Rating: Summary: An Incoherent Mess Review: Critics often cite Exorcist II as the worst sequel ever made. They apparently missed this one - and I envy them. While the original film wasn't perfect, it was enjoyable, magical, and, most importantly, MADE SENSE! It also intentionally didn't try to explain the origin of the Immortals. This film's nonsensical screenplay attempts a ridiculous, sci-fi explanation of where these immortal beings came from - another planet, called Zeist . . . oh, who cares. It's as if the creators showed the original film to a six-year-old and asked him to make up a story about where the Immortals got their powers.Making matters worse is a subplot about the ozone layer that goes nowhere. Oh, and Sean Connery's slain character reappears for no apparent reason; why didn't they dump the "aliens" story and spend some time explaining Ramirez's resurrection? This film has a much bigger budget for special effects, which for me just makes it worse. It's unbelievable that anyone would waste so much money on a film without once glancing at the screenplay. I was so disgusted by this film that I never saw the other two sequels. From reports I've heard, I didn't miss much. I did see the TV show, which wisely ignored this film in its storyline.
Rating: Summary: Abysmal. Review: The worst film ever? Very possibly. That is should come from the same director as its predecessor, Highlander, is all the more astonishing, since it bears almost no resemblance to the first. In terms of continuity, pacing, narrative structure, acting, editing, score/soundtrack - all the basics really - it falls far short of the (not very high) standards established just a few years earlier. The dialogue is simply pitiful: "Will I ever see you again?", the lead character intones as another character cheesily meets his end. Or, how about a reprise of the Death Star scene from Star Wars, in which two security guards stand at post, looking at everything but the masked armed figures slipping in and out of the shadows behing them: "What was that, I thought I heard something?" "Nah, I didn't hear anything." Were you watching, Mr Lucas? Visually, its an extremely long Duran Duran "Wild Boys" video, a pretender to Mad Max - lots of improbable costume, shabby sets, street-side fires in oil drums, gratuitous pyrotechnics and comic-book theatrics from both major and minor characters (see Michael Ironside's incessant grinning and camp, manic laughter). The DVD itself was reasonably well packaged with a long explanation on high-quality stock by the director of how, with this release, his vision was finally made reality. This will make you laugh even harder when you watch the film, because it comes across as so sincere. Sound and picture quality are average and the extra features are at best pedestrian. My copy seems to have a major problem with the photo archive section: once it is selected, instead of allowing me to navigate back and forth between images, it plays all of the images in a continuous stream very quickly, with no apparent way of stopping it - hitting 'pause' only reveals a very blurred image of one frame blended with the next. I have not encountered this fault on any DVD previously and I've watched dozens on my Sony machine which has proved to be reliable. I appeal to all rational movie-goers and DVD-purchasers alike when I warn, unless you're absolutely desperate for something to watch, steer well clear of this colossal cinematic mishap. You'll only be upset that you paid good money for it.
Rating: Summary: If there was ever a sequel that proved the point...........! Review: In "Highlander 2: The Quickening", the immortal Mcleod has already lost his immortality and is now a wizened old man. In the first movie, we learnt that Mcleod was a normal if hunky scot who found that he couldn't die unless his head was chopped off, and that he had to battle other immortals like him for the fabulous "Prize". Having triumphed as the last of the immortal warriors by the end of the last movie, Mcleod won "The Prize" and chose mortality. Subsequently, we learn in this flick, Mcleod builds a huge energy shield to protect earth from deadly UV rays when the ozone layer erodes. Unfortunately, the safety of the world and Mcleod's fabulous wealth isn't enough to save the world from becoming a shriveled up version of its old self. It seems perpetually dusk, and Mcleod -aged and shriveled up himself - can't so much as hurl back a response to the frequent zingers he receives as creator of the reviled energy shield. It's at that point that we learn that Mcleod isn't really human at all - merely an alien from the planet Zeist, and an unsuccessful rebel against that planet's warlord, General Katana (Michael Ironside). In a flashback 500 years ago, we see Mcleod captured alongside his mentor, Ramirez (Sean Connery), and exiled by a tribunal of Katana's priests to Earth where they will be immortal. There, the priests explain, the rebels will be forced to fight each other to the death (the last man with his head still on, wins), with the winner to have his choice of returning to Zeist or dying on Earth. Flashing back to the present (actually, some time in the early 21st century), we find Katana alive and well on Zeist, but convinced that Mcleod isn't dying fast enough. Katana sends two of his underlings to Earth where they confront the weak and dying Mcleod. Blind luck results in the death of one of the underlings, triggering the Quickening process that rejuvenates Mcleod and turns him back into an immortal. Katana soon follows and the stage is set for a battle royale on Earth. Boy that's a lot - and the movie is still horrible, a perfect example of terminal sequlitis. Whether it's holes in the plot or holes in the premise of the immortals, this film deserved every bit of bad press. Let's start with continuity errors - Mcleod and Ramirez are sent to Earth alone in this film but that doesn't explain the multitude of immortals of the first film. Are they also noble rebels? (How would you explain the Kurgan character from the first flick?) Are they previous convicts from Zeist? And what is the relationship between the two worlds? (One of the immortals' Cardinal rules bars fighting on Churchgrounds and other hallowed places, something you'd never expect from aliens); Also, we see that the exiles are immortal on their arrival to Earth, yet Katana is also alive centuries later; Ramirez is exiled 500 years ago, but wasn't he the chief swordsmaster to the Pharohs?; Katana himslef manages to know that Mcleod is still alive, while remaining ignorant of Mcleods mortality and therefore insignificance). In fact, there are so many holes, that there is barely any plot at all. Katana appears on Earth, hooks up with the corrupt executives of Mcleod's shield company (some truly amoral creeps who suppress proof that the ozone layer has returned to normal, and that they should be out of a job), but manages to avoid duking it out with Mcleod until the end. Ramirez appears to offer some assistance - but his presence seems to be only to give us something fun to watch until the final battle. The special effects and sound are horrible, the fight scenes horribly staged and the script is one long slow spot. Stick with the first flick. Now we know that the immortals' refrain "There can be only one" was actually a warning against sequels.
Rating: Summary: Not as bad as it's reputation Review: Okay, it's probably the worst "Highlander"-movie, but the good news is that the "renegade"-version is better than the "normal" one...still: As a sequel to the classic "Highlander" this picture fails (which is why part 3 and 4 simply don't mention this one anymore). If you go for the strange story and atomosphere (which isn't bad), you will probably have fun watching Sean Connery, as well as Michael Ironside as the bad guy and some great set-designs, but far too less action (=swordfighting). All in all "there should have been only one"!
Rating: Summary: An example of a sequel that shouldn't have been made Review: What's going on here? Connor MacLeod and Ramirez (who was killed in the first movie) are now aliens from another planet sent to the future to stop an evil immortal and take down a shield that Connor originally created to protect Earth and replace the ozone layer! Sure! This is a movie that never should have been made, although Michael Ironside has some good one-liners and the special effects are OK. Christopher Lambert's voice as an old Connor in 2024 is hilarious, too. I must warn those who never seen this film: Don't watch this movie because it has absolutely nothing to do with the original Highlander, which is a great movie.
Rating: Summary: "HIGHLANDER 2" REBORN! Review: Earth, 2024. Connor Macleod (Christopher Lambert) must once again face the ultimate enemy not to save himself, but the Earth's very existence. The protective shield placed around the Earth to protect it from ultraviolet radiation must come down when it is confirmed that the nearly destroyed ozone layer has miraculously repaired itself. To take it down, Macleod must fight the Katana (Michael Ironside), an evil immortal from the past. With the help of his returned mentor, Ramirez (Sean Connery), he must fight Katana to save the world if the human race is to survive, physically and mentally. HIGHLANDER 2: RENEGADE VERSION is, in my mind, a very entertaining sequel. Taking elements from the original film, and giving them a new kind of twist, is remarkable. The acting and storytelling are once again at the core of what makes this film truly remarkable, even though the filmakers help out with exciting fight sequences and dazzling visual effects. Wether you're a HIGHLANDER fan, or a relative newcomer to the legend, don't miss this nearly forgotten piece of mainstream entertainment. Grade: A+
Rating: Summary: Come on People its The Renegade Version Were Talking about Review: Highlander II: The Quickening 1991/90min/R ** Something went wrong here in Highlander II: The Quickening Highlander wasn't really considered a classic by all critics but to me it was. We had a 16th century warrior become immortal in 1586 and now 400 years later he finally defeats Kurgen and clames the prize of becoming mortal in 1986. Now we go into the future of 2024 where the Earth is now covered by a Sheild (which was created in 1999) due to what happened to The Ozone Layer breakdown. When Connor MacCloud was watching the Opera (very well done) he flashsback to a place called Planet Zeist??? Now just wait a minute is this film saying there aliens??? Now that just dosen't make any sense at all. The only reason why i give it 2 stars was some decent performances,and somes good effects. Otherwise the story and the plot are absoutely ludricous and stupid. Highlander II: The Renegade Version 109min R ***1/2 After hearing some good reviews about the Renegade version i decided to check it out. When i watched boy man this film was pretty darn good it clears things up. Instead of The Planet Zeist now its refered to as A Very Long Time Ago (sorta of what Stars Wars would start out of). So my guess is that there from the past in alternate time period instead of another planet. Now that makes sense. I also noticed with in the film some dialouges have been cut out of the Quickening version and added new scenes to it. Some of the sheilds FX were redone now there more like orange looking rather than purple in The Quickening. CGI effects were used as well like the new computer screen. Some of the scenes have been restored to the correct position like the 1999 launch of the Sheild, and a pretty good scene were Macloud visits Brenda while she is dying and she's one of the reasons why he built the sheild in the first place. Some other scenes added like where it shows Alan and Connor discussing about the radiation above the sheild is normal, and giving him the coordinates to get above the sheild. They ended up doing so and its true the Ozone Layer has repaired itself and the sheild has to come down. When the movie was almost over Connor immediately destroys the sheild and The Earth is no longer covered by the Sheild any longer. I didn't really completely list the other scenes but i'm sure you'll understand them better and for 19 minutes of additional footage that's pretty good for a film that went wrong. Plus it explains more about what Connor and Ramiez are, Why Connor built the sheild, and why the sheild had to come down. The DVD is of good quality i just wish that it was anamorphic instead of Letterboxed but hey its not bad i give it a 4. The Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC-3) is pretty decent though it sometimes is to low pitched in the explosions but hey its all good its a 4 as well. The Featurette is pretty good (but note its actually 17mins and 57sec. long not 22min like it said), and the still photos are a bit of a bore they go by fast so i would press Slow on your remote to look at them. The movie itself still won't live up to the original because it somehow doesn't click on me that well but overall skip the Quickening and get The Renegade Version now you won't regert it.
Rating: Summary: Why, why why did the suits allow this movie? Review: If you love the Highlander 1 movie and the series (except for the very boring Raven series) then do not watch Highlander II I don't get this "self contained story" theory of this movie. They should've just called it something else entirely and simply made a standalone scifi movie. Instead the suits nearly sunk the Highlander franchise by trying to ride a cult cash wave started by the first movie. Even if it was a standalone movie, it would still stink. The crappy looking anti-gravity surfboard fight scene made me want to turn off the TV. The magic of the concept of the Immortals is lost when they become simply long-lived aliens. (wow, writing that re-reminds me of how bad this movie is). The mystique of not quite knowing what the Immortals are is what made the first movie (and the series) so great. Are they angels? Mutants? You never quite know and you don't need to know. Avoid this movie; don't give the suits the satisfaction of making another red cent on sales of this movie. I'm glad I borrowed my friends' copy instead of paying for even rental of this tripe. (sorry if any of you likes tripe ;)
Rating: Summary: Despite its Bad Reputation, I Love This Film! Review: Originally intended as a cautionary tale about the environment, this film's ozone-layer storyline was cut-out by Hollywood "big-wigs", (although it has since been restored for the film, 'Highlander 2:- Renegade Version'). Without the ozone-layer plot, Highlander 2 becomes a series of sword-fights and explosions which, although confusing, (due to missing scenes), actually makes for an extremely exciting film. The story is self-contained and should be viewed on its own merits, as it has absolutely nothing to do with the continuity of the other Highlander films! After all, the producers wanted to make a picture that was as far from being a rehash of the original as possible. They sure succeeded! Verdict:- A Great Movie, just not a Highlander movie. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Actually, I rate this one negative 10 stars Review: The original "Highlander" was superb. In fact, it remains one of the best fantasy type movies ever made. I can still remember the excitement of hearing that HII was coming out. Not that I thought that HI needed a sequel (in retrospect, they most assuredly should have left it alone), but I was more than a little curious. Now, I want you to imagine yourself going to a Mercedes Benz dealership. Your last car was a Mercedes and you loved it. So, you write out your check to the salesman and he takes you to the back of the showroom where you find a...........Yugo. Even worse, the Yugo only has two wheels! THAT is how bad this movie is. To merely label it a disapointing sequel is like saying that the Edsel was "not quite" up to the hype rendered it. This movie is downright terrible. Only Sean Connery could save a movie this awful. Ooooops! Connery was in the movie, and it still went belly up. Oh, Sean - paging Sean Connery: why, may I ask, did you agree to be a part of this farce? Go out and buy HI. Bury the hatchett on everything that has come since which has borrowed (stolen?) the name of "Highlander."
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