Highlander

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. (12/05/2015)

A classic mainstream adventure with a perfect cast, impressive production design and a great premise, which, however, also became a stumbling block. It’s one thing to play with ideas of immortality and jump from the 16th century to the present day with a snap of the fingers, and something else is to tell a story detached from emotions, with clumsy effects and highlights in the form of static sword fights. Lambert is excellent in one of his few major roles, the music of Queen is fantastic and Connery is downright iconic. With a more elaborate and imaginative script, a remake should be a safe bet. 3.5* (07/29/2013)

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. (10/12/2009)

It's almost surprising that Highlander isn't based on a novel. I can easily imagine it as an 800-page epic fantasy, later adapted into a film that, while simplified, retains a stylish, B-movie charm. Highlander blends epic storytelling, romance, destiny, and a mix of seriousness and humor, all while being incredibly entertaining. Christopher Lambert might be stiff as a board, but his awkward performance somehow grows on you. Of course, Sean Connery's appearance as the Egyptian-born Spaniard, Ramirez, is a highlight, even if his role gets overshadowed by the scene-stealing villain Kurgan, played by Clancy Brown. Every moment Kurgan is on screen is a treat. I've had Highlander on my watchlist for ages and finally decided to watch it after a vacation in Scotland, where I visited the stunning Eilean Donan Castle featured in the film. You might think I am biased from the fresh memories of my trip, but I genuinely believe Highlander would have impressed me regardless. It combines everything I love about movies like this with exceptional editing, great cinematography, and an awesome soundtrack by Queen. Watching Highlander is truly a kind of magic! (09/16/2019)

This film has one great thing: the beautiful Scottish landscape and the mysticism of the flashbacks. The story taking place in the present is predicable and boring, and it’s not even helped by the B-movie like performances, which in this case I found incredibly annoying. To be fair, though, I’ve never liked fantasy in any form, not only in film. (04/09/2009)