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Highlander - Endgame

Highlander - Endgame

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: When you put Art in the hands of Idiots
Review: The problem with the Highlander films stem from the fact the original was written to stand alone without sequels. How hard is it to grasp that Connor wins The Prize, the end ? Very difficult, I imagine, when you start seeing the dollar signs.
It may have been possible back in 1987, if original writer Gregory Widen had been able to compose a decent sequel with a generous budget. Instead he and the producers rushed out what qualifies as the worst sequel since Caddyshack 2.
Lambert was in the right movie at the right time, back in 1986, when Highlander was filmed. He is NOT a good actor by any means, but everyone has one role they are born to play. Connor Macleod is Lamberts one role. If you disagree simply look up the films Lambert was in prior to Highlander, and the putrid slop he has done since.
Be that as it may, we are left with H:Endgame, a fair sequel making more use of the mediocre t.v. series than Christopher Lambert's character.
In H:ENDGAME, Lambert is looking as old and tired as his character is portrayed to be. I'll add he's probably a bit bitter that this science fiction role hasn't translated into more mainstream success and that obsessive fans at conventions keep screaming for him to do 'one more Highlander film'!! (It's been 15 years, people!!)
They've gone back and 'inserted' a villian where none existed before, though the concept of how the village dealt with Connor's mother was a interesting addition to the mythology. Obvious, in terms of where and how the current villian came about, but interesting nonetheless.
They brought back Beatie Edney (wonder what she got paid for this cameo?) and Shelia Gish to try and give this sequel some of the feel of the original and fail miserably.
They wrote themselves into a corner with the first film, and all sequels and series since have suffered from it. There has never been an adequate explanation of what exactly the immortals are or why their immortal. That's ok, since it adds to the mystique of the films, but it makes for difficult scripting.
In any reality other than this film, Duncan Macleod would've gotten obliterated by Connor Macleod. Connor has 400 years on him if you believe the website chronology, but alas, Lambert is sick to death of being associated with the series. We hear he actually asked to have his character be summarily 'dismissed'.
Sean Connery added much more to the original film than the producers ever realized. Poor Sean, they really did his character a disservice by bringing him back in the second film. But, since they have no respect for the fans or the actors, shouldn't they have tried harder to bring him back for H:ENDGAME ?
I will add the fight scenes are well-choreographed but, how difficult would it have been to add some matrix style sequences ? Just one way to add something new to the beheading scenes.
To summarize, they could've done worse. Then again, they set the bar for worse with Highlander 2, renegade version or no renegade version. Still, they've cheated the true fans by introducing these worthless characters played by hack actors. They could've just brought Mario Van Peebles back from the dead in my opinion. They never did go far enough with that whole Lord of Illusions storyline. That could've made for a fantastic sequel.
I'm holding out for a DVD of the 118 minute eruopean version of the original. You should, too.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: good movie. could of been better.
Review: This movie wasnt what i expected. But it was still good. This movie ignores the fact that highlander 2 and 3 ever happened. This is the only highlander movie that reflects upon both the first movie and the series. It revolves around and enemy, Jacob Kell (Bruce Payne) of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) thought to be dead. Connor did not realize it but Kell is immortal. More than 400 years later we are in Present Day New York in the Sanctuary, a place where immortals are put in a form of protective circle. To be removed from the game forever. Connor is one of those mates. He is tired of the endless fight to survive. He is sustained with the memory of his mother's death and the death of Rachael, both done by Jacob Kell. Eventually, Kell and is band of immortals annihilate the sancturary except for Connor, who is let go. And now we are brought to London, England. Where Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) receives visions of what is happening. He comes to New York to find Connor MacLeod alive, and a vastly enemy upon them. Although, this enemy is to strong, neither one of the Highlanders can beat him alone.
This movie showed many scenes i saw in previews that i did not see in the theatrical version or in the All New Cut video version. There is a scene where you see Connor MacLeod swinging his sword through Jacob Kell's head and Jacob Kell splits into two. There is a scene where Connor MacLeods first sword. Is thrown at Jacob Kell but his hand moves up and it stops. There is a scene where you see both Highlanders jumping through a portal. There is a scene where you see Jacob Kell holding a glass with Connor MacLeods face in it screaming and Kell blows it away. These are all scenes seen in previews that are not seen in the theatrical version and video.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A definate Highlander fan movie
Review: I enjoyed the first and third movie, but I loved the TV series even more. I was glad that this movie was made to fit along with the series. I was elated when I saw some of the television characters included as well. It definately helps to know most of the subject matter from the show (the Watchers) and that immortals live violent lives and 'anything goes'. I hope that there will be another movie in the near future.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Only TRUE Sequel
Review: Highlander:Endgame basically makes the assumption that films 2 and 3 never existed (a good thing), while at the same time it fails to explain how Connor McCleod did not claim "The Prize" upon slaying the evil Russian Immortal in the first film (a bad thing). It seems that every Highlander sequel somehow manages to gloss over these holes in the plotline, therefore making the series of films a record-breaking achievement in the area of inconsistent writing. But with this one flaw aside, Endgame is the only sequel to the original of any particular quality. In many ways, this is Highlander 2, and the other two films are just "what-if?" scenarios.

In Endgame, world-weary Immortal Connor McCleod (Christopher Lambert) and fellow Immortal clansman Duncan McCleod (Adrian Paul)join forces to destroy Jacob (Bruce Payne), an evil, vastly powerful Immortal and his ethnically diverse gang of cohorts. This is the overall concept, but in true Highlander style it is complete with historical flashbacks that liven things up considerably. Finally, the filmmakers have revived the tragic and emotional aspects of the original that were so lacking in parts 2 and 3. It's certainly not Shakespeare, but it does manage to involve you more deeply in the situations and characters.

Adrian Paul is, without a doubt, the star of this film. Lambert's time onscreen is considerably less, and in more ways than one he seems to fill the boots that Sean Connery's Ramirez once wore (though, of course, less effectively). No doubt Lambert began to tire of pumping out Highlander follow-ups that had no consistent vision - though he has retired just when things are getting interesting again...

Endgame contains easily the best fight sequences yet seen in a Highlander film. The choreography from the previous movies was merely sufficient, but Endgame steps it up several notches by adding Hong Kong-style martial arts. This stuff enhances the visceral elements of the film immensely. Unlike Lambert, Adrian Paul knows a thing or two about swordplay. Not every move is believable (including the supposedly "unstoppable when properly executed" maneuver that Connor attempts to teach to Duncan), but all in all it is a step in the right direction, and some of it is downright impressive.

The film does lose a bit of steam as it plods onward toward the final confrontation with Jacob, but it offers bar none the best Highlander experience since the original cult favorite. In many ways this is a grade B-movie, but tastefully done and, best of all, it's fun. If further additions to the franchise are of the same quality, then by all means let it continue the further adventures of Duncan McCleod (even if his Scottish accent is ridiculous). If the 5th installment turns out like The Final Dimension, however, let it end on this high note while it still stands a chance...

Graded on a slight curve, Endgame deserves 4 stars for succeeding where the others have failed.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Sword Play
Review: I never saw the first three movies, but did enjoy the television series. I saw this movie because there was nothing else out that weekend. An enjoyable film that does better because there are no guns--the typical weapon of most action films. The only problem with the expanded version is that it adds extra scenes that make no sense. And there is a new ending that adds a possible new sequel to the series. Very pitiful. But sword play, that is a nice change of pace from the shoot-em-up adventures of late.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "There can be only one"/ The mother of the "Highlander" saga
Review: I loved this movie. I am one of the biggest Chris Lambert and Bruce Payne fans around. Bruce Payne really made this movie for me .I loved the fight sequences, even in this day and age the sword fights are timeless. I thought Adrian Paul did a splendid job also. I was so hurt when the legendary Colonel McCleod was taken out of the picture because in my opinion he really would have set "Endgame" off.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Please make a Highlander sequel worth watching!
Review: I have to admit, when I found out that there was going to be a Highlander movie based on the TV series, I was estatic. Being a huge fan of the TV series and the first movie, I was prepared for a first rate production. Little did I know that none of the writers or directors from the television show, had nothing to do with this feature. As far as the script is concerned, it has C-movie, direct to video to trash can status. The directing and cinematography has elements of a TV commercial (bad ones) and music videos (bad ones). The bad guy was corny and boring. The character of Methos, a real important person in the mythology of Highlander, is on the screen for a total of 2 minutes. This is incredibly mind-numbing, because Peter Wingfield, the actor who plays Methos, is truly gifted. The special effects where extremely laughable, especially the ending, with the giant JVC product placement. The creators of this piece of [this movie] could have spent a lot less money and made a better movie. As a devoted Highlander fan, I was truly disappointed and fustrated. The only redeeming thing about this film is that a very tired and old looking Christopher Lambert can finally stop doing Highlander movies. However, since all of the sequels had nothing to do with each other, then maybe in the next Highlander movie, he'll suddenly be alive again.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: One word: ouch!....
Review: The effects are really where it's at in this film, and the DVD really make them shine! I missed seeing it the week it was in theaters, but this DVD transfer makes all the lightning shots look very real...the effects people must have taken quite some time to get that lightning to look so awesome! I just started listening to the commentary for insight into how this all came together.....breathtaking!....Kudos to the crew!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Story despite the critics.
Review: I did not watch this movie until the Director's cut on DVD. The movie was very entertaining. It is based on the series, so fans of the original movie who are hoping to finally see consistancy with the first film will probably walk away dissappointed again. But for the fans who've overcome the winning of "the prize" in the first movie and moved on to accept Adrian Paul as one of hundreds of Immortals still alive, this movie plays like some of the best episodes. I'de compare it to the 4 horseman episodes or even the Dark Quickening. If you're not a fan of the series.. you won't like this. It also sets up nicely, unlike all of the previous movies, to allow sequals.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Should have stopped while you were ahead, three movies ago
Review: ...On it's own, it might have been a good one. But there were three movies and a television series that went before it, providing a certain amount of backstory, and much of the critical elements of the backstory were ignored.

For Highlander movie fans, this film is more for the fans of the TV series, where the character of Duncan and the Watchers, the humans who monitor the Game, were introduced. Christopher Lambert returns as Connor, the Highlander of the movies, but in the end (there can be only one), you realize it was really about bringing closure to the TV series which just went off the air with little fanfare (unless you count a really bad series following Duncan's immortal girlfriend, Amanda).

I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say I was dissapointed. It seems that "there can be only one" doesn't apply to the possible ends to the Highlander saga or to the Game. I'll just note that in the very first Highlander movie, we're given a clear winner to the Game, the last immortal standing and the one who collects the Prize in the end. Endgame leaves us with a completely new outcome for the Game, contrary to that which had gone before. Endgame completely ignores that movie, as well as "The Quickening" and "The Final Dimension" (i.e., Highlander movies 2 and 3), which incidentally ignored the movies before them as well.

I also agree that Christopher Lambert was showing his age in this movie, for a man who supposedly stopped aging 400 years (and three movies) ago.

If it wasn't the fourth in a series of movies (nevermind three TV series, counting the cartoon and "The Raven"), if it had been a movie all on it's own, I'd have rated it higher. But in the end, there can be only one ... ending, and it would have been nice if the makers had taken into consideration the ending we already got.


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