Highlander (1986) DVD Reviews

Starring	Sean Connery, Christopher Lambert, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown
Director	Russell Mulcahy
Genres	Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Critics' reviews (3) of Highlander
View all
Despite some absurdly silly casting (Christopher Lambert as a Scotsman?), the first Highlander went on to become a worldwide smash and was a hoot into the bargain. Director Russell Mulcahy was on board again for this second instalment, but this time around it just doesn't click, even though both stars — Lambert and Sean Connery — also return from the original. Set in 2034, this finds our intrepid time warrior (Lambert) up against an evil new threat in the shape of Michael Ironside and getting mixed up with a gang of ecological radicals led by Virginia Madsen. The two leads once again exude charisma, if not credible accents, and Ironside is splendid as the baddie, while Mulcahy gleefully unleashes an impressive array of visual tricks. However, there's not enough flash to cover the lack of substance.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Narrative coherence is not a quality which director Mulcahy brings to this mondial of machismo, about a bizarre (and... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
"...Entertaining....The picture is beautifully photographed....Outstanding special effects..."
- Variety
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Highlander
View all
23 out of 28 people found this review helpful

There can be only one

There should have been only one...fantastic film, marvelous soundtrack by queen, and an original idea. Enjoyed this film firt time around and it gets better every time I see it, but there should have been only one..don't bother with the sequels, they actual reduce the viewing pleasure of the original
- - A customer from uk
  - Posted 16 Nov 2003 23:19
9 out of 12 people found this review helpful

Baffling

Highlander is a film I had been meaning to watch for years, and I really wish I hadn't bothered. The casting is nonsensical - despite being a 500 year old highlander (I kid you not) Christopher Lambert doesn't attempt a Scottish accent, whilst Sean Connery doesn't hide his although he is supposed to be Spanish or Egyptian (this got confusing). And then there were several baffling moments - Christopher Lambert appeared to have gone out for a late night stroll and completely missed the pivotal scene where Sean Connery fights the ludicrous bad guy, leaving the aged ex-Bond to protect Lambert's understandably perplexed wife.

A load of toss.
- - thedudeabides from Teddington
  - Posted 11 Jun 2007 10:51
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Immortalised cinema

Its rare to see a film that IMO delivers on so many fronts:

- cinematography - gorgeous and intelligent

- screenplay is superb.. humorous and intelligent

- story, I really enjoyed the mix of contempory, history and fantasy. Expertly wielded together

- soundtrack - Queen kick ass

- acting - there has been criticsm over the acting. But Christopher Lampert's steely look and strange accent is perfect for the lead. Connery brings along his usual charismatic self and Clancy Brown ( highly underated actor) bring authenticity,menace and intelligence to his character. Given the premise of the film (immortality) mediocre acting could have destroyed this film .. but the cast are superb.

Having said all that the film has some faults.. some dated special effects for e.g. But overall a definite must see!
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 13 May 2006 20:46
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Highlander
View all
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

old fashioned

this was a hit in the 80's and for good reason. But now the special effects are kind of outdated and old fashioned. Looks more like a comedy today.
- - 5thCenturyKingArthur from Egham
  - Posted 02 Jul 2008 17:30
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

There can be only one!

This is one of my favourite films of all time! Ignore Sean Connerys 'haggis what is haggis' and concentrate on the superb Queen soundtrack and brilliant sword fighting scenes. Unfortunately this film spawned a couple of sequals and two different tv series all of which are pretty forgettable! This is a brilliant concept movie of the early eighties and is one of the all time greats!
- - A customer from London, England
  - Posted 01 Sep 2005 02:17

23 out of 28 people found this review helpful

There can be only one

There should have been only one...fantastic film, marvelous soundtrack by queen, and an original idea. Enjoyed this film firt time around and it gets better every time I see it, but there should have been only one..don't bother with the sequels, they actual reduce the viewing pleasure of the original
- - A customer from uk
  - Posted 16 Nov 2003 23:19
9 out of 12 people found this review helpful

Baffling

Highlander is a film I had been meaning to watch for years, and I really wish I hadn't bothered. The casting is nonsensical - despite being a 500 year old highlander (I kid you not) Christopher Lambert doesn't attempt a Scottish accent, whilst Sean Connery doesn't hide his although he is supposed to be Spanish or Egyptian (this got confusing). And then there were several baffling moments - Christopher Lambert appeared to have gone out for a late night stroll and completely missed the pivotal scene where Sean Connery fights the ludicrous bad guy, leaving the aged ex-Bond to protect Lambert's understandably perplexed wife.

A load of toss.
- - thedudeabides from Teddington
  - Posted 11 Jun 2007 10:51
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Immortalised cinema

Its rare to see a film that IMO delivers on so many fronts:

- cinematography - gorgeous and intelligent

- screenplay is superb.. humorous and intelligent

- story, I really enjoyed the mix of contempory, history and fantasy. Expertly wielded together

- soundtrack - Queen kick ass

- acting - there has been criticsm over the acting. But Christopher Lampert's steely look and strange accent is perfect for the lead. Connery brings along his usual charismatic self and Clancy Brown ( highly underated actor) bring authenticity,menace and intelligence to his character. Given the premise of the film (immortality) mediocre acting could have destroyed this film .. but the cast are superb.

Having said all that the film has some faults.. some dated special effects for e.g. But overall a definite must see!
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 13 May 2006 20:46
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

The best out of 4

Without any doubt the best and original out of the 4 films.

Good and light to watch with plenty of action.
- - bass from Hartlepool
  - Posted 17 Nov 2004 18:24
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

There can be only one!

This is one of my favourite films of all time! Ignore Sean Connerys 'haggis what is haggis' and concentrate on the superb Queen soundtrack and brilliant sword fighting scenes. Unfortunately this film spawned a couple of sequals and two different tv series all of which are pretty forgettable! This is a brilliant concept movie of the early eighties and is one of the all time greats!
- - A customer from London, England
  - Posted 01 Sep 2005 02:17
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

One is a magic number!

There CAN be only one! This is the first DVD I ever purchased after buying a DVD player.

Not because it is the best film ever made, but because it is one of the few films I am happy to watch over and over again! It never gets old, much like it's immortal cast.

Some complain that Sean Connery's accent is very Scottish for a Spanish person but a) it is Sean Connery, he only needs one accent, and b) he has been immortal and thus lived all over the place, so why shouldn't he be Spanish with a Scottish accent?

There are so many iconic moments in this movie that it is impossible to list them all; but a few are 'the helicopter flies round man with sword' moment, the 'two men fight on crumbling tower' moment, the 'flashy lightning hits man with sword' moment and the 'Sean Connery acts like Obi wan Kenobi' moment.

See this drunk, sober or just off your head with dr***. But see it!
- - A customer from Leeds
  - Posted 03 May 2006 22:55
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Crap

Please don't waste your time watching this movie. It looks like a school project done by 12 years olds.
- - A customer from Cornwall
  - Posted 23 Dec 2007 17:30
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Highlander (Low Lander)

Supposedly a great movie but I just couldn't get into this. The plot didn't grip me - found it to be a bit of a tasteless horror movie. Not enjoyable at all.
- - Anon01 from Manchester
  - Posted 07 Jun 2008 20:04
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

old fashioned

this was a hit in the 80's and for good reason. But now the special effects are kind of outdated and old fashioned. Looks more like a comedy today.
- - 5thCenturyKingArthur from Egham
  - Posted 02 Jul 2008 17:30
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Soundtrack 5 out of 5

A simply excllent film with probably the best complimented sound track I have come across. Takes a little time to keep up with the switching between 1985 and the past - Sean Connery is very good, Lambert very convincing in present day.

A good theatrical movie which you should not take too seriously!
- - Richard1231 from Northampton
  - Posted 26 Jan 2005 19:34

< Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
Next >

Critics' reviews (3)
Despite some absurdly silly casting (Christopher Lambert as a Scotsman?), the first Highlander went on to become a worldwide smash and was a hoot into the bargain. Director Russell Mulcahy was on board again for this second instalment, but this time around it just doesn't click, even though both stars — Lambert and Sean Connery — also return from the original. Set in 2034, this finds our intrepid time warrior (Lambert) up against an evil new threat in the shape of Michael Ironside and getting mixed up with a gang of ecological radicals led by Virginia Madsen. The two leads once again exude charisma, if not credible accents, and Ironside is splendid as the baddie, while Mulcahy gleefully unleashes an impressive array of visual tricks. However, there's not enough flash to cover the lack of substance.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Narrative coherence is not a quality which director Mulcahy brings to this mondial of machismo, about a bizarre (and... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
"...Entertaining....The picture is beautifully photographed....Outstanding special effects..."
- Variety
- Posted 11 Mar 2005

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

- - Buy
- Highlander - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £8.93
  Free Delivery
- RRP £24.99 (you save: 64%)

- - Buy
- Highlander
  
  Among humans for centuries, an immortal specie existed. Connor MacLeod is a member of this specie. Unaware of his powers, he is unable to explain his revival after his apparent death in a clan-fight in the 15th century. This convinces the superstitious villagers to stone him and drive him out of ...