Highlander: The Source
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Movie Reviews of Highlander: The Source
Movie Review: Sad but true
Summary: 2 Stars
I love Highlander. I thought this film a tragic waste of Peter Wingfield, Jim Byrne and especially Adrian Paul. I feel they did the best with what they were given. But I suspect who ever edited this movie was on drugs.Movie Review: The Final Installment of the Highlander Saga
Summary: 2 Stars
I have to admit I was disappointed with "The Source". It just wasn't what I expected. But I also have to admit, I would watch Adrian Paul peel potatoes. Adrian Paul was wonderful as usual!Movie Review: I wish I could give it no stars
Summary: 1 Stars
There have been two really great parts to the whole Highlander franchise: the original movie, and the TV series (especially from its second season on, when they introduced the concept of the Watcher organization, and wrote stories about a subgroup of Watcher who developed a religious fanatic-type fear and hatred of immortals, and started hunting them). Both these version of the Highlander franchise featured great characters, marvellous flashbacks, interesting villains, and dealt with both the positive and negative aspects of immortality, such as unending youth and strength, and the experience of being able to see whole different ages, such as most people can only dream about, balanced off against the loneliness of watching everyone around you age and die, with only a handful of people with whom you can form lasting bonds -- and many of them are out to take your head. It was thrilling stuff, and as the first movie and series proved, this concept was a rich source from which really great stories could be mined again and again.
How sad then that with the exception of that first film, the makers of Highlander movies have failed so dismally. This movie actually rivals "Highlander II: the Quickening" in sheer awfulness, and I hadn't believed that possible. I had a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I found that this movie was set in a near future where society had broken down into chaos and anarchy. Why on earth did the producers of this film choose to borrow an element from the worst movie in the entire franchise? The villain was so ridiculous he wasn't even remotely menacing or scary. What could EVER make anyone think a villain who yells "Helloo Joe!" as he sails through the air hit by a car (in a stupendously unrealistic stunt/special effect) would play well? This was just one moment among many involving the villain that elicits unintentional laughter. The guardian was so horrendously, cringe-inducingly bad that if the Kurgan were in this film he would have killed him for bringing villains into disrepute.
And of course, on top of a poor story, a laughable villain, and the complete absence of any of the elements that made either the first film or the series a success, this movie suffers from a fault common to all Highlander films but the first: lack of continuity. Why, if they are going to make these things, do they insist on disregarding everything that came before? This is really frustrating to those fans who have delved into the world of the Highlander franchise and would like it to make at least some sense, and have some internal consistency. It's hard to stay interesting in something when they keep changing the ground rules on you.
But the above listed flaws barely scratch the surface of what it wrong with this movie. I read that this was intended to be the first of a trilogy. All I can say to that is that I hope not. As much as I am irritated at the lack of consistency and continuity in the Highlander movies, if they're going to do any more, they need to retcon this abortion out of existence. Having inexplicably copied concepts from the single worse installment of the whole franchise, they should also copy the follow up taken to that movie by the producers of the next one and write a new story that ignores this steaming pile of dog excrement and starts with a blank slate.
Movie Review: Highlander: The Source (of a Truly Awful Movie)
Summary: 1 Stars
In late 2007, I was initially excited to find this direct-to-cable sequel on the Sci-Fi Channel to "Highlander: The Series," with Adrian Paul (as MacLeod), Jim Byrnes (as Dawson), and Peter Wingfield (as Methos) all returning in their respective roles. After both the box office failure of 2000's "Highlander 4: Endgame," and Elizabeth Gracen's short-lived "Highlander: The Raven" tv series a decade ago, my curiosity was piqued to see how the "Highlander" franchise could be resurrected once more.
Suffice to say, I was very disappointed (but not surprised) by the wretched outcome. While consistent with "Highlander"'s big screen history of choppy rock video-style editing and at times poor storyline coherency, this fifth installment, unfortunately, hits a new all-time low for the 22-year old franchise in both categories. I won't go into this abysmal film's failures to any great extent (as other reviewers already have done so well), but let me say that "Highlander: The Source" completely wasted the opportunity of renewing hope that Adrian Paul's character would still lead the franchise into the future.
Unfortunately, according to this movie, what the future really means is a cheap, dismal "Road Warrior" knock-off that abandons all of the previous swashbuckling grandeur, inventive time-traveling flashbacks, and exuberant romantic charm that creator Gregory Widen originally envisioned and which later made Adrian Paul's tv series endure for six years. So why did the producers, including Mr. Paul, choose to pursue this radically different, albeit dubious, premise (i.e. "Highlander" meets "Def-Con 4")?
My guess is at least part of the answer can be found in the virtually constant darkness depicted in the film. The darkness wasn't just for ambiance's sake; rather, it was supposed to help disguise the low budget and deficient production values (such as the grade-Z screenwriting). The movie, as a result, comes off like a mindless, goth-violent video game that appeals only to hard-core fans of sci-fi/fantasy schlock. Sadly, it also pretty much chokes the remaining life out of "Highlander"'s rapidly dwindling fanbase.
Now, let me provide my take on the film's central theme: what really is the enigmatic source of immortality? The film's final sequence is hardly a shocker, but presenting the idea of human reproduction as the ultimate answer reminded me of the mediocre 1989 "Star Trek V"'s all too simplistic attempt to explain where God truly is. In other words, it is beyond insulting to suggest to intelligent viewers that they don't already know the obvious "source," but perhaps even more so, that the answer must still be spelled out for them.
In summation, I would have much preferred a direct continuation of "Highlander 4: Endgame," or even an improved reworking of "Highlander 2: The Quickening"'s futuristic world. The poorly-produced fifth "Highlander" film instead, much like the gloomy future Earth it depicts, makes Duncan MacLeod's prospects for a sixth installment seem far more grim (whether he is played by Adrian Paul or a successor). If this indeed the end for Duncan MacLeod, at least the producers finally allow him to embark on real life's greatest adventure (parenthood).
Movie Grade: F + (it seems fitting for what little spark this movie has).
Movie Review: A Once Proud Franchise Comes to this . . .
Summary: 1 Stars
This mess of a movie is a faux-cyberpunk version of the Highlander by way of a goth-metal adrenaline rush (throwing in some cannibals and Bugs Bunny routines for good measure). It comes to us from Lionsgate Films who have acquired the rights to the Highlander property and plan to use this movie as a starting point to relaunch the franchise. Based on what I've seen, though, it looks like they are more likely to sink it.
This movie was actually completed in 2006 and a rough copy circulated in Europe early in 2007 to harsh reviews. Lionsgate spent some time retooling the movie then decided to forgo a theatrical release and instead premiere it on the Sci Fi Channel as a "Sci Fi Original Movie" (in place of the usual Saturday night critters-on-the-rampage fare). I never saw the rough cut, but I can't imagine how it could have been much worse than what made it to the final version.
The movie takes place in the near future after civilization has collapsed. There is actually little elaboration on what brought about the collapse, this just provides the backdrop for several immortals' quest for the nebulous Source; supposedly the key to their power. Adrian Paul returns from the Highlander TV Series as Duncan MacLeod (and sleepwalks through the role) along with Peter Wingfield as Methos and Jim Byrnes as the Watcher Joe Dawson. They are joined by two immortals Zai Jie and Cardinal Giovanni as well as Duncan's latest girlfriend, Anna Teshemka. This group must do battle with another immortal, the Guardian, who I think is supposed to be guarding the Source and who looks like the cover of a bad heavy metal album come to life. The narrative of the movie is so disjointed and incoherent that I definitely lost track of the motivations driving each person to this Source thing. And by the end of the movie I didn't care and actually regretted my decision to stick it through to the ending credits.
The Highlander movies have actually been a mixed bag at best. Even the first movie which launched the franchise was only good not great. It was the television series, which ran in syndication for six years starring Adrian Paul, which best represented the franchise. Now, this new attempt to relaunch the Highlander series is equally as misguided as the sequel to the first movie, 1991's dreadful Highlander: The Quickening.
If you are jonesing for the adventures of the Duncan or Connor Macleod, go back and revisit the series or the first movie on DVD. But definitely don't waste your time with this poor excuse to milk a few more dollars out of the Highlander name.
John J. Joex
www.axiomsedge-scifi.com
Skip this movie and check out these instead:
Highlander
Highlander The Series - Season 1