Heads up!!!! (Highlander (DVD))

Member Name: Judgee

Product:	Highlander (DVD)
Date:	13/09/01 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Action, Emotion, Humour

Disadvantages: The Sequels

There comes a time in everybody's life, when a film of such magnitude changes the way you look at the world. For me it was "Highlander". Why? Perhaps the concept of immortality, perhaps the fantastic music, the actors, the action, a combination of these things or just because I first watched it at an impressionable time in my life (teenage, need I say more!)


The story begins with a passage of writing read by "Ramirez" (played by Sean Connery) . It sets the scene for the whole film. Basically suggesting that a race of "immortals" have walked the earth amongst ordinary mortals "from the dawn of time", occasionally meeting up to whack the hell out of each other. Not much of a storyline you might think. But you would be wrong, very wrong!


"Connor MacCleod" (played by Christopher Lambert) is one of these immortals and the story is told through a mixture of memory flashbacks and present day action. (Actually, immortal is not quite true as separating an immortals head from his body will end his life!)


Sitting in Madison Square Garden in New York. Whilst watching the wrestling, Connor drifts back to the year 1536, to the Highlands of Scotland. Unaware at that time of his immortality, he meets "The Kurgan" (played by Clancy Brown). The Kurgan is the biggest, baddest, meanest immortal around and he very nearly takes Connor's head. Instead he only manages to wound Connor. The wound is so bad that when he makes a miraculous recovery, the villagers beat and banish him to the wilderness, fearing that he's in league with the Devil.


Rebuilding his life and with a new bride in tow Heather (played by Beatie Edney), he is sought out by Ramirez and much to his dismay, his destiny unfolds. His purpose in life becomes clear. He must battle other immortals until only one survives. The last remaining immortal will win "The Prize", but what this "
Prize" will be nobody knows. All that is certain is that the "prize" must mot fall into the hands of "The Kurgan" as mortal man would suffer an eternity of darkness should this happen.


The film continues with flashbacks, sword fights, a couple of love interests (Main one being forensic expert "Brenda Wyatt" played by Roxanne Hart, minor one being "Heather" played by Beatie Edney) and some superb dialogue (mainly involving "the Kurgan").


This is where I refuse to say any more about the story. The ending is fairly predictable and probably the only weak part of the film. Nevertheless, there may still be a few people around that have yet to see this film and for their benefit, my lips are sealed!


The music to "highlander" is absolutely fantastic and could/should really be reviewed in another opinion, as it is worth buying separately. However, to give you a taster, the whole soundtrack is by "Queen". "It's a Kind of Magic" and "Who wants to live forever" are probably two of the most memorable songs in the film and you may remember at least the first one, it went to number one in the charts! The music fits in superbly with storyline and will evoke emotions in even the hardiest film critic!


Lambert gives one of his best performances and even Connery makes you forget his ever present Scottish accent at times. However, the limelight is really stolen by Clancy Brown making "The Kurgan" a baddie to remember (he gets by far the best lines!) This film will always have a place in my heart. The sequels are very, very poor in comparison. Watch the movie, buy the soundtrack. With my favourite teenage action film "there can be, only one"!


Suitable for adults and teenagers only due to some violence and nakedness (in the dark but if you squint abit!)

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