Highlander: Endgame manages very nicely to live up to some of the great Highlander traditions. Like its predecessors, it disowns absolutely everything that came before it, including the television show from which it draws most of its characters. And, like Highlander 3, it is directed so much like a rock video that if the viewer leaves the theatre for so much as a minute and a half, s/he will be lost when s/he returns.
That being said, it actually isn't that bad a film. It doesn't disown the basic concept of the series, and fans of the TV show will be pleased to see Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) pass the torch to his younger kinsman, Duncan (Adrian Paul). In fact, the movie relies so much on the TV show, that somebody who hasn't seen the six-year series might be left almost completely in the dark.
The acting is also quite strong, and the villain, Kell (Bruce Payne) is more fanatical than evil. In fact, as far as the series of movies goes, this installment has the most interesting characters.
However, while it is a decent movie, it is not a great one. Between the inconsistent "artsy" direction and the almost utter lack of continuity with the TV show, much less the first movie, the film is brought down considerably. It is a worthy matinee, but only diehard Highlander fans should consider paying full price. Mind you, probably only diehard Highlander fans will really understand the movie anyway...
Final mark: 3/5. Worth a matinee, but not full price. Be warned, some of the violence is pretty graphic, so it is not a movie for younger viewers.
That being said, it actually isn't that bad a film. It doesn't disown the basic concept of the series, and fans of the TV show will be pleased to see Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) pass the torch to his younger kinsman, Duncan (Adrian Paul). In fact, the movie relies so much on the TV show, that somebody who hasn't seen the six-year series might be left almost completely in the dark.
The acting is also quite strong, and the villain, Kell (Bruce Payne) is more fanatical than evil. In fact, as far as the series of movies goes, this installment has the most interesting characters.
However, while it is a decent movie, it is not a great one. Between the inconsistent "artsy" direction and the almost utter lack of continuity with the TV show, much less the first movie, the film is brought down considerably. It is a worthy matinee, but only diehard Highlander fans should consider paying full price. Mind you, probably only diehard Highlander fans will really understand the movie anyway...
Final mark: 3/5. Worth a matinee, but not full price. Be warned, some of the violence is pretty graphic, so it is not a movie for younger viewers.