Reviews (249)

"It's a kind of magic"
This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

There can be only one!
The wait is almost over! The first (and the best, as rated by most) movie in the Highlander saga is about to be released as a 2-disc set with completely new Dolby Digital and DTS audio mix and a much better video transfer. The previous DVD versions of the movie lacked the audio-visual quality, most dvd fans crave for. In fact, in my opinion the movie really deserved a good audio mix, for it is packed with some great music by Queen and I hope the new version contains an isolated music track as well!

The Immortal Edition will be packaged in a limited edition tin box, a feature Anchor Bay Entertainment is known for. With a second disc full of extras, this edition is a release no Highlander fan should miss.

"There can be only one", and it seems this is THE ONE!!

Enthralling Nonsense
That's about the only way to describe "Highlander." It's a B-movie in every sense yet has enough good in it to make it entertaining to watch. I guess that's why it became such a cult classic.

The story centers on a young Scotsman named Connor MacLeod who resides in New York City under a different name. Connor is actually one of the few men on Earth who have the special gift of immortality. These immortals can be killed if beheaded by another immortal and throughout the ages these elect men have been hunting each other down in the hopes of becoming the last immortal on Earth, which would give him a gift of high enlightenment, a gift that can be dangerous if in the wrong hands. Connor is on the run from an immortal goon, the Kurgan, who has been after him since the 1500's. It eventually comes down to Connor and the Kurgan as to who will be the one that receives the special gift.

Something that certainly doesn't work in favor of "Highlander"(and helps make it B-grade) is the fact that the movie has not aged very well. Compared to the action movies of today, this flick looks corny. The special effects are pretty cheesy and the whole production design feels outdated. The acting was, for the most part, not too memorable. Christopher Lambert doesn't do a good enough job of making his character of Connor MacLeod engaging. He makes for rather uninteresting hero. There were only two noteable performances I saw here. One was Sean Connery, who makes a nice little impression playing Ramirez, the man who first tutors Connor when he discovers that he's an immortal. But Connery only gets about 20 minutes of screen time and this hinders him from making a bigger impact. The other standout I saw was Clancy Brown, who plays the Kurgan. Brown makes his character the perfect bad guy giving him the "qualities" of vile, mean, and creepy. In short, he's a guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. I have to say that "Highlander" has quite an interesting concept. The idea of immortals hunting each other down to gain an ultimate power is nifty (if somewhat hokey) and director Russel Mulcahy executes it just well enough to make things entertaining, with the swordfights between the immortals becoming the highlight points.

Overall, I really can't say "Highlander" is a great film but at the same time, I can't dissuade you from seeing it either. Who knows? You, like many others, may have that "kind of magic" that will turn you on to this cult classic. The only way to know is to check it out and see what happens.

High level action and fantasy.
HIGHLANDER was undoubtedly among the best of the medieval/fantasy/Dungeons and Dragons sort of movies that proliferated in the 1980s. The choice of the brooding Christopher Lambert was perfect for the part of the Highlander, Conner MacLeod. There is a quiet intensity to his acting, and it works well here. Sean Connery, as his mentor and fellow-immortal, Ramirez strikes just the right balance of swashbuckling and seriousness. His acting is perfect. (So what else is new?)

For me, however, Clancy Brown's Kurgan steals the film. His physical features and bug-eyed grin are dead perfect! And his way over-the-top performance, at times, makes you a little afraid of his character, but he makes you laugh, as well. The confrontation between Kurgan and Conner in a church is a great balance of wit and tension.

The battles in Scotland, at the beginning of the film, and the mayhem in the streets of New York City at the end are priceless. My favorite moment: Kurgan steals a car and takes Conner's love interest for a ride. As he careens through the potholes and traffic, he quietly sings "New York, New York". Now I know where all our cabdrivers take their lessons from. HIGHLANDER is a great piece of quality mind candy that actually tackles some deep issues.

CLASSIC
This is a classic we should all have it ... Read more

Description

based on the best-selling home video game, this action adventuretells of a group of expert fighters who compete in a dangerous tournament for the fate of mankind on a mysterious island. ... Read more

Reviews (111)

fantastic acton
the story line was a little week but the action more than made up for any down fall in the plot

iT WAS The Bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved it. One word descibes this movie. Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any one who enjoys action and loves the video game should see this movie. It was 1,000,000 times better than the second. I reccommend you buy this action flick. If you want more info e-mail me ay SubAdam@aol.com

Good music
The music fits in well with the movie especially when characters are fighting! The martial arts do look realistic!

Ok but come on!
alright it had cool special effects but the video game is known for its violence - if you play the games right before you watch the movie you'd swear it was Barneys great adventure!

A popular video game is as real as it gets
The film dose not have graphic violence in it like the video game does, because this is a kids movie. ... Read more

Reviews (249)

"It's a kind of magic"
This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

There can be only one!
The wait is almost over! The first (and the best, as rated by most) movie in the Highlander saga is about to be released as a 2-disc set with completely new Dolby Digital and DTS audio mix and a much better video transfer. The previous DVD versions of the movie lacked the audio-visual quality, most dvd fans crave for. In fact, in my opinion the movie really deserved a good audio mix, for it is packed with some great music by Queen and I hope the new version contains an isolated music track as well!

The Immortal Edition will be packaged in a limited edition tin box, a feature Anchor Bay Entertainment is known for. With a second disc full of extras, this edition is a release no Highlander fan should miss.

"There can be only one", and it seems this is THE ONE!!

Enthralling Nonsense
That's about the only way to describe "Highlander." It's a B-movie in every sense yet has enough good in it to make it entertaining to watch. I guess that's why it became such a cult classic.

The story centers on a young Scotsman named Connor MacLeod who resides in New York City under a different name. Connor is actually one of the few men on Earth who have the special gift of immortality. These immortals can be killed if beheaded by another immortal and throughout the ages these elect men have been hunting each other down in the hopes of becoming the last immortal on Earth, which would give him a gift of high enlightenment, a gift that can be dangerous if in the wrong hands. Connor is on the run from an immortal goon, the Kurgan, who has been after him since the 1500's. It eventually comes down to Connor and the Kurgan as to who will be the one that receives the special gift.

Something that certainly doesn't work in favor of "Highlander"(and helps make it B-grade) is the fact that the movie has not aged very well. Compared to the action movies of today, this flick looks corny. The special effects are pretty cheesy and the whole production design feels outdated. The acting was, for the most part, not too memorable. Christopher Lambert doesn't do a good enough job of making his character of Connor MacLeod engaging. He makes for rather uninteresting hero. There were only two noteable performances I saw here. One was Sean Connery, who makes a nice little impression playing Ramirez, the man who first tutors Connor when he discovers that he's an immortal. But Connery only gets about 20 minutes of screen time and this hinders him from making a bigger impact. The other standout I saw was Clancy Brown, who plays the Kurgan. Brown makes his character the perfect bad guy giving him the "qualities" of vile, mean, and creepy. In short, he's a guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. I have to say that "Highlander" has quite an interesting concept. The idea of immortals hunting each other down to gain an ultimate power is nifty (if somewhat hokey) and director Russel Mulcahy executes it just well enough to make things entertaining, with the swordfights between the immortals becoming the highlight points.

Overall, I really can't say "Highlander" is a great film but at the same time, I can't dissuade you from seeing it either. Who knows? You, like many others, may have that "kind of magic" that will turn you on to this cult classic. The only way to know is to check it out and see what happens.

High level action and fantasy.
HIGHLANDER was undoubtedly among the best of the medieval/fantasy/Dungeons and Dragons sort of movies that proliferated in the 1980s. The choice of the brooding Christopher Lambert was perfect for the part of the Highlander, Conner MacLeod. There is a quiet intensity to his acting, and it works well here. Sean Connery, as his mentor and fellow-immortal, Ramirez strikes just the right balance of swashbuckling and seriousness. His acting is perfect. (So what else is new?)

For me, however, Clancy Brown's Kurgan steals the film. His physical features and bug-eyed grin are dead perfect! And his way over-the-top performance, at times, makes you a little afraid of his character, but he makes you laugh, as well. The confrontation between Kurgan and Conner in a church is a great balance of wit and tension.

The battles in Scotland, at the beginning of the film, and the mayhem in the streets of New York City at the end are priceless. My favorite moment: Kurgan steals a car and takes Conner's love interest for a ride. As he careens through the potholes and traffic, he quietly sings "New York, New York". Now I know where all our cabdrivers take their lessons from. HIGHLANDER is a great piece of quality mind candy that actually tackles some deep issues.

CLASSIC
This is a classic we should all have it ... Read more

Description

An infant raised to manhood among savage apes, living by his wits and the law of the jungle, returns to society to claim his inheritance of humanity and privilege. This collision of "wild" and "civilized" worlds is the extraordinary saga of Tarzan, chronicled in Edgar Rice Burroughs' popular book series. Starring:Christopher Lambert, Andie MacDowell, Ian Holm ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Greystoke - The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
I felt the film gave an adequate portrail of the book written by E.R. Boroughs. Christopher Lambert depicted Tarzan as one would imagine a human growing up in the jungle. His french accent gave credence to the original story where Tarzan, was taught the spoken language of French by Lt. D'Arnut. The scene with the ape attacking and killing his family is not romanticised - It appears as a wild animal jealously defending his territory against intruders. Tarzan's relationship with the apes that raised him is touching and the jungle scenes are fantastic. As well as are Christopher Lambert's portrail of Tarzan's difficulties adapting to the restrictions of "civilized" society. The film takes a number of "artistic licenses" in numerous places - which is a shame as the original story would be easily depicted in flim. The acting was very good and the sets fantastic! Overall the film would be worth viewing as the story moves fast enough to keep your interest, and it [film] will make you re-think who is really the savage beasts - man or animal (who is living by the most basic laws of nature - driven by survival and not greed)?

AT LONG LAST!!!!! But What About The Special Features?
GREYSTOKE is without a doubt the best Tarzan movie ever made (though I must admit, the Disney version came pretty close). Not only is it the most loyal to Edgar Rice Burrough's original novel, but it's the only adaptation to contain real drama. GREYSTOKE has an epic scope and musical score, and a cast of fine actors, including Sir Ian Holm, Sir Ralph Richardson, Andie MacDowell (though she was dubbed over by Glenn Close), and Christopher Lambert in his very first movie, and what a way to start! With his eyes alone, he expresses an emotion that many actors can't even muster with their entire bodies. Add to that some of Rick Baker's best make-up work ever, and you've got yourself a doozie of a movie. In short, GREYSTOKE is a classic, much neglected by modern viewers.

I have been waiting. And waiting. And waiting. But alas, this movie was no where to be found on the DVD format. Well, the long wait is finally over. Though I was hoping for a Two-Disc Special Edition release, this is goods enough. I just hope that it has SOME special features. Or, maybe they could just work on the movie and include a commentary track. For instance, they should definitely release the extended version available on VHS, and return Andie MacDowell's original voice track. And of course, give the movie a new digital transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1, or maybe even DTS!

Just having this movie on DVD will be good enough for me. That said, Warner had better not screw this one up!

A classic
Beautiful and touching story. Great images and good performances. One of the classics of the 80's.

Great Tarzan Movie
This simply has got to be one of the best Tarzan films ever made. Yet I can't help feeling that this Tarzan film is merely
a great prelude of what could have been a great series of more
Tarzan films. Christopher Lambert was excellent as Tarzan/John Clayton and Andie MacDowell looked beautiful as Jane (dubbed by
Glen Close). The scene of the jungle explorers traveling down
a African river via tramp steamer reminded me of Disney World's
Jungle Cruise ride exactly. Beautiful cinematography and Rick
Baker's ape effects were fantastic. This Tarzan film seems to take place around the late 1890s - early 1900s, so the attention
to period detail was very well done. So if jungle adventure and
romance is to your liking, check out this terrific film. Enjoy.

So Close...
"Greystoke - The Legend of Tarzan" could have been a classic. Lord John Clayton of Greystoke is shipwrecked in Africa with his pregnant wife. Shortly after she gives birth, they both die from an ape attack. One of the apes take little John, and raise him as her own. He grows up strong but wild and savage (now played by Christopher Lambert). One day he is happened upon by a French explorer. He is eventually returned to his family, but he finds it hard to fit in with "civilized" people. Along the way, he falls in love with Jane (played by Andie MacDowell, but her voice was dubbed by Glen Close, why they did this I'll never know?). It had a populor director (Hugh Hudson), an accomplished writer (Robert Towne), was beautifully photographed (especially in the jungles, it is just breathtaking) and based on one of the most populor books of the 20th century by Edgar Rice Burroughs. But it isn't that good. What happened? Well, the first hour or so there is no dialogue; but that is okay, because the physical expressions of the apes and Tarzan are pretty self explanatory. (By the way, he is never referred to as 'Tarzan'.) When he is 'rescued' and moved to England, nothing very adventurous happenes there. What happened to pirates coming out of the wood work trying to kidnap Jane? Where are the warriors from Opar? I'm sorry, "Greystoke" was pretty dull. The actors do ok, I guess. Ian Holm is alright, good in fact. Ralf Richardson looked like he was having a good time, and the relationship between he and his grandson rang pretty true. It is hard to tell if MacDowell was any good, with being dubbed over. But what about Tarzan? Christopher Lambert was actually good. I really liked his performance as the childlike savage. He played being in awe of the city wonderfully. He didn't talk a lot, but maybe that is a good thing. His acting tends to be a little wooden; in fact, in my opinion, he just happens to be in the right place at the right time, like this one and "Highlander". I read the novels and I think about how this movie could have been so much more. Still, it is a beautifully shot movie, and it dose play fair, so it is worth your time. If you can find it, watch the extended version, it is a little bit more action packed (loved how Tarzan took out the entire outpost!). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite a typically haphazard plot, Highlander: Endgame is a marked improvement over previous sequels. This is the "torch-passing" chapter, in which the Immortal Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) passes his life force to his heroic brother, Duncan (Adrian Paul, star of the 1993-96 Highlander TV series). These appealing stars make a fine onscreen duo, and Paul is a terrific choice to keep the franchise alive--strikingly handsome but possessing enough gravitas to make the prospect of future sequels unexpectedly promising. The movie is incoherent to the uninitiated, but established fans will be reasonably impressed by Endgame's cagey mix of romance, swordplay, and history-spanning action. While the movie's chaotic construction is regrettable, the frequent battles (including dazzling work by Honk Kong action star Donnie Yen) are adequately impressive, and Douglas Milsome--cinematographer of Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket--ensures that every scene is strikingly photographed. All in all, Highlander: Endgame is surprisingly worthwhile. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (218)

As good as the 1st if not better
I had missed the chance to see the movie in the theatres so I spent half a year waiting for it to come out on DVD. As soon as it did, I went out and bought it. I had been watching the series for a while a few years ago up until cancellation, and now it plays re-runs on Sci-Fi Channel, and I try not to miss those. The series was always awesome and brought back the better feel of how and why the immortals were on Earth, not the alien BS that the second one brought about and the vague and pointless reasons a third movie was made...but End Game just basically brought Highlander back into "The Game" so to speak as far as a genre goes. You shouldn't have to watch the 2nd or 3rd movies to have to understand End Game, but the first movie is helpful...and some knowledge from the series as well. A must-have film for any sci-fi action fan and definitly for any Highlander fan. There can be only one...and this is it.

Highlander fans hate it, too; wonder what that says.
The Highlander series has always been catered to the fans, but even to them, this is as confusing as movies get. I'm hardly a follower of the series, but I have seen the movies (been a while since parts 2 and 3, memories of which don't serve me well at all) but I get the feeling watch those two wouldn't have made this any more comprehensible. As a matter of fact, doesn't each movie negate the one that came before it?

So what we have here is a tale of two immortals, Connor and Duncan MacLeod (Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul), who apparently are out to stop an even more powerful and evil immortal (Bruce Payne) who holds a grudge against Connor. That's the basic premise, but getting into details would only be confusing, to me and whoever's reading this.

There are a LOT of subplots at work here, individual scenes that don't really seem to mesh with the main story, and if they do, they're never concluded satisfactorily. Example? How about when Connor is kept locked in a room with an iron mask covering his eyes; how exactly did he end up there and how did he even escape? What about those people who keep track of the immortal kills; who are they, how do they do it, and considering there are tons of rules these immortals have to follow in combat, how come these people never enforce the rules? For that matter, considering the evil Kell (the film's villain) isn't even following these rules, why shouldn't Connor and Duncan team up to take him down?

Those are only a few of the movie's numerous head-scratchers, suffice to say if this is the first and only Highlander movie you've seen, don't worry, I'm as every bit as confused as you are. The series never follows a singular mythology, which simply means if you watch the first film, each of the individual sequels plays as a follow-up to that film, and certainly not the one that came before it (i.e. part 2 sort of follows part 1, part 3 negates part 2 and follows part 1, part 4 negates part 3 and follows up to part 1).

But even that rule isn't completely sound. Even Highlander: The Quickening chose to negate much of what occurred in the first film, done in such blatant manners that you can't help but slap your forehead when you witness what a true mess this series became. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about; Connor and Ramirez are really from another planet called Zeist and they've known each other from then (which makes their "first" meeting in Scotland in the original film a headscratcher). I haven't even gotten to the fact that all these immortals are fighting to return to Zeist, even though they were banished there for being rebels (doesn't this mean they should all, I dunno, work together?) According to the Renegade version, immortals are from the past, which is still almost as mucked up.

But I digress, the point here is to review Endgame, and for what it is, it might please Highlander fans, if they prefer Paul to Lambert, as the former is the true star of the picture, and is highlighted in most of the action sequences. The action itself is relatively decent, the climactic swordfight could have been better filmed, but it's not like I was expecting a lot from the action in this movie in the first place.

When it comes to the series, I'm a casual open-minded viewer and what keeps me coming to each sequel is the hope that finally, someone will capitalize with the grand ideas at work. Instead, this quartet is mostly viewed as an embarrassment to sci-fi/fantasy/action filmmaking, an insult to lucid storytelling, and a spit in the face to those who enjoyed the first movie. I didn't absolutely hate Endgame, it's had enough watchable moments to keep my attention, but it's definitely a bad movie, and doesn't have the awe-inspiring kitsch value of The Quickening.

I have one more thing to complain about and that's the amount of effort put into marketing this picture. Obviously, Dimension films wanted to milk the series for all it was worth, but they actually gave us trailers that featured cool scenes that were never even meant to be in the film. Alternately, when we have a great sci-fi action film like Equilibrium left to die at the box office, I'm only further upset at what Dimension believes is or isn't worth marketing.
[one half out of five stars].

A perfect end to the Highlander saga
Now, I've read all the negative reviews and such, and I must say that if you are just looking for a good movie where you don't have to think much just enjoy or are looking forward to a good end to the Highlander Series, then this is a terrific movie. I am a fan of the first and third movies and the series, and as all Highlander fans know there are 3 seperate Highlander universes; Movie universe, Series universe, and Highlander 2 universe. The latter is total crap, but in the movie universe Connor MacLeod is the One, end of story. This latest installment takes place in the Series universe, of which Duncan is main man. Not only do the fight scenes kick a## but the story is interesting and the acting by Lambert and Paul is superb. They work so well together and really bring the relationship between the two MacLeods to life. Especially when the two Highlanders must come to there last resort against Jacob Kell. The movie universe ended years ago with Connor MacLeod winning the Prize. However, the series universe has continued and now is at its end, and it is a great ending for the series continuity. True, non-fans will be lost, but why would they wanna see it anyway? Forget all the stuff about it not being coherent or plot-less, bottom line is that its an entertaining movie and as perfect an ending to the series as I could think of. A great flick.

Worst Movie EVER
This movie is terrible. They completely ruin the character of Connor MacLeod. The villain is a total wimp who Connor or Duncan could've squashed like a bug. Nobody would be scared of that pencil neck!!! The story is choppy, the timeline is totally inconsistent, and the main characters act completely out of character. The makers of this film almost go out of they're way to be completely inconsistent with everything about this franchise. To be honest, the only thing they got right was the first movie. Part two was a joke, Final Dimension is above average, the TV series is very good but not plausible because CONNOR MACLEOD WON THE PRIZE AT THE END OF THE FIRST FILM!!!! Now there are thousands of immortals running around!
Really, this film is just like a long episode of the tv series only its not that good. This movie had so much potential but Davis and Panzer blew it. Once again the Highlander fans have not been taken serious. Once again the studios completely butchered what could've been a very good film.

Character Assassination
Reviewer: Lisa from Las Vegas, NV United States
I never watched the original movie or Highlander 2 or 3, but HELLO?!!! What were Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul thinking in consenting to work on this movie? I'll take other reviewers' word on the butchering of Connor MacLeod's character, but I can attest to the butchering of Duncan's. Duncan MacLeod killing his wife? The boy raised to be clan chieftain, raised to protect those in his care, killed his wife? Duncan MacLeod married? Even though "Darkness" (season 2) specifically stated he never married and never would? Duncan asked Tessa (his lover of 13 years) to marry him in that same episode. Darn, if she hadn't died we could have added bigamist to his resume. How about "In the end there will be only one", yet Duncan and his immortal wife walk off at the end of the movie. So, is he going to kill her or allow her to kill him? I seem to remember other problems, but I have been trying to block this horrible movie from my memory and refuse to watch it ever again. I gave it one star because there wasn't any lesser option. ... Read more

Description

The last incredible chapter of the thrilling action-adventure series, HIGHLANDER: THE FINAL DIMENSION finds the immortal Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert -- HIGHLANDER 1&2, FORTRESS) destined for a decisive battle with his ruthless eternal enemy, Kane (Mario Van Peebles -- GUNMEN, POSSE, NEW JACK CITY). Pursued across time by his arch rival, MacLeod must make a heroic last stand if he is to rid the earth of the seemingly unstoppable Kane! Packed with intense action and astonishing special effects -- the Highlander's greatest challenge will become your ultimate adventure! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Highlander Action!!!
Highlander: Final Dimension is a very good movie. Some complain that it is too much like the original but I found it very good. Its way better than part 2 and Endgame. To be honest they should've just let Connor MacLeod rode off into the sunset instead of bringing him back for Endgame.
The action in this movie is very good and so are some of the special effects. As always the soundtrack is great with the talented Lorenna McKennit singing Bonny Portmore. There's even a poor man's version of Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood during the final battle! I always like this movie because it brings us back to Connor in a realistic way. None of this futuristic or Sanctuary garbage. This is really the second best movie in the whole series.

Nowhere near a good film, but most average sequel yet
Some fans will strike me for this, others will clap me on the shoulder, but in my opinion, HIGHLANDER III: THE SORCERER is the only trustworthy, even average sequel to HIGHLANDER. Let's face it - HIGHLANDER II can't even be considered a sequel, while HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME was a complete waste of potential.

Released in the U.S. as HIGHLANDER: THE FINAL DIMENSION, H3 has immortal Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert, back and better than ever) realizing that he didn't win The Prize, and that some immortals still remain: one of whom is evil sorcerer Kane (Mario Van Peebles). After Kane is freed from a 400-year slumber, he journeys to New York City seeking the Highlander. There MacLeod must do battle again. The game may have changed, but the rule remains the same: in the end, there can be only one.

First of all, let me say that while it's nowhere near a good movie, HIGHLANDER III is very entertaining and actually quite fun to watch. It's almost even a remake of the first film. Everything we want to know is explained (including why we have HIGHLANDER sequels!), and ... *sigh* Deborah Unger is included ...

Surprisingly, the film was also the only HIGHLANDER movie to get a PG-13! (The director's cut, however, is back to an R for a couple of sex scenes)

HIGHLANDER III also bears the most resemblance to HIGHLANDER: THE SERIES, which was, at the time, being filmed. It also features Loreena McKennit's "Bonny Portmore", one of the most beautiful songs ever written, which was featured in H:TS and later in HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME.

For every 1 good review of this film there are 10 bad ones. I think you'll just have to rent it yourself (Director's Cut, only) and see what you think. I thought it was the only reliable HIGHLANDER sequel yet.

The rule still remains: there can be only one. And so far, it applies to the sequels as well.

CAUTION!!!!
Only one ''special'' feature-trailers for other movies! Also this is in a format not mentioned on this site now- Widescreen. Repeat- Not full screen but crap screen as I call it. Now all 3 versions of the highlander movies [ excluding part two of course ] are widescreen. Me and everybody I know and have asked have no use for widescreen and hate it in comparison to full screen, who wants this? Stupid! 15$! Not recommended. 1 bad special feature- crapscreen format- copy protected so you can't put it on tape with one player [ boy I tried ]. I own it, but I can't put it on tape if I want to? I wasn't going to sell it, I just wanted to tape it for a friend who doesn't have a dvd player to watch it on. The quality of the transfer is nothing great. Considering it was made in the 90's and all- it looks about like it did. Also the story has plot holes you can walk through. I bought It partly for collection and partly because as bad as the actual story is or is laid out, it has good special effects -funny moments-deborah unger nude scene and I needed another highlander fix by the way. Not unwatchable at all, simply not well made. Entertaining but no real emotional weight like parts one and four. Horrible flashback of Lambert and Unger. Anyway half decent for fans' fixes, awful dvd packaging. ... Read more

Reviews (102)

Great Movie.
Now, before all of your heads explode, let me tell you why I say this. As a huge fan of the delightfully funny series Mystery Science Theater 3000, I have a strange appreciation for films commonly regarded as being the worst of the worst.
If only MST3K had gone on with a larger budget for obtaining films, I think Highlander 2 could have made a standout episode for the crew of the ol' Sattelite of Love. Since they never made an MST3K around Highlander 2, a certain level of entertainment can be derived from sitting back and verbally ripping it to shreds with some buddies.
I urge you all to give it one more try while playing MST3K with a few of your friends. I strongly believe you will find a new appreciation for it based on this. Thank you.

ukkk!
It's so bad that its not even funny. It takes everything from the first movie and destroys it. The only good thing is it led to the series. The rest of the sequal don't even mention this alien thing. and thats good. Personally I'd rather believe in immortal humans then strange aliens in a plot that doesn't even make sense.

SPECIAL EDITION?!?!?!?! You've got to be kidding...
First we got the re-edited "Renegade Version" which did absolutely nothing to improve this abominable sequel. Now they are "re-imagining" it with over 100 new visual effects shots!??!?!? Are they THAT DESPERATE?!?!?! We get THIS instead of the Richard Donner cut of Superman II?!?!?!? NOTHING and I mean NOTHING can redeem this film from being one of the worst sequels in film history. Why bother trying to polish a diamond out of a turd?

Still sucks after all those versions.
Heh. Guess what? The theatrical version was bad and made no sense, but this "Renegade Version", making SLIGHTLY more sense, is equally bad - AND longer. Do not waste your time and money, dude. You'll miss it later. Word.

DO NOT buy this!!!
I wish I could think of something positive about this...but I CAN'T!!! It Sucks BIG time!!!
Ok, cast your mind back to Highlander 1...Connor Mcleod, born into a scottish highland family & eventually forced into exile as his relatives don't understand his mortality.
Well it turns out he's not scottish, but an alien!!?? from the planet Ziest!??
Ok, if anyone still reading this hasn't lost the will to live I'll carry on. Actually, is there any point? Look, connor mcleod has to save the earth from a gigantic shield that's covering the earth & causing major global warming, but by the time you realise this you'd be happy if the whole damn planet got fried its that bad!
I'm sorry, but just reviewing this movie is getting me depressed, I'll sign off now, if I can find my copy of scarface I'll be happy, otherwise I'm off to slit my wrists...bye! ... Read more

Description

ONLY ONE MAN EVER DARED TO STAND ALONE.From Mario Puzo, the best-selling author of "The Godfather," comes the riveting saga of the life, loves and dreams of the infamous Sicilian bandit, Salvatore Giuliano.Filmed entirely on location in Sicily, THE SICILIAN stars Terence Stamp ("Wall Street") and Christopher Lambert ("Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan") in a powerful portrayal of Salvatore Giuliano, a man whose dream became a legend. World War II is finally over, and a war-torn world is at rest.But for Sicily, who dreams of independence from Rome's oppresive, ironhanded regime, the struggle has just begun.Three powers have always ruled the island - the Church, the Landowners and the Mafia - until Salvatore Giuliano pronounced himself the fourth. Determined that Sicily shall gain its freedom, Giuliano and his "brothers" rob and ransom the rich, cold-bloodedly murdering all who dare to defy or betray them.As Giuliano proudly redistributes his newfound wealth among the peasants, Don Masino, the head of the Sicilian Mafia, declares that Giuliano must be stopped - at any cost.Now it's a fight for survival, as the bloodiest manhunt in Italian history sweeps the countryside in search of the notorious outlaw, Giuliano. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of the great 1980s films, unseen until now.
I'm thrilled that the complete version of Michael Cimino's masterpiece is FINALLY going to be available in the United States! I caught this in Paris during its first week in October of 1987 and was floored by the movie. Brilliantly literate screenplay by the uncredited Gore Vidal, with Terrance Stamp as Vidal's stnad-in. Elegant mise-en-scene and a tight dramatic arc that I wouldn't have thought Cimino capable of. (I'm one of the minority that hated "The Deer Hunter" but thouht "Heaven's Gate" was brilliant.) When I got back to the United States I was shocked to find out "The Sicilian" had been released in a version cut by 25 minutes and was roundly trashed as incoherent. The rumor was also out that when Fox demanded that Cimino deliver a 120 minute version, he deliberately cut it to make no sense thinking that the studio would then have no choice but to release his complete film. But they released the deliberately sabotaged version instead. Anybody know the truth about this? Anyway, this is one of the great American-produced films of the 1980s -- if you love Scorsese and Visconti,and want something both passionate and cerebral, political and exciting, you must see this.

DVD lies about format size. WAS filmed in Widescreen
THIS REVIEW IS ON THE DVD, NOT ABOUT THE MOVIE ITSELF.The movie in my opinion was better than the critics gave it. I enjoyed it for a slow-paced mafia movie in the obscure Cimino style.THE DVD though, FOR THOSE WIDESCREEN LOVERS OUT THERE, STATES (on the back cover) that it "IS PRESENTED IN THE FORMAT IN WHICH THE FILM WAS SHOT OF 1:33:1. STANDARD "old fashion TV" FORMAT. I believe this is most deffintaly a lie.Why do I say this? Because, just a week ago it was on the High Definition Channel--INHD Channel, and they showed it in a TRUE ASPECT RATIO of WIDESCREEN 2:35:1, Cinnmascope. There is noway they could've shown the movie in that format if Ciminio had it filmed in standard format, AS STATED ON THE BACK COVER OF THE DVD.SO, THE DVD IS PRESENTED IN STANDARD FORMAT, while in reality IT WAS FILMED IN WIDESCREEN.SO, I give the DVD 2 stars just for decent picture quality & mediocre sound. The people who released this DVD version of the movie I believe lies when they state it was filmed in standard format when IT WAS FILMED IN WIDESCREEN.Maybe someday another company will release the orginal Widescreen version - THE WAY IT WAS SHOWN IN THEATRES.I was fortunate enough to tape it on the high def channel and get my copy of the movie in it's ORGINAL WIDESCREEN FORMAT.

Garbage, I wish there was zero Stars
Don't waste your money on this.It is not worth seeing. It is an insult to the movie going public.I threw mine into the Garbage

Just try to sit through this...
Absolutely some of the worst acting and story continuity I have ever seen. Christopher Lambert is not the only bad actor here - Joss Ackland as Don Masino and Barbara Sukowa as the Duchess are not much better. The dialogue can be so hard to follow, and the film jumps around so much, that towards the end of the movie you can barely (if at all) understand what's going on. Instead of spending more time on the "why" and "how" of Giuliano's campaign for Sicilian revolution, this film wastes time on smaller, less important scenes. One in particular, where Giuliano is robbing the Duchess of her jewels, and ends up frolicking in bed with her, is absolutely excruciating to watch - the acting and dialogue is that bad. Don't waste 2 1/2 hours of your life on this.

Sadly, no option for zero stars
What a terrible movie and a waste of talent. Trying to be another Godfather flick, but falling way short. There is some nice cinematography and a musical score that starts out promising but ends up being grating. The worst and most insurmountable problem is, naturally, Christopher Lambert. He can't act, doesn't look or sound Italian (let alone Sicilian) and is too old for the part (Guliano is supposed to be very young -- everyone comments on this -- and is compared to Alexander the Great, while Lambert is clearly in his mid-thirties). A OK enough actor for action films, he is way out of his depth here. Also, the always excellent John Turturro makes him look awful feeble. What power-that-be in the casting department decided on Lambert as the lead and NOT Turturro -- who looks and is of Italian ancestry? There is some kind of interesting story here about the modern history of Sicily after WWII, and the struggle between the church, government, rich landowners, poor peasants and communists...but darned if I could make out what it was. It was buried under a barrage of odd accents -- some American, some "fake" Italian, some generic "European" -- and dialogue that stinks. I hung on to the dogged end of this long (uncut version) flick, but I was wasting my time. It didn't improve or get any clearer. A movie to be avoided. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beowulf translates the ancient epic poem of the same name into a postapocalyptic Road Warrior-style future, in which a military outpost is being invaded by a monstrous, blood-thirsty creature. Drawn hither by the evil emanations comes Beowulf (Christopher Lambert from Subway and the Highlander series), a powerful warrior with dark secrets of his own. There he meets the beautiful Kyra (Rhona Mitra), a woman warrior with a couple of cleavage-revealing outfits. Her father Hrothgar, meanwhile, is haunted by dreams of a blond, seminaked succubus with crimped hair, who has some mysterious connection to the murdering monster. Everyone, even father and daughter, has a different accent. It's all pretty trashy--the script is full of bravura lines like, "The only thing that keeps me from becoming evil is fighting evil"--but the cinematography and special effects are capable, there are lots of cool-looking swords and weaponry, and there's some pleasantly cheesy techno-metal music that plays intermittently for no good reason. Christopher Lambert, with white hair and a full-length leather duster, looks a little bored, but he's still his competent brooding action-hero self. If you enjoyed Mortal Kombat, this is right up your alley. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (102)

Great Movie.
Now, before all of your heads explode, let me tell you why I say this. As a huge fan of the delightfully funny series Mystery Science Theater 3000, I have a strange appreciation for films commonly regarded as being the worst of the worst.
If only MST3K had gone on with a larger budget for obtaining films, I think Highlander 2 could have made a standout episode for the crew of the ol' Sattelite of Love. Since they never made an MST3K around Highlander 2, a certain level of entertainment can be derived from sitting back and verbally ripping it to shreds with some buddies.
I urge you all to give it one more try while playing MST3K with a few of your friends. I strongly believe you will find a new appreciation for it based on this. Thank you.

ukkk!
It's so bad that its not even funny. It takes everything from the first movie and destroys it. The only good thing is it led to the series. The rest of the sequal don't even mention this alien thing. and thats good. Personally I'd rather believe in immortal humans then strange aliens in a plot that doesn't even make sense.

SPECIAL EDITION?!?!?!?! You've got to be kidding...
First we got the re-edited "Renegade Version" which did absolutely nothing to improve this abominable sequel. Now they are "re-imagining" it with over 100 new visual effects shots!??!?!? Are they THAT DESPERATE?!?!?! We get THIS instead of the Richard Donner cut of Superman II?!?!?!? NOTHING and I mean NOTHING can redeem this film from being one of the worst sequels in film history. Why bother trying to polish a diamond out of a turd?

Still sucks after all those versions.
Heh. Guess what? The theatrical version was bad and made no sense, but this "Renegade Version", making SLIGHTLY more sense, is equally bad - AND longer. Do not waste your time and money, dude. You'll miss it later. Word.

DO NOT buy this!!!
I wish I could think of something positive about this...but I CAN'T!!! It Sucks BIG time!!!
Ok, cast your mind back to Highlander 1...Connor Mcleod, born into a scottish highland family & eventually forced into exile as his relatives don't understand his mortality.
Well it turns out he's not scottish, but an alien!!?? from the planet Ziest!??
Ok, if anyone still reading this hasn't lost the will to live I'll carry on. Actually, is there any point? Look, connor mcleod has to save the earth from a gigantic shield that's covering the earth & causing major global warming, but by the time you realise this you'd be happy if the whole damn planet got fried its that bad!
I'm sorry, but just reviewing this movie is getting me depressed, I'll sign off now, if I can find my copy of scarface I'll be happy, otherwise I'm off to slit my wrists...bye! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

One of Stuart Gordon's Best Films
Fortress is one of Stuart Gordon's best films ever made. I never saw this in the theatre because I was only 8 years and never heard of the movie before. I heard this was an international success but it received little notice in the U.S. (I even noticed the box office business money it was only around 6mil). But hey i don't care how it did i just care if i enjoyed the movie or not.

The film opens in 2017 where we realize a couple John and Karen Brennick (Christopher Lambert and Loryn Locklin) are trying to have another child due to the first one they lost but unfortunately they can't due to overpopulation crisis in America.
They try to have another but they're caught and sent a Maximum Security system called "The Fortress" built 33 stories deep. The prison is operated by a genetically enhanced sadistic warden Poe (Kurtwood Smith) and Zed-10 the computer system owned by Men-Tel Corporation who also built The Fortress. When they arrive they are outfitted with intestinators they could make your stomach in pain mode or explode mode. Even though this prison is high tech and very well guarded Brennick plots an escape anyway. I don't wanna tell you more because i'll be spoiling the movie for you. Stuart Gordon who made such low budget classics like Re-Animator and From Beyond he jumps into a bigger budget in Fortress and makes the film more enthusiatic and more energtic than ever before. The budget wasn't high though it was around 10million that's what the T.V Guide review said but its still ok, and probably will be the only bigger budget he ever did. The performances are great, plot good, and SFX are great as well. Overall this is a classic and i really enjoyed it.

"Built to hold anything . . . except an innocent man."
You know all those anonymous video box covers you see when you walk down the aisle at the video store? Well, most of them are direct-to-video productions and aren't worth a second look. Some of them are films made with modest budgets that got a limited theatrical release. Most of them are horrible which helps to explain why they left the theaters so quickly. However, once in blue moon one of these obscure "lost" films actually manages to surprise. Stuart Gordon's "Fortress" is one of those rare finds.

The population in the United States in the early 21st century has increased beyond control. In an attempt to solve the problem, the government has passed a law that limits a woman to only one child. However, John Brennick (Christopher Lambert) and his wife Karen (Loryn Locklin) run afoul of the authorities when they try to have a second child to replace their firstborn who died as an infant. Imprisoned for their crime, the couple is sent to a maximum security prison called The Fortress and are tormented by its despotic director, Poe (Kurtwood Smith).

"Fortress" is neither a completely original film nor one that has had a tremendous influence on the medium. It is quite simply an odd film that somehow works despite its limited production values and its lack of big-name stars. As with most science fiction films set in the near future, "Fortress" paints a rather bleak view of the years to come. Those looking for a nightly rental that has some deep meaning to it might enjoy the film's cautionary messages on overpopulation and private-sector prison administration. Yet, the film also satisfies as a breezy time-killer for those who find themselves with free time on their hands and nothing else to watch. Either way, "Fortress" fits the bill.

It's Got a Charm of Sorts
The first time I ever saw Christopher Lambert was in the memorable "Highlander" film back in the 1980s. I saw him again in the first sequel to that film a few years later, but after that he seemed to vanish down some type of cinematic memory hole. Occasionally, I would stumble across "Highlander" again on some cable channel and wonder about the fate of this actor. After recently wandering across the 1993 film "Fortress," I got my answer: Lambert works almost exclusively in the landscapes of low budget movies. I am not saying low budget films are a bad thing?certainly not?but if ever there was an actor who perfectly fit the parameters of a B movie production, it is Christopher Lambert. That accent coupled with a slightly stilted method of delivery dooms Lambert to semi-obscurity. You can probably tell that I am not a great fan of this actor's work, but after criticizing his acting skills, I should state that "Fortress" actually manages to achieve a certain chintzy charm.

"Fortress" presents a picture of an extremely bleak future set in America in the year 2017. The United States, and possibly the world, staggers under the weight of a massive boom in its population. In an effort to alleviate these problems, the government resorts to enforcing laws banning couples from having more than one child. Anyone caught breaking this law ends up in an underground prison run by a private corporation named Men-Tel. This prison does not qualify as one of those posh, white-collar jails we know and love today, but is a claustrophobic, overcrowded place bristling with automatic cannons, cameras that move across the ceiling, and androids armed with impressive weaponry. Even worse, newly inducted prisoners swallow "intestinators," devices that explode if a prisoner wanders beyond certain boundaries. For those inmates considered especially problematic, there awaits the "mind wipe" chamber capable of turning a man into a shattered wreck. It sure looks as though no one could escape this subterranean nightmare.

Enter John and Karen Brennick, a married couple that conceived a second child after their first born died. The Brennicks know the laws, but decide to flee to Mexico in order to escape these draconian measures. Regrettably, the couple's ruse falls apart at the border, earning them a quick trip to the Men-Tel resort and spa. John and Karen, forcibly separated, soon encounter the warden of the prison, a brutal thug played by veteran actor Kurtwood Smith, and the computer that runs the prison. John bunks with few odd characters, most notably imprisoned technology wizard D-Day (played with geeky aplomb by the always amazing Jeffrey Coombs). John Brennick doesn't intend to spend one more day than necessary in prison, and he soon enlists his roommates in a plot to escape from the prison. Along the way, Brennick dukes it out with the resident psycho, undergoes a trip to the mind wipe chamber, and schemes to get his wife out of the clutches of the evil warden.

"Fortress" offers up a whole host of gory sequences for the avid sci-fi/horror fan. The best sauce scene occurs when an intestinator explodes inside a man's stomach. The filmmakers love the idea of such a device so much they just have to show this scene soon after we learn what function such a piece of hardware serves. I kind of like that in a way. Why waste time when you can show a guy's abdomen exploding in the first twenty minutes of the movie? Moreover, the fight between Lambert and the cellblock murderer is appropriately bloody, as is the gunfire heavy finale. Overall, "Fortress" does give the viewer plenty of good old-fashioned carnage. The conclusion does seem a bit predictable, but who cares? Getting there was quite fun.

I liked most of the performances in this movie, even Lambert's turn as the laconic Brennick. Kurtwood Smith always does a good job, and Jeffrey Coombs may well be one of the greatest B movie stars in the history of cinema. Look for Lincoln Kilpatrick in a prime role, as well as the always menacing Vernon Wells playing the prison heavy who hates Brennick at first sight. About the only actor I didn't care for in "Fortress" was Loryn Locklin, who played Karen Brennick. I cannot put my finger on any specific reasons for this dislike, except that maybe I thought her too plain for the role. Stuart Gordon, the director responsible for the cult classic "The Re-Animator" helmed "Fortress." According to the production notes on the DVD, none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger helped get this movie made. With heavy hitters behind the scenes and a strong cast in front of the camera, "Fortress" entertains.

The DVD falls short in the extras department, but the picture transfer looks great. A sequel to this film appeared several years later, reportedly not as good as the original. I will probably watch this continuation of the "Fortress" saga, if for no other reason than the promised appearance of Pam Grier as the owner of Men-Tel. Grier, even at her worst, is always worth watching. Movies like "Fortress" and its sequel usually possess a few flaws, but violent science fiction can be immensely fun to watch, and in that aspect, "Fortress" delivers.

Oooh, C. L. Great Job!
This is an awesome edition to any Christopher Lambert Collection. One of his finest, and you almost get to see his whole, body front and back nude! How awesome for C.L. fans like me. I recommend you don't watch this around little ones, but it's great for watching with your special someone, it's got romance and action so you'll both be happy.

BB-T

Not bad for Lambert...
It is the future and breeding is controlled by the government. John Brannick and his wife are about to illegally have their second child. They are caught making their way out of the country and put in a fortress, a large prison in which the prisoners are controlled via a small device placed in the intestine. Silly? Yes. Fun? Definitely. I honestly can't give this movie more than three stars, but it was a fun action flick. The gore is big here and fans of this kind of movie, like "Robocop" or "Total Recall," will surely find much to like. Christopher Lambert does a nice job as the action hero who just wants to see his wife. The film is sort of like a futuristic "Great Escape." I had fun watching this film and if you're a fan of action or sci-fi, you should too. ... Read more

Description

This pulse-pounding action-adventure stars dynamic screen hero Christopher Lambert (HIGHLANDER I, II, & III) as a hard-edged police officer locked in a desperate do-or-die race against time! Teamed with a rookie cop (sexy Natasha Henstridge -- SPECIES, MAXIMUM RISK), he must quickly track down a savage murderer who threatens the world. But when the chase leads inside the killer's dungeon, the hunters find they have become the hunted! Suddenly, they are forced to save themselves -- and the rest of humanity -- in the ultimate confrontation! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This 1986 fantasy/action thriller has since spawned two sequels, a popular syndicated TV series, numerous comic-book spinoffs, and a loyal (if somewhat oddly obsessive) following of fans. Directed by music video veteran Russell Mulcahy (which explains the dizzying camera work), the original theatrical release made hash of an intriguing story about an "Immortal" from 16th-century Scotland (Christopher Lambert) who time-leaps to modern-day America with his archenemy (Clancy Brown) in hot pursuit. It becomes a battle to the death (yes, Immortals can die), and Lambert seeks survival training from an Immortal mentor played by Sean Connery. Dazzling, energetic, and altogether confusing in its original form, the film has since been released on video, laserdisc, and DVD in this revised widescreen "director's cut," with additional footage, director and producers' commentary, a photo and artwork archive, the original trailer, and an official time line of the film's evolution from script to screen. A must for Highlander fans ... and you know who you are! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (249)

"It's a kind of magic"
This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

There can be only one!
The wait is almost over! The first (and the best, as rated by most) movie in the Highlander saga is about to be released as a 2-disc set with completely new Dolby Digital and DTS audio mix and a much better video transfer. The previous DVD versions of the movie lacked the audio-visual quality, most dvd fans crave for. In fact, in my opinion the movie really deserved a good audio mix, for it is packed with some great music by Queen and I hope the new version contains an isolated music track as well!

The Immortal Edition will be packaged in a limited edition tin box, a feature Anchor Bay Entertainment is known for. With a second disc full of extras, this edition is a release no Highlander fan should miss.

"There can be only one", and it seems this is THE ONE!!

Enthralling Nonsense
That's about the only way to describe "Highlander." It's a B-movie in every sense yet has enough good in it to make it entertaining to watch. I guess that's why it became such a cult classic.

The story centers on a young Scotsman named Connor MacLeod who resides in New York City under a different name. Connor is actually one of the few men on Earth who have the special gift of immortality. These immortals can be killed if beheaded by another immortal and throughout the ages these elect men have been hunting each other down in the hopes of becoming the last immortal on Earth, which would give him a gift of high enlightenment, a gift that can be dangerous if in the wrong hands. Connor is on the run from an immortal goon, the Kurgan, who has been after him since the 1500's. It eventually comes down to Connor and the Kurgan as to who will be the one that receives the special gift.

Something that certainly doesn't work in favor of "Highlander"(and helps make it B-grade) is the fact that the movie has not aged very well. Compared to the action movies of today, this flick looks corny. The special effects are pretty cheesy and the whole production design feels outdated. The acting was, for the most part, not too memorable. Christopher Lambert doesn't do a good enough job of making his character of Connor MacLeod engaging. He makes for rather uninteresting hero. There were only two noteable performances I saw here. One was Sean Connery, who makes a nice little impression playing Ramirez, the man who first tutors Connor when he discovers that he's an immortal. But Connery only gets about 20 minutes of screen time and this hinders him from making a bigger impact. The other standout I saw was Clancy Brown, who plays the Kurgan. Brown makes his character the perfect bad guy giving him the "qualities" of vile, mean, and creepy. In short, he's a guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. I have to say that "Highlander" has quite an interesting concept. The idea of immortals hunting each other down to gain an ultimate power is nifty (if somewhat hokey) and director Russel Mulcahy executes it just well enough to make things entertaining, with the swordfights between the immortals becoming the highlight points.

Overall, I really can't say "Highlander" is a great film but at the same time, I can't dissuade you from seeing it either. Who knows? You, like many others, may have that "kind of magic" that will turn you on to this cult classic. The only way to know is to check it out and see what happens.

High level action and fantasy.
HIGHLANDER was undoubtedly among the best of the medieval/fantasy/Dungeons and Dragons sort of movies that proliferated in the 1980s. The choice of the brooding Christopher Lambert was perfect for the part of the Highlander, Conner MacLeod. There is a quiet intensity to his acting, and it works well here. Sean Connery, as his mentor and fellow-immortal, Ramirez strikes just the right balance of swashbuckling and seriousness. His acting is perfect. (So what else is new?)

For me, however, Clancy Brown's Kurgan steals the film. His physical features and bug-eyed grin are dead perfect! And his way over-the-top performance, at times, makes you a little afraid of his character, but he makes you laugh, as well. The confrontation between Kurgan and Conner in a church is a great balance of wit and tension.

The battles in Scotland, at the beginning of the film, and the mayhem in the streets of New York City at the end are priceless. My favorite moment: Kurgan steals a car and takes Conner's love interest for a ride. As he careens through the potholes and traffic, he quietly sings "New York, New York". Now I know where all our cabdrivers take their lessons from. HIGHLANDER is a great piece of quality mind candy that actually tackles some deep issues.

CLASSIC
This is a classic we should all have it ... Read more

Amazon.com

Christopher Lambert, the imposing French actor with the nasal whine best known to American audiences as Scottish swordsman Highlander, plays a rank amateur in The Hunted. He's an American businessman in Japan who lucks into a one-night stand with slinky Joan Chen and winds up a witness to her murder by a mysterious band of black-clad ninjas. Escaping not one but two attempts on his life by a little quick thinking and a lot of dumb luck, he winds up on a harrowing bullet train ride. As swarms of masked assassins decimate passengers in search of the elusive eyewitness, Lambert's laconic protector, rough-edged samurai Yoshio Harada, unleashes a martial arts frenzy of flashing swords in close quarters. His savior is not as altruistic as he seems, however. He just wants to lure mysterious ninja overlord John Lone out of hiding and into a fight to the death on Harada's island fortress, and Lambert is little more than live bait. Though it made few ripples at the box office, The Hunted is a slick and surprisingly smart thriller. Lone and Harada cut striking figures as the warriors following ancient codes in the modern world, and writer-director J.F. Lawton (screenwriter of Pretty Woman and Under Siege) gives them almost as much screen time as ostensible hero Lambert. The action scenes are furious and fast paced, lacking the grace and precision of real Japanese samurai adventures but full of clever flourishes. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (23)

BUY THIS MOVIE
Holy moly... I can't begin to tell you how pleasantly surprised I was after watching this movie. Don't let the boring DVD cover or leading man fool you. Christopher Lambert is just an ordinary business man visiting Japan. John Lone & Yoshio Harada make the flick. Tak Kubota as Oshima gave the movie a bit of comic relief as well. The fight scenes are absolutely astounding. I watched this movie dog tired & was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I had to recommend it to all of my friends the very next day. I'm watching it AGAIN as I am typing this review. Two words... "Train Scene." If you want to know what I'm talking about, BUY THE MOVIE.

Have you ever watched a flick that was so good, with the main characters being so ruthless & believable that you couldn't help but get goosebumps? Well, here's an excerpt from the film that will give nothing away but a brief foreshadowing of just how good the Samurai was:

Paul Racine: What do we do if he loses?
Meiko: Takeda will not lose...

Have you got goosebumps yet? Those of you expecting a cheesy movie w/ horrible acting, CGI & impossible stunts done with cables, turn the other way. I bought this movie site unseen & without any recommendation from anyone except the plethora of 5 star reviews from Amazon. It was well worth the money & you will not be disappointed.

A completely underrated movie.
This is a beautifully made picture, full of smooth action scenes, breathtaking scenery, and a little romance mixed in to boot. I won't go on with an overview of the plot; you can read that above, I'd like to focus on the DVD. The movie is displayed in a widescreen ratio, and is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. Special feature wise the movie is lacking, it only contains a theatrical trailer and some production notes. I personally would have loved to see a nice featurette on the choreography but I'm afraid not this time. The movie itself is not some B or C movie as you would expect from a movie with as little exposure as this one got. That's right folks, no cheese, excellent cast, excellent acting. Furthermore the film is historically correct, as far as I can tell, everything right down to the Takeda family crest; with the exception of the ferocity of the ninja, they wouldn't just kill to kill. Anybody who loves the Eastern culture and martial art films will love this movie, but it is not completely "chop saki" using the story as an excuse to start the next fight. This is most definitely a DVD t