James Earl Jones Thulsa Doom Is a Great and Underrated Movie Villain

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  • Thulsa Doom Is Arguably More Evil Than Darth Vader
  • Conan Wasn’t Thulsa Doom’s First Barbarian Enemy

As a devoted admirer of the silver screen, I have had the privilege to witness the evolution of some truly iconic characters over the years. One such character that stands out, like a towering mountain against a stormy sky, is Thulsa Doom, the formidable adversary from Conan the Barbarian.

Just about every outstanding actor has a knack for mesmerizing an audience solely with their voice, and James Earl Jones was no exception. His powerful voice breathed life into numerous film and TV productions, such as lending his voice to Mufasa in the The Lion King series. However, it’s his portrayal of Darth Vader in the Star Wars films for which he is most famously recognized.

However, Darth Vader isn’t the only memorable villain Jones, who died on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93, played in his illustrious career. After serving as the voice of Darth Vader in the second film in the Star Wars series, The Empire Strikes Back, the actor brought his compelling screen presence, in addition to his distinctive bass voice, to the 1982 epic sword-and-sorcery film Conan the Barbarian, in which he plays Thulsa Doom, a snake-cult leader and sorcerer who brings unbearable suffering to the life of the film’s titular hero, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Indeed, while Conan the Barbarian served as a breakthrough starring vehicle for Schwarzenegger, the film is propelled by the thirst for revenge and utter hatred that Conan holds toward Doom, who emerges as a genuinely intimidating and terrifying enemy for Conan. Moreover, in stark contrast to the dignified, respectable screen characters Jones played in much of his later screen career, Jones’ fearsome performance in Conan the Barbarian is a stark reminder that there was an exciting and interesting actor within the voice of Darth Vader.

Thulsa Doom Is Arguably More Evil Than Darth Vader

In the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader’s malevolence – seen through his actions like slaughtering young Jedi and destroying Princess Leia’s home planet Alderaan with the Death Star – is outdone by Thulsa Doom’s merciless brutality in Conan the Barbarian. The emotional wounds he inflicts on Conan run deeper than any physical harm.

In contrast to Darth, who primarily employs his Force powers for a specific goal, Doom derives pleasure from tormenting Conan both mentally and physically. This is clearly depicted in the movie’s opening scene where he orchestrates an attack on Conan’s village. He not only kills Conan’s parents but also beheads Conan’s mother with his father’s sword, and slaughtered the rest of the villagers.

Even after young Conan was forced into slavery, Doom’s torment of Conan persists into his adulthood. After gaining his freedom and planning vengeance against Doom, the adult Conan is recaptured and subjected to brutal torture by him. In this ordeal, Valeria, Conan’s beloved warrior, is slain by Doom, followed by Conan being crucified on the Tree of Woe. As he hangs there, waiting for his death, Doom mocks Conan, who eventually learns that Doom has been holding onto his father’s sword all this time.

The main distinction between Doom and Vader lies in their methods of utilizing their supernatural abilities. Unlike Vader, who manipulates objects with telekinetic powers, Doom exerts control over people through hypnosis, as demonstrated when he hypnotizes Conan’s mother at the start of the film, making it easy for him to behead her. In the movie, one of Doom’s followers, a young girl, is influenced by his power to leap off a steep cliff.

In the third movie of the original Star Wars trilogy, “Return of the Jedi,” Darth Vader transitioned from a villain to an anti-hero by abandoning the dark side. On the other hand, the character known as Doom remains unrelentingly evil and beyond redemption. Unlike the emotional relief that came with Vader’s ultimate transformation, fans eagerly anticipate Doom’s demise instead.

Conan Wasn’t Thulsa Doom’s First Barbarian Enemy

Initially, Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan the Barbarian, designed Thulsa Doom as an adversary for his different barbarian character, Kull. This villain was brought to life on screen by Kevin Sorbo in the 1997 movie “Kull the Conqueror.” In Howard’s “Kull” tales, Doom is depicted as a formidable undead wizard with a skull-like face and glowing red eyes.

As a passionate cinephile, I must admit that the on-screen portrayal of Doom in the cinematic universe deviates significantly from Howard’s written depiction. In the tales penned by Robert E. Howard, Doom wields powers such as dimensional travel, illusion casting, and invisibility. However, the character played by James Earl Jones in “Conan the Barbarian” seems to bear a closer resemblance to Thoth-Amon, the Stygian sorcerer villain, who serves the serpent-god Set. Consequently, while Doom appears as a human in the film, the character, who is said to have lived for more than a millennium on screen, possesses the ability to metamorphose into a colossal snake.

Currently, Conan the Barbarian is where Doom last appeared on screen. In 2008, it was announced that Djimon Hounsou would be the lead in a potential Doom film, but this film would be based on the character’s comic book appearances rather than the original version by Howard. However, this project has not moved forward since then.

James Earl Jones Gave Arnold Schwarzenegger Acting Advice

As a follower, I can attest that the deep, commanding voice I possess has been a powerful asset in my journey as a dramatic actor, spanning across the silver screen, the theater, and television. My professional accomplishments have placed me among an elite group of performers to achieve EGOT status – a testament to my success in winning an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award throughout my distinguished career.

The seriousness and emotional impact that Jones contributed to Conan the Barbarian significantly enhanced the film. Not only was his powerful portrayal of Thulsa Doom captivating, but he also played a crucial role in mentoring Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was relatively new to acting at the time. Jones offered him guidance on acting and career development, while Schwarzenegger helped Jones prepare physically for the role of Doom.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but reflect on my role in the triumphant journey of “Conan the Barbarian” at the box office, earning close to $40 million domestically and catapulting Arnold Schwarzenegger into stardom. My influence on “Conan the Barbarian” is palpable, particularly when considering the stark contrast between the film and its 1984 sequel, “Conan the Destroyer.” The latter noticeably lacked a captivating villain like Thulsa Doom, whose magnetic presence in “Conan the Barbarian” played a significant part in making it a genre classic. Incidentally, “Conan the Barbarian” is now available for streaming on Netflix.

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2024-09-15 03:33