Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Beulah Bram A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com Sequels are difficult to make right especially when their parent film made such a high impression on its initial fan base. The crew who made Highlander (1986) were almost entirely against making a sequel because of how well received the original was. Unfortunately when it comes to film contracts, it's not so easy go against what is wanted. So that already created friction between the film crew and the studio itself. Then on top of that, deciding to drastically make edits to the finished script last minute is never a thing that's going to roll over well. Nobody was happy with how things were being changed so frequently and it led to one of the most disappointing sequels to a promising start up franchise. Many fans considered it to be a lot like Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), where it completely ignored anything that was setup in the first film. Thankfully over time Mulcahy was able to form his own cut of the film. It may not be good but it is also not the worst sequel in existence.Being written by Brian Clemens, William N. Panzer and Peter Bellwood, the story has some points that are good, but most of it is completely deviant from that of the first film. What's even stranger is that both Panzer and Bellwood had worked on Highlander (1986); producer and writer respectively. Clemens had certainly enough years of experience to help in the writing process but it's unknown how much he contributed. The story takes place in 2024 where the ozone has depleted and shield has been placed around the earth to protect it from the sun. The person behind this successful project is none other than Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). However there's a resistance group lead by Louise Marcus (Virginia Madsen) who believe the shield can be destroyed because the ozone has recovered. Meanwhile an antagonist by the name of General Katana (Michael Ironside) is out to kill MacLeod because as the tag line goes, "there can only be one". This is the simplest way to describe this and it certainly needs work.From what is elaborated on, it turns out both Ramirez (Sean Connery) and MacLeod were sent from another world to earth. This place is where all of these immortals come from. However with that said, it entirely negates and washes out any heart Highlander (1986) had to begin with. What was the point of killing Ramirez in the first film only to bring him back again? Not that viewers wouldn't want to see Connery again, but his exit was in such poignant way, it's weird to resurrect him. Having the script explain the background to MacLeod's situation was fine but it gets lost really fast with the inclusion of the sci-fi element of ozone depletion and shield use. It just feels like the wrong genre considering what the first film had established so well. The script does however reference the history of the first film so it's not like omits everything, which is why so many people make the claim that it is the worst sequel. Thankfully the writing for the characters is half there too.Christopher Lambert maintains his character's personality even with the odd story he's given to work with. Sean Connery although having him return in general is off putting, has a performance that is very affable. He has a number of good scenes that involve him getting familiar with the new surroundings of the future. Even Virginia Madsen, who doesn't do a whole lot at least has a few lines that can grab a viewers attention. On the other hand, all the villains on screen are way over the top than they should be. Michael Ironside can be a menacing villain but here he walks around with a wide grin overacting every line. The same could be said for his henchman. There's also a subplot about the head of the shield business David Blake (John C. McGinley) wanting to overthrow the co-creator of the shield, Dr. Allan Neyman (Allan Rich). McGinley is about as evenly matched to Ironside in this movie. Every bit of dialogue from this guy was given way too much energy.Speaking of energy, the action is also lacking in that too. For a story about an immortal swordsman, there's only a few scenes that involve sword fights. Other times its gun fire or not at all. And when these scenes do occur, they aren't that exciting. Old fashioned action should be though. It's sad when even that becomes boring. Unfortunately camera-work wasn't all that impressive this time round either. Captured by Phil Meheux, the shots are uninteresting. Most likely because the setting is so different from that of the original. Meheux did however work on The Mask of Zorro (1998), Bicentennial Man (1999) and Casino Royale (2006). The music was a little better though. Composed by The Police Band member Stewart Copeland, the score to this film is unfortunately hard to find but does provide some adequately constructed material. Even if some of the original themes Michael Kamen created seep into the cracks as well. That's cheating. Copeland also scored Wall Street (1987) and Taking Care of Business (1990).Some say this is the worst of the worst. Not so, there are sequels that far surpass this. Sure, the antagonists are way too silly and the script makes significant changes to what the original film laid out. Even the sci-fi edge is all wrong and really should have been omitted or worked in another way. Still though the protagonists are likable and the music is acceptable. It's not a good story at all, but it's not the worst.

slightlymad22 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.

ivo-cobra8 Highlander 2: Renegade Version is MILES way better than the original theatrical version! This is the version that it supposed to come out in theater but the movie was cut to 1h 31 min which was ridicules! Highlander II: The Quickening sucks ass and it is one of the worst movies of 1991! I understand why everyone hates this film and I agree with all the haters this movie sucks, but the Renegade Version does not suck! That is why I am giving a score 8 out of 10, but that doesn't mean this movie was epic, perfect or the best, on the contrary it is not even a close movie to an original film! But I like it a lot and I am going to count the reasons what I like about this version. I have a lot of problems with this sequel but Renegade Version was entertaining! I have this movie on Blu-ray Renegade Version which it really surprised me. Plot: It's 2024 and MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) and Ramirez (Sean Connery) are back to save planet Earth. Ozone depletion, time travel and corporate greed are at the core of all the thrilling twists and turns in this stylish action sequel. Featuring new state-of-the-art special effects and digital re-mastering, it's HIGHLANDER II like you've never seen or heard before.Thing's I love in this movie: Christopher Lambert is reunited with Sean Connery and director Russell Mulcahy. I absolutely love the old cast from the first film. Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez played by Sean Connery become really a beloved character from the first film. The original film was directed by Russell Mulcahy and I am glad he directed the sequel good for him. I love those three in this movie! Michael Ironside is an awesome bad ass villain as General Katana, he is not the best villain like was Clancy Brown as The Kurgan, but he was really close evil tough bad guy, that we all wanted him dead. Ironside was also the bad guy in Total Recall (1990) my all time favorite Schwarzenegger movie. That is one of the reason why I like this movie. I love that this movie is set in 2024 it is a sci-fi futuristic film, you see mostly dark and red world which it is a futuristic world and I love that in this movie.I love the song One Dream performed by Lou Gramm Band I love the song score which is perfect to this film. Highlander 2: Renegade Version really reworked the movie in to kind a the original version supposed to be: they are not really an aliens, they are kind a, just put trough time and they are finding that out. So basically one of them is shipped trough time and they shipped them trough time. They have to fight each other in a combat to the death, when you behead someone you take their energy away and when you kill all the immortals you become mortal and that is basically what happens with a Highlander 2: Renegade Version.The reason I love this movie is because it takes place in the future and it is cool, there is a guy with a wings going after him, those guys are kind a nit. They are some really kick ass fights scenes in it. I love the fact that Ramirez comes back I don't care, that it doesn't make sense or it dopes makes sense. It is Highlander, it is immortals beheading each other to become the one. It is not supposed to be realistic who cares. He use The Quickening energy to bring back Ramirez I would do it. I love that Ramirez comes back he is a cool character and I love him. I love that Brenda J. Wyatt returns in this movie but this time she is played by Karin Drexler when we find out what happened to the character from the first movie.Katana (Michael Ironside) does respect the rules, the immortals never fight on a holly ground.The sky is red in this film because of the field energy. The only problem with film I have is: The renegade version may be a better edited movie than the original crap fest The Quickening, but it still suffers from terrible screenplay which had problems from the very beginning.The fight between MacLeod and Katana was cut short and it could be a longer duel. I wish there would be more an epic swords fight like was in the first movie. Ramirez music score was horrible, Ramirez acting in this movie like an idiot was horrible. I wish they would cut those scenes out when he lands in an opera, I really wouldn't want to see that. In my opinion this is the true original sequel to the original film. Overall: I like this movie it is a childhood movie of mine I grew up watching this movie. I love sci-fi in this movie and I love Highlander 1 and 2 to death but I love Highlander (1986) the best! B 8/10 Renegade version, Original version F 1/10. Highlander II: The Quickening is a 1991 American science fiction action film directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Virginia Madsen, and Michael Ironside. It is the second installment to the Highlander film series, and it was released on 12 April 1991 in the United Kingdom and 1 November 1991 in the United States.8/10 Score: B Kismet Entertainment Film Distributors Starring: Christopher Lambert, Virginia Madsen, Michael Ironside, Sean Connery, John C. McGinley, Allan Rich Director: Russell Mulcahy Screenplay: Peter Bellwood Story by Brian Clemens, William N. Panzer Based on Characters by Gregory Widen Producers: Peter S. Davis William N. Panzer Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 49 Mins. Budget: $30.000.000 Box Office: $15,556,340

Aaron Taylor This movie is terrible. It has absolutely no redeeming features at all. The movie makes no attempts to have any connection at all with the first, even while having the same actors and in the case of Sean Connery, the same wardrobe. This film is one of the laziest films ever conceived, not just in terms of a sequel, but as a film in general. I bought this movie thinking it was the first movie (the sticker for the 2 for $20 was on the 2 and I was kind of in a rush) and I must say, this was one of the most disappointing lumps of crap I have ever watched, not that the first movie is a masterpiece but it did have nostalgic value. Safe to say, I did not request a refund due to my own negligence to read the back of the case, and it has never been viewed again. These are films that are so bad, that they are amazingly fun to watch, The Room, HardRock Zombies, Blacula, this is not one of those movies. After watching this movie, it's safe to say that Christopher Lambert is one of the worst actors to have ever lived, and Sean Connery obviously got his paycheck and never looked at this lump of crap franchise again. The only thing that could've made this movie worse, would be if it was directed by Joel Schumacher.