Monday, February 18, 2013

Highlander

So saturday night, while hanging out with some friends, I watched the original Highlander.  I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd seen it, because there was a lot that I simply didn't remember.

Highlander, for me, was nearly as significant as seeing Star Wars (A New Hope) the first time.  I think it's because I was a teenager when I saw Highlander and it really spoke to quite a bit of how a teenager views the world and what I found cool at the time (trenchcoats and katanas).

I found the development of Connor through flashback very interesting, but didn't remember the segments set in "modern" New York as being as disjointed and grim as they were.  I'd also forgotten that those same modern set pieces reminded me of a music video (probably a good thing back then).
And Christopher Lamber was an...odd choice for leading man.  I felt that Sean Connery and Clancy Brown both did a much better job and in many ways felt that Roxanne Hart's Brenda Wyatt was a more compelling character than the 1980's Connor McCloud.

I was also struck with the thought that Highlander probably wouldn't be made today.  Hollywood has little interest in creating a new franchise and they probably don't believe that a move like it would find an audience.

I find that truly sad.

3 comments:

Mark Means said...

Interesting that you found some of the parts to look like a music video as Russel Mulcahey got his start doing that very thing, from what I remember.

Great movie and one of my faves, as well.

thesethingsthatiwrite said...

This flick used to be a staple of our post gaming weekend beer and movie nights. There's just so much to it that can be used for inspiration, and just balls to the walls fun. The second film that got a lot of regular outings? Split Second with the legend that is Rutger Hauer. It was watched so much, that we can quote it just as well as highlander, many years since any of us got together to watch it.

Cross Planes said...

That's awesome. I miss the days of hanging out watching movies and then quoting them endlessly.

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