Highlander: Endgame

Less a sequel than an all-out remake of the original swordfighting fantasy film that left absolutely no opening for a sequel -- not that that stopped the making of three more films, two syndicated TV shows, and an animated series -- the latest tale of immortals battling to cut one another's heads off so they can steal their opponents' powers brings together original star Christopher Lambert and TV spin-off star Adrian Paul. All previous established continuity has been ignored, as is the practice with this "franchise," so once again the world is populated by evil swordsmen, and it's up to Lambert and his unspecified relative Paul to stop them. Lambert appears to be having a blast getting back into his trademark character, and the head villain (Passenger 57's Bruce Payne) is a wonderfully over-the-top Englishman who wears black and torments his victims with long, bombastic speeches before killing them, but Paul is a brick. He may look good, and be in shape, but the idea of his taking over as star of a new film series is not worth contemplating. The fights appear to have picked up some Hong Kong influences this time out, and as usual there are numerous flashbacks laden with bad wigs and even worse accents (French-born Lambert's attempt at a Scots brogue is worse than ever). WWF wrestler Edge even shows up briefly, just so Paul can insult him with the line "You've lost your edge, lad." The production values aren't much higher than those of the TV series (some brief nudity is included just to snag an R-rating, but that's it), and while the film overall is an enjoyable B flick, it elevates the original Highlander, itself a B flick at the time it was released, to the level of brilliance by comparison.