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Review: Conan the Barbarian

Blurry action scenes
By PETER KEOUGH  |  August 23, 2011
1.5 1.5 Stars

Is Jason Momoa a future governor of California? If his performance here is any indication, he's more Brendan Fraser than Arnold Schwarzenegger. And director Marcus Nispel is no John Milius, whose 1982 version infused the Robert E. Howard pulp legend's kitsch with macho conviction. Here Conan seeks revenge against Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), who killed his father to obtain the last piece of the Mask of Acheron. Now Zym must add the "pure blood" of Tamara (Rachel Nichols), last in a line of sorcerers, to unleash the mask's power. Frankly, I got my fill of this with Harry Potter's Horcruxes. Conan joins Tamara, who proves more than just another "Topless Wench" (as they are called in the credits) to fight Zym and his "witch daughter" (Rose McGowan). At first gripping, the blurry action scenes grow repetitious, and though the sets capture the famous look of the Frank Frazetta book covers, the film lacks the warrior's heart.

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  Topics: Reviews , Movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harry Potter,  More more >
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