Customer Reviews

Highlander: Director's Cut 10th Anniversary Edition

5 star:		(127)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(41)
2 star:		(36)
1 star:		(57)

 

 

What an absolute atrocity. The picture quality on this DVD is the worst I have *EVER* seen. I'm fortunate to have the same edition on laserdisc, in addition to the original US release on laserdisc, and the quality in both cases is far superior. You'll think something is wrong with your DVD player if you buy this version. If you can't find the LD, go for VHS.

Now, that having been said, the MOVIE is my all-time fave. Love the idea, love the cinematography, and love the performances of all the actors, especially Connery. It's true that the original US cut makes somewhat less sense than the Director's Cut, but that's a two-edged sword. The flow of the original US cut was better, while the Director's cut drags a bit in places. Also, the US cut, while "confusing" is also mysterious in a way that made it fun to watch again and again, because you had to figure out little details that are simply explained in the Director's cut.

Overall, it's a pity this DVD is such a hack job. If it's ever remastered (which it should be), then they should do the same thing they've done with some other DVD titles -- allow you to select whether you want the US release or the Director's Cut. Also, think ANAMORPHIC!

This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

Hi folks,

I admit it...I love this movie...I saw this at my local shop (dvd planet) and couldn't resist... Directors Cut..6 more minutes! I got a sick feelingn when I put it in my player and the SAME menu as the previous edition came up... Turns out to be the same as previously released with a new cover. If you have the previous release...do NOT buy this.

lets hope a Blu Ray edition with some real bonus features will happen eventually. My 1 star rating is for this hopeless retread in packaging NOT the excellent movie!

This disc has one of my favorite 'guilty pleasure' movies on it - unfortunately, the quality is worse than my VHS copy. The video is poorly compressed, the sound is so variable that no sound designer could ever have dreamed of such an atrocity, and the overall quality of the presentation is lacking at best. This is a hack job. Folks, there is a reason this disc sells for 10 bucks - and it's not because it's *that* bad of a movie. The only worse disc I've ever seen is "Metropolis" - and at least that movie was 70 years old. Avoid this disc; go w/VHS.

'Highlander' released to the theaters in '86 was an instant cult classic. And why wouldn't it be, clashing swords, severed heads, a secret society of Immortals living secretly amongst us battling to the death through the centuries in hopes of being the last Immortal standing. It doesn't get any better than that. As the sacred prophecy predicted, "In the end there can be only one". Add to the mix a killer soundtrack written and performed by Queen and you've got yourself a franchise.

Christopher Lambert plays Connor MacLeod, the Highlander in the role that made him famous and unfortunately typecast him for all time. Be that as it may, this is his signature role and he is perfect in the part. Sean Connery is also wonderful as his best friend, mentor and fellow Immortal Juan Sanchez Villalobos Ramirez.

A lot of previous reviewers have already voiced their concerns about the quality of the DVD transfer. To be honest, whatever technical problems may exist with the sound quality and picture resolution, they haven't been noticable enough to me to lessen my enjoyment of this classic action/adventure.

Forget the series, and please, please, forget the stupid sequels. This is the only Highlander that matters because anything that came after it was just plain idiotic.

Christopher Lambert is an Immortal. Unless you lop off his head, he will live on forever and ever. This doesn't necessarily go over well in his 16th century Scottish village, but that is the least of his problems. We get the background in a series of flashbacks from the 20th century MacLeod, and to me, the past was always more interesting than the present. Not that the present is not interesting either. In fact, the movie as a whole, is mesmerizing.

There can only be one, and Kurgan, a rather nasty Immortal, is out to find our Highlander and do him like he did MacLeod's mentor (Sean Connery), which is basically lop off his head and drain him of his power. Mind you, MacLeod is out to do the same to Kurgan because there can be only one!

This is a rather simplistic overview of the plot, but to sit here and explain it in detail would be confusing to both the reader and the author of this review. There is simply too much to tell and explain, and what is the fun in that? This is a magical movie, and you just don't give away the good stuff. This is the type of movie that you just sit down, watch, and lose yourself in.

The 20th century love interest is the weakest part in this movie. Brenda (Roxanne Hart), is hardly compelling, a bit on the annoying side, and her look was dated even in 1986. She can't act to save her life. But it doesn't matter, because this fantasy-adventure has everything that Hollywood lacked at the time, and everyone else did an outstanding job, giving this movie the cult classic status it deserves. Christopher Lambert never did anything that mattered again as far as I am concerned.

The soundtrack, by Queen, is phenomenal, and though a soundtrack does not make a movie, unless it's "The Wall" or "Tommy", it is worth mentioning because it is truly beautiful.

This is a GREAT film, with a pathetic transfer. It's like they would have had to WORK to make it look as bad as it does. I have tried to contact THX and find out how this disc got their certificatioin, but they haven't responded. Simply put; this is the worst DVD I have ever seen. I love this movie, and what they did to it with the amazing level of grain on this disc is just plain wrong. I have an old video tape, recorded off cable, that is FAR superior to this cut. Don't buy this disc.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, yet another bigger, more expensive edition of Highlander is on DVD. Highlander: That ridiculous over-the-top blending of sword and sorcerer fantasy and science fiction with a modern day action film that featured Christopher Lambert and rub-your-doubting-eyes-all-you-want-it's-really-Connery, Sean Connery. Connery is only a supporting player in the film, but the fun he seems to be having is not only utterly infectious it also injects the film with the needed charisma and energy it needs to make the goofy thing worth watching.

Highlander makes little logical sense, but tries to pretend it does with various conflicting explanations that never cover plot holes or explain why competitors would be so helpful and friendly with one another if they knew they might have to face each other in a duel to the death.... But never mind logic.. this is action packed pick out the continuity errors-fun isn't it?

UCLA student Gregory Widen (who went on to write and direct Prophecy and was one of the writers of Backdraft) wrote Highlander, as his senior thesis and attempted to create a fantastical legend about a chosen group of immortals who walk the earth for centuries, preparing for duel to the death sword battles with each other. Mostly set in 1986, it offers the impressive spectacle of swashbuckling sword fights taking place in parking garages, modern streets and rooftops all cut like music videos. There's a couple of flashbacks to merry old England and the Scottish Highlands that are done quite well (yes, that's the same castle used here that's used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail).

My favorite sequence is still the wild ride Kurgan (Clancy Brown) takes Roxane Hart on toward the end of the film. Crazed, evil Clancy is immortal and enjoys terrorizing mortals, driving fast, and causing mayhem. He grabs the film's ingénue and takes her on a wild ride right over poor Mr. Toad that is a pure visceral shot of cinematic adrenalin.

What keeps Highlander enjoyable and explains it's popular loyal cult following is it's matter of fact, somehow this makes sense, don't try to figure out, we're not completely serious tone. It winds up being a very silly, violent, action packed ride. It's not outwardly campy and tongue-in-cheek (except when Brown or Connery are on screen). It's directed and edited like a music video which wasn't the case with every other movie back when this was made by Rusell Mulcahy (who had directed many music videos). The normally dull and wooden Lambert comes across much better than say a heavily accented Chuck Norris, Van Damme type action hero usually does, simply because the film doesn't linger on him a moment longer than it has to. Just when the film starts sagging big time, Sean Connery arrives on the scene playing the kind of high energy Errol Flynn you've always wanted him to play. Things get down-right cartoonish with the proper introduction of an over-the-top bad attitude, bad guy Kurgan (Brown). Suddenly the film feels like a WWF extravaganza with swords instead of folding chairs. And so it goes.

Yes, Highlander is a guilty pleasure film. It's fun, if you let it be. It's got exciting visuals. The sequels are awful, the t.v. series better than you'd think, but the first movie
is well... the One.

Highlander also features three mediocre Queen Songs that are so incongruent and wrong for the film... they fit perfectly.

IMAGE AND SOUND

Highlander was originally thrown onto the marketplace in a Republic DVD release that was one of the worst DVDs ever released. A restored director's cut version was later produced which added about ten minutes of footage to the film, and then came an improved re-mastered version. Previous (to 2002) Anchor Bay releases have been discontinued. This new edition features an Anamorphic widescreen presentation which is superior to former editions. The film was not made on a huge budget and has a slightly softer focus than the crisp images newer films have, but there were all these filters and smoke and various lighting effects going on and then effects were added via computer 1980's style. You won't find much artifacting and the black levels are stronger, but details in the shadows are still lost and some of the darker scenes look pretty muddy.

The audio is where Anchor Bay has gone crazy making a new DD EX mix AND a six-channel DTS mix. Lots of use of the various channels during action sequences. For all the noise and flash the dialogue remains clear and easy to hear. When the film isn't being bombastic and over the top, it's way too quiet and the sudden jumps might be annoying and sound very shrill to the uninitiated. More sensitive viewers will want to have the remote nearby to monitor the volume control. To those knowing it's a cheesy, campy film, this loud re-mix is perfect for the film.

Extra Features:

Well the extras for the ...IMMORTAL package consist of the metal slipcase, a 24 page booklet of production notes and an additional disc that has three Queen songs (Princes of the Universe, One Year of Love and Friends will be Friends). Oh you also get three Queen videos and a couple of mediocre still galleries as well.

If you're a Highlander film fanatic AND a big fan of Queen, it might be worth getting this special collectors package. Otherwise the other Highlander DVD will satisfy you just fine.

Incidentally the interesting Queen version of New York, New York (form the film) remains the only known unreleased Queen song. It is not on the bonus C.D. of this package.<P

I've been a long time Highlander fan, but with past DVDs I've always been disappointed with both the audio and video, got a PS3 and the audio problems went away, but the somewhat lackluster video was still present. The Immortal Edition DVD I had just seemed a little noisy or grainy to get any visual pleasure, even by Standard Definition means.
Then the 2009 Lionsgate came, whether this edition was remastered I'm not sure, though it does look more visually appealing to me, though I was a bit worried with the same Menu screen from my previous DVD. The image is not as good as Lionsgate's 2004 Highlander 2 DVD, but I'd recommend this one non the less. I so hope for all the Highlander movies to come to Blu-Ray and look and sound great.

Okay, I goofed by not reading the reviews here before I bought this title. Please, don't make the same mistake I did. All of the glowing praise for this film is for the VHS version, if you noticed.

The DVD transfer is, in a word, terrible. Whatever film stock was used for the low-light shots (which is most of the film) was pretty grainy, and the DVD just accentuates that to an ALARMING degree. Add to that the pixelation artifacts, and the way certain backgrounds in shots don't move or change their appearance AT ALL with foreground movement, giving scenes a plastic, cartoonish look. This is a cheap way to cut down on the DVD's data size, but it shows. I've seen indie films shot on 16mm that looked better on a VHS dub than this. Maybe they were shorthanded at the mastering lab that week and let an intern get a "big break", I don't know. The THX certification is definitely NOT deserved, as the mix on the sound is equally bad, with FX stomping on dialog in key places.

Having said that, if you are bound and determined to buy this, Russel Mulcahy's strong grasp of the visual at least doesn't disappoint. Some of the best match dissolves and scene transitions to be found anywhere. The DVD should be shown to aspiring film students:What TO DO with a camera, What NOT TO DO in the mastering lab.