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Published on Tuesday, September 5, 2000 - 11:03pm |
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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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