Highlander

Rating:
Summary: Highlander-Directors Cut
Review: I thought that the DVD would be a good version to own of this film, even though I already had the Directors Cut on VHS. I gotta tell you, the VHS is better. The way this movie was made, with a misty, fog like haze overcast through all of the night sequences looked good on VHS, looks grainy on the non-anamorphic DVD. The director's commentary is good..and very interesting during the scenes which were added for the directors cut, however in the commentary they mention a bar scene which would have been nice to show as a deleted scene, but its not there. The title page for the DVD is a bland two color repulic pictures standard page, which is very boring to say the least. And the photo slide show advertised on the package was totally worthless, as the first 500 photos go by in about 3 seconds, so fast that even frame by frame barely catches them all. It seems like this was rushed to market to replace the rare laserdisc version.

Rating:
Summary: Save Your Money...Buy the VHS
Review: Okay, I goofed by not reading the reviews here before I bought this title. Please, don't make the same mistake I did. All of the glowing praise for this film is for the VHS version, if you noticed.

The DVD transfer is, in a word, terrible. Whatever film stock was used for the low-light shots (which is most of the film) was pretty grainy, and the DVD just accentuates that to an ALARMING degree. Add to that the pixelation artifacts, and the way certain backgrounds in shots don't move or change their appearance AT ALL with foreground movement, giving scenes a plastic, cartoonish look. This is a cheap way to cut down on the DVD's data size, but it shows. I've seen indie films shot on 16mm that looked better on a VHS dub than this. Maybe they were shorthanded at the mastering lab that week and let an intern get a "big break", I don't know. The THX certification is definitely NOT deserved, as the mix on the sound is equally bad, with FX stomping on dialog in key places.

Having said that, if you are bound and determined to buy this, Russel Mulcahy's strong grasp of the visual at least doesn't disappoint. Some of the best match dissolves and scene transitions to be found anywhere. The DVD should be shown to aspiring film students:What TO DO with a camera, What NOT TO DO in the mastering lab.

Rating:
Summary: Don't shoot! I'm not a critic
Review: It isn't a waste of time or effort to praise this movie as one of the greatest visions of the last century. I give credit to the writers. This movie has a soul and heart.

Rating:
Summary: THE BOMB
Review: VERY GOOD! Excellent fighting scenes! Good script. Dont mind what Leonard Martin says.Buy it today!

Rating:
Summary: My favorite film -- butchered on DVD
Review: What an absolute atrocity. The picture quality on this DVD is the worst I have *EVER* seen. I'm fortunate to have the same edition on laserdisc, in addition to the original US release on laserdisc, and the quality in both cases is far superior. You'll think something is wrong with your DVD player if you buy this version. If you can't find the LD, go for VHS.

Now, that having been said, the MOVIE is my all-time fave. Love the idea, love the cinematography, and love the performances of all the actors, especially Connery. It's true that the original US cut makes somewhat less sense than the Director's Cut, but that's a two-edged sword. The flow of the original US cut was better, while the Director's cut drags a bit in places. Also, the US cut, while "confusing" is also mysterious in a way that made it fun to watch again and again, because you had to figure out little details that are simply explained in the Director's cut.

Overall, it's a pity this DVD is such a hack job. If it's ever remastered (which it should be), then they should do the same thing they've done with some other DVD titles -- allow you to select whether you want the US release or the Director's Cut. Also, think ANAMORPHIC!

Rating:
Summary: What's the fuss all about?
Review: I recently purchased a USED copy of the 10th Anniversary "Highlander" film. I must concur with the Widescreen Review of the quality. It looks great! I don't know if I bought a remastered version or if my DVD player is great, but the picture was wonderful. I watched the movie with headphones and the sound was great too. I can't understand why this DVD transfer is getting such negative reviews. I have a cheap Panasonic A120 player and everything came out looking spectacular. Perhaps the copy I bought is the exception and not the norm.

Rating:
Summary: Horrible quality on DVD !
Review: I was really amazed that a THX certified DVD could have as bad picture quality as this movie. It is totally grainy throughout + it is non-anamorphic. There is no way I'm buying this version, perhaps if they remaster it.

Rating:
Summary: They are right; Video quality is AWFUL
Review: Well, I watched the DVD. Everyone was right (sigh). The video is so bad, it's literally unbelievable. You spend more time looking at the grains and pixels than the movie, it's that distracting. Very awful transfer, the story is good as it always was, but it is a waste of money.

Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY THE DVD, WAIT UNTIL IT'S RE-RELEASED
Review: EVERYONE WHO SAYS THE DVD VERSION IS RUBBISH IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT THE PICTURE THIS BAD. IT LOOKS AS IF IT'S BEEN DELIBERATELY AGED. THEY MESSED UP THE SOUNDTRACK AS WELL. I WOULD SEND IT BACK BUT I LIVE IN THE UK - IT'S TOO MUCH HASSLE. DON'T BUY IT, IT'S NOT WORTH THE MONEY. SAYS IT'S GOT A THX CERTIFICATION. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY GOT THAT - IT'S THE WORST QUALITY DVD THAT'S BEEN RELEASED SO FAR.

Rating:
Summary: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Review: THE MOVIE: Who listens to critics? Ignore the bad reviews written at the time of the theatrical release (1985). The plot is original and suspenseful. The action is well-executed and never overdone. The camerawork is incredible, as are the scene transitions. Sean Connery and Clancy Brown really bring it home, acting-wise.

THE DISC (DVD): Get the tape. You're just wasting your money by getting this movie on DVD. The picture is grainy; 30-year-old movies have been remastered better than this one. The sound separation is mediocre, and the editing is terrible: expect to turn up your stereo twice as loud for dialogue, then half as loud for action scenes. Compared to the DVD, the tape is 99% as good at 66% of the price. For these reasons, I took a star away from my review of this DVD.