Highlander (film)

:For other uses of the word Highlander, please see: Highlander

Highlander: Endgame

First released on September 1 2000, this film was an attempt to merge characters from Highlander I and characters and situations from the . The story begins with a flashback to 16th century Scotland, where we are introduced to Jacob Kell (Bruce Payne), once a friend of Connor MacLeod's (Christopher Lambert).

Related Topics:
September 1 - 2000 - Bruce Payne - Christopher Lambert

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While attempting to execute Connor Macleod's mother for witchcraft in the village of Glenfinnan, both Kell and his adopted father, a priest named Father Rainey, are seemingly killed by a vengeful Connor. Glenfinnan is set ablaze, as Connor escapes with the corpse of his murdered mother. Jacob Kell was, however, reborn as an Immortal, and has since vowed vengeance against Connor for his foster-father's death. He has spent the last four centuries killing all the people Connor loves, including Rachel Ellenstein, (the war orphan from the first Highlander film). He also has gathered a posse of lesser Immortals, who overpower other Immortals and allow Kell to take their heads. At the start of the film, Kell has over 600 Immortal kills, making him the most powerful Immortal on Earth, if one takes this as a metric of power.

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After Rachel's death, Connor has hidden in a place called the Sanctuary, where Immortals are protected by the Watchers (a secret society introduced in the TV series) to prevent there ever being only one Immortal left.

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After the flashback, Kell and his posse of Immortals attack the Sanctuary, and Connor is believed to be beheaded along with the other Sanctuary Immortals. Duncan Macleod (Adrian Paul) is given a vision of this evil act, and investigates. Eventually, he discovers Connor was spared by Kell, so as to allow the evil Immortal to make his life even more miserable. He wants to kill Duncan to torture Connor, and given the number of Quickenings he has received, this seems very likely. Therefore, Connor forces Duncan to kill Connor, and thereby absorbing all his power in order to defeat Kell.

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There is also a sub-plot concering Duncan's Immortal wife, a woman he wedded and then murdered on their wedding night, in order that she become Immortal. However, this has driven her into the arms of Kell, and he must earn her forgiveness, or face her as part of Kell's posse.

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The theatrical release of this film was relatively short (87 min.) and rather fast-paced. The DVD version is close to 2 hours in length, boasts a happy ending, and an improved sound mix and soundtrack. The DVD version also contains a rough cut of the film, with a subplot involving Connor MacLeod giving a Christmas tree to an orphanage every Christmas, an activity picked up by Duncan after Connor's death.

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