Highlander

[PHArchivist]

Please explain this one to me...

Not dissing on anyone who likes it, and I know how popular it is.

But just watched it again (on Blu-ray), and man - even for its time, it was pretty hokey!

 

[PHArchivist]

This sums it up well:

Highlander Blu-ray

"somehow, against some formidable odds and initial critical disdain for the effort, Highlander has gone on to achieve considerable cult status, with a legion of fans, most of whom were probably pretty young when the film was initially released in 1986, and who thrilled to its comic book ambience filled with immortal Scotsmen (and other nationalities) and less than immortal dialogue and action. Highlander unfortunately has not aged very well at all, with wooden performances, oddly (and at times badly) staged action sequences, and lots and lots of big 1980s hair."

So, again, not to beat the drum of denigration, but to better understand its appeal...

...what's up with this one?

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

Immortals? Sword fights? Music video aesthetics? Sean Connery? Music by Queen?

As has been laid out in that article, if you´re not part of the generation, then its appeal might be as lost to you as it was to a lot of old timers when Star Wars hit the theaters. I know quite a few fans of Sci Fi and Fantasy that are just a tad bit too old to be part of the core Star Wars audience and who don´t like Star Wars at all. They like the original trek, though...

 

[Jedi2016]

It won the Academy Award, you know. For Best Movie Ever Made.

 

[Mola Rob]

Sometimes I wonder why I like the movie myself.

The accents are screwed up, the action really does suck, the sound effects during the sword fights are laughable and the whole scene with the militant guy is a total wtf moment amongst many other flaws.

But the premise is cool, the music is cool, the sword is cool, Connor's apartment is cool, and we get to see Roxanne Hart's boobies.

It all balances out to be the perfect idiotic fun 80's movie.

 

[Apollo]

A fun concept.

The movie I can hardly watch now and not cringe but the Series took it to where I thought it should go.

A lot of character developement can be explored with some one who is over 400 years old

This sums it up well:

Highlander Blu-ray

"somehow, against some formidable odds and initial critical disdain for the effort, Highlander has gone on to achieve considerable cult status, with a legion of fans, most of whom were probably pretty young when the film was initially released in 1986, and who thrilled to its comic book ambience filled with immortal Scotsmen (and other nationalities) and less than immortal dialogue and action. Highlander unfortunately has not aged very well at all, with wooden performances, oddly (and at times badly) staged action sequences, and lots and lots of big 1980s hair."

So, again, not to beat the drum of denigration, but to better understand its appeal...

...what's up with this one?

 

[Master Dahark]

The mere idea of it is awesome-- just imagine, being alive for hundreds of years and never aging, yet you can feel pain and 'be killed'. I would totally love that.
Highlander is a great classic movie-- and hell, I'll even watch Endgame on a rainy day (I hit the fast forward button alot though :lol)

A bit of trivia: What's the one character Sean Connery has ever played twice (besides Bond of course). That would be RAMIREZ, baby!! I actually heard it was because he and Lambert got along so well on the set! It's always nice to hear stories like that about your favorite actors!

 

[SSgt Burton]

Sean Connery? Music by Queen?

+1

Some beautiful sweeping shots of Scotland too.

I haven't watched this film in years (maybe it hasn't aged well), but loved it as a teenager. Some fun moments (like Conner's duel in 1783 which he loses over and over again). I was into D&D in the (very) early 80s, so swords, immortality and the showdown between good and evil was fun to watch.

I just wish "There can only be one" meant the number of Highlander films. :lol


Kevin

 

[Wes R]

It's a fun, yet hokey, film and even my parents are fans of the original. The later ones suffered from studio interference and other issues sadly. The cartoon wasn't bad if they'd bothered finishing it. It's like the 80s Flash Gordon movie, there is no reason to really like it but you can't help but watch when it's on.

 

[dbhs]

Despite it's numerous flaws I love this movie. The premise and story are fantastic. I also love the contrasts in the scenery between ancient scotland and New York and that they portrayed both as gritty and real. There's some great humor in it too. I like the scene with the guy on the street making fun of the cops by reading the article about them and asking "what does incompetent mean? what does baffles mean?" Clancy Brown was great as the Kurgan. I just wish they could have gone into more depth with the characters and developed them even more.

 

[PHArchivist]

Maybe this one would actuallbe a good choice for a reboot or remake...?

 

[Organic Mechanic]

Maybe this one would actuallbe a good choice for a reboot or remake...?

No.

Not because it couldn't be improved upon, it can. Oh boy it can.

But for some unexplained reason, every single time they try to make new Highlander material it gets worse and worse. The Quickening was terrible. The Series' were mediocre at best, and soap-operatic trash at worst. The cartoon made NO friggin' sense. The Final Dimension was completely stupid in the way only 90's action films can be. Endgame, while not bad, totally messed with the mythos of the franchise. And then there's 'The Source', which I regard as the absolute worst piece of cinema ever created. Seriously, I've seen porn that would stand a better chance of critical acclaim.

Not to mention, that Lambert, Connery, and Brown wouldn't be in it. I cannot see anyone but Lambert as McLeod. Connery and Brown were just too good to be replaced.

Basically, I say leave it be. It's a schmaltzy Sci-Fi Fantasy romp that is perfect in it's imperfection. To remake it will only serve to diminish the Cult Classic status of the original and/or further damage the franchise.

 

[DavidS]

If you have to ask.......... why bother.

Highlander is my favorite movie.

Of course i love star wars, star treksssss, indiana jones, etc etc etc, but Highlander was just something special.
The FIRST movie is still great in my eyes.... aged.... eh..... i hope they NEVER remake it.
I also really have a soft sport for the TV series... well... seasons 2-5 that is....

 

[Maelstrom]

I think another reason is that with each passing sequel the first one just looked like more and more of a masterpiece.

 

[Clutch]

This is why.

 

[Wes R]

^ No matter how bad the TV show or movie Clancy Brown always gives a good performance. He's a great voice actor as well.

 

[Probe Droid]

It's a guilty pleasure thing.

 

[blewis17]

I agree with most of the above. But probably, it is really a film of the times it was made. Which is probably why, after the 1980s, all of the sequels seemed so horrid and butchered.

80s cheese fest, definitely. With James Bond. And cool swords.

 

[SmilingOtter]

Maybe this one would actuallbe a good choice for a reboot or remake...?

It's in preproduction now.

 

[dbhs]

Awwwww.....no sound ?

This is why.