Cult films have often carried generous followings despite major problems. Unfortunately for Highlander, the list of faults is so weighty that any cult appeal it might have sustained was lost in the first thirty minutes of screen time.
Attempting to follow the story line resulted in confusion, disorientation, and frustration. Many storyline questions were posed with little resolution. How do the immortals know that they'll die if they get their heads cut off? How do the immortals know that someday they'll have to compete against each other for some mysterious prize? Dispensing with any rational answers, Ramirez spouts on why the sun comes up - "Nobody knows."
Characters often have confusing motives. In a scene where Nash demonstrates his immortality to Brenda, he stabs himself in the chest. Next, they kiss because they are suddenly in love. (???) From Brenda's point of view, all Nash shows is that he is crazy enough to (non-lethally) stab himself in the chest. Any sane person would put lots of distance between themselves and Nash, but not in this movie. Self-inflicted injuries are apparently hot and romantic.
Editing left much to be desired by including many transition errors. Some of the many jumpy cuts includes a scene where we see a sword flying through the air, then abruptly cut to showing the sword stuck motionless in the ground. At least they could have shown it wavering. The effect was a jarring transition that stung of a sophmoric effort to bypass the effort required in tending to details.
Continuity was also a problem for the filmmakers. In one example, an older woman, who becomes an unwilling passenger in a recklessly driven car, first appears going down the street sitting in the passenger seat. Then we cut to find her hanging onto the hood as the car takes a turn. There's no excuse for such sloppy continuity.
Actors visibly struggled to control the unnecessarily large and heavy swords throughout the movie (one sword appeared to be nearly 6 feet long). Lightweight swords would have been a more realistic choice. The faster weaponry would have provided for quicker conclusions to fight-scenes, and a mercifully shorter film.
Poor dialog stunned me into unintentional laughter several times. Lifeless acting left many potentially involving scenes flat. Enough said.
Somewhere, under all that mess, lives the basics of a story line that, given a more suitable treatment, could have been made into a decent movie. Unfortunately, there are many other sword-laden cult movies that did much better at avoiding the many errors that weighed Highlander down. Watch those instead - you'll be glad you did.
Attempting to follow the story line resulted in confusion, disorientation, and frustration. Many storyline questions were posed with little resolution. How do the immortals know that they'll die if they get their heads cut off? How do the immortals know that someday they'll have to compete against each other for some mysterious prize? Dispensing with any rational answers, Ramirez spouts on why the sun comes up - "Nobody knows."
Characters often have confusing motives. In a scene where Nash demonstrates his immortality to Brenda, he stabs himself in the chest. Next, they kiss because they are suddenly in love. (???) From Brenda's point of view, all Nash shows is that he is crazy enough to (non-lethally) stab himself in the chest. Any sane person would put lots of distance between themselves and Nash, but not in this movie. Self-inflicted injuries are apparently hot and romantic.
Editing left much to be desired by including many transition errors. Some of the many jumpy cuts includes a scene where we see a sword flying through the air, then abruptly cut to showing the sword stuck motionless in the ground. At least they could have shown it wavering. The effect was a jarring transition that stung of a sophmoric effort to bypass the effort required in tending to details.
Continuity was also a problem for the filmmakers. In one example, an older woman, who becomes an unwilling passenger in a recklessly driven car, first appears going down the street sitting in the passenger seat. Then we cut to find her hanging onto the hood as the car takes a turn. There's no excuse for such sloppy continuity.
Actors visibly struggled to control the unnecessarily large and heavy swords throughout the movie (one sword appeared to be nearly 6 feet long). Lightweight swords would have been a more realistic choice. The faster weaponry would have provided for quicker conclusions to fight-scenes, and a mercifully shorter film.
Poor dialog stunned me into unintentional laughter several times. Lifeless acting left many potentially involving scenes flat. Enough said.
Somewhere, under all that mess, lives the basics of a story line that, given a more suitable treatment, could have been made into a decent movie. Unfortunately, there are many other sword-laden cult movies that did much better at avoiding the many errors that weighed Highlander down. Watch those instead - you'll be glad you did.