User reviews

Highlander is an ingenious and very entertaining science fiction film which has come in for rather a lot of (unwarranted) scathing criticism. Although the plot jumps around with reckless abandon, the scripters Gregory Widen, Larry Ferguson and Peter Bellwood manage to pull in all the loose ends by the climax. The word "confusing" has been used to describe the film quite often as well, but if you stick with it the confusing moments are explained quite cleverly towards the closing reels. This is, in fact, not a bad film at all. I'd venture to say it's a pretty good one.

The opening sequence has Russell Nash (Christopher Lambert) at a wrestling match in New York's Madison Square Gardens. He leaves early, and while walking through the underground car park is confronted by a man with a sword. Nash is not perturbed by this - he merely brandishes a sword of his own, and the pair of them fight to the death, resulting in the decapitation of Nash's opponent. Slowly, we learn (via flashbacks) that Nash is an immortal swordsman who has spent centuries duelling with like immortals. The only way they can die is by decapitation at the hands of one of their counterparts. Each swordsman has spent the whole of history pursuing the others, hoping to be the last one alive whereupon he will gain mortality, virility and vast knowledge.

The film is very energetic (what would you expect from a former music video director?) with dazzling camera work and a pounding, Flash Gordon-style soundtrack by Queen. Sean Connery has a pleasant supporting role as an immortal who teaches Lambert the art of swordplay, and Alan North has a funny part as a bewildered cop who can't figure out why headless corpses keep turning up in his city. The film's intentionally muddled structure is slightly irritating on the first viewing, but with repeated viewings it becomes more comprehensible, even clever. Highlander is a good, inventive piece of hokum.... and it's a real shame that those very same critics who are always grumbling about the lack of cinematic imagination these days didn't give it some merit when it was first released.

When I first saw this film, I thought it was great. Connery is good, Lambert does passably well, the effects are good, the idea of a bunch of special individuals who had known about each other (and in some cases, liked each other) for centuries being drawn together, knowing that only one could come out alive. The effects were, at the time, good and had not been flogged to death. I even enjoyed the introductory clan-on-clan warfare.

Then came Highlander 2, a film which deserved its place on the Bottom 100 and the nadir of Sean Connery's career. As someone else said about that film: "don't break every rule you set up in the first film." Even the series didn't do that. And the reputation of the first good film suffered.

Separating the first film from the bad sequels, and a series that a lot of people can take or leave, it is still a good film. Unfortunately, a good idea was taken and flogged to death afterward.

In 16th century Scotland, immortals fought against each other, in a quest for the prize of being the one remaining at the end of the centuries of fighting. Conner Macleod (Christophe Lambert) is trained in the art of sword fighting by Ramirez (Sean Connery) in hope that one day one of them will fight and defeat the Kurgen (Clancy Brown) The story is set over 4 centuries and stretches from the highlands of Scotland to the streets of New York.

Firstly the cinematography in the highlands captures the breath taking scenery beautifully, the story is captivating fantasy, with dialogue and direction to suit the theme, and the cast all perform well enough to entice you into the story and hold your attention, without ever really excelling. Finally the soundtrack is provided by Queen, and it genuinely adds to the emotional feel of the film in quite dramatic style.

Highlander is a very good movie, that has its flaws; but in fantasy, does it really matter? However the sequels are far too contradictory and contrived to be given the same forgiveness. This film really is the only one; and its stands alone without the need for its inferior sequels.

7/10

When I first saw this movie, I loved it. Having recently seen it again after several years, I found it to be every bit as good as I remembered – in fact, better. So I thought I would visit IMDB and see what others had to say. I learned four things;

1/ This movie was a flop at the box office. Funny, I had always assumed it was a hit – it was so good, and spawned three (soon to be four) sequels and a television series.

2/ I expected some to be less than entranced with Highlander, but was interested to learn that there are those who think it complete rubbish.

3/ Some people think the sequels are good movies. How could they?

4/ Some people don't like the Queen soundtrack. How could they not?



It is always interesting to see different viewpoints, especially when they are completely contrary to your own. But for me, this movie was perfect. The premise was intriguing, the story was beautifully told, the joy and pathos of an immortal amongst mortals revealed with great skill. There was great action, romance, the tragedy of love lost – and the baddest of bad guys to overcome.

The casting was excellent, as was the acting. Sean Connery's contribution was exactly as it should have been, and no more. Clancy Brown's performance as The Kurgan was joyfully terrifying, Christopher Lambert was spot-on.

The screenplay was excellent, as was the script. I was especially impressed with the way that flashbacks were interwoven with the ongoing story. In fact, this is the only flashback movie I have ever liked.

I was also thoroughly impressed with the action sequences. Unlike so many recent movies, none of the action involved the physically impossible (with the obvious exception of the fact that the immortals were immortal, of course). This added enormously to the appeal, in direct contrast to so many movies made in the last decade. I despair when I watch movies where people perform the impossible. Even the classic scene `Oh, I'm falling – but it's OK, I can just grab this rope/branch/flagpole/whatever, and even though I have fallen 30 feet and am travelling at 20 mph, I can just stretch out my hand and arrest my fall as though I was no heavier than a feather' destroys all credibility in the action. I know, this is a fantasy movie anyway, so what does it matter? Well, realistic action is even more important in fantasy movies; it helps the audience to willingly suspend disbelief. This is very difficult to do when you are busy giggling at the latest fantastical feat you have witnessed. No such concerns in this movie – the action was perfectly judged to reflect the prowess gained from centuries of experience, whilst avoiding the impossible and the ridiculous.

I was intrigued to find one user comment on IMDB criticising the use of `unnecessarily large and heavy weapons'. Anyone who has used (or even picked up) any edged weapon will be aware that they are very heavy. Moving that kind of mass means lots of momentum, and involves very distinctive body movements to counterbalance the weight. Most movies use toy weapons – plastic, fibreglass or wood – and the lack of mass shows in the actor's movements. For the uninitiated, this may make for flashier and faster action – but for those who know, it looks like children playing pretend. The use of weapons with real weight in Highlander adds tremendously to the realism. It was particularly impressive that the actors could use the weapons properly (at least to the extent demanded by the choreographed scenes – and that is all that is required for movies). Clancy Brown (as The Kurgan) deserves special praise here – he had the largest and heaviest weapon, yet wielded it like a veteran. One can only imagine the endless hours he spent perfecting his movements and balance.

I do understand why some would find the soundtrack intrusive, but for me this was another area that was perfectly judged. Queen's songs enhanced the mood of the moment whenever they played. One related fact that some might find interesting – a few years ago I saw a list of the top ten best movies for music as voted for by students. Highlander made the list – the only non-musical to do so. (In fact, I think it came in the top five.) So I would guess that the soundtrack works for most people..

I also understand why the accents in the movie (Christopher Lambert's and Sean Connery's) are a problem for some. However, I was happy with Lambert's accent; it was Scottish enough for the Highland scenes, and suitably indefinable for the modern settings. Sean Connery was, of course, Sean Connery – he never adopts any accent other than his own. But that's OK – it doesn't detract from the film, any more than it detracts from any of his films (such as Red October). I tend to agree with his point that accents don't matter – emotions are the same, regardless of nationality.

Just a quick word about the sequels – disappointing. I am not one to decry all sequels as inferior. In fact, many sequels are very good, and some are better than their progenitors. However, the Highlander sequels were without exception very poor. The original film was obviously conceived as a one-off, and was all the better for it. The story was complete with Highlander, and the sequels were necessarily contrived. However, Highlander II exceeded all expectations in this regard. The plot changed the story of the immortals beyond all recognition. Egregious just isn't a big enough word to describe it.

The sequels are best viewed as being entirely separate from the original. If you haven't already seen them, be prepared for a decidedly tepid experience.

But Highlander itself – ah, there's a real movie. Sit back and enjoy!

9.5/10

Highlander is perhaps the definitive modern-day, non-horror fantasy adventure. The use of flashbacks within the story is perhaps not unique, but the concept sees its full fruition here. Such integral "flashback storytelling" would later be borrowed by many movies and TV shows (the Highlander series itself, Forever Knight, and Outlaws among the latter). Everyone is well cast, from the major roles (Lambert, Brown, Connery, Hart, and North) to the minor roles (Peter Diamond, Hugh Quarshie, Sheila Gish, and Christopher Malcolm, among others). Of necessity, must be seen in the Director's Cut version. Various web sites also have the further "missing scenes," including the Kurgan's battle with Immortal Yung Dol Kim, and Kastagir and MacLeod actually having that party they mention.

Continuing my plan to watch every Sean Connery movie in order, I come to Highlander (1986)

Plot In A Paragraph: A group of immortals, who can only die via decapitation, duel through the centuries.

I love Highlander. Always have. Always will. It will always be a disappointment to me none of the sequels or the TV Shows lived up to the potential this universe offered.

Playing the Egyptian Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (with his normal accent of course) Connery Looks to be having a blast in his second mentor role in a row. He was only on set for 7 days (he had a bet, which he lost, with director Russell Mulcahy he would not finish his scenes in time and had a lucrative clause in place if he didn't) and his screen time is likely to be under twenty minutes, but his presence looms large in the movie

Considering he could barely speak English, Christopher Lambert (one of the nicest celebs I've ever met) is great, Clancy Brown's Kurgan is one of my favourite movie bad guys and Beatrice Edney is gorgeous. Oh and the soundtrack is by my favourite band of all time Queen.

Amazingly Highlander tanked at the domestic box office grossing only $5 million dollars. Highlander found its audience on video, and the rest is history. As for Connery, after his the time away from the screen, it would seem like his luck had not improved with his reinvention as the older, wiser mentor. Despite two great performances, the movies still did little business. That would all change with his next movie though.

As a child, in the late eighties, I loved this movie and I was able to watch it over and over again countless times. Three decades later I spent two hours in nostalgic boredom. This movie can be good only to a child, and ironically, it's R rated and not intended for children. It is based on an interesting idea about the existence of a small number of immortals scattered around the globe and destined to wait for a certain time when they'll meet and fight each other until there's only one left. Unfortunately, this premise is not well-developed and it's full of holes and illogicalities. The wooden acting of Christopher Lambert is plain boring, while the brilliant Sean Connery is totally underutilized and Clancy Brown is at the same time the main villain and a comic relief, a combination that could work well only in comedies and which has no place in this movie. Duels are probably the weakest point of the film, as the swordsmen who have had centuries to perfect their skill seem like five-year-olds fighting with sticks. As far as the effects are concerned, I am aware that they could not have been much better in 1986, but they are largely unnecessary and without them the film would be much more convincing. Not everything has to be explicitly shown to the viewer, and a good director would find a way to replace more difficult effects with the imagination of the viewer. Objectively, the only real quality here is Queen's music that stretches through the entire movie. Subjectively - I do not like Queen. The main reason why I did not give a lower rating is a few really hilarious scenes that I was fairly laughing about, primarily a duel for insulting honor where drunk Highlander persistently refuses to die, as well as Kurgan's crazy driving and making faces behind the wheel. I also have to mention the scene of death of Highlander's first wife that, although less and less with every watching because it's poorly done, still shakes me every time and even induce a tear.

6/10

I can honestly say that Highlander is one of the most original and affecting stories I have ever had the pleasure of viewing, although sadly not in the cinema. The film has its flaws but the cumulative effect of all the various elements make this a film that is really like no other, and often imitated. There are many elements in the film that were experimental at the time, especially for a genre film. The editing style is much more painterly and nonlinear than what one normally expects. The integration of modern songs in a period setting was handled brilliantly, with the crowning achievement of the film being the "who wants to live forever?" montage, which is an absolutely heartbreaking scene. Anyone who has ever truly loved someone will understand when you see it. One of the refreshing aspects of Highlander is that the movie is not just set up with an interesting concept and becomes a mindless action film from there, but that it actually comments on the questions posed by immortality. With Connor Macleod we are given a fantastic character who is brilliantly realized through Chrisopher Lambert's complex performance. The change he goes through from young, innocent Scotsman to a sad, world weary antiques dealer is a wonderful achievement. I actually feel through his performance how lonely the life of an immortal must be, and how he keeps people at a distance whereas to not get too deeply involved. This film has it's heart in the right place because it comments on the fact that when people lose everything they hold dear, in this case because Macleod will outlive everyone he cares about, they travel inward, cutting themselves off from the world in hopes that they will be spared the pain of seeing the ones they love die. From a story standpoint alone, this is a truly magnificent film, which isn't to say it is lacking in other areas. The camera angles are very inventive and some of the transitions between time frames are jaw-dropping. The musical score by Michael Kamen is lush and romantic, while at the same time allowing for an integration with the songs by Queen that is a tremendously successful idea that in theory you'd never think would work right, but strangely it does so extremely well. There is a wide range of performance in the film ranging from Lambert's subtle, understated interpretation of Connor, to Clancy Brown's flamboyantly theatrical portrayal of the main Villain. Sean Connery also makes quite an impression as Connor's mentor. He is both hilarious and charming, powerful and poignant. The female character's are also handled very well with Conner's first wife Heather being the standout. Highlander has a very odd sense of humor that seems to have come from improvisation from the actors. The entire film has a spontaneous energy that works very well because you never quite know what is going to happen next. This is not a perfect film, and sometimes it tends to fall back on genre stereotypes but the overall effect of the film more than makes up for it. Highlander is one of the more original films ever made, and sadly none of the sequels ever built on that. As far as the Highlander series goes; There can be only one, and this is it.

Highlander isn't a perfect movie by all means, at least in my opinion, the film is a little too long, Christopher Lambert tries hard but comes across as rather bland and the effects towards the end are a little cheesy. However, cinematography, costumes, sets and scenery-wise Highlander is great, and most of the effects are decent. The soundtrack is killer, the storyline is acceptably paced and basically a fun standard sword-and-sorcery sort of tale, the script may have some toshy moments but boy did it entertain me, the action is well choreographed and the direction is very good. Also Sean Connery is as charismatic and memorable as ever, and Clancy Brown's character is written even better and he too is great. Overall, a fun and entertaining film, shame its sequel was such an abomination but that's another story. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I didn't get this film at first audition. I thought the acting wasn't great. But something about the film kept pulling me in. When I watched it again I fell in love with the movie. Its full of romance, heroism and over all loss. A very involving and emotional film. The Queen song "Who wants to live forever" never fails to stir emotions. The battle scenes are also very good. What also makes the film work is the casting. The Highlanders all look very brave and fearless not to mention scarred. Also the costumes are fantastic. I'm mo expert on the exact clothing for Highlanders in the 16th century, but they looked pretty good to me. I had no real feelings about Scotland before I watched this film, But after the film got under my skin it was the next place I visited. I was amazed to find that there really is a Glen Finnan on the shore of Loch Sheil. And I can say first hand that it is a truly historicaly magical place.

Full of 80s cliché but... One of the best movie soundtrack ever!

When a man is beheaded in a swordfight in a New York City parking lot, an ancient silver sword is found at the murder scene. Brenda Wyatt, a brilliant forensics expert, and her partner Lt. Frank Moran trace it back to Russell Nash, an antiques dealer with a murky past. As both Brenda and Frank investigate Nash further, the former finds herself caught up in a centuries-old feud, as their suspect is a mystical being called an Immortal whose real name is Connor Macleod. And whose origins date back to the sixteenth-century highlands of Scotland.

The second theatrical full-length feature after Razorback, which was produced and filmed in his native Australia, The Highlander would prove to undeniably be Russell Mulchahey's most financially successful movie to date. Developing something of a cult following as well as spawning several sequels, a TV series that ran for six seasons as well as a spin-off series called The Raven, an animated series and movie entitled The Search for Vengeance as well as a video game. One would therefore think that if the movie inspired so many spin-offs and the merchandising that it produced it must have been nothing short of a fantasy action-adventure masterpiece. Nothing however could be further from the truth.

It probably doesn't help that with the exception of Razorback, Mulcahey had cut his teeth directing musical videos for bands such as Duran Duran and The Rolling Stone. While he has a keen eye for style and an eye-catching visual flair, what he lacks is the ability to construct and direct a cohesive movie with well-developed and drawn-out characters. It doesn't help either that the script penned by Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood, and Larry Ferguson is all over the place. One wonders how three professional writers could cock up a story that at its heart has a basic but rather novel premise with so much potential. But then with three creative minds working on it, it may have been a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

To Mulchahey's credit, he does generate a gloomy, brooding atmosphere in the movie's then-contemporary 1980s backdrop. An opening scene at Madison Square Garden, where we're introduced to Christopher Lambert's world-weary Connor Macleod amidst the crowd of spectators of a wrestling match, and the bright lights of the stadium manage to still radiate some brooding intensity. This is intercut with brief flashbacks to Macleod's past life in the Highlands of Scotland, which echos the bitter sadness and longing he has for his previous existence. Mulchahey follows this up, with a confrontation between Macleod and a fellow immortal in an underground car park, where he utilizes the cold atmosphere that it resonates to good effect.

However, this is damning Mulchaey and the movie with some faint praise. One of the major issues is the casting, whereupon one wonders how seriously the director is expecting us to take this. After all, we have Lambert, a French actor attempting to portray a Scotsman and in doing so he murders the accent in the flashback scenes to his past life in the Sixteenth Century highlands of Macleod's homeland. Then there's of course Sean Connery, who ironically as a Scotsman shows off once again his versatility with accents as a Spaniard and fellow immortal named Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez. To say he fails to even attempt to hide his strong Edinburgh twang would be like Denzel Washington attempting to hide that he is black.

At its heart, The Highlander has a plot that affords the opportunity for a wealth of depth and character development. What with Macleod's tragic relationship with his new bride Heather, (Beatie Edney) who he is doomed to outlive by centuries, and the melancholy of both knowing that they can never have a child together. As well as the master/apprentice dynamic that grows between the movie's title character and Ramirez. However, any promise it has is squandered by a hollow script with one-dimensional characters. Clancy Brown, whose talents are wasted in this, tries to bring any semblance of credibility to Macleod's nemesis the Kurgan, who is nothing more than a glorified pantomime villain. While Lambert frequently glares while emoting his dialogue in a vain attempt to imbue some intensity to the movie's lumpen hero.

When it comes to style, Mulchahey as has been seen is very adept at delivering the goods in his music videos, but when it comes to storytelling, and holding a cohesive movie together he flounders. It becomes impossible to really believe in the characters, and suspend disbelief in the movie's preposterous plot. Needless to say, it's become something of a cult phenomenon that I find personally bewildering. As is the fact that it somehow managed to even regurgitate several sequels into the bargain.

Pretty much everybody knows the synopsis for this film, so I won't bother with that. But what it is far less celebrated for is being the movie where Sean Connery doesn't know what a haggis is and has to be educated on the subject by a French bloke in a kilt.

I haven't watched 'Highlander' since it was on TV in the eighties. I loved it as a kid and was a little apprehensive regarding how well it would stand around thirty years later. And, despite being quite surprised at how much I didn't really appreciate back then, I'm pleased to say that it's worth a watch before the inevitable remake that will doubtless come soon.

It's (mainly) set in what was 'modern day,' but now is way back in the eighties, where Christopher Lambert plays one of the few last immortals left alive. He's been around since, er, whenever Scotland was filled with bagpiping, claymore-wielding warriors (about 400 years I think he says at one point) and he's lived his long life never being able to love properly due to the obvious complications involving watching all his loved ones age naturally and die. And, if that wasn't bad enough, we - the audience - are repeatedly reminded that 'There can be only one.' That basically means that all remaining immortals must fight each other to the death (apparently you can actually kill an immortal with a well-placed decapitation) in order to win whatever prize awaits them.

I say 'mainly' set in the eighties, because there's a fair amount of screen-time dedicated to flashbacks of when Lambert was the titular 'Highlander' in his native time. There he's guided as to what he really is by one Obi-wan Kenobi mentor-like figure, played (as effortlessly as you'd expect) by Sean Connery. Here we learn about everyone's backstory and the villain who's been stalking the immortals throughout the ages. The main surprise I found while re-watching 'Highlander' after all this time is that I didn't remember so much of the film being set in the past (it's almost 50/50 between past and present. I remember Connery being in it (he was Bond, after all!), but that's about all I could recall of the flashback scenes.

I would say that there's plenty of action, watching one immortal take swing after swing of their sword at another immortal's neck. However, by today's standards, the action is probably a little tame. There's hardly much exciting camerawork or major special effects (again, by today's scale), so you get the odd swordfight every so often. It was great for the time and the sound effects used when the swords clash is really cool. Plus you have Queen's epic and totally overblown soundtrack to accompany the film (written specifically for the film, I believe).

Highlander' is all good fun, but then I'm biased as I'm viewing it through nostalgic eyes (and I'm a fan of Queen). It's definitely worth a watch, but it may seem a little dull and old-fashioned to the cinema-goers of today who expect epic battles where entire cities are destroyed by intergalactic CGI armies. Oh and in keeping with the 'There can be only one' theme, if you do decide to watch 'Highlander' - stick to the original. I tried the sequels and realised that that tagline was more true than it ever intended!

When he is fatally wounded in a battle but yet survives with no visible marks, Connor MacLeod is expelled from his village. When he is visited by Rameriz he learns that he is immortal and together they train for the eventual day when the immortals will battle to find the only one. Centuries later, beheadings are the top crime of the day in New York as the final gathering approaches with the evil Kurgan looking to destroy all before him. Meanwhile journalist Brenda Wyatt begins looking into the story around an ancient sword that was used in one of the beheadings.

Beginning a series that really should have stuck with it's own catchphrase and only made one, this film is easily the best of the lot. The plot sees the film jumping around between times without too much in the way of structure - some scenes allowing comedy, others drama. It doesn't all totally work but it is still quite a fun film to watch anyway. While the plot fails to really engage, the film moves fast enough to be enjoyable - with the first half having the better structure as a learning experience for Connor and, hence, for the audience. It is fun if a little silly. It is the skips forward in time that are the problem.

They demand a little more structure and a greater degree of character development - neither of which really are forthcoming. In fairness it still manages to look good and be entertaining nonetheless. The sword fights are pretty basic but still stylishly directed and have a slick music video feel to them. It's the romantic interest that is the biggest difference between the times: in Scotland the aging of Connor's wife is emotional, in New York the love interest is just an excuse for a bit of blue-lit rumpy-pumpy!

A big reason for the first half being good is the hamming of Connery as Rameriz. He is lively and amusing and it's a shame his involvement was cut short. Lambert is pretty good - although now his trademark laugh is more annoying than endearing! He doesn't manage to bring out the loss and suffering of his character very well at all to be honest. Brown is a much better character - it doesn't require a lot of acting skill but he is enjoying himself playing it up and he really looks the part; where Lambert is a bit dry Brown is like a real spice for the film. Hart is just a bit dippy and not that good in the role.

Overall this is a pretty enjoyable, yet average, fantasy movie. I don't see how this one film managed to spawn as much as it did, and in a way I wish it hadn't, but it is worth seeing once. The soundtrack by Queen and fun performances from Connery and Brown are possible highlights.

In New York, the owner of a sophisticated antique shop Russell Edwin Nash (Christopher Lambert) is challenged to a sword fight in the parking lot of the Madison Square Garden by a man called Iman Fasil that is beheaded by Russell. He hides his sword and is arrested by the police while leaving the stadium. Russell recalls his life in the Sixteenth Century in Scotland, when he is Connor MacLeod and is deadly wounded in a battle against another Clan. However he surprisingly survives and his Clan believes he has a pact with the devil and expels him from their lands. Then he meets Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Sean Connery) that explains that he is immortal unless he is beheaded. Further, the immortals dispute a game killing each other and in the end only one survives receiving a price with the power of the other immortals.

Russell is released by the police, but the snoopy forensic agent Brenda J. Wyatt (Roxanne Hart) is attracted by the case since she founds fragments of an ancient Katana and follows Russell. But the also immortal Kurgan (Clancy Brown) is hunting down MacLeod and Brenda is in the middle of their battle.

"Highlander" is a cult-movie with an excellent soundtrack with songs of "Queen". The full of action story is still great after all these years and the DVD has THX audio. Unfortunately commercial sequels have been released and the producers have forgotten that "there can be only one". My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Highlander - O Guerreiro Imortal" ("Highlander - The Immortal Warrior")

Note: On 23 October 2021, I saw this film again.

I think if this came out in the earlier half of the decade it would have been more successful financially. However, in Europe the film was a hit and it cemented it's cult status. Highlander has an original concept that immortals have been fighting each other for an eternity for "the prize", when only a few remain. The film looks great and was slickly shot with the triumphant music of Queen in the background. There is a good amount of action and Christopher Lambert has a good presence as the lead. He also had excellent chemistry with Sean Connery (who gave one of his most memorable performances). The best performance comes from Clancy Brown who is terrifying as barbarian immortal "The Kurgan". There is a whole lot of good swordfighting action to be had here, as well as quotable dialogue and occasional humor. Highlander was really well written and original fantasy action film. The sequels don't measure up to this at all. But this is a really unique and very good film that holds up well.

FILM: 7.0 Rewatching Highlander, I'm struck by how much fun this quirky sci-fi fantasy still is, even if it didn't quite hit the mark with audiences when it first came out in 1986. It's not hard to see why it tanked at the box office-genre films like this, with their mix of swords, immortals, and time jumps, don't always have broad appeal. Plus, this one isn't exactly something you'd watch with the whole family. But for those of us who love a bit of fantastical, slightly offbeat storytelling, there's still plenty to enjoy here.

Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod is serviceable, even if he comes off a bit awkward and stiff at times. I find myself more engaged with the supporting cast, especially Clancy Brown's portrayal of The Kurgan. Brown is a blast to watch as the over-the-top, menacing villain, delivering a performance that's both threatening and weirdly entertaining. He's easily the highlight of the film for me, and I still get a kick out of his wild energy.

Sean Connery's presence adds some much-needed star power, and it's obvious he's enjoying himself. Who wouldn't be when you're raking in a million dollars for just a week's work? His role is a bit ridiculous, but it's all part of the charm.

What I still appreciate about Highlander is that beneath all the cheesy dialogue and outlandish plot, there's a lot of heart. The film takes itself just seriously enough to make me care about the characters, but not so seriously that it loses its sense of fun. The costumes, moody settings, and Queen's iconic soundtrack also add to the appeal.

Sure, it's a bit rough around the edges and the less said about the sequels, the better, but as a standalone, Highlander remains a unique, solidly entertaining flick that's worth revisiting. I'm glad I took the time to watch it again.

FORMAT: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

VIDEO: 8.5 Native 2160/24p presentation Detail level: Good Colour reproduction: Excellent Level accuracy: Good Encode: Good Master condition: Excellent

AUDIO: 8.0 DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio Dialogue reproduction: Good Soundtrack & effects clarity: Good Dynamics: Good Surround sound presentation: Moderate LFE content: Good

MOOFIEMETER: 7.0.

It does exactly what a movie is supposed to do! It lets your imagination run away with you. It lets you forget all your worries for a time. The music is Fantastic!!! It is haunting and relaxing at the same time. Sean Connery is of course, wonderful in his part. Christopher Lambert has a way of making you feel what he feels. The scenery is utterly gorgeous. The special effects are very well done.Makes you want to live forever and at the same time glad that you don't! Worrying about getting your head cut off sure makes our bills seem like such tiny little problems! Great entertainment!! A must see for the fiction fan.

From dawn of times they came moving silently down through the centuries . Connor McCloud (Christopher Lambert) is a sixteenth century Scottish clansman , he was born in 1518 , he's an immortal , a member of a limited group struggling each other throughout the times , but only can live ¨the one¨ . He's a fighter from four centuries ago with an eternal confrontation since 1536 against his fellow headhunter immortal (an extremely hammy Clancy Brown) and arch-enemy seeking an incredible power ; they nowadays are battling in N. Y. streets . Ramírez (Sean Connery) is his preceptor , he's a medieval cavalier, a tough warrior under command of emperor Charles I . Besides , a sword expert (Roxanne Hart) investigates the events and discovers the secrets .

The picture displays noisy action , derring-do adventure , spectacular combats and breathtaking outdoors which are a treat for the sight . Connery as the sympathetic knight Ramirez is terrific though he has a smallish role . All of Sean Connery's scenes had to be filmed in a week due to Connery's schedule ; in fact , he had a bet with director Russell Mulcahy that they would not finish in seven days , but Mulcahy won it . Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert got along so well during filming that they called each other by their characters' names even when they were not filming and it was at Lambert's insistence that Connery and his character returned for the failed Highlander II (1991) that was a real flop. Christopher Lambert had just barely learned to speak English when he took this role , the only other English-speaking film he had been in at that point was "Greystoke" , (1984), in which he spoke only a few words . Notorious secondary Clancy Brown plays magnificently a shameless villainous . The film contains exciting musical score by composer Michael Kamen and known songs by the famous band Queen . Mesmerizing and wonderful landscapes well photographed by cameraman Gerry Fisher . Previous video musical director Russell Mulcahy realizes this sweeping movie including numerous scenes in video-clip style . It's followed by three inferior sequels with similar players and a TV series such as : ¨Highlander II : The quickening¨(1991) by Mulcahy ; ¨Highlander 3 : Final dimension¨ by Andy Morahan with Mario Van Peebles and ¨Endgame¨ (2000) with Adrian Paul , the latter starring of the TV series.

Still, one of my favorite movies of all time, especially if I watch the director's cut. Forget the sequel. Forget everything but the first movie. This was Gregory Widen's first screenplay about a world of darkness. It's great fun, but if you're looking for a FILM, just watch the scene cuts. Please, please ignore any of the franchise movies. Highlander succeeds because it's an '80s movie. The special effects, while not novel, were solid. The swords alone are why I watched this movie in my young years. The writing and the acting are why I've come back. As an aside, I know three people who can quote Highlander in its entirety. That's solid, too. It's an epic movie, plowing through the years. Epic battles, and an epic storyline.

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

In Ancient Scotland, Connor McLeod (Christopher Lambert) is a novice fighter in a battle with opposing forces. But the inexperienced fighter is mortally stabbed in the stomach during the violence by the rival clansmen, only to inexplicably survive. Initially renounced as in league with the devil, Connor himself is unsure as to his mysterious survival- until he is approached by Ramirez (Sean Connery) from the Spanish army. Ramirez lets him know he's a very lucky bloke- he's immortal and can only be killed if someone chops his block off. This story is juxtaposed with Connor in modern day New York, where his enemy The Kurgen (Clancy Brown) has chased him, to fulfil the prophecy that 'there can be only one.'

The original Highlander is a movie with definitive cult status, that 20 years later easily remains Christopher Lambert's most famous role, not to mention director Russell Mulcahy's (who would later go on to make such drivel as Talos the Mummy) most memorable work.

Many of the things that made it stand the test of time are what is so naff about it. Everything is so corny, from Lambert's Scottish accent (that at times sounds vaguely Irish) to the laughable, chringe-able Queen soundtrack playing over the opening/closing credits, as well as some of the 80s special effects that look rather rubbery and corny now.

But in the movies favour, there's some lovely, sweeping cinematography of the beautiful Scottish Highlands and the movie's main saving grace: the master swordsmanship. Neither Lambert or Connery are proficent off-screen swordsmen, but they, like the rest of the cast, carry off the many sword fighting scenes the film demands with aplomb, which is a brilliant achievement if you think about it.

As a film, you'll see better, but the film has definite credential as a cult classic. ***

After many years I watched again Highlander. I didn't remember much of it, except that the last time I saw it I came away with a so-so kind of impression. Well, this time it was worse. The movie, or I, didn't age well. Probably both.

Obviously, it's an action flick, so the plot is paper thin, something to do with immortals trying to chop each other's heads off for reasons the writers had the good grace to mostly leave in the dark, and at some point the central conflict gets a little more personal anyway. The plot isn't the problem, by the standards of the genre it's as good as any.

And, of course, being made in the 80ies there is only so much one can expect in terms of technical perfection. The fight scenes are a bit tedious, and the special effects funny, but that, too, isn't really the problem.

One problem is that the acting is uniformly bad. In fact, it's been a while since I saw a cast that failed at their jobs in almost perfect harmony. To be fair, the script doesn't provide a awful lot of opportunity for great acting, but all major actors even fail at the most basic emotions, much less the few instances where some complexity might have been nice. In part that is also the fault of script, direction, and photography; a good example is a very emotional moment between our hero and his wife, which is filled with stilted monologue, quick glances at Lambert's expressionless face, and then sweeping landscape shots to illustrate the enormity of the emotion that the actor didn't.

The story itself is confused, and the characters are difficult to care for, and cartoonish. A few immortals pop into (and often quickly out of, in ways that make a mockery of the concept of "immortal") the storyline, but we never really learn much about them (with the exception of a little bit of background on Connery's character). The modern love story is contrived and ludicrous, and as much just a pretext for a little bit of mild nudity and humping as the rest is for the fight scenes. It's a carelessly strung together collection of stuff that is best not taken too seriously.

Another small annoyance is the music --- good pieces by Queen, but as a soundtrack to a movie too intrusive.

I guess it might still work for fans, but I doubt a modern viewer will get much pleasure from this movie. The premise is good enough for an action flick, but the execution just isn't very good.