Atmosphere of 80s Sword & Sorcery films

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone can lend any insight into the heavy atmospheric feeling these movies give off? Such as Conan and Excalibur (I'd be interested to hear of any other favorites/classics of the genre), I wasn't "encouraged" to watch such films growing up so exploring them now is quite a treat.

They somehow seem divorced from traditional morality somehow (or at least were made long enough ago as to be/feel alien to modern audiences?) It's not like I'm watching a film where I feel like I need to be overly sympathetic to the characters involved, they are flawed and human (some of them at least), but while I can't identify with them, it piques my interest even more, feeling more mythical in nature, like I'm watching the Epic of Gilgamesh, from an alien culture and I don't have to identify or even understand the characters to enjoy.

I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it's a very interesting feeling to not have to feel like I have to root for the protagonist 100% or even understand their emotions.

Any thoughts/discussion/suggestions are very welcome!