Highlander (film)

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

Highlander III: The Sorcerer (Highlander: The Final Dimension)

First released on November 25, 1994. Effectively a prequel to Highlander II, as the main events take place in 1994.

Related Topics:
November 25 - 1994

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The film starts with a flashback that occurs sometime after the death of Heather. Events of the flashback can be estimated to occur during the late 16th century or early to middle 17th century. Connor has travelled to Japan to request training from the immortal Japanese sorcerer Nakano (Makoto Iwamatsu, better known as Mako), an acquaintance of Ramirez. Nakano held his residence in a cave of Mount Niri and had gained a reputation as a master of illusion. It should perhaps be noted that the screenplay of this film gives Nakano's first "death" as occurring in 743 BC.

Related Topics:
16th century - 17th century - Japan - Makoto Iwamatsu - Illusion - 743 BC

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How long this training lasted is left uncertain, but it was never completed. A fellow immortal named Kane (Mario Van Peebles) and apparently an old acquaintance of Nakano, was also interested in mastering the power of illusion. Nakano had reportedly denied him training two centuries ago. Kane had apparently gained in experience and ability since that time. He was making his way across Asia in order to reach Nakano again. He also had two traveling companions with him. These two Mongolian immortals were left unnamed in the film but the novelization named them as Khabul Khan (Jean-Pierre Perusse) and Senghi Khan (Raoul Trujillo).

Related Topics:
Mario Van Peebles - Asia - Mongolia - Jean-Pierre Perusse - Raoul Trujillo

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Kane would supposedly attack and decapitate every other Immortal the trio encountered during their journey. Eventually they passed from China to Japan, and started seeking Niri. Entering a nearby village seeking information, they proceeded to burn it to the ground and massacre its population. Eventually they managed to reach the cave. Kane soon managed to defeat and decapitate Nakano, despite Connor's attempts to prevent this. However the energies released during the battle cause the cave to collapse. Connor managed to escape in time, but Kane and his men were left trapped. They were apparently soon forgotten, and their situation prevented them from participating in the Gathering of 1985.

Related Topics:
China - 1985

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Another extended flashback describes events in the late 18th century. In 1788/1789 Connor was in France when he made the acquaintance of Sarah Barrington (Deborah Unger), an Englishwoman visiting relatives there. The two soon started to enjoy conversing together and then racing their horses against each other. Eventually they became lovers. But when the French Revolution began, Sarah had to return to England while Connor became involved in its events.

Related Topics:
18th century - 1788 - 1789 - France - Deborah Unger - Horse - French Revolution - England

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During the revolution Joseph-Ignace Guillotin introduced the guillotine as the main method of capital punishment. Historically the first execution of this kind in France occurred on April 25, 1792. In the context of the film it was effective against both mortals and immortals. At some point Connor was sentenced to this manner of execution, supposedly for treason against King Louis XVI of France. His Immortal friend Pierre Bouchet explained that he was tired of his immortal life, and so offered to die in his place. Connor was falsely reported deceased. Believing her lover dead, Sarah was left grieving. Historically, Louis XVI was deposed on August 10, 1792, and the monarchy officially abolished on September 21, 1792. So it can be supposed that Connor's failed execution occurred between April and August of 1792.

Related Topics:
Joseph-Ignace Guillotin - Guillotine - Capital punishment - April 25 - 1792 - Louis XVI of France - August 10 - September 21 - April - August

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By 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte had managed to establish himself namely as First Consul of France, and effectively as its dictator. The Revolution was over, and Connor apparently left France for England in an attempt to reintroduce himself to Sarah. Connor soon located her. But Sarah still considered him deceased, and was by this point a married woman and mother of a number of children. Connor left without contacting her and returned to his own solitude.

Related Topics:
1800 - Napoleon Bonaparte - First Consul - Dictator

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In 1994, Connor was again a widower. In 1987, Brenda, his last wife, was reportedly killed in a car accident after only two years of marriage. Connor survived the accident relatively unharmed. He was left alone to raise their adoptive son John MacLeod (Gabriel Kakon). They had settled in Marrakech, Morocco, and Connor was at peace for the first time in centuries. This peace would prove short-lived, though. In Japan, two archaeologists had started excavating Nakano's cave in order to discover whether the sorcerer's legend was based on fact or not. American Dr. Alexandra "Alex" Johnson (Deborah Unger), apparently a distant descendant of Sarah who greatly resembled her, believed Nakano was a historical figure. Japanese Dr. Fuji Takamura (Daniel Do) -- apparently a great fan of Babe Ruth -- on the other hand, believed Nakano to be a legendary figure.

Related Topics:
1994 - 1987 - Gabriel Kakon - Marrakech - Morocco - Japan - Archaeologist - Deborah Unger - Daniel Do - Babe Ruth

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The film sees MacLeod defeat a wizard with hypnotic abilities. The third movie largely ignores many of the plot inconsistencies introduced by the second film.

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Most of the film was shot in Morocco.

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