HIGHLANDER II: THE QUICKENING

US, 1991, 109 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Virginia Madsen, Michael Ironside, John C. Mc Ginley.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy.

Highlander II: The Quickening, is a popular sequel to the popular film of the mid 80s, directed by Australian Russell Mulcahy. It has its plot from the original but also influenced by the ecological awareness of the 80's. In 1999, the ozone layer has deteriorated and a shield has to be put over the earth. By 2034, the world is a dark and depressed place. However, it appears that commercial interests are keeping the shield over the earth while the ozone layer has corrected itself.

The Highlander, Mac Leod is growing old in this world. An Ecoterrorist played by Virginia Madsen urges him to do something about the situation. Meanwhile he is being pursued by Katana (Michael Ironside) a chief from his planet Zeist. Thankfully, for audiences, his immortal friend, played with verve by Sean Connery, also appears. There is a confrontation with the chief of the corporation, the removal of the threat and the death of Katana.

The film has something of the atmosphere of Tim Burton's Batman films. The special effects and action are excitingly directed by Mulcahy with his expertise in music videos. However, the film is fairly ordinary in its plot, performances and message.

1. The popularity of the first film? Action adventure? Into the next century? The place of the sequel?

2. The world of the future, 1999 and 2034: the shield, the dark civilisation? The dark interiors and decor?

3. Action, stunts and effects, camera work and editing, models and styles? The musical score?

4. The title and expectations, the idea of the quickening, linking and immortality?

5. The background of the Scots, the planet of Zeist? presuppositions from the first film: the role of the warrior, the Highlander, his immortality? Ramirez as Saviour?

6. 1999, the world in collapse, the Ozone layer, the ingenuity in building the shield and putting it in place? Mac Leod and his prestige? The corporation and the boss? Their control? The inventor and his being imprisoned?

7. 2034, the aging Mac Leod, his idol, decay, the control of the multinational corporation, overall depression and darkness?

8. Mac Leod as old, ineffectual? His memories of Zeist, memories of Ramirez? The flashbacks to confrontation with Katana, Katana wanting to be dictator, the battle, The Quickening and its life force? The exile of Mac Leod and Ramirez?

9. The encounter with Louise, the world of the ecoterrorist, the car chase, the control? Her break in? Her revealing to Mac Leod the truth about the ozone layer and profit?

10. Katana and his assassins, entering into the 21st century, vengeance, wanting to behead the Highlander and destroy Mac Leod becoming young again, invoking Ramirez, Ramirez and his return - and the comic touches by Sean Connery, especially in his clothes with the Scottish touch to come into the 21st Century?

11. Their combining forces to rescue Neyman, the idealist? The maximum security prison, under the earth? The quest and the adventure? The fights?

12. The company, the chairman, his control? The confrontation with Mac Leod, Ramirez sacrificing himself?

13. MacLeod? and Louise, working together - and the destruction of the shield?

14. The final confrontation with Katana, the embodiment of evil, the deaths of his assassins, the battles and the beheading?

15. Mac Leod as the saviour, the restoration of the world to its former state and the possibility of prosperity?