Highlander

An interesting and original plot plus solid technical execution, those are the main strengths of Highlander. The story is well presented and full of mystery, the flashbacks to the past are very intriguing, the music is captivating and, oddly enough, Queen's famous song fit perfectly here. And that's what the viewer needs and expects from a film of this type. At least that's how it was for me. It's also worth mentioning Sean Connery and the demonic Kurgan portrayed by Clancy Brown. (2005-12-21)

To be honest, 2 stars are perhaps too luxurious a gift for a B-movie with a terrible screenplay and clumsy acting performances, but I will be accommodating today and will appreciate primarily the atmospheric music of my favorite Queen, led by Mercury, and a few impressive flashbacks to medieval Scotland. Nothing else holds up today, even though it is evident that this title greatly elevates the nostalgia of older users and the conformism of younger ones. Overall impression: 40%. (2015-08-15)

I am almost surprised that Highlander is not based on any book. I can imagine it as an 800-page sprawling fantasy, which later became a film adaptation, which is simplified and stripped down, but still a stylishly effective B-movie ride. Highlander combines epicness, destiny, romance, and is amazingly intense, serious and light-hearted, but above all, royally entertaining. Christopher Lambert is a terrible wooden actor, but his awkward acting gradually captivates you. One of the brightest moments is of course the presence of the pure Scotsman Sean Connery, paradoxically portraying an Egyptian from Spain here. His Ramirez is soon overshadowed by the main show-stealer of the whole film, the sensational villain Kurgan played by Clancy Brown - whenever he appeared on the scene, it was always worth it. I had Highlander in my collection for a long time and I finally got to watch it after returning home from a vacation around Scotland, where I also visited the beautiful Eilean Donan castle, which appears in the first third of the film. Although I slightly exaggerate, my impression of the film is definitely not influenced by nostalgia and echoes of the just-ended vacation in the Scottish Highlands. Highlander would captivate me anyway, it combines everything I expect from such films, and adds something extra - notably clever editing, excellent camera work, and of course the divine soundtrack by Queen. Watching Highlander is simply kind of magic! (2019-09-17)

Two star actors, Queen’s music and beautiful Scottish scenery make for a dated – from today’s point of view – but still nice adventure. The datedness is caused mainly by the trashy script, which works only with hints and symbols, but doesn’t use the subject matter in depth. Highlander is very attractively made brainless entertainment for the 1980s mainstream audience. (2009-10-12)

Oh dear... What did I used to like about this? I remembered that Lambert and Connery were in it, and I thought it was really cool how they cut each other's heads off and got their energy back, but that's really all that makes this movie interesting... My rating of 50% is more out of nostalgia, because this doesn't appeal to me now. (2015-12-05)