Highlander (1986)

Who wants to live forever? Well no one if they have any sense. With a new Highlander film coming out soon and 40 years since the first film meant that it was a great opportunity to see this first film on the big screen for the first time.

It always seems so random to have a wrestling match feature in the beginning of the movie. It does feature a great panning shot from one side of  what is supposed to be Madison Square Garden to the other side to find Connor although there is minor edit to focus on Connor.

As a lead, I think that Christopher Lambert is fine as Connor. As the film progresses I think that he gets better but it does take a while for Lambert to find himself in the role which given how he has to exist in multiple periods of time is somewhat understandable. Sean Connery is great as Juan aka The Spaniard although he speaks in his usual Scottish accent cause…..well he’s Sean Connery. Due to his screen charisma, he does steal the spotlight from Lambert but his involvement in the story whilst important is still relatively short. Clancy Brown is one of those actors who is instantly good in everything that he is in and in this film he is a really good villain. As Victor Kruger he is the one who is tracking down Connor. He comes across as an effective and dominating villain yet not too strong.

I always find it funny Kate MacLeod is teary eyed when Connor appears to be on death’s door but she does a complete 180 when he is still alive. Yes it could be argued away with the superstitious mentality of the period but it's something that I find quite funny. As this is a UK production there are plenty of British stars including many who have appeared in Doctor Who.

I really enjoy Highlander. It is the only good in the series although the upcoming Chad Stahelski remake might be able to clear the low bar to be the second best Highlander film. The film does take a bit of time getting going but whilst you are waiting for it to kick into top gear, you are being entertained by a great soundtrack from Queen. Being a child of the 80’s and having watched plenty of their films, It was great to see the Cannon logo on the big screen. Might be the first time I’ve seen a film of theirs at the cinema. 

There is a downside to watching these film from this period in time and it’s that the picture quality isnt as good as we are use to today. There are a few shots at the end when Connor is spinning around in the air where you can see the strings holding him in the air and I thought I saw one shot of how it was connected to his jacket. But that minor issue, this is a great film to have seen at the cinema.