Remake Radar: Highlander

Heeeere we are...


Yep, at the end of May and with another edition of Remake Radar. This month's selection: the sci-fi fantasy summer sleeper flick, "Highlander."

"Highlander" (1986)

Stars: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Roxanne Hart.

Director: Russell Mulcahy.

Story: Christopher Lambert (having just finished "Greystoke") plays Connor Macleod (of the Scottish clan MacLeod) who was born in 1518 in the Highlands of Scotland. In the year 1536 he was killed by an immortal named "The Kurgan" only to wake up and walk and talk as if nothing happened. He's quickly banished and moves out to the middle of nowhere, finds a wife, and begins settling down when he's visited by Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Connery). Ramirez informs him that they are Immortal and cannot die unless they are beheaded. Oh yeah, and they can't age or have children. For the next part, let me quote Connery from the movie:

From the dawn of time we came; moving silently down through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering; when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you... until now.

It's now New York City, 1986. Connor has to stay alive to fight against The Kurgan as well as keeping his identity a secret from Brenda Wyatt, whose knowledge of swordsmanship gets her caught in the middle of Connor's quest for the Gathering whereupon if he wins, he will attain "The Prize": the ability to be able to resume growing old, be able to have kids, and know the thoughts of all men.

And remember: There Can Be Only One!

Based on a story by Gregory Widen.

On a personal note, I hadn't heard of "Highlander" until some point in the early-Nineties. Once I had watched the initial U.S. Theatrical Cut, I was hooked. Immortality. Scotland. Swordfighting. Women. What else did you need?