Unleashing the Power of Science Fantasy: A Must-Read Sequel That Defies Expectations!
Highlander II: The Quickening, a science fantasy sequel, faced severe criticism and scored a dismal 0% on Rotten Tomatoes Discover the reasons behind its poor reception and explore the existence of other Highlander films
Film criticism is a challenging role that is often underappreciated. Platforms like Rotten Tomatoes condense numerous opinions into a single rating, often disregarded by viewers. However, this position does offer one remarkable advantage: the ability to deliver a devastating blow to a film's reputation with a meticulously crafted line. The crushing blow inflicted upon Highlander II: The Quickening can be found in Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus, which succinctly states, "There should have been only one."
Creating a sequel based on something iconic can prove to be a daunting task. It becomes even more challenging when the fan-favorite elements do not align with the studio's intentions. By abandoning the original entry's genre, writer, and established lore, both dedicated fans and newcomers are left equally bewildered. Highlander II is a result of dedicated creatives doing their best, while the financial backers ruthlessly undermine their efforts.
What is Highlander II: The Quickening about?
Highlander recounts the life of Connor MacLeod, an immortal Scottish warrior. In the first installment, Connor beheads a legion of fellow immortals and gains the ultimate prize, mortality. Highlander II, however, deviates from the original canon and presents an entirely new narrative. Set in the year 2024, Connor has aged and weakened, while the world has descended into chaos. The 90s saw the destruction of the ozone layer due to pollution. In response, Connor spearheads the creation of a protective shield for Earth, which saves the planet but plunges humanity into a dark, hot, and sunless nightmare. The unscrupulous corporate owner of this electromagnetic barrier holds sunlight hostage, demanding exorbitant sums of money, resulting in a rebellion by the citizens. Implored by the leader of the rebels, Connor regains his immortality and embarks on a mission.
Similar to its predecessor, Highlander II: The Quickening utilizes flashbacks as a narrative device. While the central plot revolves around Connor battling against a corrupt system, his past adversaries resurface to thwart his endeavors. These flashbacks undermine much of the original story. It transpires that Connor and his mentor, Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, are extraterrestrial beings from a distant planet called Zeist. Connor and Ramirez led an unsuccessful uprising against Zeist's corrupt ruler, General Katana. As their punishment, they were banished to Earth, condemned to live as immortals. As Connor prepares to confront yet another tyrannical dictator, Katana descends upon Earth to eliminate him. Thus, a clash between extraterrestrial beings ensues, determining the fate of the planet.
Why is Highlander II: The Quickening so poorly received?
Highlander II is an enigmatic and captivating film that borders on experimental genre filmmaking. Unfortunately, instead of being meticulously crafted by a deranged artistic genius, it was pieced together like Frankenstein's monster by profit-driven individuals. The rights to Highlander II were divided among multiple distribution companies, each responsible for specific countries. The production faced numerous challenges, including shooting in Argentina during a time of hyperinflation and widespread protests that devastated the economy. Furthermore, the film's stars, Christopher Lambert and Michael Ironsides, suffered injuries. Despite all the hard work and hardships, the final product was heavily edited and disappointingly altered. According to director Russell Mulcahy, the failure of the film lies with the investors and completion bond company who forced major changes to the story, disregarding the original canon and introducing absurd elements. Mulcahy himself was so displeased with the outcome that he walked out of the premiere. Four years later, he released the Renegade Version, a director's cut that completely reimagined the film, restructured scenes, added new ones, and created a more coherent viewing experience. Although it still has its flaws, the Renegade Version offers some semblance of sense. Both versions are worth-watching, with the original cut serving as a comical reminder of why investors should not dictate the creative process, and the Renegade Version providing a moderately enjoyable alternative.
Are there more Highlander movies?
Surprisingly, The Quickening failed to bring an end to the franchise, proving insufficient to destroy the otherwise indestructible series. Highlander: The Series followed closely after The Quickening, keeping most of the original film's storyline intact while introducing numerous new elements. Highlander III: The Sorcerer contradicted the events of the second installment, essentially wiping it out from the franchise. Endgame and The Source, the fourth and fifth films respectively, continued the narrative of the TV series but were both commercial failures and heavily criticized by reviewers. Highlander also spawned a cartoon, a short-lived spin-off, and a web series. The two disastrous films have left the franchise in a state of uncertainty for the past 16 years.
Highlander II: The Quickening is a wonderfully chaotic spectacle that is best enjoyed with friends. The storyline is nonsensical, the action sequences are hilariously exaggerated, the production design is bewilderingly adequate, and the franchise moved forward as if the film never existed. Defenders of The Quickening may argue against its negative reception, but it deserves to be celebrated for its lack of quality. Embrace that 0% rating as a badge of honor.
