover in the same series as your volume 1 there on your shelf, along with many of the other volumes such as Best of Robert E. Howard Volumes 1 and 2, Kull, Solomon Kane, El Borak, Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard, etc. Great artwork in all of them, in different styles by different artists.
It took me many years, but I finally took the Howard plunge 18 months ago. Ended up DEVOURING all the Del Rey edition. I’ve been tracking down all his other stories now. My favorite is El Borak. Howard’s historical stories are excellent as well. Ironically, I love Conan but the Conan stories rank below Kane, Borak,Kull, Morn and his horror and historical stories
@@georgehenry1258 wow very impressive. I have just about all the books as well in the Del Rey series, but I haven’t gotten through most of them. I do like the El Borak/Kirby O’Donnell stories too.
@@iakona23 Treat yourself. They’re REALLY good. It’s odd. I’m a middle aged, life long comic/scifi/fantasy/horror nerd. I first read Howard in 2001. I read 2 stories and they didn’t grip me at all. Tower of the Elephant and Hour of the Dragon. SMH. I was an Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan guy. Go figure. Maybe as I’ve gotten older and more grizzled, I can appreciate Howard more. ERB seems to have too many coincidences and heroes getting knocked out for me now. Please take those books off the shelf and crack them open. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I also recommend first 2 Tarzan and first 3 John Carter books. OUTSTANDING. I’m almost afraid to start the 4th book in the Mars series. I can’t see how it could follow up the trilogy. Enjoy!!
@@iakona23 My bad. I meant to add that when I did my REH mega dive in 2022 I re-read both stories again and LOVED them. I must have matured as a reader. They’re 2 of my favorite Conan stories now for sure
So you assume it’s the universal transfer that was kept for those few seconds? Certainly would make the most sense seeing as how universal is always reasoning color timing for its films in 4K
Conan II script: archive.org/details/Conan2TheDestroyer198419831191stScan
King Conan Milius draft: thescriptsavant.com/movies/King_Conan.pdf
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader Thank you for this. I love learning about unmade scripts and alternate scripts.
I was impressed with this release from Arrow!
And R.I.P. James Earl Jones.
and Mako (AKA Aku)
Thanks for praising Poledouris’s score. It’s truly one of the best ever written and always reminds me of the grand style in which those old Biblical epics were scored. It’s filled with as much beauty as braun. The score was recorded a little rough around the edges, which perfectly matches the film itself.
The score is the real star of the film.
This channel continues to be absolutely essential viewing.
I agree with all the points you raised. The transfer for Conan looks like a nicely preserved 35mm without the oversharpening or pushing the DNR out with the film grain. I haven't seen Conan the Destroyer, unfortunately, only the first film. cinematographer Duke Callaghan designed to appear dark and naturally-lit (the day-for-night shots are difficult to discern, no matter what format you watch the film on). But overall, this transfer looks and feels remarkably fresh. I just hope Arrow release this set in the UK. It certainly deserves a place on my shelf. Thank you for the review.
One of my all time favorite films. I love CTD as well and I’m glad to see it get some love finally.
While not exactly REH’s Conan, this movie has so many people involved that I believe REH would strongly approve of.
Stone- military man, man with a code, writer, history buff, nut
Lopez- champion surfer, athlete
Arnold- self made man, weightlifter,Austrian
Milius- gun buff, military buff, history buff, writer
Berghman- jock dancer
The research and information you always provide really sets you apart from all other reviewers. Always look forward to your reviews. Another great job
Waiting for the 4K of Conan The Librarian
Thanks SO much Spence! I was in 'withdrawal' missing your physical media reviews!
One of the best releases of last year/ this year. It was a real joy revisiting Barbarian. I loved the hdr grade mixed with the faithful filmic 4k quality. Thanks for the review Crusader! And thanks for inlcuding the links to the old scripts. Ill for sure, be checking them out.
I had a chance to meet one of the swordsmiths of the film here in Spain, Chano Romero. I went to his workshop and I could see some designs and stuff never before seen like blueprints and drawings. I was working at the time in a movie called "Tesis" by Alejandro Amenábar and we were creating the set of one character (Chema) and we could use a Conan knife as a prop. You can see it nailed to the wall over the bed, the snakes knife (not the hero prop but another made at the same time and used as regular prop. It is in the movie but I forgot where.)
You don't disappoint.
Ohhhh I gotta send this to the Boss man
You mean Crom ?
@@outerlimits7527Crom laughs at your four winds.
@TheGhostOfJohnWicksBeagle He laughs from his mountain!
Andre will cream his pants 😂
Excellent voice impersonation! That really sounded like Mako! Really enjoyed these -- keep it up, sir!
@@bigmoviefreak my years of quoting Uncle Iroh finally pay off.😂
I'm planning on getting the blu-ray versions of these films in the future. I don't have a 4k player yet, so I'm in no hurry to get the 4k versions. Even if I did, I'd still want the blu-rays as backups. Also, for the collector's swag, I'll try to get each film on their own.
I was just thinking the lost script would be perfect for a comic adaptation. It was really forward thinking to include capable comic writers on the scriptwriting process, the only other examples I can think of from the 80s are Frank Miller for RoboCop 2 and Steve Englehart for Batman.
Is it safe to say "Good enough"?
Great work as always. I too think original audio is most important when it comes to physical media. That said, this is the one time I can think of that an argument could be made for providing a remix. As you said, the producers cheaped out for the mono mix. But its my understanding (and this may be inaccurate) that the score was recorded in stereo for a stereo film but the decision to release it mono came late in the day. I wish Arrow had gone just one more extra mile to give us what we should have got back in the theater: a 2.0 stereo mix. You can listen to score in stereo on the blu ray and it sounds marvelous! Better than the Atmos by a country mile. I just wish you could watch the movie in stereo with score, dialogue and sound effects. Thats really my only one nitpick.
Would be great if the set was fully region free. The 4K is region free but the bluray additional material, I think, is region A. Also not readily available in the UK which is odd as Arrow is a UK company (??) Hopefully they will release this version here in the UK as well as Europe.
@@Graphicxtras1 it’s all down to studio licensing being different in other territories. Arrow like other UK labels has a mix of US and UK exclusive titles all because of this. At the very least it’s easier these days to import titles and get a region free player than it used to be.
It would have been good if that had found some new deleted scenes
Funnily enough, I just nabbed a good deal on the Blu-ray set of this a couple of days ago! 😁
Blu Ray? Is it 2010?
@@bassage13Well, for $30 shipped I won't complain! 😁
Great review. Loved your voice acting. I have the 3 volumes of Conan stories in hardcover in the same series as your volume 1 there on your shelf, along with many of the other volumes such as Best of Robert E. Howard Volumes 1 and 2, Kull, Solomon Kane, El Borak, Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard, etc. Great artwork in all of them, in different styles by different artists.
It took me many years, but I finally took the Howard plunge 18 months ago. Ended up DEVOURING all the Del Rey edition. I’ve been tracking down all his other stories now.
My favorite is El Borak. Howard’s historical stories are excellent as well. Ironically, I love Conan but the Conan stories rank below Kane, Borak,Kull, Morn and his horror and historical stories
@@georgehenry1258 wow very impressive. I have just about all the books as well in the Del Rey series, but I haven’t gotten through most of them. I do like the El Borak/Kirby O’Donnell stories too.
@@iakona23 Treat yourself. They’re REALLY good. It’s odd. I’m a middle aged, life long comic/scifi/fantasy/horror nerd. I first read Howard in 2001. I read 2 stories and they didn’t grip me at all. Tower of the Elephant and Hour of the Dragon. SMH. I was an Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan guy. Go figure.
Maybe as I’ve gotten older and more grizzled, I can appreciate Howard more. ERB seems to have too many coincidences and heroes getting knocked out for me now.
Please take those books off the shelf and crack them open. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I also recommend first 2 Tarzan and first 3 John Carter books. OUTSTANDING. I’m almost afraid to start the 4th book in the Mars series. I can’t see how it could follow up the trilogy. Enjoy!!
@@georgehenry1258 Thank you. Great reply. I must say that I really liked The Hour of the Dragon and The Tower of the Elephant.
@@iakona23 My bad. I meant to add that when I did my REH mega dive in 2022 I re-read both stories again and LOVED them. I must have matured as a reader. They’re 2 of my favorite Conan stories now for sure
Thank you for your efforts.
Your hatred of audio remixing is so funny
😂 @ the end.
So you assume it’s the universal transfer that was kept for those few seconds? Certainly would make the most sense seeing as how universal is always reasoning color timing for its films in 4K
@0:56 💀😂😂😂
Just curious, What are your thoughts on The Beastmaster 4k done by Vinegar Syndrome?