I hate the fact that not many people in Hong Kong (where I live) knows and cares about Highlander, so I had to visit several video stores to find a DVD (can't even find the cheaper VCD, oh well, beggars can't be choosers). But now, I have this movie in my hands, I watched it, and ... to everyone who I have offended when I say I don't see the appeal of Highlander, I sincerely apologize. This movie is amazing! Well, not in the Oscar contender or arthouse movie way, but in its own way, Highlander is such a great movie.
The music, including Queen's songs and the instrumental soundtrack sets up the mood and tone for the movie. It helps the audience to get in the mood to feel what Conner feels. Like "Princes Of The Universe" gets us in the mood of the movie, makes us energised and anticipate what would happen; or like "Who Wants To Live Forever", it leads us into the mood of sadness as we see Ramirez dead and Conner's home destroyed.
The acting in this movie, to be fair and honest, are over-the-top as hell, but that's the fun. Christopher Lambert's accent really crippled his acting ability, and he was bland as hell, but the way he conveys the inner rage and stress through his eyes are chilling and memorable, so I can his acting a pass. Clancy Brown as the Kurgan makes every Bond villain ever put on screen look subtle with his manical laughs, grunts and stares; with his terrifying look, a pure and simple motivation, and really evil acts, Clancy Brown has cemented the Kurgan's status as one of the greatest movie villains of all times. Sean Connery is Sean Connery in the movie, his role in this movie is iconic and another fandom role under his belt, among James Bond, Indy's dad, John Patrick Mason, Jimmy Mallon, the Captain from The Hunt for Red October, and the bad guy from The Avenge...cross out the last one, yikes.
The flashback was used very well, both to set up the mystery surrounding Conner MacLeod and to tell the audienc what Conner was remembering in the present time. The flashback coupled with the story made the story even more interesting, the mystery of "the same guy appearing in ancient Scotland and present day New York" more original (for lack of a better term, English is my second language) and the emotions more hardhitting.
The action in Highlander is, let's be honest, not the "best" in nowadays' standards, the choreography is NOT top-notch, the visuals are NOT dazzling, and the motions are NOT fast; and that's what make it so absorbing and realistic, in a movie with men who cannot be killed, right. Sacrificing dazzling visuals for the realistc fight sequences (because they could not afford them anyway) make the audience feel more of the brutality and urgency of the fights, so props to that.
Finally, the emotion in Highlander is what drives the movie home, is what makes this movie more than a mindless montage of people talking, sword fighting, and training. Above all else, it is the fact that we the audience feel for Conner MacLeod, which is not easy to pull off, considering the filmmakers have to get us to feel for a guy who is immortal and has an extremely large emotional burden of pain and loss. The way the movie was made let the audience feel Conner's joy when he was living with his clan or Heather, sympathise with Conner when Heather died or when he was banished, and get angry when the Kurgan is killing Ramirez or provoking Conner in the church.
Overall, except a few minor complaints concerning the acting, there are no problems about Highlander, and after writing this piece, I understand more why Highlander is so beloved by fans and casual movie watchers.