So this it how it ends — with a bang and a whimper.

The last big, special-effects-laden franchise film of the summer, "Conan the Barbarian" — the well-made retelling of the origin story of the iron-age hero created by Robert E. Howard in the '30s and popularized by the movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in the '80s — is certainly as frenetic and violent as could be expected. But "Conan" is ultimately so pedestrian that it's hard to work up much enthusiasm for it.

Things begin well enough as we're introduced to Corin (Ron Perlman), leader of the Cimmerian people in the fictional land of Hyboria. He's in possession of a piece of an ancient evil mask that, when put together with the other pieces, makes the owner invincible. He keeps it safely hidden, but power-mad warlord Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang) and his evil daughter, Marique (Rose McGowan), are the ones who have most of the mask and lust after what would make it complete. So they invade Cimmeria, take what they want, and slaughter everyone — except for young Conan, who vows revenge.

Flash forward a few years and Conan has grown into a handsome hulk (Jason Momoa). Not only does he still have to avenge his father, but he must also rescue a damsel in distress, Tamara (Rachel Nichols), whose "pure blood" Zym needs to activate the power of the mask.

The problem is that Momoa may have the required physique to play Conan but he isn't particularly compelling as a lead. His sword has more emotional range than he does, and he's not helped by a predictable script. And, in an era when 3-D technology has moved from occasionally entertaining to largely annoying, "Conan the Barbarian" could compete for honors as the film of the year with the most unnecessary use of the effect.

There are some striking moments, as in Conan and Tamara's fight against the sand people, warriors created from Marique's breath, or young Conan's single-handed humbling of a gang of invaders early in the film. Director Marcus Nispel occasionally shows off a keen visual sense, but mostly he seems hamstrung by the mechanics of the story.

If there's one thing that "Conan" proves, it's that there are reasons beyond the heat to want this summer to be over.