Half-Life 2? Maybe there a reason it's called Highlander: The Source. ;)

Why does everyone keep hoping there will ever be a good sequel to the first? I liked the first one but every subsequent sequel was horrible. I can't believe I actually watched all of them and more than likely watch this one, too. Why do they keep making them and why do I keep watching them knowing more than likely their going to be bad?

I don't know that I'd agree with that entirely. While I do agree that the first one is by far the best, I would also argue that 3 was much better than 2 and that 4 was better than 3. I felt 4 was the closest thing to 4 in terms of style and feel (story, characters). I think it also did a good job of bringing the TV characters to the big screen (although I still need to finish S5 and watch S6).

Hmmm...

Final producer's cut, huh? Doesn't sound good.

Why not? He looks like he's a thousand years old now anyway...

September? :( I know that's when they've been traditionally released (usually best time anyway), but I was looking forward to spring.

Tell me about it. The theatrical cut of Highlander: Endgame, flaws and all, was loads better than the producer's cut of the same. I realy wish they had released the theatrical cut or the briefly proposed director's cut (assuming it would have been better).

Yeah, you've got the director of Man-Thing and T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous helming the movie, and now you've got the producers recutting the film after it's already been finished (and apparently released in some territories), it doesn't sound good at all.

The problem is, Highlander is a cool mythology, but it's become a total joke due to so many laughable sequels. There's no way the producers can lure in a director that could actually do justice to a Highlander movie. And so they get the director of Man-Thing, and when, shockingly, the film isn't great, they try to recut it to make it better, which will probably just make it worse, because you can't edit shit into gold. And then, when the movie bombs, they use it as justification to not spend money on the next inevitable sequel, which will only be worse.

They should just reboot this franchise. Take the series and movie characters, tweak them a bit, and do series of films that progress toward the gathering. That way we don't have to deal with the same nagging "but Connor was the last one" problem that has nagged the sequels and series since day 1.

I honestly do want to see this. I was really into the show. Maybe they'll get around to one day putting out the animated show.

Agreed.

A buddy of mine shelled out for the Russian copy. Bunch of us got together a few nights ago and watched it. Good lord, was it bad. This pretty much put the final nail in the franchise's coffin.

Would any amount of "producer's cut" retooling make it better? Or was it the overall quality of performances, storyline, acting, etc... that made it bad, and would remain bad in any version?

I don't think it will, but who knows. It needed a better script and about 20 million more added to it's a budget. Seemed that they left things out of the script entirely that would've pleased the fans (references to to other characters, more backstory, flashbacks, etc).

The acting was what you'd expect from Highlander, not bad, not great. Peter Wingfield was good.

The storyline was incoherent and just didn't make any sense at all in some parts. There was really no bridge and very little continuity between this and Endgame. Too many things were just left out entirely; what happened to The Watchers, the remaining immortals, Kate (who i'd much rather have seen than the female lead in this one), and the list goes on. The time between this film and Endgame should've been filled in more. The special effects which supposedly aren't "finished" are pretty bad. The Guardian's super speed effect was pretty laughable.

One part I thought they handled very well, even though I didn't like seeing it happen was

As a big Highlander fan I was pretty disappointed in this. It's a shame because the overall premise/idea of the film wasn't that bad. If they got a decent script and pumped a little more money into it, it probably would've been something the fans and a bigger audience could enjoy.

Words can't do justice to just how bad this movie was, simple as that so I'll stop there...

So, after reading the post by nightflier do you still think it's going to be good?
I know it's just one person's opinion----

Did I miss something? Saw this at the top of a page and clicked on it.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=27260

Didn't read since I don't want spoilers...

Is it out and I missed it?

Did it get canned?

Still on track for fall release?

Apparently the Russian DVD currently available is not the final cut of the film...the "producer's" cut will be released in the fall.

Sadly producer Bill Panzer died sometime last week in a somewhat freak accident. He was only 62. Say what you will about their creative decisions, Panzer/Davis did as much as they could to keep the Highlander franchise alive.

Wow. I didn't know that.

Neither did I. That is a shock.

As far as Highlander goes, I'm more interested in the anime release "Highlander: The Search for Vengeance". From what I can tell, it doesn't reference any of the prior Highlanders and focuses on a new MacLeod, so it seems like the closest thing to a reboot that will be happening. That alone may be enough to give it a fighting chance to be decent. Plus, in animation, you don't have to witness the sad aging of Christopher Lambert (who looked practically mummified in Endgame).

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...&cs=1&nid=2590

William Panzer, 64, producer
Filmmaker worked on 'Highlander' franchise
By VARIETY STAFF

William Panzer
Panzer
William Panzer, producer of the "Highlander" franchise, died of an aneurysm Sunday in Boise, Idaho. He was 64.

Panzer teamed with producer Peter Davis when he moved to Los Angeles in 1976, and Davis-Panzer Productions went on to produce more than 20 films, including Sam Peckinpah's final film "The Osterman Weekend" in 1983, "Death Collector" with Joe Pesci, "Stunts" and "Freeway."

Davis-Panzer started a successful franchise with the 1986 "Highlander," about an immortal Scottish warrior locked in a centuries-long death match. "Highlander" eventually spawned four sequels, three TV series and a videogame. Panzer also contributed to the screenplays for three of the "Highlander" films.

Since 1982, Panzer had been a familiar figure at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was known for his dapper style and sense of humor. "Bill was one of the original independent film producers," says his longtime business partner Davis. "He was not always the easiest of men, but he was the best of men."

"Bill was a vibrant presence and a very popular attendee at 'Highlander' conventions where he made himself completely available to everyone, mingling with the fans ," says Highlander Worldwide Fan Club president Carmel MacPherson.

Panzer was born in New York and attended Princeton U. before attending NYU Film School. He produced his first film, the 1968 docu "Mexican Anticipation" featuring Duke Ellington while at NYU, and then partnered in New York TV commercial company Phos Cine Productions before moving to L.A.

He was a member of BAFTA and the Television Academy.

Panzer is survived by his wife Priscilla.

A memorial service will be held April 15.

Donations may be made to a scholarship fund in his name at the Lawrenceville School in Princeton, N. J.






From what I have read Bill decided to go ice skating, fell very hard, hit his head and later died. Very sad.

Sad to hear. Was wondering where the "freak accident" part was going to come in.

I'm curious, since the article mentions that he had a hand in writing 3 of the films, if he was involved in this last one at all. Additionally, I wonder if he was responsible for any of the "bad" parts. Hate to say it, but maybe this will have a good affect on the franchise (if he was responsible for the bad parts).

Also curious to find out what all of this "producers" cut is about.

Now we'll get Davis Pictures? Reminds me of Bruchimer-Simpson in the 90s.