Highlander (film)

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

Highlander II: The Quickening

Plot

Released on January 31, 1991. The film features a series of events occurring over a period of about twenty-five years from August, 1999 to 2024.

Related Topics:
January 31 - 1991 - August - 1999 - 2024

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The film's opening scene occurs on August, 1999. News broadcasts explain that the ozone layer will be completely gone in a matter of months, and that the ozone hole has been significantly expanded and covers most of planet Earth. In Africa millions have died, due to the effects the unfiltered sunlight has had on them. Among them is Connor's wife, who makes him promise that he will work in solving the problem presented. (In the original release of the film, this woman is revealed to be Brenda Wyatt, per her tombstone seen in the movie; Highlander III somewhat contradictorily reveals that Brenda died around 1987, with Alex Johnson possibly having died circa 1995.)

Related Topics:
August - 1999 - Ozone layer - Ozone hole - Earth - Africa

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In the period following his wife's death, Connor becomes the supervisor of a scientific team attempting to create an artificial shield, which will cover the planet and protect it from the Sun's radiation. The actual head of the team is Dr. Allan Neyman (Allan Rich). In 1999, the team succeeded in its goal, and Earth gained its artificial shield filtering sunlight in place of the ozone layer. MacLeod and Neyman were proud in having apparently saved humanity, and believed they would be remembered for a thousand years. However, the shield has the side-effect of condemning the planet to a state of constant night, and humanity can no longer see the sun, the moon, or the stars.

Related Topics:
Sun - Allan Rich - 1999 - Moon - Star

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The film then proceeds to the year 2024. According to a narration by Connor, twenty-five years of darkness have had caused humanity to lose hope and fall into a decline. The Shield has fallen under the control of "Shield Corporation," and its current head David Blake (John C. McGinley), taxing for its services in pursuit of profit. A number of terrorists have emerged trying to take down the Shield. Among them is Louise Marcus (Virginia Madsen), a former employee of the Corporation. Meanwhile, Connor has since begun aging once again ever since his 1985 victory over the Kurgan -- a result of his winning The Prize. He has physically aged into a frail old man, and expects himself to eventually die of natural causes.

Related Topics:
2024 - Corporation - John C. McGinley - Terrorists - Virginia Madsen

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Meanwhile, MacLeod has been able to recover his memories from a previous life in his series of reincarnations. A flashback to "Planet Zeist 500 years ago" begins with the last meeting of the members of a rebellion against the rule of General Katana (Michael Ironside). The rebellion's leader, a previous incarnation of Ramirez, chooses "a man of great destiny" from among them, Connor's previous incarnation, to carry out a mission against Katana. At this moment, Katana and his troops attack, and the rebellion is crushed. Katana orders his men to capture "Ramirez" and "MacLeod" alive, and kill the rest of the rebels. The two captives are put on trial by Zeist's priests, who sentence them to be exiled from Zeist and reborn on Earth as Immortals in pursuit of the Prize. Given the choice to grow old and die on Earth or return to Zeist, they choose Earth. Katana is unsatisfied with their decision, but the sentence is executed and the events of the previous film follow. Oddly, both Immortals were born before 1524 on Earth; whether the "500 years ago" message was in error, or their Earth incarnations were somehow born before the death of their Zeist incarnations is left unexplained.

Related Topics:
Reincarnation - Michael Ironside - Priest - 1524

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The film then returns to the Earth of 2024. Louise Marcus discovers that the ozone layer has been reformed, and the artificial Shield is no longer needed. The Corporation is aware of this development, but has apparently decided to hide it from the general public in order to maintain its main source of profit. Meanwhile on Zeist, General Katana is still alive. His information seems to indicate that Connor wants to return to Zeist. However, he decides that cannot be allowed to happen and sends his Immortal henchmen Corda (Pete Antico) and Reno (Peter Bucossi) to Earth to kill him in battle.

Related Topics:
Pete Antico - Peter Bucossi

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Louise manages to reach Connor first, and asks for his help in taking down the Shield. To Louise's disappointment, she finds the passionate person she once admired to have grown into "a tired old man." MacLeod explains to Louise that he is dying, and expresses his disapproval of terrorism. Before Connor and Louise can finish their conversation, Corda and Reno locate them and attack. MacLeod soon manages to decapitate them both, and in the process regains his youthful appearance. While he absorbs their energy, Connor summons Ramirez.

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In Glencoe, Scotland, the location of his death, Ramirez is apparently revived. He finds himself on a theatrical stage during a performance of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Meanwhile, in New York Connor has found a new lover in Louise Marcus. He attempts to explain to her the concepts of his Immortality, but she finds them confusing. Elsewhere in New York, General Katana arrives, and proceeds to spread havoc.

Related Topics:
Glencoe, Scotland - William Shakespeare - Hamlet

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Both Ramirez and Katana soon adapt to their new environment. Ramirez's earrings are apparently valuable enough to pay for the new costume he acquires from the "finest and oldest" tailor's shop in Scotland, and for an airplane ticket to New York. On the other hand, Katana finds New York much to his liking. After entertaining himself for a while, Katana manages to locate his old enemy. Their first encounter in centuries proves to be indecisive, though.

Related Topics:
Earring - Airplane

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Soon enough, Connor is also reached by Ramirez. The latter joins MacLeod and Louise in their plan to take down the Shield. Katana had apparently predicted this, and so forges an uneasy alliance with David Blake. The conflict between the two sets of allies eventually leads to the subsequent deaths of Dr. Allan Neyman (employed by Blake and informant of Connor, killed by his employer as a "traitor"), Ramirez (sacrificing himself to save Connor and Louise), David Blake (killed by Katana while trying to double-cross him), and General Katana (killed by Connor in their final confrontation). MacLeod succeeds in taking down the Shield by using the combined energies of his final Quickening from General Katana. Louise sees the stars for the first time in her life. Then Connor claims his Prize by returning to Zeist with Louise accompanying him (only in the syndicated TV cut of the film...in the theatrical and DVD versions, both remain on Earth).

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Criticism

Set in the early 21st century, this film veers towards science fiction. It was again directed by Russell Mulcahy, and scripted by Peter Bellwood, with other material by Brian Clemens and William Panzer. Upon release, this film was met with harsh criticism by both critics and audiences. Fans of the original film were less than pleased with the concept of Immortals being aliens from Planet Zeist and with the revival of Ramirez, whose dramatic death scene in the previous film was considered among its highlights. This is often viewed as contradicting the original movie.

Related Topics:
21st century - Science fiction - Brian Clemens - William Panzer - Aliens

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Apart from being inconsistent with the 1986 original's storyline, audiences found the conflict between the rebellion and General Katana to be too reminiscent of the conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire featured in Star Wars. Critics and audiences alike pointed out that the characters suffered from a lack of development and motivation, as gratuitous action scenes left little time for it. An example often offered is that no reason was provided for Katana's sudden interest in Connor after apparently losing contact with him for 506 years, and his insistence on killing his old enemy while he could wait for him to die without outside interference. However it should be noted that the film has found a number of fans who found its faults to be a source of amusement and ridicule.

Related Topics:
Rebel Alliance - Galactic Empire - Star Wars

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Highlander II's apparent failure has been seen by some as a result of the producers' interference with the work of director Russell Mulcahy, who personally hated the final product so much he walked out of the film's premiere after watching its first 15 minutes. For similiar reasons, Christopher Lambert threatened to walk out of the project when it was nearing fruition, but he didn't due to contract obligation.

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Some time later, Mulcahy made a director's cut version known as Highlander II: The Renegade Version. The film was mostly reconstructed with certain scenes removed and others added back in, and the entire sequence of events changed. Obviously, all references to the Immortals being aliens from another planet were eliminated; instead, this cut reveals that the Immortals are from an unspecified, distant past, banished by priests into random locations in the future to keep the Prize from being won in their lifetime (the option to return to the past is an option offered in addition to the mystical Prize of the first film). This version is generally considered a major improvement on the theatrical release, and obtained a far more favourable reception. Nevertheless, the events of both versions were generally ignored by the subsequent films and series.

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One joke from fans of the first film is a suggested tagline based on a phrase from the films:

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"Highlander II: There should have been only one!"

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