...

It all started with the coining of a phrase, which should have resulted in only 1 movie, but instead ended up with 3 sequels, a TV spin-off (which lasted some 6 years!!) AND then a spin-off TV show FROM to the first TV spinoff show (and not to mention a CARTOON SERIES!!).

The Phrase was, and still is, "There can be only One" and the film was of course Highlander.

Since 1986 we've seen one Connor MacLeod (Christoper Lambert) battle to the Death with several of his immortal fellows, who unlike Connor want to kill all other immortals to claim their prize.

The Original Highlander, which many (including myself) still consider to be the best of this saga, after 15 years still has that air of originality that it's subsequent sequels and TV shows just can't quite capture. Having Loved the Original movie I've still quite enjoyed the TV series, as well as Film #4 (which surprised me seeing as parts 2 and 3 were complete and utter bollocks!)

So anyhoo, #1 tells the story of Connor Macleod and his beginnings as in immortal. Born in the 16th Century, Connor is now some 400 odd years old (the film is clearly set in 1985).
While at a wrestling match in maddison Square Gardens (USA) Connor is confronted by another immortal, who is there to kill Connor. Luckily Connor does his adversary in, but is caught by the police as he attempts to escape. (problem is the cops can't actually prove that Connor Killed the baddy).

The Film goes back and forth between present day and the 16th century to when Connor was still a mortal being, to when he looses his mortality at the hands of Kurgan (Clancy Brown).
Unbeknownst to Connor, Kurgan knows that Connor is "one" and kills him with the intent of making him an immortal so he can do battle with him, and kill him again!
With Connor's return from the Dead, the townspeople believe it to be the Devil's work, and Connor is banished from the town. He retreats to a hideaway castle where he meets a mortal girl Heather, falls in love and they marry (At this stage Connor is unaware he is immortal)
Five Years pass and Connor is tracked down by a friendly Egyptian immortal, Remerez (the ever reliable Sean Connory). Remerez proceeds to teach Connor the way of the immortals.

Back in the 20th Century, Brenda (Roxanne "Chicago Hope" Hart) has found the dead guy's ancient sword as well as metal fragments from Connor's Sword so decides to do some snooping, which keeps leading her to Connor.

Kurgan has also tracked Connor down, after slaying many more immortals, leaving only a handful left to fight.

Pretty soon, there will be only 2 immortals left to do battle...and then...there can be only one :)

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VIDEO
Before I start getting picky with this Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer, let me say that I was most impressed with the job Universal have done in bringing this film to Region 4 DVD for the 15th Anniversary DVD Edition.
Having sat through the APPALLING region 1 "10th Anniversary THX APPROVED version" many times (and trust me, it's a shocker), this region 4 PAL version is simply stunning by comparison.

Universal's transfer has sourced a nice print indeed (I am told it came from Europe), and god damn does it look clean. You're really going to be hard pressed to find any serious nicks and scratches here.
The only real problems that show up on this slightly dated print, are somewhat muted colours, a light level of constant grain, and under exposed shots.

Colour Saturation really isn't that bad and is quite consistent throughout, but it does lack vibrancy (it's still perfectly watchable though, just take a few things into account first :)
At around the 69 minute mark where Connor is talking to his wife on her bed, there is quite a lot of fluctuation in the over all colour level.  (sort of a green/Blue strobe effect)

Given the excessive amount of Noise Reduction applied to the region 1 version (it appears as though you were looking at the picture through a fly screen), our region 4 version shows very little sign of noise reduction being applied at all, and this results in a rather smooth and detailed picture. Given this, I really have no problem with the light smattering of grain in this film. (it gives it that gritty feel which ironically does the film some good :)
Black level is quite good, but is perhaps a fraction too low, so shadow detail is reduced only just a little. Sharpness on a whole is very good, resulting in a pleasant looking image. (there is little, to no signs of edge enhancement here)


Spread over 2 layers of an RSDL DVD, the layer change occurs at the 70:24 minute mark, WITHIN chapter 11 on a nature fade in/out, and offers only a minor disruption to some low level music.

...

AUDIO
It may have been made 15 years ago when 5.1 Digital Sound wasn't   available in Cinemas, but Highlander has received a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix (which was actually made for the 10th Anniversary Laserdisc release in the USA and taken from the 16 track mag reel..or something like that :).
The sound is sadly quite dated, and comes across with a thinness.  Thankfully universal have seen fit to encode this 5.1 track at the higher 448kbps data rate, so it could have been worse.  The 5.1 track does show great improvements over the Dolby Digital 2 Track version also contained on the disc, which has virtually NO surround usage, and is considerably less dynamic.
On the 5.1 mix there has been more focus to creating a wide spread across the front, with a decent amount of split surround usage.

Dialogue is easy to hear, but you'll notice it too is quite thin, and very ADR sounding (syncing is only ever a fraction out, if that, which I don't consider a problem here).

As was done for the music in Flash Gordon, QUEEN were called upon to supply some songs, for Highlander, and personally this is the best aspect of the film.  The combination of Michael Kamen and Queen to the Highlander Score is a first class job with a fantastic array of music across the board.  On a Trivial note, I found it rather interesting that NONE of the Queen songs are listed in the closing credits.  Granted these where made SPECIFICALLY for the movie, but I'd like to know what the damn songs are actually called!  :)

...

EXTRAS
Extras are somewhat limited, but are a welcome addition.

• Animated menus with 2.0 sound (these are quite snazzy, but not long enough :)
• Trailer
• Interview with Christopher Lambert. this one's actually in FRENCH with English subtitles, but is a very nice addition. the interview was made about 13 years after Highlander, when Russell Mulcahy was making Resurrection with....Mr Lambert
• Music Video - Queen's "highlander" song..nasty old "SP Beta" looking sourced clip
• Photo Gallery (15 publicity Stills)
• Cast and Crew Filmographies. these are a little different. 3 different listings with scrolling film titles and background video action of snippets from eth movie (you can also FFwd, Reverse and pause, etc if you like)
  

All in all Fans of Highlander will be thrilled with this region 4 DVD. The Picture has never looked better and the sound's not as good as films of today, but not too shabby either .  It's just a pity we're missing the excellent commentary track found on that nasty region 1 "Republic release"  DVD :(

If you're a fan, you're still gonna want to buy superior looking version NOW!

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717  (using RGB outputs)
Receiver : Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra (Dolby Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete)
Speakers:-
     Mains: Quadral Amun
     Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
     Surrounds Left/Right: M&K SS500 (Dipole)
     Surrounds Back : Polk RT/fx (Diplole)
     Subby: M&K V125 

- Reviewed 25th September 2001

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