There probably aren’t a lot of people who haven’t heard of The Terminator, the iconic cyborg assassin from the ‘80s. Lesser still would be the people who aren’t aware of Conan the Barbarian, the Cimmerian warrior who sets out to avenge the murder of his parents. Honestly, the only people who probably haven’t heard of either of these iconic films and their respective protagonists, definitely live under a rock.
The Terminator and Conan the Barbarian are two iconic action films that were released in the early 1980s. Both films starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as the powerful protagonist in a story as old as time itself; good v/s evil. The Terminator is a science fiction film that tells the story of a cyborg assassin who is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of a future leader who will save humanity from the machines. Conan the Barbarian is a fantasy film that tells the story of Conan, a Cimmerian warrior who seeks revenge for the death of his parents at the hands of a sorcerer. Both films were critical and commercial successes, and they helped to make Schwarzenegger a global star.
Schwarzenegger talks the talk and walks the walk
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, businessman, politician, and former professional bodybuilder. He was born in Thal, Austria, in 1947. Schwarzenegger began bodybuilding at a young age, and he won the Mr. Universe title at the age of 20. He went on to win the Mr. Olympia title seven times, a record that still stands today. Schwarzenegger moved to the United States in 1968, and he began his acting career in the early 1970s. He starred in a number of successful action films, including Commando, and Predator. He also appeared in comedies such as Twins and Kindergarten Cop.
One can’t speak about Schwarzenegger without mentioning his grit, perseverance, commitment, and dedication towards anything that he picks up—be it bodybuilding, his Hollywood career, his real estate business endeavors, his term as the governor of California, and the list goes on and on and on. For example, John Milius, who directed Conan the Barbarian, asked Schwarzenegger to put on some fat because he was “too ripped to be a barbarian.”
While reminiscing on Reddit this very instance from when Conan the Barbarian was being filmed, Schwarzenegger wrote,
“Working with John Milius was fantastic, because he was so hardcore. But it is true that he thought I looked too much like a bodybuilder – I needed to lose some of the cuts because I had just won Mr. Olympia and I was way too ripped to be a barbarian. So he told me to eat normally and not diet at all – I let my body fat get to around 12%.”
“Also, it is true that I had to bite a real dead vulture because in those days they couldn’t make one that would look good in a close-up. So they soaked it in alcohol to kill bacteria and dried it out. It still had lice.”
Just a regular 7x Mr. Olympia problem.
A master of all trades
In 2003, Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California. He served two terms as governor, and he was known for his conservative policies. After leaving office, Schwarzenegger returned to acting, and he starred in the films The Expendables and Terminator Genisys. Schwarzenegger is a controversial figure but also a respected actor and politician. He is a symbol of success, and he has inspired people around the world.
The Terminator is considered to be one of the greatest science fiction films of all time, while Conan the Barbarian is considered to be a classic of the sword and sorcery genre. The two films share some similarities, such as their focus on action and violence, and their use of Schwarzenegger’s imposing physical presence. However, they also have some important differences. The Terminator is a more suspenseful and tightly-paced film, while Conan the Barbarian is more epic and visually stunning. Both films are still popular today, and they continue to inspire new generations of action fans.
Source: Reddit
