Movie Review: Highlander Endgame

Highlander Endgame
Starring: Adrian Paul, Christopher Lambert, Bruce Payne, Lisa Barbuscia, Donnie Yen, Jim Byrnes, Peter Wingfield, Damon Dash, Beatie Edney, Sheila Gish, Oris Erhuero, Ian Paul Cassidy, Adam Copeland, Mihnea Trusca, June Watson, Donald Douglas, Liviu Timus, Christopher Leps, Vernon Rieta, John Medlen, Douglas Aarniokoski, Thomas Lockyer, Charmian May, Paul Bigley, Daniel Parker, Jessica Mann, Robert Hewett, Kananu Kimiri, David Nicholls, Abigail Kingsbury, Candace Hallinan, Wendy Partridge 

Director: Douglas Aarniokoski 

Davis-Panzer Productions, Dimension Films, USA, Romania, 2000. 

Throughout the history a race called Immortals has fought each other in the Game. Only way to kill an Immortal is to cut off his head. The winner then absorbs the loser's powers. The last Immortal alive will have the Prize, gain supernatural powers and either help mankind or enslave it. 

Immortal Connor MacLeod's (Christopher Lambert) foster-daughter Rachel (Sheila Gish) dies in bomb explosion. Tired of always losing his loved ones Connor goes to the Sanctuary. He remembers how he was betrayed in 1555 by his priest friend Jacob Kell (Bruce Payne). Connor's mother (June Watson) was burned at stake. Connor killed Jacob and Jacob's father for revenge but surprise! Jacob was immortal too. 

Connor MacLeod

Rachel

Jacob Kell

Group of renegade immortals led by Jacob raids the Sanctuary and kills the dormant immortals. The Watcher Methos (Peter Wingfield) contacts Connor's friend and student Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul). The Watchers observe that the rules of the Game are followed. However some rebelling Watchers have decided to kidnap and drug Immortals to stay safe from Jacob. Duncan goes to find Connor with Watchers Methos and Joe (Jim Byrnes). 

Winston, Jin Ke, Cracker Bob and Carlos

Watcher Methos

Duncan MacLeod

Connor's former wife Kate (Lisa Barbuscia), now named Faith, appears with thugs to kill Duncan. Lisa and the others have been persuaded to work for Jacob or else. Lisa is vengeful toward Duncan because he activated her immortality. Duncan and Connor must join their forces to defeat Jacob. 

Kate/Faith

Duncan fights Jin Ke

Connor is tired of losing his loved ones

This is directorial debut of Douglas Aarniokoski who is of Finnish descent. The fourth movie in Highlander-series (forget Highlander 2) is quite good as a sequel. However continuity has never been been the strong point of Highlander-series, as all Immortals except Connor were killed in the first movie! The inclusion of Kate provides similar doomed romance aspect that was also present in the first (and the best) Highlander. There are some good ideas that seem a bit rushed and should have been developed further. For example the subplot involving the Watchers is left fully open. There is also a director's cut that fills some missing details, however I do not have that version.

BTW Jacob Kell's gang have some interesting backstories in Wikipedia for those interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander:_Endgame#Jacob_Kell.27s_gang

Bruce Payne does a good villain role as a guy who hates the Immortals. The sword fights look great. Hong Kong legend Donnie Yen has a small role as Jacob's honour-bound henchman Jin Ke who performs some cool martial art moves. 

The swordplay looks good

Rating: Good