Manic Expression

In the end, there is only one good Highlander movie

[Origianlly posted on http://obsessive-geek.blogspot.com/]

I discovered the Highlander series through the Spoony One. As much controversy that surrounds him right now, the man showed me the world of bad Highlander sequels and pumped up the first movie so much I had to get it a copy. Thank you, Spoony, for leading me to this great movie.

The plot revolves around Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), an immortal Scotsman reliving his early life and preparing for the Gathering, a battle which means all immortals left in the world to battle for an unknown prize. With the Kurgan (Clancy Brown), an evil with a capital E immortal vying for it and Connor's head, he must confront his ancient enemy an make sure he is. For in the end, there can be only one.

Let's get down to brass tax. This movie does everything perfectly as it can. The scale, story, acting, writing and soundtrack fit together immensely well. Like a well designed clock, everything works in the favor of the whole movie, and not just for its own sake.

Christopher Lambert is Connor MacLeod. He gets the world weary, slightly distant 1986 Connor and the young, untrained and full of energy 1518 Connor down like nobody else could. Sean Connery steals the show as Ramirez, the hearty and knowledgeable mentor. And the Kurgan is probably on of the best villains in cinema. Uncomplicated in his desires and brutal in his methods, he is id personified and an extremely legitimate threat.The only two who get the shaft are Brenda Wyatt and Heather, there to be a proto-Vickie Vale and the Beloved Wife respectively.

The action doesn't over-saturate the film and are well handled. The scale is large and century spanning, as it should be. The atmosphere is shifts well from the openness of freedom of the Scottish Highlands and the claustrophobic mystery of 1980's New York. And the soundtrack is done by Queen. What's not to love?

Highlander is one of those films that somehow works well to the point that sequels are irrelevant. The story itself is self sufficient enough to stand on its own even to this day. Accept no substitutes and check this movie out.