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Oddly when I was 12 my Baptist Sunday school teacher held a guys only movie night ( it was the 80s) and he showed us his favorite movie: Highlander. Completely changed my life regarding movies and stories, ignited an interest in history, the soundtrack inspired me to become a professional musician, and needless to say it's my favorite film of all time. When it comes to sequels, TV shows, and remakes, all I can say is NO! There can be only one.
A Scotsman playing an Egyptian, a Frenchman playing a Scotsman, an American playing a Russian. See? Highlander was doing Diversity based casting before it was cool!
His performance in Highlander is amazing, the joyride he goes on with Brenda with Queen doing their version of "New York, New York" is one of the most hilarious sequences in any movie!. just a great performance.
That rant towards the beginning of the essay was great, and the fact The Drinker storms out of the room only to reveal he's wearing a Kilt is the cherry on top.
@@RussellNelson that being said Russ, I enjoyed Adrian Paul in the TV series. Sure the writing was cringy at times, but he was dedicated to the training.
Damn, it was so refreshing to see a villain onscreen with genuine presence. The Kurgan was intimidating, unpredictable and fearsome. He had a physicality about him that you just done see in modern movies any more.
Eh... nearly every mainstream lead man has been either super buff or super not depending on film demographic. But outright the number of films with very muscular male actors is huge over the last 30 years. The difference is the writing, and direction to bring actual menace to such characters shifting to a more superfulous prescence. Aesthetically nice, but little practical relevance.
After finishing all MCU movies ( i liked most of them) i felt tired with all those universes, full of easter eggs, references etc. I wanna go back to watching stand alone stories which are satysfying on their own. Ok, i can watch nice trilogy , if it has good ways to expand story, not overblowing it to eleven, turning it into self parody, or subverting tropes for cheap shock value.
Queen and composer Michael Kamen turned in movie history with the OST and score, also Queen doing the Flash Gordon score/soundtrack was just as legendary
I love how the script originated as an assignment in film class, and the teacher thought it was so good that he encouraged Greg Widen to submit it to a producer. Widen was surprised and pleased when it was accepted and turned into a movie, but expected the Scottish scenes to be shot in some "styrofoam castle in Maine". Imagine his surprise when he learned that it was going to be shot on location, and with Sean Connery in a major role.
Yeah I remember hearing that it wasn't really going anywhere until they took a wild shot and sent the script to Connery's agent. Connery loved it, signed up and suddenly the whole thing took off.
One thing I love about older movies is that they are able to tell compelling stories for secondary characters in just a few scenes. Take for example here in Highlander the case of Connor's secretary, she was a little girl in WWII when she was rescued by him, then she grew up and fell in love with him until she got old. You have all you need to know about her in just enough screen time and you can realize how dramatic it all is at the same time. Another example I like a lot is in The Crow, the relationship the little girl has with her drug-addict mother, how the mother is saved and how she tries to rebuild the relationship with her daughter, all just in a couple of scenes, a kind of story that could easily be told on its own movie. It's amazing.
sad as fuck.. she loved that dude and he said nah i ain't fuckn u.. i been thru hell.. she waited till she was old and useless.. she looked out for him too.. the film is actually dramatic for a fucking slasher flick
Oddly enough he's actually played a Frenchman (with an English accent) In the 2002 Count of Monte Cristo, a babyfaced teenaged Cavill played the hero's son.
After viewing the sequels: “There should have been only one”. Loved the original, it’s a jewel among 80’s films. The script was written by a college student as a student project, stunningly creative.
Fun fact: The guy who wrote _Highlander,_ Gregory Wyden, also wrote the screenplay for another cult classic, _The Prophecy._ Both movies had really original mythological backstories, and both spawned absolutely god-awful sequels. No coincidence that Wyden wasn't involved with the sequels to either franchises, since he didn't own the rights, something very common in the industry, back then.
Queen Latifah as a Mexican-American lesbian with a past as a strong badass witch hunter. The bad guy can't be Russian this time. He wil be Jewish. And pale. The main character will fall in love with a Korean girl this time. Can't wait! lol
@@frankn356 Nah, the main character (a Pacific Islander/Inuit) will fall for a half-panda Timorese refugee who is fleeing an abusive arranged fiancé who is an oil company CEO.
The Director was an Australian who made music videos and it was his first international film - Russell Mulcahy. The scenes and song - Who wants to live forever - cuts to the soul and makes me cry every time. It's a kind of magic!
"He learned how to do joined-up handwritin', and they actually tried to set him on fire!" I accept this as an absolutely true and historically-accurate recounting of an event in the Drinker's life, and nothing can convince me to the contrary.
@4Freedom4All The first time I saw him admitting his age---AND his baldness---was in Robin and Marian, where he plays an ageing Robin Hood, returning from the Crusades. He was great in Outland, as well, from about the same period.
I was lucky enough to have been an 'extra' on Highlander, though I was only booked for the scenes shot in Jacob Street Studios, South London. So here's a little trivia for you all. In the underground car park scene, when MacLeod decapitates Fasil, then gets his blade stuck in the concrete pillar, they used a very short chap named Norman, to stand in for Fasil. He was fitted with a head-and-shoulders rig. Such a shame he never received a screen credit for that. Oh, and although I didn't make the edit for the theatrical release, I do appear in the Director's Cut - for all of two seconds. Such is the life of an extra! A great film shoot though and still one of my favourite fantasy films. There can be only one - no remake necessary.
My gods, we've got Scottish Royalty in these comments (whether you're Scottish or not, you are after that). Do you have any other cool stories from your days?
Had a Highlander weekend in NY city with a buddy many years ago. We went to Soho, Central Park, and saw the Silvercup sign from the top of the Empire State Building. We walked by Madison Square Garden and stopped at a Comic Shop across the street. I wanted to find the parking lot, but was in a rush. When they came out with the 20 Anniversary on DVD I found out the scene you were referring too was part of a stage built in Scotland. Makes me glad I went to the Comic Shop.
@@Naptosis Sadly I'm not Scottish. Yes I have loads of stories, but my 'career' as an extra has been sporadic, interspersed with 'proper jobs' (to pay bills etc.) I'm now working as a subtitler, mainly Japanese and Korean films/TV series, but also creating Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), subbing corporate videos and subtitling American TV series for an English Language School in Vietnam (to pay bills etc.) Anyway, here's one very brief 'extras' tale. I was hired to play a 10th Scottish warrior on Justin Kurzel's 'Macbeth' (2015). One week shooting on the Isle of Skye...in February! Some of Highlander was shot on Skye, by the way. So, driving rain, snow, sleet, high winds, you name it, we had it. Long shoot days. One day we were filming on The Cuillin, with a wind chill factor of -20deg C. Soaked through to the skin. I literally froze my nuts off. Three of us came down with hypothermia and ended up in an ambulance, wrapped in silver blankets. It was a very tough shoot, but I'd do it again in a sec if they called me back. Extras are like nomads, roaming around and meeting up on different shoots so you get to meet and swap stories with some wild people. My stories are tame compared to some I've heard.
"When your story uses supernatural elements as its backbone, then trying to explain and rationalize every element of it destroys the very thing that makes it so interesting in the first place- the unknown." I'm looking at you, midichlorians.
Yeah, that's the start of it; but George's idea for the sequels was to introduce the alien species that CREATED midichlorians AND The Force. His idea was to actually completely demystify The Force by detailing its origin.
Didn't demistify it as badly as the Sequels did by making it the ultimate plot contrivance power (even by OT standards) that immediately gets unlocked by the protagonist because the writers were too lazy and it takes me out of the film because I realize Im watching a poorly written film that uses the Force to excuse its shit writing. Ah yeah, and its also genetic because they make it a bloodline thing between good and evil ones. Midichlorians are silly but the menchildren saying 'I cant be a Jedi now, I need to be born with them!' Im like "you cant be a Jedi because the Force doesnt exist, and fucking nothing stops you from just imagining you have them. Plus its still about training, Yoda has less than Anakin but he can still kick his ass."
@@DeepEye1994 Personally,for me, what would have killed the "Awe" of the Force was Lucas's idea to introduce the species that created the Force into the sequels. He created this big mysterious power that seems to have a will of its own - like if human beings suddenly discovered how to wield God's power yet he's still in control and deciding whom to allow to use it. But then to take away all that awe and wonder by introducing the race that created the Force itself AND the medichlorians?? Not a very Star Wars thing to do. Which coming from its Father is a heartbreaking though to have. He already pushed his luck by creating the biggest waste of imagination when he created Jar Jar Binks.
@@patrickcromwell7554 What's truly sad about that is Star Wars (the first trilogy) is very much a story about the triumph of humanity over technology. The Force is effectively a metaphor for humanism. Demystifying The Force is a complete deconstruction/destruction of that theme. Between that, and "Han shot first" (Han shooting Greedo first establishes his selfishness and self-centeredness, making his ultimate intervention at the Death Star a vital culmination of character development; having Greedo shoot first guts an important character arc)...I'm pretty convinced that Lucas got lucky with Star Wars, because he clearly doesn't know what made it a compelling story.
He should have added "Intergrity". Lots of talented film makers out there but no morals that they'll follow their corporate Hollywood leaders to make thier propaganda piece instead of nurturing a piece of art that has the balls to be creative & free like these classics that will "forever" be loved by the fans thru the test of time.
They are true words but they’re not really going to help anybody. I mean those words are why they keep making remakes. If they had any brains, creativity, or skill they’d make something new.
Hollywood is dead. Zero creativity. Endless remakes, reboots, bad copies... ...there will be nothing to reboot from this generation, nothing to remake, nothing and no one to remember.
@@jcb3393 so fn true... I remember going to the cinema to watch it being excited cause the original was soooo great. For the whole movie I'm like WTF is this shite.!!
Kurgan's line, "Forgive me father, I am a worm.", is still one of my favourites. The delivery is perfect, the smirk on his face, everything, it all just works. The Highlander, Dune, and Bram Stokers Dracula are still easily my top 3 films of all time.
I feel like an idiot lol I saw the shirt and started thinking "yeahh... it's a decent shirt.... maybe I could pull it off.... I wonder what it's even c- oh shit it's part of the kilt outfit isn't it?" I only realized that once I saw your comment and saw there was a joke around the corner. Still.... looks like a pretty dope shirt.....
Clancy Brown said in an interview that he basically was paid a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza for his part in the movie. Nobody thought it would grow into the epic classic that it now is and he never knew he was creating one of the most iconic characters in film history. I think that just makes the movie even better because the people in the film did it for love of films and not greed or awards. They spent their biggest money hiring Sean Connery so they could have at least one big name to sell a few tickets.
I read an interview with him years ago where he said the studio approached him to come back in Highlander 2: The Quickening. He read the script, told them it was completely betraying everything about the original movie and if they wanted him back they'd have to fix the script to make it true to the original, and he never heard from them again. He said the studio guys had dollar signs in their eyes, the original movie was the only thing they made that made a lot of money and they were going to wring every penny out of it.
@@richtifilmpalast5373 you mean "Hi.. I´m Candy"....*rumbling of stones answers* "Of course you are..." his voice (and his acting) just super awesome and fitting.
@@Nempo13 that show was good fun though. Adrian Paul aced the role imo. Detached from the movie might have been a good thing there too. I'm not strictly against giving movies and shows slightly different universes, if the changes pay out
@Tom Ffrench with Stahelski and Cavil attached it doesn’t seem like it would have the humorous cheese factor. They will probably play it straight, which could be cool but one dimensional.
There's been so many bad highlander sequels...this hardly a sacred cow. There's been spin offs shows, so not as if the movies stopped at one and nothing else ever happened. I'm fine with it being rebooted, as I think this could be done well, but I can understand people being leery of it happening.
I was in it in Glen Nevis. It was even powerful on the set. When you watch it you can see half the people from Fort William and all over Lochaber. All the movies made in the West Highlands brought a lot of work to locals. I was an extra in Highlander, for a German film on the Jacobite train and at Carbisdale Castle then Being Human with Robin Williams and building sets on Rob Roy on Rannach moor and in Glen Coe, White Corries. They took over part of the Glen Nevis distillery and built Rob Roy sets there. Missed Brave Heart because I was working in England then. Working on TV series and two movies here in Finland one speaking part and as an extra. Highlander was my first one. Working on any movie is a great thing. I must say that Sean Connery did a lot of work in helping Christopher Lambert with his lines and how to play it.
The greatest movie ever made in my opinion. From the soundtrack, the cinematography, the cast, setting, story arcs, the T&A, the comedy, just everything. I have literally been watching this movie since I was 4 years old. I'm 31 now. I burned through 4 VHS tapes of this movie in my youth from watching it every single day. This film has helped to shape me into the man I am today. And yes I have seen all of the sequels all 7 of them and the anime and the TV series all because of this film. I hate to say it but if it is remade I'll have to go and see it. Just hope they have Christopher Lambert as Ramirez if they do. Otherwise I'll have to riot. Anyway, I'm so glad you love this film too. True man of culture this drinker guy.
It'll be just like the 'Robocop' remake: a minority of people will watch it, they will immediately forget it, and everyone will go right back to acknowledging the original as the only one that matters.
It is strange how your reviews make me want to rewatch both the good and the bad just to fully understand how you saw it. I learn a lot about how these are put together from you. Thanks.
A film that is surprisingly deep in many philosophical aspects. Back in the days when you could leave the cinema but be unable to stop thinking about a story and plot. Agreed it has it issues, mostly due to budgetry constrains, but still a magnificent effort with a superb soundtrack. Definitely one of my favourite films.
Also want to add that I notice that the quality of the "sword" fighting often gets ripped apart in reviews of the film. Being of the slightly older generation to have watched Starwars the first time around I am definitely more appreciative of the limited moves but more drama approach...think Luke wailing on Vader in RotJ. One of the reason the prequels/sequels left me largely cold was the over choreographed/ballet approach which after a few minutes becomes extremely sterile & boring. Keep it simple and more realistic.
its not just this movie in particular. all hollywood does is shit out reboots and remakes these days. there is no originality in hollywood anymore. this is just what it is now. cycling through remaking and more often than not mixing identity politics in there. its just fucking shite.
Actually small amounts actually improve it's function actually .... that's why I never drink , and when I do it's usually just a few shots all at once , or shotgunning beers , nothing else , ...not ever, but that's about once or twice a month ....tops.
Now now, while Highlander 2 did really screw with everything about the first film, it was a fun entertaining movie if you considered it a standalone story.
I think the Queen soundtrack really took the movie to a higher level. Unless they use the same songs, no remake is going to touch the original just on that ground alone - the Who Wants to Live Forever bit where Heather turns around and is old whilst Connor has remained young and her death is actually emotionally affecting.
I rewatched this a couple weeks ago and I notice something I missed before. Current Conner is suffering from PTSD with flashes of violent images haunting him and distracting him from the present. Almost that the entire point of the disjointed narrative was actually a perspective on Conner’s PTSD acting out, dragging him back to his painful past. Like in the scene where he’s watching the wrestling match he get triggered by the crowd and a PSTD episode triggers a flashback. A subtle nod to the psychological dangers of fighting a war for hundreds of years.
Only thing is that the flashback comes after he fights the immortal in the parking garage. While watching the match he feels the other immortals presence and is on edge because of that. The guy sitting next to him is smacking his back while cheering and is lucky Connor didn’t do a pre mature beheading.
@@kbar3612 I literally just rewatched it and no, the sounds and imagery of the wrestling match was juxtaposed against a Celtic battleground. The scenes were flashing back and forth before. The guy was yelling at him, but the noises he was trying to drown out was the sounds of war from his past. He’s actively trying to fight an episode. He is only distracted from his episode by feeling the quickening and then promptly running off. Later when the cop is arresting him and pointing a gun at his face he starts to blankly stare off directly into the cop car’s flashing lights into a flashback of being dead for the first time. It’s only when he goes to his fortress of antique solitude surrounded by relics of his past his has a pleasant flashback to his two greatest love’s, his wife and best friend. Conner’s character in the present is also a lonely damaged person with almost everyone he’s known dead or killed by his own hand. In his youth Conner was boisterous and full of life. The Connor of the present is broken. When he asks the police consultant women to walk her home it can be seen as a way of using her as protection. Having a mortal there could avoid a fight with another immortal as they don’t want mortals involved. He miscalculated because the immortal chasing him was The Kurgan and readily kills mortals. Even at the very beginning Connor tries to talk Fasil out of a fight but Fasil won’t listen. He’s tired of all the killing. Near the end of the movie Connor’s character has healed through love and a connection to his life again. Only then does he have conversational flashbacks with Rachel and Kastagir, not PTSD ones. The arc of Conner’s character isn’t to get stronger, as he’s already strong enough to beat The Kurgan. His arc is to heal from all of his past emotional wounds. Being an immortal, his body will heal, his heart won’t. The Kurgan of the present being a great example of the mental toll it is being an immortal. Kurgan of the present was unhinged, not like the war lord of when Connor and him first met. The reason Connor won was because he overcame his damaged past and thus became one with all of humanity. He was alone lost in the past, now he’s connected to all things of the present. It’s a great take on the warrior archetype where the key to victory is human connection not power. Brenda saves Connor’s life after all, in a way even, humanity(Brenda) chose the winner. There is so much more than just guys with swords in this movie. This movie should never be remade...
@@ManicPandaz The main song agrees with you. It starts with "who wants to live forever?" and ends with "then we can live forever!". To me it is about a broken man being healed and finding a reason to live again.
I hadn't thought of it that way, but that does make sense, especially when you think about the fact that these characters live so long and see so much.
Clancy brown is just epic and the fact that he does SO many animated voices is just a plus. Also, I had forgotten the fabulous Freebirds open this movie 😂😂😂
Which can't be historically accurate. The FB's run in WWE/-F was only two weeks or so, and I'm not sure, A, if it was in 85 or, B, if they were there long enough to work the Garden.
Masterpiece movie. Story the characters the dialogue the music the chemistry between the leads, the action scenes, the sword fighting, the cinematography. Everything is perfect
As a child when this came out, not only were the scene swapping and movies details amazing, the soundtrack is something that we can never replace, it’s no less and maybe more then john Williams in Star Wars. Absolute pillar of a work.
@@CahyoPrabowo and all of that only applies in the US and the countries that may have treaties on copyright with the US, the rest of the work doesn’t care. Wonder what a Chinese Highlander film would be like.
Just imagine if they put a based on true events tag at the first of Highlander! 🤣 I would love to see it happen now just to watch idoits freak out and try to convince people its not a true historical film! Because you know some idiots would say its not a true film like Braveheart!🤣🤣🤣🤣
My dad showed me this movie after he saw a reference for it on an episode of amazing world of gumball, and it's now one of my favorite fantasy movies. I love the transfer of knowledge and power when the final immortal wins the fight, very cool and kinda creepy. The second one was weird
Read an interview with Clancy Brown where he said he’d go out after a shoot without taking his makeup off and scared the shit out of people at the bar...awesome!!!!
My dad did the same thing after his tongue cancer operation with a colossal stitched-up wound down his neck. When replying one day to a barman he said "I'll slit my throat if I'm wrong. I've already been wrong once this week, you can see..."
There was if you refuse to acknowledge the rest. It is like star wars. You only watch the ones worth your time. 4,5,6, the prequel to 4 and then the Mandelorean.
As this includes the deleted ending (in the review) you might say that wrapped up any NEED for a sequel. The end of Highlander 2, though, was one of the more... tolerable bits, of that ill-starred effort, that said.
There was, just like there was only one Matrix movie and the three Star Wars movies. I don't know why people keep talking about hypothetical sequels that never existed. Weird.
The issue with H2, even as fans, was how do you add to a complete story? Sure, it missed out the background stories of how the other Immortals got their ‘irresistible urge’ to travel to New York. But that wouldn’t be a Highlander film (look up Disney film ‘Solo’). Hence Sean Connery’s reluctance unless there was a decent script.
I once posted the video of Princes of the Universe, recut so that it was just scenes of MacLeod walking around doing nothing at all, to see if people noticed. (They didn't.) th-cam.com/video/Lfv1dE3OjD8/w-d-xo.html
@@pjsmith4409 Thanks. I remember enjoying making it. The stuff I like best is when Freddie is pumping his fist with various pyrotechnics going off behind, while it intercuts with MacLeod putting his jacket and keys down.
@@KaitainCPS full disclosure, I used to act out the fight scenes from the video when I was a kid, so I knew what was supposed to happen at each part of the song. So yeah, just as you said, the song gets intense and he's just walking more rofl.
I think the best follow up to the original Highlander movie was the Highlander TV series. If the movie studio is smart, they'll cast Adrian Paul as Conner MacLeod's mentor in the re-make.
The Highlander was my introduction to Clancy Brown. You can imagine my surprise lo those many years later when I found out he was the voice for Mr. Crabs on Spongebob Squarepants.
Not sure about underrated, he’s been working constantly since the 80’s. He’s got a lot of iconic roles under his belt. He’s been everything from Lex Luther to Red Hulk, Surtur and the Kurgan. I would say he’s been well used and perfectly rated.
HIGHLANDER is my all time favourite movie. Even Ramirez respected Kurgan as a warrior, indeed he, literally says Kurgan is a perfect warrior and the strongest of the immortals.
I never heard about this remake, until I stumbled on this video. They are nuts. There is no way they can come close to the original. They are just setting themselves up for failure. I will never understand why critics didn't rate this higher when it was released. I've watched it well over 10 times. It's just so good in so many ways. The characters are fantastic, the story never lets up. There are touches of humor without being stupid. Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Christopher Lambert are perfect. Awesome Queen Soundtrack, really lovely cinematography. Some movies just have all the elements, and stand out as even greater than the sum of those elements. Some of my other favorites the would be nuts to even think about remaking: Pulp Fiction, Casablanca, Princess Bride. You just can't capture the magic of the time, and the actors that made their roles. IMO they should do an "inspired by" type of story, because the closer they come to the original story the more evident it will how you just can capture what made the original so special.
A while ago, Ray Stevenson was considered for the Kurgen in the reboot. IMO, he would have been great. He's an awesome actor and is really tall with a big frame. But I think he's probably out of the running since he was never as successful as he should have been and he's getting old. I would actually like to see Scott Adkins as the Kurgen. Just have him do it as a crazier Yuri Boyka and it would be great. Dude is also tall, built like crazy and can do amazing martial arts scenes. Unfortunately he has the stigma of being a direct-to-video actor.
Drinker wearing a kilt, ranting, and slaming the door with a bottle of wisky, is the most scotish epic scene ive ever witnessed. Cheers buddy, keep going strong
Watched it again recently. Heather’s death had me in tears, it’s a haunting scene that didn’t affect me that much as a teenager. As a middle aged man it was something else.
That's what I love about the movie. The fact that Connor will not leave her even though she's old. But their love was so great. It always chokes me up when she dies. That's why sadly I didn't much care for Brenda. They didn't have that kind of chemistry. I agree with Drinker, they would only screw it up, and probably make it like Highlander 2.
@@FightCollective Russell Mulcahy was a music video director before Highlander, and he definitely knew how to use Queen soundtrack in the movie. Who Wants to Live Forever song is perfect in Heather growing old and dying scene.
@@zakalwe2240 Hell yeah. He's so wonderfully evil lol. It's not too often you have a role with an actor so well suited to the essence of the character, Clancy Brown is such a class act in real life too. Had an AMA on Reddit about 7 years ago and made these comments about Highlander: There was not a whole lot of fun to be had, it was a strange set. You know, we were all trying to make a good movie, and the producers were trying to, you know, make money any way they could, so there were a lot of things we had to work around, do on the cheap because of those producers. I don't know, there was just a point - I wasn't getting paid anything, Sean was getting paid a lot, so you have to decide if you're going to have fun or not, so the only thing I could have on that set was fun, so that's what I had! It's not one of my favorite experiences making that movie, although I did have fun on it, the circumstances of making it were very hard. And not pleasant, for a lot of people. I think Sean was fine, Sean worked for a couple of weeks and then took his money and did Untouchables, and Christoph was having fun, because he had just won the Cesar in france, so he was living the highlife. Roxanne and I were just trying to get by, you know, do what we could. It wasn't much on the page, to the Kurgan, it was not written well, it was just kind of a big thuggish bad guy, so I had to do something to make it interesting for myself, and Russel (the director) was having fun, so he let me get away with whatever I wanted to do. He was enjoying it enough, and it was a hard shoot for him as well. Some people onsets have a harder pull than other people, like Sean, he made a lot of money for very little work in those days, so he had fun, and others of us had a harder time and had to find more ways to enjoy ourselves.
Agreed. In fact I'd put the Kurgan right up there with Darth Vader. It's the kind of depth of character that no amount of special effects can make up for. And a far cry from the drivel we get these days.
I figured out why they are remaking everything from our childhoods, and they are all universally terrible. Its the Ultimate form of demoralization. You know whats worse than putting out terrible movie after movie? Destroying the movies , shows, and games you once loved and held dear.
Yeah, its like resurrecting a long gone childhood pet only to have its maggot infested corpse follow you around making you wish you had left it to rest in peace.
they're trying to act like 80s were like the 60s.. except it wasn't ha.. they take these old films and remake it with social agenda's.. here's the shit.. the kids like the stone age version lol.. nobody in the 8o's was like the KKK is kool.. but gen Z is like "WE LOVE THE OG MOVIEZ" haaaa
"We do not know the answers to these questions, because we do not need to know. And if we are honest, we do not want to know either". You spoke the true reason for the failure of any f**** cash-grab reboot nowadays.
Was waiting for you to cover this. One of the most underrated movies in history with ground-breaking cinematography that remains largely unmatched to this day. Great video on a legendary film, Drinker.
Definitely not underrated by those with any common sense. The series was pretty kick ass too! That is, until you get to season 5, when they "jump the shark."
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I posted coment before you drinker I won
Did you ever review or play Jedi Fallen Order ?
Oddly when I was 12 my Baptist Sunday school teacher held a guys only movie night ( it was the 80s) and he showed us his favorite movie: Highlander. Completely changed my life regarding movies and stories, ignited an interest in history, the soundtrack inspired me to become a professional musician, and needless to say it's my favorite film of all time. When it comes to sequels, TV shows, and remakes, all I can say is NO! There can be only one.
If done right, there CAN be two.
There can be only one....
A Scotsman playing an Egyptian, a Frenchman playing a Scotsman, an American playing a Russian. See? Highlander was doing Diversity based casting before it was cool!
What? There is no diversity amongst white people… and Egyptian‘s. 🤔
Hahaha 😀... Good one
@@MamaMOB ehm, there is.
@@horribleIRUKANDJI yea that was the joke. 🤦♀️
@@MamaMOB really hope that's sarcasm
Drinker in a kilt, spitting truth. My Saturday is complete!
That outburst was a long time coming.
Let us have our complete Saturday... together?
Gotta say, that was fun to watch... although I fully share his sentiment.
😂😂😂 I loved it
Not without a Scotch 🥃
I like to imagine that Sean Connery’s agent explained the script to his client like this: “It’s a movie where everyone is Scottish except you.”
😂
Even though they actually arent. Fancy it Sean?
Pretty sure Connery agreed to the role specifically because he would NOT being playing a Scot.
@@chonconnor6144 This could be the case
@@chonconnor6144 He was offered the role of the Highlander but turned it down ASKING to be Ramirez.
Can we just admit Clancy Brown is one of the most underrated actors of our time?
Nail on the head.
Truth
I admit that Clancy Brown is one of the most underrated actors of our time!
His performance in Highlander is amazing, the joyride he goes on with Brenda with Queen doing their version of "New York, New York" is one of the most hilarious sequences in any movie!. just a great performance.
Forgive me father…I am but a worm.
Fun fact: my dad was a cameraman on the original Highlander movie. Not a large claim to fame maybe but I think its pretty cool!
It's cool!
That's so cool!
Its cewl :)
Some heroes are behind the lens. he did his part, and brought me joy. Shake his hand for me. I have tons of great memories attached to this film!
Your father is a Prince of the Universe.
Sean Connery....the only actor who could play a character of any nationality with a strong Scottish accent and get away with it. Legend!
@@octomancer that's the best impersonation of Sean Connery I've ever read!👍
@@octomancer one ping only!
Only Sir Sean can make a guy like Hwhan Schanchez Villahah-lobhos Hramirez interesting
Yup
Lambert the only French guy charming - innocent enough in that roll to play a Scot and not be instantly called out on it.
The motto of this film sums it up perfectly.
“There can be only one”
Hollywood: “Nah it’ll be fine”
Ok but there are already 6
"There can be only one good movie."
No, it is "There can Be...Only...ONE!"
@Captain Caveman two horrible tv shows if you count that Raven spinoff
That rant towards the beginning of the essay was great, and the fact The Drinker storms out of the room only to reveal he's wearing a Kilt is the cherry on top.
This was my first video of his that I've ever watched, and that rant had me in stitches....it was an instant subscribe!
F*cking legend! Lmaooooooo
Thankfully he was wearing clothes
@@Klaaism But probably not any underpants...
@@baybydilly742 As is tradition amongst us. ;)
Critically Drinker: "Scottish people are the best at stabbing others with their swords"
Me: "Now I know why you are Tatiana's favorite"
HA
I like the drinkers guns in the background
As a Scotsman i agree!!!
😂
@@bemotivated8443 As a Texan, they were so small I didn't even notice!!!
"There can be only one." That's all what I have to say about Highlander movies.
Or, "there WAS only one" or, "there really should only be ONE!".
There were no sequels. There is only one.
@@RussellNelson that being said Russ, I enjoyed Adrian Paul in the TV series. Sure the writing was cringy at times, but he was dedicated to the training.
Happy Halloween ladies!
@@jimbomclachlan5892 Nuns. No sense of humor.
You know the Drinker is angry when he shows himself on camera, and you know he's at his scottish angriest when he's wearing a kilt on camera
I thoughtScottish people always wore kilts
It happens most often when we get angry. It's ancient haggis magic.
Naaah, he'll be fine!
I thought Scottish people always are angry
You should change your name to Mr Obvious.
Damn, it was so refreshing to see a villain onscreen with genuine presence. The Kurgan was intimidating, unpredictable and fearsome. He had a physicality about him that you just done see in modern movies any more.
Estrogen, hormones and the hatred of masculinity is to blame
And above all……he was a threat
Eh... nearly every mainstream lead man has been either super buff or super not depending on film demographic. But outright the number of films with very muscular male actors is huge over the last 30 years.
The difference is the writing, and direction to bring actual menace to such characters shifting to a more superfulous prescence.
Aesthetically nice, but little practical relevance.
*"There can be only one"* really should be the current mantra for movie fans
Movie fans do believe in that mantra. Would be nice if movie studios got the fucking memo too.
This right here....
I second that.
Slight Correction: There *Should* only be One".
After finishing all MCU movies ( i liked most of them) i felt tired with all those universes, full of easter eggs, references etc. I wanna go back to watching stand alone stories which are satysfying on their own. Ok, i can watch nice trilogy , if it has good ways to expand story, not overblowing it to eleven, turning it into self parody, or subverting tropes for cheap shock value.
Queen’s soundtrack for this film is fucking legendary.
Queen and composer Michael Kamen turned in movie history with the OST and score, also Queen doing the Flash Gordon score/soundtrack was just as legendary
I bought it on cassette all the way back in 1988. Well, my dad bought it for me. I was only 8.
Next one with Beyonce, Drake, Taylor Swift and Cardi B., to ensure to reach the young audience...
"Here we are!"
How can you hear, "here we are, born to be kings, we're the princes of the universe." and not feel like lopping someone's head off?
I love how the script originated as an assignment in film class, and the teacher thought it was so good that he encouraged Greg Widen to submit it to a producer. Widen was surprised and pleased when it was accepted and turned into a movie, but expected the Scottish scenes to be shot in some "styrofoam castle in Maine". Imagine his surprise when he learned that it was going to be shot on location, and with Sean Connery in a major role.
Yeah, but with Sean Connery playing an Egyptian, and a Frenchman playing the Scot. That had to be sobering wake-up call.
@@dhunter1133 Ramirez was Egyptian, I thought he was a Spaniard.
@@KingofNewark - Nope, he was Egyptian. In his current "life," he was chief metallurgist to the King of Spain, hence the flamboyant outfit.
Hope that guy chose a career in writing manuscripts.
Yeah I remember hearing that it wasn't really going anywhere until they took a wild shot and sent the script to Connery's agent. Connery loved it, signed up and suddenly the whole thing took off.
One thing I love about older movies is that they are able to tell compelling stories for secondary characters in just a few scenes. Take for example here in Highlander the case of Connor's secretary, she was a little girl in WWII when she was rescued by him, then she grew up and fell in love with him until she got old. You have all you need to know about her in just enough screen time and you can realize how dramatic it all is at the same time. Another example I like a lot is in The Crow, the relationship the little girl has with her drug-addict mother, how the mother is saved and how she tries to rebuild the relationship with her daughter, all just in a couple of scenes, a kind of story that could easily be told on its own movie. It's amazing.
I didn’t even realise that. I was too busy laughing at how ridiculous it is that an American girl was in Germany in 1943.
sad as fuck.. she loved that dude and he said nah i ain't fuckn u.. i been thru hell.. she waited till she was old and useless.. she looked out for him too.. the film is actually dramatic for a fucking slasher flick
@@AutomaticDuck300 Wait, wasn't she British?
@@gethric she was Jewish.
My favorite has to be Roach from Apocalypse Now. Everything about him fascinated me.
How can Henry Cavill play an immortal Scotsman, he’s not even French
Oddly enough he's actually played a Frenchman (with an English accent) In the 2002 Count of Monte Cristo, a babyfaced teenaged Cavill played the hero's son.
Henry's mum is scottish tho. So he have Scottish blood in him at least lol
Lmao
🤣🤣🤣
The Scots play the Scots and the Ruskies play the Ruskies. No need for acting in this day and age.
Highlander: "There should have been only one."
There was only 1. I keep hearing rumours that they made a 2nd and 3rd, but that is completely untrue .
@@Flakey101 And a 4th and a 5th!
plus two sequels and a tv series
Yes 😄. The TV series is kind of good thou.
@@HappyCatholicDane I enjoyed the TV series until the last season. That one was pretty awful.
Drinker is correct, This masterpiece is not something to be messed with.
Clancy Brown was also featured in Starship Troopers, what a legend
And in The Shawshank Redemption.
*Cough* Buckaroo Banzai *Cough*
And as Mr (Eugene) Krabs at SpongeBob SquarePants 🤡
And “Viking” in Bad Boys with Sean Penn. A great but underrated film.
Oh crap!!!!!!!! That WAS him Starship Troopers!!!!!!!!!!!!!😯😯😯
After viewing the sequels: “There should have been only one”. Loved the original, it’s a jewel among 80’s films. The script was written by a college student as a student project, stunningly creative.
The show is great and so is endgame that's about it
"There should have been only one"
Brilliant 👏 👏 👏 👏
Thanks, I couldn't resist@@neilgodwin6531
Fun fact: The guy who wrote _Highlander,_ Gregory Wyden, also wrote the screenplay for another cult classic, _The Prophecy._ Both movies had really original mythological backstories, and both spawned absolutely god-awful sequels. No coincidence that Wyden wasn't involved with the sequels to either franchises, since he didn't own the rights, something very common in the industry, back then.
Didn't know that - I liked The Prophecy. I'll keep my eyes peeled for his next project. @@pcdm43145
I am honestly shocked that you didn't end the video with:
"In the end, there can be only one."
A missed opportunity.
"THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!"
It is the bloody tagline for the movie! I mean, it is RIGHT THERE! How more obvious can it be?
"...WELL...MAYBE A COUPLE OF SEQUELS..."
The cartoon films werent that bad either
"I have something to say. It's better to burn out, than fade away."
In before the tv series
@@markswabey5870 Wait, WHAT! There were cartoons?
Ten bucks says that Ramirez gets recast as a strong, empowered woman of colour.
Queen Latifah as a Mexican-American lesbian with a past as a strong badass witch hunter. The bad guy can't be Russian this time. He wil be Jewish. And pale. The main character will fall in love with a Korean girl this time. Can't wait! lol
Dear God , NO !!!
well if enough of us stop throwing $$ at woke hollywood they'll stop ruining our childhood
@@Brian-s3m Got my vote !!
@@frankn356 Nah, the main character (a Pacific Islander/Inuit) will fall for a half-panda Timorese refugee who is fleeing an abusive arranged fiancé who is an oil company CEO.
The Director was an Australian who made music videos and it was his first international film - Russell Mulcahy.
The scenes and song - Who wants to live forever - cuts to the soul and makes me cry every time.
It's a kind of magic!
Mulcahy knew Queen from his other line of work and sold them on it. Made the film so much better with Murcury's haunting lyrics.
credit is due also to Neil Young for the line, "it's better to burn out than to fade away", from whom Queen lifted it
@@NondescriptMammal as an ‘80s teen when this movie came out I always gave the credit to Joe Elliott from the intro to “Rock of Ages”.
@@darthcy9790 It's a Brian May music.
The cinematic effects were quite amazing for a film that had such a shoestring background.
"He learned how to do joined-up handwritin', and they actually tried to set him on fire!"
I accept this as an absolutely true and historically-accurate recounting of an event in the Drinker's life, and nothing can convince me to the contrary.
I was the only person in my English literature class, who wrote in cursive. No one could read my notes 😅.
"Joined-up handwriting..." 😆 I fucking lawled at this
That moment you realize Connery played an old man for nearly 40 years. RIP legend.
@4Freedom4All Unfortunately not everyone ages so gracefully, even with expensive cosmetic treatments.
@4Freedom4All The first time I saw him admitting his age---AND his baldness---was in Robin and Marian, where he plays an ageing Robin Hood, returning from the Crusades. He was great in Outland, as well, from about the same period.
I was lucky enough to have been an 'extra' on Highlander, though I was only booked for the scenes shot in Jacob Street Studios, South London. So here's a little trivia for you all. In the underground car park scene, when MacLeod decapitates Fasil, then gets his blade stuck in the concrete pillar, they used a very short chap named Norman, to stand in for Fasil. He was fitted with a head-and-shoulders rig. Such a shame he never received a screen credit for that. Oh, and although I didn't make the edit for the theatrical release, I do appear in the Director's Cut - for all of two seconds. Such is the life of an extra! A great film shoot though and still one of my favourite fantasy films. There can be only one - no remake necessary.
My gods, we've got Scottish Royalty in these comments (whether you're Scottish or not, you are after that). Do you have any other cool stories from your days?
That would be a memory I would treasure always. Cool story.
Had a Highlander weekend in NY city with a buddy many years ago. We went to Soho, Central Park, and saw the Silvercup sign from the top of the Empire State Building. We walked by Madison Square Garden and stopped at a Comic Shop across the street. I wanted to find the parking lot, but was in a rush. When they came out with the 20 Anniversary on DVD I found out the scene you were referring too was part of a stage built in Scotland. Makes me glad I went to the Comic Shop.
@@Naptosis Sadly I'm not Scottish. Yes I have loads of stories, but my 'career' as an extra has been sporadic, interspersed with 'proper jobs' (to pay bills etc.) I'm now working as a subtitler, mainly Japanese and Korean films/TV series, but also creating Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), subbing corporate videos and subtitling American TV series for an English Language School in Vietnam (to pay bills etc.)
Anyway, here's one very brief 'extras' tale. I was hired to play a 10th Scottish warrior on Justin Kurzel's 'Macbeth' (2015). One week shooting on the Isle of Skye...in February! Some of Highlander was shot on Skye, by the way. So, driving rain, snow, sleet, high winds, you name it, we had it. Long shoot days. One day we were filming on The Cuillin, with a wind chill factor of -20deg C. Soaked through to the skin. I literally froze my nuts off. Three of us came down with hypothermia and ended up in an ambulance, wrapped in silver blankets. It was a very tough shoot, but I'd do it again in a sec if they called me back. Extras are like nomads, roaming around and meeting up on different shoots so you get to meet and swap stories with some wild people. My stories are tame compared to some I've heard.
@Projekt Kobra LOL yes I know exactly what you mean. Look, that's me...ooh you missed it.
"When your story uses supernatural elements as its backbone, then trying to explain and rationalize every element of it destroys the very thing that makes it so interesting in the first place- the unknown."
I'm looking at you, midichlorians.
Yeah, that's the start of it; but George's idea for the sequels was to introduce the alien species that CREATED midichlorians AND The Force. His idea was to actually completely demystify The Force by detailing its origin.
@@patrickcromwell7554 which would've ruined it as well, I think.
Didn't demistify it as badly as the Sequels did by making it the ultimate plot contrivance power (even by OT standards) that immediately gets unlocked by the protagonist because the writers were too lazy and it takes me out of the film because I realize Im watching a poorly written film that uses the Force to excuse its shit writing.
Ah yeah, and its also genetic because they make it a bloodline thing between good and evil ones.
Midichlorians are silly but the menchildren saying 'I cant be a Jedi now, I need to be born with them!' Im like "you cant be a Jedi because the Force doesnt exist, and fucking nothing stops you from just imagining you have them. Plus its still about training, Yoda has less than Anakin but he can still kick his ass."
@@DeepEye1994 Personally,for me, what would have killed the "Awe" of the Force was Lucas's idea to introduce the species that created the Force into the sequels. He created this big mysterious power that seems to have a will of its own - like if human beings suddenly discovered how to wield God's power yet he's still in control and deciding whom to allow to use it. But then to take away all that awe and wonder by introducing the race that created the Force itself AND the medichlorians?? Not a very Star Wars thing to do. Which coming from its Father is a heartbreaking though to have. He already pushed his luck by creating the biggest waste of imagination when he created Jar Jar Binks.
@@patrickcromwell7554 What's truly sad about that is Star Wars (the first trilogy) is very much a story about the triumph of humanity over technology. The Force is effectively a metaphor for humanism. Demystifying The Force is a complete deconstruction/destruction of that theme.
Between that, and "Han shot first" (Han shooting Greedo first establishes his selfishness and self-centeredness, making his ultimate intervention at the Death Star a vital culmination of character development; having Greedo shoot first guts an important character arc)...I'm pretty convinced that Lucas got lucky with Star Wars, because he clearly doesn't know what made it a compelling story.
Damn...didn't expect to see Drinker in person.
A surprise to be sure but a welcomed one.
You should check out the happy hour recordings on his "Critical Drinker After Hours" channel.
That's definitely going to be a gif.
"Ya don't have the brains, ya don't have the creativity, ya don't have the skill, ye've got nothin'!"
What especially surprise me was his guns they look pretty cool
Ikr
@Schatzi we only saw his office, what we didn’t see was him wading through the waist-deep piles of empty Jack Daniels and Jim Beans in the next room.
"You don't have the brains. You don't have the creativity. You don't have the skill" - The Drinker
True words the movie makers should live by...
Drinker suffering from the news and withdrawal at the same time. He's going to need an entire bar of alcohol to deal with the sequel.
He should have added "Intergrity". Lots of talented film makers out there but no morals that they'll follow their corporate Hollywood leaders to make thier propaganda piece instead of nurturing a piece of art that has the balls to be creative & free like these classics that will "forever" be loved by the fans thru the test of time.
Truth!
They are true words but they’re not really going to help anybody. I mean those words are why they keep making remakes. If they had any brains, creativity, or skill they’d make something new.
That's the thing, they DO live by it
Why else would they pump out so many remakes?
Literally the poster: “There can be only one.”
Hollywood: That sign can’t stop me, because I can’t read!
Hollywood: Nah, it'll be fine!
Hollywood is dead. Zero creativity. Endless remakes, reboots, bad copies...
...there will be nothing to reboot from this generation, nothing to remake, nothing and no one to remember.
Highlander 2: There should have been only one.
@@stlawstlaw7585 Depressingly true. The end of days. Burn Hollywood Burn.
@@jcb3393 so fn true... I remember going to the cinema to watch it being excited cause the original was soooo great. For the whole movie I'm like WTF is this shite.!!
Kurgan's line, "Forgive me father, I am a worm.", is still one of my favourites. The delivery is perfect, the smirk on his face, everything, it all just works. The Highlander, Dune, and Bram Stokers Dracula are still easily my top 3 films of all time.
My idea always was he meant a Wurm, a dragon..
My teenager and I are quite fond of "Mom!", when he hijacks that old couple's car.
"Nuns, no sense of humor."
...That's when THIS FUCKING LEGEND shows up!" Connery rides up on horseback, meeting Connor McLeod for the first time.... YES!
Highlander was so incredibly original. It’s still one of my favorite films.
It’s so ridiculous that it’s almost good.
@@AutomaticDuck300 It was certainly a wild ride
When I saw drinker's shirt: Dude is going medieval on us, nice. After he stood up: Mother of God.
So that’s what all Scott’s men looks ike I was right
I feel like an idiot lol
I saw the shirt and started thinking "yeahh... it's a decent shirt.... maybe I could pull it off.... I wonder what it's even c- oh shit it's part of the kilt outfit isn't it?"
I only realized that once I saw your comment and saw there was a joke around the corner.
Still.... looks like a pretty dope shirt.....
@@mutt9779 Extremely dope, I want it
Just his lounge wear, my dude
No shit, i was like holy crap!
Kurgan is one of my top 5 villains of all time. He's the perfect example of an anti-paladin in D&D. We need more villains like him.
Clancy Brown said in an interview that he basically was paid a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza for his part in the movie. Nobody thought it would grow into the epic classic that it now is and he never knew he was creating one of the most iconic characters in film history. I think that just makes the movie even better because the people in the film did it for love of films and not greed or awards. They spent their biggest money hiring Sean Connery so they could have at least one big name to sell a few tickets.
And Queen for the soundtrack!
I loved him in this one!0
Dialogues like: "Hi.. I'm Candy" ... "Of course you are...*meangrin* "
It won't get any better than that! lol
I read an interview with him years ago where he said the studio approached him to come back in Highlander 2: The Quickening. He read the script, told them it was completely betraying everything about the original movie and if they wanted him back they'd have to fix the script to make it true to the original, and he never heard from them again. He said the studio guys had dollar signs in their eyes, the original movie was the only thing they made that made a lot of money and they were going to wring every penny out of it.
@@richtifilmpalast5373 Corinne Russell, her of Vixen game cover fame.
@@richtifilmpalast5373 you mean "Hi.. I´m Candy"....*rumbling of stones answers* "Of course you are..." his voice (and his acting) just super awesome and fitting.
Modern studio: "Hey let's make a Highlander Reboot."
.
Me: "There can be only one!"
@@zero7190 and a TV show...that doesn't follow the movie MC.
there can be only one...nuff said
@@Nempo13 that show was good fun though. Adrian Paul aced the role imo. Detached from the movie might have been a good thing there too.
I'm not strictly against giving movies and shows slightly different universes, if the changes pay out
there going to base the reboot off of Highlander 2
No
As much as I like Cavil, Highlander has the right amount of 80’s cheese and awesomeness that really can’t be replicated.
Cavil might be up to it, but the publishers, directors and writers will likely strip it of everything that made the original a gem.
@@Fizz-Pop Who is Cavil supposed to be playing in the remake, MacLeod? He would be better suited to playing the Kurgan imo
@@Anw4rr10r I think he has the range to do both. How an actor is directed is very important.
@Tom Ffrench with Stahelski and Cavil attached it doesn’t seem like it would have the humorous cheese factor. They will probably play it straight, which could be cool but one dimensional.
There's been so many bad highlander sequels...this hardly a sacred cow. There's been spin offs shows, so not as if the movies stopped at one and nothing else ever happened. I'm fine with it being rebooted, as I think this could be done well, but I can understand people being leery of it happening.
I was in it in Glen Nevis. It was even powerful on the set. When you watch it you can see half the people from Fort William and all over Lochaber. All the movies made in the West Highlands brought a lot of work to locals. I was an extra in Highlander, for a German film on the Jacobite train and at Carbisdale Castle then Being Human with Robin Williams and building sets on Rob Roy on Rannach moor and in Glen Coe, White Corries. They took over part of the Glen Nevis distillery and built Rob Roy sets there. Missed Brave Heart because I was working in England then. Working on TV series and two movies here in Finland one speaking part and as an extra. Highlander was my first one. Working on any movie is a great thing. I must say that Sean Connery did a lot of work in helping Christopher Lambert with his lines and how to play it.
When it comes to the Highlander franchise, there can be only one.
The first two films were decent, but that's it. The TV show was meh.
I don´t know i think the Anime movie was pretty good.
@@Erikjust Wait they made an anime?
@@lastswordfighter It's over 10 yrs old at this point. It's called Highlander Vengeance or something like that
Friends don’t let friends watch Highlander 2.
It's like they said in the movie: "There can be only one!"
There can only be one.......and 13 sequels
@@KelticTim there's a reason their all poopoo...no matter how many you make
Literally everyone was thinking it
Yeah there was never supposed to be a sequel.
@@AD1978leo Yeah, I liked Micheal Ironside since I'm a Splinter Cell fan boy. But that didn't make Hylander 2 a good movie..
Expect high usage of words like "deconstruction" and "modern retelling."
@@kidmosey no, but neither one is a writer or a producer so…
I groaned just reading this.
They are only creative when coming up with euphemisms for shite.
INDEED
: ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
“The quickening”
The greatest movie ever made in my opinion. From the soundtrack, the cinematography, the cast, setting, story arcs, the T&A, the comedy, just everything. I have literally been watching this movie since I was 4 years old. I'm 31 now. I burned through 4 VHS tapes of this movie in my youth from watching it every single day. This film has helped to shape me into the man I am today. And yes I have seen all of the sequels all 7 of them and the anime and the TV series all because of this film. I hate to say it but if it is remade I'll have to go and see it. Just hope they have Christopher Lambert as Ramirez if they do. Otherwise I'll have to riot. Anyway, I'm so glad you love this film too. True man of culture this drinker guy.
After all these years, Heather is still really something. What a bonnie lass!
@@thereckoning8326 I agree, she was terrible. And not much to look at, either...
Well, whaddya know. Just discovered that Heather was played by Beatie Edney, daughter of Sylvia Syms, another spectacularly beautiful British actress.
She really is.
“That’s a lovely unique original film you have there..... be ashamed if someone gave it a pointless uninspiring cash grab remake” - Any Studio
Any studio: Disney
“That’s a lovely independent intellectual property you have there it would be a shame if someone bought it and pandered to China with it”- Disney
Immortals = Jedi, Aliens = mitachorians Lucas should have learned don't explain the magic.
*every studio
It'll be just like the 'Robocop' remake: a minority of people will watch it, they will immediately forget it, and everyone will go right back to acknowledging the original as the only one that matters.
Or like with predator
No joke, I tried watching it and I couldn't tell if I'd seen it before or not.
Gave up after 20 minutes.
Yeah probably try make it PG too
This is such a perfect comparison
The Robocop remake had Abbie Cornish who was quite a babe, reallyoved her husband, and didn't take any corporate crap.
It is strange how your reviews make me want to rewatch both the good and the bad just to fully understand how you saw it. I learn a lot about how these are put together from you. Thanks.
Hollywood's been trying to reboot Highlander for about 20 years, every project gets stuck in development hell and dies. Hopefully this one will too.
“It’s better to burn out, than to fade away” This is like the better and more badass version of “Going out with a bang”. Such a good line.
I’m done playing games so I’m going down in flames
It’s actually from a Neil Young song, Hey Hey, My My
@@milton7763 Yeah! And IIRC Kurt Cobain quoted it in his suicide note. 🤯
The Kurgan delivered the line *way* better than Ol' Mr Young, though.
isn't it kind of the same thing?
Q: "How many more classics are you gonna have to butcher before you give this shit up?"
A: All of them.
The next level: remaking the remakes!
b: all of them over and over and over and over... and over and over and over and over...... and over and over and over..
@@matthewwilliams9200 I wouldn't be surprised if one day they say: That's it! No more original IPs! We're now only gonna remake what we got!
@@tomasburian6550 after you go so far copyright takes alot of time
@@tomasburian6550 We are already there. Most recent "Mummy" was a remake of a remake, for instance.
A film that is surprisingly deep in many philosophical aspects. Back in the days when you could leave the cinema but be unable to stop thinking about a story and plot. Agreed it has it issues, mostly due to budgetry constrains, but still a magnificent effort with a superb soundtrack. Definitely one of my favourite films.
Also want to add that I notice that the quality of the "sword" fighting often gets ripped apart in reviews of the film. Being of the slightly older generation to have watched Starwars the first time around I am definitely more appreciative of the limited moves but more drama approach...think Luke wailing on Vader in RotJ. One of the reason the prequels/sequels left me largely cold was the over choreographed/ballet approach which after a few minutes becomes extremely sterile & boring. Keep it simple and more realistic.
The rare Drinker appearance, y'know, so that it's clear how disastrous this idea would be.
he clearly just wanted to show off his Connor McCleoud cosplay
The fact that we got a cut to the Drinker in real life, shows how much he truly hates that idea with all his alcohol-damaged heart.
exactly what i was thinking, he is like ETERNALS he only shows up when needed. get it?
its not just this movie in particular. all hollywood does is shit out reboots and remakes these days. there is no originality in hollywood anymore. this is just what it is now. cycling through remaking and more often than not mixing identity politics in there.
its just fucking shite.
@@ravinarf5224 I see what you did there!
Actually small amounts actually improve it's function actually .... that's why I never drink , and when I do it's usually just a few shots all at once , or shotgunning beers , nothing else , ...not ever, but that's about once or twice a month ....tops.
This franchise should have stuck to its famous catchphrase “there can be only one (film)”.
I did enjoy the Tv Series though. Never saw the Raven spin-off though.
Now now, while Highlander 2 did really screw with everything about the first film, it was a fun entertaining movie if you considered it a standalone story.
That last film, The Source, well the less said the better
@@-Keith- ironside as the villain was fun and it has a bit of predictive programming with the whole blocking out the sun
@@-Keith- I completely agree with you. I couldn't have put it better myself.
I think the Queen soundtrack really took the movie to a higher level. Unless they use the same songs, no remake is going to touch the original just on that ground alone - the Who Wants to Live Forever bit where Heather turns around and is old whilst Connor has remained young and her death is actually emotionally affecting.
It made us all fall in love with Heather right along with Connor, and miss her too.
I rewatched this a couple weeks ago and I notice something I missed before. Current Conner is suffering from PTSD with flashes of violent images haunting him and distracting him from the present. Almost that the entire point of the disjointed narrative was actually a perspective on Conner’s PTSD acting out, dragging him back to his painful past. Like in the scene where he’s watching the wrestling match he get triggered by the crowd and a PSTD episode triggers a flashback. A subtle nod to the psychological dangers of fighting a war for hundreds of years.
Only thing is that the flashback comes after he fights the immortal in the parking garage. While watching the match he feels the other immortals presence and is on edge because of that. The guy sitting next to him is smacking his back while cheering and is lucky Connor didn’t do a pre mature beheading.
@@kbar3612 I literally just rewatched it and no, the sounds and imagery of the wrestling match was juxtaposed against a Celtic battleground. The scenes were flashing back and forth before. The guy was yelling at him, but the noises he was trying to drown out was the sounds of war from his past. He’s actively trying to fight an episode. He is only distracted from his episode by feeling the quickening and then promptly running off.
Later when the cop is arresting him and pointing a gun at his face he starts to blankly stare off directly into the cop car’s flashing lights into a flashback of being dead for the first time. It’s only when he goes to his fortress of antique solitude surrounded by relics of his past his has a pleasant flashback to his two greatest love’s, his wife and best friend.
Conner’s character in the present is also a lonely damaged person with almost everyone he’s known dead or killed by his own hand. In his youth Conner was boisterous and full of life. The Connor of the present is broken. When he asks the police consultant women to walk her home it can be seen as a way of using her as protection. Having a mortal there could avoid a fight with another immortal as they don’t want mortals involved. He miscalculated because the immortal chasing him was The Kurgan and readily kills mortals. Even at the very beginning Connor tries to talk Fasil out of a fight but Fasil won’t listen. He’s tired of all the killing.
Near the end of the movie Connor’s character has healed through love and a connection to his life again. Only then does he have conversational flashbacks with Rachel and Kastagir, not PTSD ones. The arc of Conner’s character isn’t to get stronger, as he’s already strong enough to beat The Kurgan. His arc is to heal from all of his past emotional wounds. Being an immortal, his body will heal, his heart won’t. The Kurgan of the present being a great example of the mental toll it is being an immortal. Kurgan of the present was unhinged, not like the war lord of when Connor and him first met. The reason Connor won was because he overcame his damaged past and thus became one with all of humanity. He was alone lost in the past, now he’s connected to all things of the present.
It’s a great take on the warrior archetype where the key to victory is human connection not power. Brenda saves Connor’s life after all, in a way even, humanity(Brenda) chose the winner. There is so much more than just guys with swords in this movie. This movie should never be remade...
@@ManicPandaz The main song agrees with you. It starts with "who wants to live forever?" and ends with "then we can live forever!". To me it is about a broken man being healed and finding a reason to live again.
I hadn't thought of it that way, but that does make sense, especially when you think about the fact that these characters live so long and see so much.
A very good take MP. A+
"How many more of these Hollywood classics do you have to butcher?"
Hollywood: Yes
Until they run out of money, which I pray it will be happen within 10 years if not less.
Hollywood: All of them.
When this new generation start watching the OG classics and show the middle finger to the assholes in Hollywood.
Drinker is right.. They will butcher it...
Hollywood: Must consume all, ALL!!!
Moral of the story: Just go and watch Highlander.
The original specifically.
@@mrpj1390 That's why I didn't mention the sequels.
@@milicadiy I just don't want people to eventually mistake the remake for the original when it eventually comes out.
@@mrpj1390 Thanks for the information.
watch it everyday
Clancy brown is just epic and the fact that he does SO many animated voices is just a plus. Also, I had forgotten the fabulous Freebirds open this movie 😂😂😂
Which can't be historically accurate. The FB's run in WWE/-F was only two weeks or so, and I'm not sure, A, if it was in 85 or, B, if they were there long enough to work the Garden.
You know it's true rage when Drinker himself shows up to yell at the camera, then stomp off in his glorious kilt.
Amen brother!
Here we are, born to be kings: we're the princes of the universe . . .
The best „ Not a Sound Track“ sound track of any Film. Queen set the bar with highlander
I am immortal: I have inside me blood of kings!
@@DoctorSess I have no rival! NO MAN CAN BE MY EQUAL!!!
I am your rival, I have inside me blood of kings.
I
We
Tall
Did
I’ve never seen the Drinker this mad, which just speaks to how good Highlander really is.
Agreed, the mere fact he appeared live on the video, I think he was pissed.
My wife was laughing at that outburst. I said: "I have never seen him this mad!"
& how badly Hollywood screws up classics.
Masterpiece movie. Story the characters the dialogue the music the chemistry between the leads, the action scenes, the sword fighting, the cinematography. Everything is perfect
“Who wants to live forever?” Comes from this movie. Classic.
The whole soundtrack was Queen. Princes of the Universe, Who Wants to Live Forever and more.
The soundtrack was the best part of the movie.
Yes
still my favorite song ever
Kurgan:
I have something to say: it's better burn out, than to fade away!
“How do you fight such a savage?”
“With heart, faith and steel. In the end there can be only one.”
Drinker’s initial rant about how Hollywood needs to stop nailed it and everyone’s thoughts on the spate of hollywood dreck remakes.
The kilt was just the cherry on top
Did someone summoned me?
As a child when this came out, not only were the scene swapping and movies details amazing, the soundtrack is something that we can never replace, it’s no less and maybe more then john Williams in Star Wars. Absolute pillar of a work.
"Forgive me Father, I am a worm." Then licks the priest's hand. Best villain ever.
“I’m Candy.”
“Of course you are.”
And then twists his arm behind his back.
I have something to say, it's better to burn out than fade away.
you can always tell a true fan when they recognise the kurgens remarks
If I'm not mistaken, I think that may have been ad-libbed, Clancy just thought of it on the spot & the real priest just went with it.
Logical reason to remake:
Studio updating its copyright claim
That’s it.
under the copyright law, they don't need to renew their movie because it's protected for 95 years before entering the public domain.
@@CahyoPrabowo and all of that only applies in the US and the countries that may have treaties on copyright with the US, the rest of the work doesn’t care. Wonder what a Chinese Highlander film would be like.
@@InterCity134 Feel like that'd basically be The One with a little bit of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
They should have let it fall into public domain, as it will likely more successful under Indie's direction.
@@stormryder4305 The Bollylander. Rather than sword battles, they have 15 minute musical dance scenes.
Still more historically accurate than Braveheart.
True dat
Absolutely
Just imagine if they put a based on true events tag at the first of Highlander! 🤣
I would love to see it happen now just to watch idoits freak out and try to convince people its not a true historical film! Because you know some idiots would say its not a true film like Braveheart!🤣🤣🤣🤣
Brave heart never claimed to be a documentary. Unlike The Patriot which bragged, and took great pride in its accuracy.
Longshanks was the man!
My dad showed me this movie after he saw a reference for it on an episode of amazing world of gumball, and it's now one of my favorite fantasy movies.
I love the transfer of knowledge and power when the final immortal wins the fight, very cool and kinda creepy.
The second one was weird
The quickening.
You are NEVER allowed to say Connor MacLeod without also saying “of the clan MacLeod”
(Edit: fixed the spelling of MacLeod)
When I was young I thought this was how all Scottish people introduced themselves. "I am William McWhatever of the the clan McWhatever."
Exactly!!
Or the name Duncan lol
Goddamit you got there before me.
MacLeod actually, of the clan MacLeod
Read an interview with Clancy Brown where he said he’d go out after a shoot without taking his makeup off and scared the shit out of people at the bar...awesome!!!!
He does that as mr crabs too
LMAO!! I love it. Clancy was perfect for the part.
My dad did the same thing after his tongue cancer operation with a colossal stitched-up wound down his neck. When replying one day to a barman he said "I'll slit my throat if I'm wrong. I've already been wrong once this week, you can see..."
My kind of guy😂😂😂😂😂
Agree, but the series are very good too.
“There can be only One.”
Man there really should’ve been only one Movie.
There was if you refuse to acknowledge the rest. It is like star wars. You only watch the ones worth your time. 4,5,6, the prequel to 4 and then the Mandelorean.
@@mediaguyberlin Yup, I think I watched about 15 minutes of a sequel and turned it off. The first was a complete story.
As this includes the deleted ending (in the review) you might say that wrapped up any NEED for a sequel.
The end of Highlander 2, though, was one of the more... tolerable bits, of that ill-starred effort, that said.
There was, just like there was only one Matrix movie and the three Star Wars movies. I don't know why people keep talking about hypothetical sequels that never existed. Weird.
The issue with H2, even as fans, was how do you add to a complete story? Sure, it missed out the background stories of how the other Immortals got their ‘irresistible urge’ to travel to New York. But that wouldn’t be a Highlander film (look up Disney film ‘Solo’).
Hence Sean Connery’s reluctance unless there was a decent script.
The Drinker storming out in a kilt and shouting “arseholes!” in defense of The Highlander is still my favorite gag from this channel.
Queen's soundtrack is amazing but also give some love to Michael Kamen's incredible orchestral score.
Michael Kamen = legend. Lethal Weapon series.
Yes. Michael Kamen was an underrated composer. May he Rest In Peace
@@brandonmclendon5368 one that made Band of Brothers theme?
@@piotrd.4850 Yeah. And he did Mr Holland’s Opus, Iron Giant, X Men, and worked with musicians like Eric Clapton, Metallica, and Roger Daltrey.
"Who wants to live forever"--Majestic and heartbreaking at the same time. You know, like Scotland...
"Here we are. Born to be kings, we're the princes of the universe."
I once posted the video of Princes of the Universe, recut so that it was just scenes of MacLeod walking around doing nothing at all, to see if people noticed. (They didn't.)
th-cam.com/video/Lfv1dE3OjD8/w-d-xo.html
Might be my second comment on TH-cam.... But your vid left me in tears. Nicely done, thanks for the laugh
@@pjsmith4409 Thanks. I remember enjoying making it. The stuff I like best is when Freddie is pumping his fist with various pyrotechnics going off behind, while it intercuts with MacLeod putting his jacket and keys down.
@@KaitainCPS full disclosure, I used to act out the fight scenes from the video when I was a kid, so I knew what was supposed to happen at each part of the song. So yeah, just as you said, the song gets intense and he's just walking more rofl.
"I've got something to say, it's better to burn out than to fade away!"
I love the way The Kurgan says that line.
"I'm in disguise."
Rock of ages
Not a quote but my favorite Kurgan moment was when he puts out the candles in the church, a true bad guy move.
@@andymore224 Yeah, sort of pats them out knocking them down.
Forgive me, I am a worm
I think the best follow up to the original Highlander movie was the Highlander TV series. If the movie studio is smart, they'll cast Adrian Paul as Conner MacLeod's mentor in the re-make.
Nevermind remaking the movie, good luck to the band who gets to outdo Queen.
Every band that’s ever come out, has outdone Queen.
Whoa whoa whoa Lucas...you need to give examples if you've got the courage
@@lucaschudleigh7193 sure...
Queen is LEGENDARY. Instantly recognizable. Sinatra. The Beatles. Aretha Franklin. QUEEN. It gets no better, Lucas, they’re in a class of their own.
Mebbe MUSE? *still remember their Highlander Queen tribute when they sing "There can only be one" in "United States of Eurasia" ^.^)
It's great to see Clancy Brown getting some recognition. He is one of the most underrated actors of our time
He's frickin awesome in Pet Cemetery 2.
Hes awesome as red death in venture brothers
The Highlander was my introduction to Clancy Brown.
You can imagine my surprise lo those many years later when I found out he was the voice for Mr. Crabs on Spongebob Squarepants.
Not sure about underrated, he’s been working constantly since the 80’s. He’s got a lot of iconic roles under his belt. He’s been everything from Lex Luther to Red Hulk, Surtur and the Kurgan. I would say he’s been well used and perfectly rated.
Mr. Crabs!!!!!
No to a remake. No to the sequels.
“There can be only one.”
I see what you did there. 😁
Highlander 3 wasn't too bad, if not for the eye candy that is Deborah Kara Unger alone. Nah, it's actually a pretty fun flick and sequel tbf.
HIGHLANDER is my all time favourite movie. Even Ramirez respected Kurgan as a warrior, indeed he, literally says Kurgan is a perfect warrior and the strongest of the immortals.
"It's a kind of magic" - movie making before the new millennium.
Bloody EPIC album.
@@eefneleman9564 Hells yeah!
I want "Who Wants to Live Forever" played at my funeral.
Without a doubt my favourite movie as a kid. Then came the sequels and the series. That was a lesson to carry into adulthood.
Also: Best villain ever.
The “HOLLYWOOD” sign should be changed to read: “NO NEW IDEAS”.
Hollywood: "Whatcha reading? Yoink!"
Much like the critics sphere on TH-cam
@@georgegrogee5991 also true
More like “Go away now”
‘Nothing to see here’
The shock on my boys' faces when I told them the Kurgan is Mr. Krabs was epic.
I never heard about this remake, until I stumbled on this video. They are nuts. There is no way they can come close to the original. They are just setting themselves up for failure.
I will never understand why critics didn't rate this higher when it was released. I've watched it well over 10 times. It's just so good in so many ways. The characters are fantastic, the story never lets up. There are touches of humor without being stupid. Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Christopher Lambert are perfect. Awesome Queen Soundtrack, really lovely cinematography.
Some movies just have all the elements, and stand out as even greater than the sum of those elements. Some of my other favorites the would be nuts to even think about remaking: Pulp Fiction, Casablanca, Princess Bride. You just can't capture the magic of the time, and the actors that made their roles.
IMO they should do an "inspired by" type of story, because the closer they come to the original story the more evident it will how you just can capture what made the original so special.
"He's evil and he fcukin' loves it." Prefect summary of Kurgan. :)
And that's why we love him. For charisma.
He's perfect cause he didn't have a mother complex to make him a bad guy. He's just bad
"He's evil and fuckin' loves it."
The Kurgan is my all-time favorite movie villain, I can't imagine anyone topping Clancy Brown's performance.
They'll probably get Bautista to play him or something.
The scene in the church with clothespins in his neck is fucking legendary
loved his medieval outfit in-between him and Kael from willow i always wanted a skull helmet.
A while ago, Ray Stevenson was considered for the Kurgen in the reboot. IMO, he would have been great. He's an awesome actor and is really tall with a big frame. But I think he's probably out of the running since he was never as successful as he should have been and he's getting old.
I would actually like to see Scott Adkins as the Kurgen. Just have him do it as a crazier Yuri Boyka and it would be great. Dude is also tall, built like crazy and can do amazing martial arts scenes. Unfortunately he has the stigma of being a direct-to-video actor.
Clancy Brown will blow my mind again in the upcoming Dexter series since he will be the new villain.
Drinker wearing a kilt, ranting, and slaming the door with a bottle of wisky, is the most scotish epic scene ive ever witnessed.
Cheers buddy, keep going strong
“ How many more of these classics do you have to butcher before you give this shit up?” Is the best single critical line ever spoken.
You know the Drinker's pissed when he does an extended face reveal like that.
That kilt though
dude looks like Tyler Durden .Interesting
oh also 1 was a great movie
When the man is right....
Dude you keep that up and you'll pop a vein, bit you ain't wrong.
Watched it again recently. Heather’s death had me in tears, it’s a haunting scene that didn’t affect me that much as a teenager. As a middle aged man it was something else.
That's what I love about the movie. The fact that Connor will not leave her even though she's old. But their love was so great. It always chokes me up when she dies. That's why sadly I didn't much care for Brenda. They didn't have that kind of chemistry. I agree with Drinker, they would only screw it up, and probably make it like Highlander 2.
Yup, truly heartbreaking scene... so well done and in, what was basically, an 80's action movie.
@@FightCollective Russell Mulcahy was a music video director before Highlander, and he definitely knew how to use Queen soundtrack in the movie. Who Wants to Live Forever song is perfect in Heather growing old and dying scene.
Clancy Brown nailed that part, like holy crap did he nail it. He always does, but he was particularly spooky as Kurgan.
One of the greatest film villains ever.
@@zakalwe2240 Hell yeah. He's so wonderfully evil lol. It's not too often you have a role with an actor so well suited to the essence of the character, Clancy Brown is such a class act in real life too. Had an AMA on Reddit about 7 years ago and made these comments about Highlander:
There was not a whole lot of fun to be had, it was a strange set. You know, we were all trying to make a good movie, and the producers were trying to, you know, make money any way they could, so there were a lot of things we had to work around, do on the cheap because of those producers. I don't know, there was just a point - I wasn't getting paid anything, Sean was getting paid a lot, so you have to decide if you're going to have fun or not, so the only thing I could have on that set was fun, so that's what I had! It's not one of my favorite experiences making that movie, although I did have fun on it, the circumstances of making it were very hard. And not pleasant, for a lot of people. I think Sean was fine, Sean worked for a couple of weeks and then took his money and did Untouchables, and Christoph was having fun, because he had just won the Cesar in france, so he was living the highlife. Roxanne and I were just trying to get by, you know, do what we could. It wasn't much on the page, to the Kurgan, it was not written well, it was just kind of a big thuggish bad guy, so I had to do something to make it interesting for myself, and Russel (the director) was having fun, so he let me get away with whatever I wanted to do. He was enjoying it enough, and it was a hard shoot for him as well. Some people onsets have a harder pull than other people, like Sean, he made a lot of money for very little work in those days, so he had fun, and others of us had a harder time and had to find more ways to enjoy ourselves.
@@elliotjames5172 Thanks for that Elliot.
Agreed. In fact I'd put the Kurgan right up there with Darth Vader. It's the kind of depth of character that no amount of special effects can make up for. And a far cry from the drivel we get these days.
And to show how versatile he is - he's Mr. Krabs in Spongebob.
I figured out why they are remaking everything from our childhoods, and they are all universally terrible. Its the Ultimate form of demoralization. You know whats worse than putting out terrible movie after movie? Destroying the movies , shows, and games you once loved and held dear.
Yeah, its like resurrecting a long gone childhood pet only to have its maggot infested corpse follow you around making you wish you had left it to rest in peace.
they're trying to act like 80s were like the 60s.. except it wasn't ha.. they take these old films and remake it with social agenda's.. here's the shit.. the kids like the stone age version lol.. nobody in the 8o's was like the KKK is kool.. but gen Z is like "WE LOVE THE OG MOVIEZ" haaaa
@@jrcrash4644 Pet Sematary Lol
Just saw they're rebooting Night Court... With a woman judge of course.
"We do not know the answers to these questions, because we do not need to know. And if we are honest, we do not want to know either". You spoke the true reason for the failure of any f**** cash-grab reboot nowadays.
Was waiting for you to cover this. One of the most underrated movies in history with ground-breaking cinematography that remains largely unmatched to this day. Great video on a legendary film, Drinker.
Under-rated by critics, not by actual fans.
Highlander is far from underrated, it's just old enough for the hype to of died down. Highlander even had a cool cartoon series in the 90's
Underratted? Its one the most well known films
Just show it to people who dont know
@@MuhammadAli-qh8tg judging from your name you must've saw it on Spacetoon.
Definitely not underrated by those with any common sense. The series was pretty kick ass too! That is, until you get to season 5, when they "jump the shark."
"Hi. I'm Candy". Kurgan : "Of course you are!"
I was gonna type the same thing ole Clancy nailed that role 100%