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Highlander 2 - Renegade Version

Highlander 2 - Renegade Version

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Trip to the dentist is more entertaining...
Review: Ask yourselves this one major glaring question that stands out like a sore thumb about Highlander 2---Which is the "real" story of how Sean Connery's character Ramirez and Christopher Lambert's Connor McCloud really met along with the origins of the Immortal race ? In the original Highlander they meet on the highlands of Scotland where Ramirez explains to McCloud what he is and the history of the Immortals as another race on earth whose true origins are a mystery (Ramirez and Connor have met for the first time)...Low and behold Highlander 2 does a 360 and explains through a flashback that the Immortals are an alien race from the planet Zeist who have been exiled to earth as punishment by the evil Kattana after some sort of rebellion.It is on this planet Zeist where Ramirez and Connor have met for the first time---no never mind their primary encounter and introduction in Highlander 1 took place on earth also. So what in the world happened between 1 and 2 about the meeting of Ramirez and McCloud? Were their memories erased of their meeting on Zeist in part 2 so that in part 1 they meet for the first time due to this "amnesia"? ARGH ! Then, if you followed the tv series, the explanation of how the existence of immortrals came about reverts back to the whole I-dunno-we-just-have-existed-since-time-can-remember excuse. Whew ! This is only a small sample of the inexplicable mess and mayhem to follow to really play with viewers' minds in HL2 if one has followed the movies and series...

The effects are some of the worst I have seen, villains, etc.Oh, yeah, and the convoluted and poorly contrived story line... Skip this one and stick to the original, then fast forward to End Game (HL 3 I believe with Adrian Paul) and no one should have a problem with the entire story or understanding of the Immortal universe ! Highlander 2 is a forgettable memory ....

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I wanted to render myself blind...with a rusty spoon...
Review: This is an awful movie. Make no sense, butchers the feel of the first movie and further more most of the "new" characters are lame as hell. When I saw this for the first time as a little kid I remember thinkning "Oh my god...none of this makes sense." Think perhaps it was my young mind jsut couldn't grasp it, I have instead come to the conclusion that I was a perceptive child. Watch the first one instead.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good, but not "Highlander"...
Review: I liked what I saw of the Renegade version of this film, and it does have great action, nice camera work, and a good score, but the plot makes little to no sense at all if you are trying to tie this in to the original "Highlander." As far as I'm concerned, this film isn't a "Highlander" movie. It simply borrows some of the elements and creates a whole new story. The final result in this director's cut isn't a terrible movie, and it is watchable, but it messes up the whole "Highlander" storyline. The plot is set in the year 2024, where the ozone layer is depleated and a large reddish shield covers the Earth to protect it from the sun. But has the ozone layer repaired itself? And where do Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) and his supposedly-dead buddy Ramirez (Sean Connery) fit into all of this? There's more to the story, but it just gets more confusing. See this film if you're trying to get into "Highlander," but don't count it as part of the series.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: What were they thinking?
Review: The glory of Highlander I is its mythical storyline. Like Lord of the Rings, the beauty of magic in a rational world is appealing to fantasy enthusiasts all around the world. Sometimes the best mysteries are inexplicable and presume a higher being in control of the universe. So, as such Highlander appeals to those of a theist philosophy in its romantic style, eluding to the graces man receives in an ordinary world.

At times, history is the most appealing aspect of fantasy. Watching a young Connor battle with his clan against a foe from another land, to the commoner appears completely normal and possibly based on a historical war.

This movie has stripped the Highlander of those elements which appeal to fantasy and converted it to an unlyrical science fiction series. I have nothing against science fiction, but the original Highlander never hinted at extraterrestrails. I suppose the original was nothing more than a trick. Here you go, yes there is a higher power, but wait, before you think we are saying that, let me take the veil over your eyes and show you that science was truly behind it!

Does anyone truly wonder why the t.v. series reverted to the original premise of the story? Because it was a better plot!

Highlander II does have some moments that I would enjoy if in another movie series, but certainly not as a part in it. Why Lambert even agreed to do this, at the height of his career is beyond me.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: To be or not to be?......Not to be.
Review: Well what can I say? Its Highlander II.

Very bad film. But it does have its moments. it starts off well with some great scenes and fights but quickly deteriorates into a messed up story with at times apalling effects, and it just keeps dragging on and on.

The perfomances are good for the most part. Lambert is fine as Macleod but the script as it is ... beyond the telling of it and there is nowhere for him to get into character, as 2d as they come for movie horoes which is a shame as in the original film Lambert performed with amazing ability.
Connery is the main reason I watch this film, his scenes are all funny and entertaining his all but to short appearance makes the film lose even more credit. The scenes with Lambert and Connery however are absolutely terrific and the best part about the film.
Michael Ironside does great as Katana making the guy seem very slimy and arrogant if only for the bad story he could have used this role as a big stepping stone to superstardom.

The extras. No trailer. Thats right NO trailer ... huh? Then you have an emmensly boring commentary with stuffy old men talking in that stuffy old man way. You know how they make a joke and laugh like a billy goat?
There is a large section of stills (bad quality stills) that you have to frame by frame move through.
The documentary is Ok but the film is so naff and doesnt have any interviews with Lambert or Connery that I really didnt pay much attention to it.

All that aside. I am a fan of Lambert as the Highlander and am glad the film was released on DVD. I dont know what they were thinking cause they will never make money off it but at least us hardcore fans can enjoy certain moments this disregarded sequel offers.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: DO NOT buy this!!!
Review: I wish I could think of something positive about this...but I CAN'T!!! It Sucks BIG time!!!
Ok, cast your mind back to Highlander 1...Connor Mcleod, born into a scottish highland family & eventually forced into exile as his relatives don't understand his mortality.
Well it turns out he's not scottish, but an alien!!?? from the planet Ziest!??
Ok, if anyone still reading this hasn't lost the will to live I'll carry on. Actually, is there any point? Look, connor mcleod has to save the earth from a gigantic shield that's covering the earth & causing major global warming, but by the time you realise this you'd be happy if the whole damn planet got fried its that bad!
I'm sorry, but just reviewing this movie is getting me depressed, I'll sign off now, if I can find my copy of scarface I'll be happy, otherwise I'm off to slit my wrists...bye!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I wanted to render myself blind...with a rusty spoon...
Review: This is an awful movie. Make no sense, butchers the feel of the first movie and further more most of the "new" characters are lame as hell. When I saw this for the first time as a little kid I remember thinkning "Oh my god...none of this makes sense." Think perhaps it was my young mind jsut couldn't grasp it, I have instead come to the conclusion that I was a perceptive child. Watch the first one instead.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Who is really the one?
Review: Before Highlander: Endgame came out, I loved the original version of Highlander 2, because it flat out tells you from the beginning that Connor Macleod is the one. However, I never could quite make sense out of the fact that the movie says the Immortals are from planet Zeist and the TV Series says that Immortals are continually born even in present day...on earth of all places. Despite all that, I allowed myself not to worry about the matter. However, when Highlander: Endgame came to theatres, saying that either Duncan or Connor would die, I argued continuously with my friends that Connor would win, because Highlander 2 said he was the last one. This was a lie. Although I love the character of Duncan MacLeod, I almost cried when Connor gave up his life to help Duncan, because it ruined everything I knew about Highlander. I wont even go into the fact that the theatrical trailer for Highlander:Endgame showed scenes of the movie that were'nt even in the theatrical release. My conclusion, I very much dis-like the renegade version of Highlander 2. If your going to make a movie outside of its own true storyline, go ahead and keep the alien stuff and at least make it humurous for us. One last note about the last movie, Highlander: End Game....many people think that this is the end of the story and Duncan MacLeod is now the last Immortal, but please dont forget that the oldest Immortal is still alive and in that movie...Methos. So when is the next movie?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Citizen Connor
Review: Actor's actor Christopher Lambert (Lam-BERR) returns to the screen, reprising his role as Connor MacLeod in this glorious sequel to 1986's abysmal failure, Highlander. This film exceeds its predecessor in every conceivable way and I, personally, don't believe a better movie to have been made since.

Highlander 2 does so much to fill in the plotholes found within the original film, primarily with regards to Immortals. For example, the theatrical release of the film tells the audience early on of a revolution on Planet Zeist, a distant desert world peopled entirely by immortals. Said rebels are banished to Earth by the wicked (in every sense) General Katana, where they are forced to fight each other to the death with swords until only one remains. Finally, a plausible explanation! Who could ask for more?

Apparently the director could, because he re-cut and re-released the film as the "Renegade Version," thus doing the impossible: making the movie EVEN BETTER! Say 'so long' to Planet Zeist (though I was sad to see it go), because Immortals are really from "A Very Long Time Ago!" The war took place on Earth, and all the immortals involved were banished to The Future! One film; two genius storylines.

But it's not just in the past that the film excels - much of it takes place in the future. The year is 2024, and the planet has spent the past 25 years under a giant orange and red (and beautifully CG'ed) shield, erected by none other than Connor MacLeod to defend against the effects of the failing o-zone layer. This can't help but remind viewers of Orwell's 1984: a very likely vision of the future with too liberal of a timeline. The film is truly visionary in this regard.

Don't think that the film's critical acclaim and widespread fanbase exist solely because of the plot, however; the actors may have a hand in that as well. Like I've stated, Christopher Lambert (recently seen in the outstanding futuristic adaptation of Beowulf) returns as cinematic icon Connor MacLeod, where he gives the performance of his career, especially as an aged Connor at the film's start, where he gets to ride a hoverboard. Lambert doesn't carry the entire weight of this movie on his shoulders, however. He is rejoined by Juan Sanchez Vila Lobos Ramirez, once again played by Sean Connery. Ramirez' entrance into the film is nothing short of a marvel of both writing and effects, and Connery's portrayal of Ramirez as a "fish out of water," a man outside of his own time, was remarkably believable. Even the sub-mediocre Michael Ironside managed an excellent performance as the sickeningly great General Katana. When you kill an entire train full of people by doing nothing more than driving it really fast, acting skills don't matter.

To say that this film is a masterpiece would be an understatement. It truly deserves a place among Hollywood's Finest. If it's true that "there can be only one," Highlander 2. is it. Come to think of it, only one thing could have possibly made it better: Mario Van Peebles.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't go by the Amazon.com review...
Review: Despite the removal of the Planet Zeist crap, this movie is still not as good as the original Highlander. The worst episode ("The Zone") of the Series starring Adrian Paul was 5 times better than this movie.

Two points on the Amazon.com review:

1. "Theatrically released in 1991 as Highlander II: The Quickening, this sequel was later reedited and gained a small but loyal following..." No way, Jose. I saw some of the TV series before I saw the movies, and sadly HL2 (original version) was the first one I saw. The original HL is MUCH better! The Highlander fandom got it's following from either the first movie or the TV series.

2. Apparently, the Amazon reviewer didn't pay close enough attention to Connery's role: "Sean Connery also reprises his role from Highlander as the Scottish Immortal named Ramirez". Ramirez was NOT Scottish, Connery himself IS; as Ramirez states in the original movie: "I'm not Spanish, I'm Egyptian!"

If you MUST watch this movie, skip the original version all together and stick with this one. Chances are you won't be as confused.


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