Highlander

Highlander



I've been here before. Maybe you have too. You sit down to watch a film that was one of your favourites as a kid and you look forward to rekindling your passion for it. Instead, as an adult, you're more critical. More involved with what makes a quality movie. And like me when I re-watched Highlander, you'll end up picking holes in it.

The story starts with a Scottish Clansman called Connor Macleod (Christopher Lambert) who's seen to die in battle, but makes a miraculous recovery. His friends and neighbours cast him out into exile, accusing him of witchcraft and foul magic.
This is intercut with a modern day Connor Macleod who is now an antiquarian and sometime decapitator of Japanese businessmen.

It transpires, after a few more flashbacks, that Macleod is, in fact, immortal. He's one of a select few who can only die by decapitation at the hands of another immortal. A friendly Immortal called Ramirez (Sean Connery) tells him this whilst preparing him for 'The Gathering'.
One day all the remaining Immortals will feel an urge to assemble at the same time and place, to do battle so that only one remains.

The immortals are split into good and evil, with the most powerful being The Kurgen (Clancy Brown) intent on killing Macleod.

So, the holes?

It's impossible to watch this film and not be grated by Christoher Lambert's impression of a Scotsman. You'll probably wonder to yourself why they didn't just get a Scottish actor to play the part. Then, while your scratching your head over that one, they only bring in Scotland's finest export Sean 'The Real Bond' Connery and cast him as a bloody Spanish Conquistador.

There's also the question as to why Ramirez would help Macleod in the first place. Why, if there can be only one, do they bother getting chummy with each other? It might have added a new dynamic to it, if Ramirez had killed the Kurgen and had to fight Macleod himself. Like some sort of odd couple comedy, where they live together, but are constantly trying to behead one another.

Despite my moans and groans this film does have one redeeming feature;
It's only fuckin' brilliant.

The story is gripping from beginning to end, with larger than life characters carrying deep, resonating emotional baggage.
Macleod is a cold and lonely hero who cannot bring himself to love again, after watching his wife grow old and die.
The Kurgen is a bad guy with a sense of humour. He badgers priests and Nuns in the church. He screams in mock helplessness at his kidnapped damsel (Roxanne Hart).
The soundtrack is great too. Another 80's sci-fi movie to use Queen at the height of their popularity (Flash Gordon being another).

Verdict 8/10
A clutter of ideas resulting in something greater than its parts.