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HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME review

Hey folks, Harry here... I just saw HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME. And this is where I say... HIGHLANDER sucks, has sucked and always will suck. Freaking bullmalarky. I hate the pretentious sense of self-importance, the consistently terribly choreographed fight scenes... the comatose Lambert and the addle minded assembly of retards with frigging metal sticks.

Just once, I'd pay good money to see a thousand playing card troops under the command of the Queen of HEarts, ordering... "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!"

The first Highlander film had a modicum of potential... it was sort of like... with a real director and better actors and real action choreographers and better sets and less steam and water and night photography and a real sense of adventure... this might one day be a decent frackin adventure film. BUT that day will never come... and ya know what... let it die.

FIRST OFF.... You have these IMMORTALS that have been around for like hundreds of years... they all seem to have high school educations and have mediocre jobs. In the first film there was a passing attempt of cementing the HIGHLANDER game in reality... police investigations of beheaded rooftop ex-retards with metal sharp stick thingees.

Here though... Oh boy... They run around, there are no real people anymore... it's just... everywhere you go... look look... there be some fucking immortal. Well... shoot the bastard in the kneecaps, arms and hands... walk up and behead the idiot. I mean... for crying out loud... what's the damn problem... these are halfassed immortals anyway.

I mean... If you were around for 1000 years or so.... In the first 150... you might act like a regular dude... but once you got the idea that... well, your life was totally copulated... you would do one of two things.... KILL YOURSELF, or start setting yourself up as god on Earth. Anyone ever read DR DOOM's plans to rule earth? Anyone read any of the ol Dracula books? Anyone ever actually pay attention to Greek Mythology and what happened to those decadent farts?

Ok... So let's move on to the off with their heads, there can be only one scenario. Ok... So there are around a thousand badasses on planet Earth. (Though in the first film, I thought it got down to 3... ahem...) Now if person A kills person B... he absorbs some alleged power. What are these powers? Apparently, it's hostility and stupidity..... I mean... what if it was like... flight, power of creation, invisibility, water breathing... you know... x-ray vision, heat vision, super strength.... you know... POWER... or... even just their knowledge and experiences (phobias, inner demons and doubts) (NOTE: I'VE NEVER WATCHED A SINGLE EPISODE OF THE TV SERIES)... Other than a funky AEROSMITH rock concert and a shivering orgasm to end all orgasms... this Quickening bulldung seem mighty lame.

Now... I'm a bit harsh on this movie, franchise... whole turd pile, because I've seen a holy film. One of the greatest adventure mythological battle romance art films of all time... CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON... and I walked into this film wanting some modicum of decency, character, action, romance... etc. Instead I got terrible storytelling, shoddy editing... way too many close ups of actors looking blankly at one another... and one helluva a great EXORCIST Trailer.... and one great damn DRUNKENMASTER II trailer....

I know the director of this film. He is a very nice guy, and he was a bit rushed into directing a film with a terrible script... and I suppose with the cast and the script and the fast deadline for production... he managed to make a film that is at least not the abortions that were 2 and 3. BUT... even though it is the second best Highlander film... that... to me... is like saying... It's the second best MAJOR LEAGUE film..... The first one was entertaining... SOMEHOW it gathered a gigantic fanbase (which will now be coming after my head), but folks... This whole thing is like some sort of SOAP OPERA with Bad Swordfights and always has been.

Now... I could forgive the bad actors and the melodrama and all of that..... JUST GIVE ME GOOD FIGHT SCENES IN THIS THING. But Doug... I love ya bud, but those fight scenes were shite. I mean... remember when you emailed me... asked for advice, and I gave you a list of films to check out. THE SEA HAWK, THE THREE and FOUR MUSKETEERS (with Oliver Reed), THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THE MARK OF ZORRO, THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN, THE DUELLIST, THE SHOGUN ASSASSIN films, THE CRIMSON PIRATE, the Gene Kelly THREE MUSKETEERS, CAPTAIN BLOOD, PRINCESS BRIDE? Remember when I asked you to take a look at musicals and how they shot LONG ONE TAKE SHOTS to exhibit the prowess of the performers? And I referenced Jackie Chan and Jet Li and Bruce Lee's action scenes for the very same reason?

Sure... it is incredibly hard to do those types of scenes... it requires massive training and dedication from your actors. AHEM... Notice I didn't say it requires 45 million in CGI work... I mentioned SWEAT AND BRUISE style work. You get one of the great fight choreographers... and work out scenes with them... show them the scenes you love from past films... and take the logical steps forward. I mean... ANG LEE... director of such action epics as SENSE AND SENSIBILITIES and the frolicing ICE STORM has just made the best kung fu action sword fight film I've ever seen... How'd he do that? Well he took care of the emotional resonance and let Woo-Ping Yuen work and train the actors to be action super gods. And it took FOREVER to shoot... but if memory serves that film is actually CHEAPER than this film and looks cooler than the mucking MATRIX! Sooooooooooo...... sigh.

Oh... and what exactly were the purposes of the Flashbacks? And my god, that was the worst villain in the long line of really bad villians (clancy brown is immune to this statement) in Highlander Films.

I wish there could be only one, but now there's been 4..... Dear Highlander God... let there be only 4.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: In the Talkbacks below, people asked me why I went to see HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME if I am not a fan of the HIGHLANDER series of films. Because... I know the director... he's been to parties at my house and the trailers and ShoWest footage I saw for this film looked good. Like I said, after watching the first HIGHLANDER, I felt with better writing, directing and casting and action choreography... that the kernal of genius buried in what could very well of been a great filmic mythology was completely wasted.... I was hoping that Doug and some of the new blood being used for this film might be able to pull off a miracle. Reviews had been mixed... I tend to like most genre films.... (for that matter according to you folks, I like everything)... Alas... Doug needs to search for far better material for his next outing. Needs to associate with stronger talent and stronger producers. The film wasn't incompetent... it just wasn't any good. It isn't the worst film of the year... not even in the bottom 10. It's just another crappy HIGHLANDER flick... pet peeve... that crappy as all get up MacLeod embossing on the sword... TERRIBLE... yeah right... that's a period sword... uh huh... sigh... Yup a real HIGHLANDER sword? Try ROB ROY...

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Reader Talkback

I agree with you on this one.
by Samthelion
Sep 5th, 2000
11:12:38 PM
My...Harry's in one of his moods again.
by Lenny Nero
Sep 5th, 2000
11:14:18 PM
There are a few things
by Scylla
Sep 5th, 2000
11:14:49 PM
It's true, It's true...
by Zone Zero
Sep 5th, 2000
11:15:42 PM
It's true, It's true... - A Correction
by Zone Zero
Sep 5th, 2000
11:17:20 PM
Me first!
by Torchsong
Sep 5th, 2000
11:18:26 PM
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
by Uncapie
Sep 5th, 2000
11:26:18 PM
Thank the Lord Almighty someone has articulated my thoughts and
by Maul99
Sep 5th, 2000
11:28:06 PM
Immortal Sins
by TheUnknownCritic
Sep 5th, 2000
11:33:03 PM
Review of Highlander: End Game written by an illiterate?
by jdcoates
Sep 5th, 2000
11:41:56 PM
Harry/Moriarty, Please Put The StarWars Episode2 Registered Doma
by darthpsychotic
Sep 5th, 2000
11:43:30 PM
Highlander sequels? There are no Highlander sequels...
by Brannigan!
Sep 5th, 2000
11:55:05 PM
jd
by kojiro
Sep 6th, 2000
12:23:52 AM
yeh, more to say
by kojiro
Sep 6th, 2000
12:26:06 AM
Highlander
by Snafu
Sep 6th, 2000
12:35:33 AM
Harry, this review as well as your "Gone in Sixty Seconds" revi
by Emmet_Ray
Sep 6th, 2000
12:39:23 AM
JDCOATES: Chances are that if you haven't figured out Harry and
by Emmet_Ray
Sep 6th, 2000
12:45:15 AM
My 2cents!
by thevision
Sep 6th, 2000
12:47:44 AM
there can be only one Clancy!!!!
by Maynard
Sep 6th, 2000
01:15:52 AM
What, are you nuts, Knowles???
by Splinko
Sep 6th, 2000
01:31:10 AM
JD Coates: Perhaps you shouldn't be here (Or you should maybe l
by LlGHTST0RMER
Sep 6th, 2000
01:38:06 AM
If Warner Bros Ever Get The Superman Franchise Going ....
by The Founder
Sep 6th, 2000
01:38:07 AM
"Hey, it's a kind of magic!"
by METHOS
Sep 6th, 2000
01:42:51 AM
So what if...
by Jonny Quest
Sep 6th, 2000
01:43:04 AM
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
by Cereal Killer
Sep 6th, 2000
01:49:37 AM
I can answer that.
by METHOS
Sep 6th, 2000
01:57:02 AM
endlame
by jeff bailey
Sep 6th, 2000
02:18:16 AM
And the award for worst movie of the year goes to....
by The Founder
Sep 6th, 2000
02:21:18 AM
And one more response to JD Coats...
by Dave_F
Sep 6th, 2000
02:24:16 AM
Its Better To Burn Out Than Fade Away.....
by NUXX
Sep 6th, 2000
02:31:32 AM
Well, actually..... as a proud Scotsman
by macca45
Sep 6th, 2000
02:40:24 AM
Forget 2,3 & 4
by Spatzman
Sep 6th, 2000
03:18:31 AM
Man...normally Harry...
by the enigma
Sep 6th, 2000
04:11:16 AM
I have my flame suit ready, so...
by Devils Halo
Sep 6th, 2000
05:30:36 AM
The cartoon's better
by Movieplex
Sep 6th, 2000
05:46:50 AM
That's it!
by Ethan Hunt
Sep 6th, 2000
06:14:00 AM
i never got it
by pogo on my own
Sep 6th, 2000
06:27:58 AM
Poor Christopher Lambert..
by Shooman
Sep 6th, 2000
06:36:06 AM
Higlander decent flick...I still don't get it...??
by Paine
Sep 6th, 2000
06:59:40 AM
Now I get it,...
by jdcoates
Sep 6th, 2000
07:17:36 AM
for christ sakes
by chillzatl
Sep 6th, 2000
07:36:41 AM
Major editing must have happened to this film
by bingold
Sep 6th, 2000
07:42:09 AM
There can be only one (oops there goes another!)
by sezzoh
Sep 6th, 2000
07:44:20 AM
Highlander has ALWAYS sucked.
by Jaquandor
Sep 6th, 2000
07:57:57 AM
not a bad movie
by brak27
Sep 6th, 2000
08:07:44 AM
The first film was utter crap: an unexciting, poorly shot, haph
by Phreeform
Sep 6th, 2000
08:08:50 AM
Harry, ANSWER MY QUESTION PLEASE: Important
by Dash101
Sep 6th, 2000
08:10:29 AM
no mercy for friends of Robert Rodriguez Mr.Aarkioski or somethi
by dima
Sep 6th, 2000
08:11:16 AM
Lowbrowder: the Sickening
by Dr. Sid Schaefer
Sep 6th, 2000
08:16:35 AM
To the UnknownCritic
by Raddik
Sep 6th, 2000
08:25:09 AM
Highlander cartoon????
by Daredvl25
Sep 6th, 2000
08:30:07 AM
...
by Wino Forever
Sep 6th, 2000
08:42:02 AM
There should have been only one.
by Iaidoka
Sep 6th, 2000
08:42:35 AM
That's what I've been trying to tell everyone!
by LoneChicken
Sep 6th, 2000
08:44:29 AM
Highlander
by HorrorBiz777
Sep 6th, 2000
08:44:55 AM
DOOM is NOT an immortal Harry....
by vondoom
Sep 6th, 2000
09:00:19 AM
Apples and Oranges
by Antillious
Sep 6th, 2000
09:05:00 AM
Oh please...
by Honky Avenger
Sep 6th, 2000
09:14:28 AM
Big Text
by Clem
Sep 6th, 2000
09:19:21 AM
Wow...but ya have a point
by Dmann
Sep 6th, 2000
09:37:40 AM
I love...
by r_dimitri22
Sep 6th, 2000
09:38:19 AM
The "metal sharp stick thingees" are called SWORDS.
by Kikstad
Sep 6th, 2000
09:43:15 AM
cocky spaniard
by sezzoh
Sep 6th, 2000
09:45:07 AM
Jonathon Harker was right...and the cartoon...
by dougmac
Sep 6th, 2000
09:46:27 AM
The first Highlander was half-assed and it just got worse from t
by Rubio
Sep 6th, 2000
09:52:22 AM
spoilers please!
by sezzoh
Sep 6th, 2000
10:00:54 AM
And the Award for Giant Honking Ego Goes To...
by Brian D.
Sep 6th, 2000
10:15:15 AM
If You've Never Seen a Single Episode of the TV Show, Of Course
by Smilin'Jack Ruby
Sep 6th, 2000
10:28:03 AM
This was NOT a continuation of the previous movies!
by JShrubbery
Sep 6th, 2000
10:41:28 AM
It wasnt as bad as the Phantom Menace
by MAGNUM1976
Sep 6th, 2000
10:53:47 AM
I feel ripped off!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Stu2
Sep 6th, 2000
10:56:28 AM
Thanks for the full disclosure...
by Babba-Booey
Sep 6th, 2000
11:06:44 AM
Highlander and the TV series
by Skullcrusher
Sep 6th, 2000
11:30:10 AM
All I got to say is...
by jimimack
Sep 6th, 2000
11:44:58 AM
Comments on the movie itself.
by jdcoates
Sep 6th, 2000
12:02:09 PM
Highlander stopped being Highlander after no.1
by sargiedan
Sep 6th, 2000
12:07:53 PM
HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME
by Batman_9
Sep 6th, 2000
12:14:58 PM
my 2 cents
by IronOtakuMaestro
Sep 6th, 2000
12:23:13 PM
Right on, MAGNUM
by Darth Hideous
Sep 6th, 2000
12:38:20 PM
Highlander
by Elliot_Kane
Sep 6th, 2000
12:52:04 PM
Anybody else seen the trailer vs. movie discrepancies?????????
by creamy goodness
Sep 6th, 2000
12:58:15 PM
Highlander 1 was classic
by Dragonfire
Sep 6th, 2000
01:09:46 PM
The problems with Highlander
by spanky_mcg
Sep 6th, 2000
01:29:44 PM
Well taste isn't everything
by Sobewankinobi
Sep 6th, 2000
01:31:39 PM
one vision
by swsred5
Sep 6th, 2000
01:32:05 PM
And he doesn't understand
by Sobewankinobi
Sep 6th, 2000
01:34:36 PM
P.S. Harry
by swsred5
Sep 6th, 2000
01:49:44 PM
Pro-Highlander & Proud of it
by Kent Allard
Sep 6th, 2000
01:57:42 PM
Highlander was cool because of Queen's music and....uhhhh...errr
by Mully4Ever
Sep 6th, 2000
01:59:24 PM
Who cares? Harry's an idiot!!!!
by Captain BenSisko
Sep 6th, 2000
02:19:28 PM
How the immortal war REALLY got started...
by Hammer2Fall
Sep 6th, 2000
03:00:10 PM
Highlander Endgame
by Obi-Wan Harc
Sep 6th, 2000
03:42:02 PM
Have to agree with you on this one
by AntiOtter
Sep 6th, 2000
04:47:26 PM
There can be only one
by ThereIsNoSpoon
Sep 6th, 2000
04:53:47 PM
The only advice Harry could give is a good place to go for HUGE
by IAmJacksUserID
Sep 6th, 2000
05:51:23 PM
I liked the First Higlander...
by Shaft9876
Sep 6th, 2000
07:27:08 PM
Queen
by evilbaby
Sep 6th, 2000
08:13:32 PM
movie vs the series
by mstryoda
Sep 6th, 2000
08:31:19 PM
impressions of highlander
by Grimas
Sep 6th, 2000
08:56:22 PM
Harry you got one thing wrong
by anime_guy
Sep 6th, 2000
09:02:52 PM
The voice of reason
by Neo_The1
Sep 6th, 2000
09:04:05 PM
just saw the movie
by valdar
Sep 6th, 2000
09:18:12 PM
highlander
by HellzWindStaff
Sep 6th, 2000
10:10:43 PM
the runt of the litter and a note on name-dropping
by Bread
Sep 6th, 2000
11:29:07 PM
Endgame was good!!
by Krigan
Sep 7th, 2000
12:21:10 AM
Endgame wasn't THAT bad!
by Goody2shoes
Sep 7th, 2000
01:25:23 AM
"Nice to see you Kurgan. Who cuts your hair?"
by METHOS
Sep 7th, 2000
02:05:06 AM
Wait a second wait a second
by Shooman
Sep 7th, 2000
02:43:16 AM
Allow me to explain this to you, all of you who are friggin' idi
by TheLoveCat
Sep 7th, 2000
03:32:38 AM
You want to talk losers?
by ghostwolfe
Sep 7th, 2000
03:35:36 AM
Highlander Endgame was disappointing(spoiler)
by SvenOleThorson
Sep 7th, 2000
05:04:31 AM
Occidental Heroes
by Taxicab Samurai
Sep 7th, 2000
08:36:31 AM
Endgame: Close but no dice
by PHOENIX_ONE
Sep 7th, 2000
10:44:00 AM
Harry, Harry, Harry
by Jobriga2
Sep 7th, 2000
02:56:59 PM
yuen "who" ping Donnie yen tiger caged
by scorpionking
Sep 7th, 2000
03:31:14 PM
I Smell A Little Green Monster!!
by Snake Plisskin
Sep 7th, 2000
03:53:15 PM
Low Blows Harry!
by LordZanthos
Sep 7th, 2000
04:32:05 PM
Thrown away great opportunity
by Kurg1
Sep 7th, 2000
07:34:39 PM
Whoa, Zanthos -
by ThereIsNoSpoon
Sep 7th, 2000
08:18:15 PM
A few Highlander thoughts
by swavill
Sep 7th, 2000
10:27:30 PM
The First Highlander...
by Lobanhaki
Sep 7th, 2000
11:48:22 PM
harry ball in a wadd!!!
by bigbenkenobi
Sep 8th, 2000
12:00:53 AM
where are the cool missing scenes from the trailer?????
by Fallenpisces
Sep 8th, 2000
03:07:46 AM
"Just remember the Quickening!"
by METHOS
Sep 8th, 2000
04:54:34 AM
LMAO at your review
by Syberian2k
Sep 8th, 2000
05:48:50 AM
About highlander and anything else
by Movieplex
Sep 8th, 2000
05:54:00 AM
LMAO at your review part deux
by Syberian2k
Sep 8th, 2000
05:54:26 AM
OH YEAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by WEB HEAD
Sep 8th, 2000
07:23:17 AM
HA,HA,HA!!
by Snake Plisskin
Sep 8th, 2000
08:31:02 AM
As it has been said"there can only be 1"
by Mi-Go
Sep 8th, 2000
09:24:58 AM
RE: Jonathan Harker
by Shooman
Sep 8th, 2000
10:12:58 AM
Misc.
by Gislef_crow
Sep 8th, 2000
10:43:58 AM
Lambert gets a bad wrap!
by Jarek
Sep 8th, 2000
06:46:44 PM
alternative path for franchise
by Krigan
Sep 9th, 2000
12:45:59 AM
sequel idea
by Krigan
Sep 9th, 2000
01:10:27 AM
No...
by pixelator
Sep 9th, 2000
03:08:05 AM
HIGHLANDER FOREVER
by METHOS
Sep 9th, 2000
04:24:10 AM
it's like buttah
by iluvxenia
Sep 9th, 2000
06:27:21 AM
doug abadabbadangalana
by iluvxenia
Sep 9th, 2000
06:37:44 AM
Highlander: Endgame...the beginning
by boomzilla8
Sep 10th, 2000
11:45:39 AM
Thats it Harry-- its over.
by HolidayXxXx
Sep 10th, 2000
03:14:05 PM
Is Harry drinking again?
by Mad Prophet
Sep 11th, 2000
12:06:41 AM
No Whiners!
by katchoo
Sep 11th, 2000
02:19:53 PM
Well, I liked the first one...
by Tangent Z
Sep 11th, 2000
11:34:32 PM
Starfire Swords were used in Highlander AND Rob Roy
by Myrrhibis
Sep 12th, 2000
08:41:45 AM
HIGHLANDER IS A JOKE
by Mattman
Sep 12th, 2000
11:53:35 AM
Harry I thought this was supposd to be a review?
by Roborob
Sep 12th, 2000
02:03:42 PM
Harry, Harry, Harry.
by Big John
Sep 12th, 2000
07:11:36 PM
Sex Life and Highlander
by Mattman
Sep 13th, 2000
10:29:26 AM
The movie was horrible.
by Harsh Strider
Sep 14th, 2000
03:00:17 PM
flashbacks in a highlander film GOOD GOD
by sundown
Sep 15th, 2000
11:47:06 AM
yet another missed opportunity
by icedragon
Sep 15th, 2000
01:24:01 PM
give a sistah some say
by skimshady2k1
Sep 15th, 2000
11:49:36 PM
Whoa, chill man!
by PaxNirvana
Sep 16th, 2000
12:14:38 AM
Harry's the biggest dumbass since Roger Ebert
by Optimus_Prime
Sep 18th, 2000
01:44:07 PM
"reality"? (i'm restating the obvious)
by mahatma
Sep 18th, 2000
09:44:20 PM
not really a review
by bucket noise
Sep 20th, 2000
12:20:22 PM
the last word...
by dead-battery
Sep 22nd, 2000
11:45:31 PM
Trailer scenes that were missing...
by AdamMethos
Sep 24th, 2000
09:45:03 AM
Ok, I'll admit it.
by ansonmaddox
Sep 25th, 2000
10:52:15 AM
Note: Spoiler Alert
by IronOtakuMaestro
Sep 25th, 2000
12:50:50 PM
can i add my two bits
by elfdoc
Sep 25th, 2000
10:13:13 PM
Harry! You must be kidding.
by jake30
Sep 26th, 2000
01:10:46 AM

by roubitch
Sep 27th, 2000
02:59:22 PM
was there actually a script?
by roubitch
Sep 27th, 2000
03:10:19 PM
Highlander: Endgame Review
by Cable2000
Oct 24th, 2000
06:36:46 PM
OH REALLY
by Jenerik
Nov 17th, 2000
03:08:17 PM

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