Highlander

December 11, 2004

Rated: R Runtime: 116 min Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Every now and then, Hollywood produces a low budget movie that they do not really expect much out ofthat goes on to become not only a big hit, but manages to work it’s way into popculture with catch phrases, fashion influences, etc. Terminator would be the perfectexample. However, Highlander is another movie that wasn’t expected to do much, but it remains a part of our culture 13 years after the original. The TV series inspiredby the movie is still immortal thanks to syndicated re-runs, and yet another sequelis scheduled for a 2000 release.

Highlander is the moviethat started it all. It is the tale of Connor Macleod of the Clan Macleod. Connor iskilled in a 15th century battle, however he does not die. His clansmen figure he has the devil inside of him and banish him. Enter Ramirez, played expertly by SeanConnery. Ramirez explains that they are both immortals and teachs Connor the rulesof immortal life.

An immortal life isn’tsimple because you see in the end there can be only one. These immortals will fighteach other until only one remains, and that one receives “the prize”. The weapon ofchoice for immortal battles is a sword because the only way to kill an immortal isby cutting his head off. Guns and such tend to just piss them off. Some immortalssuch as Connor and Ramirez are swell guys, others are nasty evil men such as the Kurgan, who is played wonderfully by Clancy Brown.

Although this movie islow budget, it does not detract from it at all. The movies’ director, Russell Mulcahy,had a background in music videos, and it shows. This is one of the first action movies I can remember to use a rocking soundtrack, explosions and the quick cut editting of music videosto stimulate the audience. This is a practice that is now commonplace in actionmovies with many of today’s big action directors listing this movie as one of theirearly influences. The Queen soundtrack to this movie is near perfect as they canrock for action scenes or bring it down to slow beautiful soft vocals for the romanticscenes and pull both off with ease.

The cast does anexcellent job with both the fight sequences and the dialog. You would expect thisfrom Connery, being the old pro that he is. But Christopher Lambert took this rolevery seriously as well and in addition to becoming a decent swordsman for the part, healso worked with a speech coach to develop an accent of a man who was from “lots of different places”. And Clancy Brown as the evil Kurgan is positively a riot. You’llrarely find a more entertaining villain.

This movie was muchmore successful than it’s box office numbers indicate. It’s true level of successis measured in how people continue to have an insatiable appetite for stories aboutthese immortals despite the first sequel being one of the largest wastes of celluloidever produced. In addition to the abortion known as Highlander II, as of this writingthere has been one more theatrical release with another scheduled for 2000. Outsideof theatres there have been two live action series in syndication and one animated seriesbased upon Highlander.

If you’ve never seenthe movie that started it all, this is highly recommended viewing. Although it is filled with testosterone pleasing action and fight sequences, the movie also sneaksin a romantic story underneath all of the swordplay, so this is one you can watchwith your significant other with a reasonable expectation of getting some afterwardas well. This rare combination is something we always smile upon!

Posted by Billy Bob | Filed Under 5 Stars, Action, Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, DVD, R, Roxanne Hart, SciFi, Sean Connery