Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

Simply Perfect

Just perfect...

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

There seems to be quite alot of hate for this movies on here. The biggest issue seems to be that its not a rehash of the first movie which seems to be what some people were expecting. They wanted another highlander set in Scotland amongst the glens. However that story had run its course and the only logical progression for an immortal was to set the movie in the future. The plot is focused on a cyberpunk styled future where the planets protective ozone layer is diminished and only survives due to a shield developed by the Highlander, who is now an old man as he is now affected by ageing. We now learn that he was from another world and when inhabitants from his old home arrive to kill him his immortal powers return. This movie shares some of the same music and themes as the first which if you allow yourself to get over the disappointment that this isn't a clone of the first movie, you may well find an enjoyable sequel. Michael Ironside is one of the best Hollywood villains ever and is a suitable replacement for the Kurgan. John C. McGinley plays the role of the slimy corporate weasel to perfection and of course we have Christopher Lambert as MacLeod, as good as he was in the original. As for the Scottish element, we see Sean Connery being fitted for a suit in Edinburgh while drinking whisky, cant get much more Scottish than that? Franchises have to evolve to survive, and this sequel is an evolution of the original story. Is it a bad movie? In my opinion no, its fun, has a great cast. great effects, moves fast and has enough of the spirit of the original to keep may fans of the original happy. What its not is a carbon copy of the original and it seems for some that is its biggest crime. The "I don't like change" argument isn't a valid reason to hate a great movie.

It's not nearly as exciting, fun or cool as the original but it's still a creative and well-made sequel that is hated because of a horrible version that had nothing to do with the director/writer. It's no Blade Runner yet it's the first of a zillion films that tries to be. The drastic changes from the original film were panned at the time but in a culture swamped in bad remakes and redundant sequels, maybe posterity will appreciate how Highlander 2 ramps up the political and existential themes that were wallpaper to its more exciting predecessor.

Highlander 2: The Quickening (1991)Plot In A Paragraph: In the future, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) must prevent the destruction of Earth under an anti-ozone shield.With literally three hours to waste, I decided to watch both versions (theatrical and renegade) back to back.In both versions, it's all style over substance. It's produced with a decent budget but the action was all visual effects and mindless violence. After The Hunt For Red October, Connery didn't need to wait to long to get his ponytail. Since apparently your hair still grows in the after life, Despite biting the dust in the first movie, Connery is back. "When you need me, you only have to call my name" Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez is a hell of a name to tell if you were in a tricky spot. Luckily simply "Ramirez" worked.Apart from James Bond, Ramirez is the only other character Sean Connery has played in more than one film. He received 3.5 million dollars for nine days of filming (which amounts to about 10 mins screen time). Connery used all the money as donations for charitable causes. Did he take this one for the money?? At least he did some good with it if he did. There are too many differences in the two versions to list, scenes are cut and changed around, dialogue is changed or missing, but in both versions, the plot is pretty much a muddled mess, there are a lot of continuity errors and most of the supporting cast are awful (Especially following on from watching The Russia House which was filled with wonderful performances). Virginia Madsen is gorgeous, but her character is annoying and her constant costume changes (every scene) are a distraction. Michael Ironside (whilst a decent actor) seems to be doing an awful impression of Kurgan from the first movie, however he is nowhere near as intimidating as Clancy Brown. John C McGinley (an actor I like) is awful and how on earth did Jerry The Cab Driver ever get cast in a movie?? In the Renegade version the end fight is split in to two scenes about 30 mins apart, making the end fight a tad anti climactic and over too soon!! Connery's scenes are more spread out too in this version too, to make it look like he is in it more. The airplane scene is split into separate parts for example. Sadly my favourite line of dialogue of his is missing in The Renegade VersionMaCloud "It sounds like magic" Ramires "Well it is..... hmmm kind of"Referencing the Queen song A Kind Of Magic wrote for the first movie. Highlander 2 grossed $15 million at the domestic box office to end 1991 as 73rd highest grossing movie of the year.

Yeah you know its just like I said the best movie I've watched in my whole life. Watch it with your kids!Watch it with your wife! Watch it while making love! (I REALLY recommend, did this a thousand times) Love how they explain things. You know, the ending, my god, my head was blown off, just like the entire movie, cause after watching the first one, this one made my crazy! Cause, you know, I think it REALLY is the best movie I've watched. Sooooooo good. And the acting. OH. MY. GOD. You know, when I first watched it I thought it was not going to be a good movie because of some actors. You know, I love Sean Connery and like (just a little bit) of Christopher Lambert. But the another actors that appear on the movie, you know, I played the movie thinking "ok this is gonna be horrible" BUT I'm wrong, again. All the actors should, right now, just get an Oscar for this movie. Seriously, clapping my hand for you guys. Especially for Virginia Madsen. Man, she rocked it the whole movie. And the plot. Oh, the plot. It's the most complicated plot I've ever seen in movies, but it works so well. Really has a beginning, a middle and an ending. And IT ROCKS!!!! BEST MOVIE EVER!!! As always, have a nice day and be #TeamHighlander2.