HIGHLANDER

* * * 

STARRING: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown, Beatie Edney, Alan North

1986, 111 Minutes, Directed by: Russell Mulcahy

Description: 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.  — Amazon.com

Cult film remembered by fondness by fans - maybe because all the spin-offs (two motion pictures and a television series) were so dismal in comparison.

Storyline involves a group of immortals battling it out with each other from ancient times for supremacy. "There can be only one" and the only way they can kill each other is by lobbing their heads off with giant swords. Some great decapitation scenes! The film is also technically well done and uses some interesting techniques in cross-over scenes.

But what makes it such a cult movie? It is unsure since this movie has dated rather badly since its release in the mid-1980's and those fans who haven't seen it in the interim would probably wonder what they saw in it originally.

The special effects seem sub par today. Also, audiences will be forgiven if they think they are watching a pop video because of the the lighting and editing combined with rousing anthem rock by Queen. However, Lambert is likeable as the highlander of the title and the villain is quite memorable and steals the show.

Followed by three sequels, namely Highlander II - The Quickening, Highlander III - The Final Dimension and Highlander - Endgame. Ironically many people know it only from the popular TV series it has inspired and has never even seen any of the movies!
 

• Read the script.

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