| Twenty-five years ago the movie Conan | | | | |
| spotlighted the Atlantean sword. They | | | | Blade (1996-2004) is a series of vampire |
| designed and created a unique sword just for | | | | movies that use a variety of weapons |
| the movie and this started a new trend in | | | | including flailing, and whipping weapons. The |
| fantasy movie making, and today, just about | | | | primary weapon of the main character (Wesley |
| every fantasy movie is released with a | | | | Snipes) is a Japanese Katana that has the |
| collectible sword. Here is a look at some of | | | | added effect of a booby trap. If a person |
| these great movies and the swords in them. | | | | picks up the weapon they have a few seconds |
| | | | to press a secret button. If they don't, |
| The movie Conan, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, | | | | secret blades pop out of the handle damaging |
| was released in 1982 and the sword called | | | | the hand that is holding it. This series of |
| "The Atlantean" was specifically designed for | | | | movies are another good example of how the |
| the movie and for the actor. It was given a | | | | Japanese katana has become very popular in |
| major role in the movie because it played a | | | | the movies. |
| major role in the Conan stories and novels | | | | |
| written by Robert E. Howard. The sword itself | | | | Gladiator (2000) is a good example of how the |
| proved to be very popular and replicas were | | | | weapons of the high Roman era have made their |
| created for sale on the mass market. | | | | mark on movies and on the collecting of |
| Twenty-five years later replicas of the | | | | swords. The Roman Gladius wielded by Maximus |
| Atlantean are still made and sold. This sword | | | | (Russell Crowe) is a good example of the |
| started a whole trend in movie making and | | | | weapon that was wielded at the time and it is |
| today fantasy moviemakers take great care to | | | | still a popular choice of weapon collectors. |
| design, create, and market unique swords as | | | | |
| part of the movie and as part of their | | | | The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies (2001 |
| marketing. This can be seen in the recently | | | | - 2003) have had an impact on the collecting |
| released movie 300, which has caused a | | | | of movie swords that goes beyond all other |
| resurgence in the gladiator type sword. And | | | | movies. This movie returned the collector to |
| the new Harry Potter movie will spotlight a | | | | the art of the pure fantasy sword much like |
| sword wielded by Harry himself. This sword | | | | the Conan sword. While the trend in movies |
| replica has already been released and is | | | | was to create period accurate replicas this |
| available in currently limited quantities on | | | | series of movies moved the whole trend toward |
| the mass market. | | | | the creation of fantastic blades that |
| | | | represented the wielders personality. Each |
| The Highlander movies, (First installment | | | | major character in the movies has his own or |
| released in 1986) are another good example of | | | | her own weapon. Each weapon is unique, and |
| the sword as a centerpiece of the movie. The | | | | easily available on the mass market for |
| swords play a major role in the film plot in | | | | collectors. |
| that the sword must be used to dispatch a | | | | |
| foe, and consequently, to gain the foe's | | | | Eragon (2006) continues the tradition of |
| powers. In the first film a Scottish Claymore | | | | unique fantasy sword in that the main |
| was used and as the Highlander moves through | | | | character wields a beautiful sword called |
| time into the present he switches to a highly | | | | Zar'roc. This sword has a blue Sapphire |
| stylized version of Japanes katanas. This use | | | | mounted at the base of the hilt and the sword |
| of the Japanes katana is one of the earliest | | | | itself has significant power and symbolism. |
| examples of mass marketing of Japanese swords | | | | It plays an important role in the movie and |
| and this has been very successfully followed | | | | an important role in the replica collection |
| in the Kill Bill movies. | | | | world. |
| | | | |
| Braveheart (released in 1995) is a good | | | | The past twenty-five years of filmmaking has |
| example of using replica swords that stay | | | | given us a wonderful selection of fantasy |
| true to the flavor of the time period they | | | | swords that are both accurate reproductions |
| portray. Mel Gibson wields a number of | | | | from the real swords of the past and exciting |
| different weapons that stay accurate to the | | | | creations of fantasy that never existed |
| time of the movie. These weapons include a | | | | except in the minds of writers and |
| warhammer and a flail. The most famous of the | | | | blacksmiths. This trend was first started |
| weapons that he wields is A Flamberge which | | | | with Conan and over the next twenty-five |
| is a two-handed sword with a leather wrapping | | | | years we are sure to get an even more |
| around a portion of the blade which allows | | | | incredible selection of weapons and swords in |
| the user to choke up on the weapon and use it | | | | the movies. |
| in close combat situations. | | | | |