Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

User Rating:

3.5/10   

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers (WGA):

Gregory Widen (characters)
Brian Clemens (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It's a kind of magic.

Plot:

In the future, Highlander Connor MacLeod must prevent the destruction of Earth under an anti-ozone shield.

Plot Keywords:

Immortal | Ozone Layer | Highlander | Sequel | Flashback

Cast

Christopher Lambert	...	Connor MacLeod
Sean Connery	...	Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez
Virginia Madsen	...	Louise Marcus
Michael Ironside	...	Gen. Katana
Allan Rich	...	Allan Neyman
John C. McGinley	...	David Blake
Phil Brock	...	Cabbie
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Drunk
Ed Trucco	...	Jimmy
Steven Grives	...	Hamlet (as Stephen Grives)
Jimmy Murray	...	Horatio
Pete Antico	...	Corda
Peter Bucossi	...	Reno
Peter Bromilow	...	Joe
Jeff Altman	...	Doctor
Diana Rossi	...	Virginia
Randall Newsome	...	Max guard
Karin Drexler	...	Brenda
Max Berliner	...	Charlie
Eduardo Sapac	...	Holt
Michel Peyronel	...	Kid #1
Sebastian Morgan	...	Kid #2
Bruno Curichelli	...	Zeist Chief Justice
Daniel Trovo	...	Justice #2
Diego Leske	...	Justice #3
Julio Breshnev	...	Voices (voice)
Jonathon Slator	...	Supervisor
Theodore McNabney	...	TV reporter #1 (as Ted McNabney)
Patricia De Biaggi	...	TV reporter #2
André Gere	...	TV reporter #3
Jorge Ochoa	...	Stage manager
Jorge Varas	...	Latin supervisor
Alan McCormick	...	Teenager
Miguel Fernández Alonso	...	Roy
Roderick Cameron	...	Security technician
Nora Zinsky	...	Cabin attendant
Ezequiel Eskenazi Storey	...	Max leader
Jacques Arndt	...	Scientist #1
Nicolas Deane	...	Scientist #2
Helen Buck	...	Asian technician
Andres Geringer	...	Russian technician
Matt Johnston	...	Cobalt man
Héctor Malamud	...	Psychic chef
Pedro Loeb	...	Gen. Katana's aide
Americo Gallo	...	Gravedigger
Dana Swain	...	Safety spokesperson
Nicolas Frey	...	Yuppie #1
Eduardo Nutkiewitz	...	Yuppie #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mausi Martínez	...	Ciudadana oriental
Russell Mulcahy	...	Shield Control technician
Paul Bucossi	...	(uncredited)
Harry K. Garvin	...	Alarm technician (uncredited)

Directed by
Russell Mulcahy

Writing credits (WGA)
Gregory Widen		(characters)
Brian Clemens		(story) and
William N. Panzer		(story) (as William Panzer)
Peter Bellwood		(screenplay)

Produced by
Chris Chrisafis	....	line producer
Robin S. Clark	....	co-producer (as Robin Clark)
Guy Collins	....	executive producer
Jack Cummins	....	line producer
Peter S. Davis	....	producer
Jean-Luc Defait	....	producer
Ziad El Khoury	....	producer
Stephen Kaye	....	associate producer
William N. Panzer	....	producer (as William Panzer)
Mari Provenzano	....	associate producer
Alejandro Sessa	....	co-producer
Mario Sotela	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland

Cinematography by
Phil Meheux

Film Editing by
Hubert C. de la Bouillerie
Anthony Redman
Charles Simmons		(uncredited)

Casting by
Pamela Basker
Fern Champion
Sue Swan

Production Design by
Roger Hall

Art Direction by
John Frankish
John King		(supervising art director)
Cliff Robinson

Costume Design by
Deborah Everton

Makeup Department
Greg Cannom	....	special makeup
Roland Blancaflor	....	special makeup effects technician: Cannom Creations Inc (uncredited)
Alberto Moccia	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
John A. Amicarella	....	additional post-production supervisor
Joe Camp III	....	production manager
Craig Holt	....	post-production supervisor (2004 video re-release)
David Pauker	....	post-production supervisor
Aron Warner	....	production manager
Alicia Alexander	....	production manager: additional photography (uncredited)
Sabina Sigler	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. Stephen Buck	....	first assistant director
Jack Cummins	....	first assistant director
Carlos Gil	....	second assistant director
Randall Newsome	....	second assistant director
Claudio Reiter	....	first assistant director (as Claudio Reitter)
Mike Topoozian	....	first assistant director
Arthur Wooster	....	second unit director
Michael Schroeder	....	first assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)

Art Department
John Naulin	....	body armor construction (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tim Drury	....	boom operator
Richard Shorr	....	sound effects
Richard Shorr	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Nick Finlayson	....	senior special effects technician
Christian Gruaz	....	prosthetic assistant
John Richardson	....	special effects designer
Chris Corbould	....	special effects floor supervisor (uncredited)
Neil Corbould	....	special effects workshop supervisor (uncredited)
Ray O. Hardesty	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Kate Murray	....	special makeup effects (uncredited)
L. Danielle Villegas	....	effects camera assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mario Ghersi	....	computer graphics
Allen Gonzales	....	visual effects: animator
Jason Korber	....	digital compositor (2004 edition)
Sam Nicholson	....	visual effects designer
Jesse Silver	....	visual effects matte department supervisor
Larry Arpin	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Geeta Basantani	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Jared Jones	....	digital compositor (2004 edition) (uncredited)
Alan G. Markowitz	....	optical effects cameraman (uncredited)
Jeff Nicholson	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Laura Vineyard	....	visual effects production coordinator (uncredited)
Raulette Woods	....	visual effects: Stargate Films (uncredited)

Stunts
Sandy Berumen	....	stunts (as Sandy Beruman)
Kurt Bryant	....	stunt coordinator: additional unit
Thomas Dewier	....	stunts (as Tom Dewter)
Andy Gill	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunt double: MacLeod (as Tom Huff)
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Matt Johnston	....	stunt double: Katana
Eddie Matthews	....	stunts
Carl Milinac	....	stunts (as Carl Milnac)
Arturo Noal	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Roxanna Palouzzi	....	stunt double: Louise
Kristyn Randall	....	stunt double: Louise (as Christy Randall)
Jerry Spicer	....	stunts
Mike Stone	....	stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunt double: Ramirez
Steve Walters	....	stunts (as Steve Walter)
Danny Weselis	....	stunts
Minor Mustain	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Abraham	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike Frift	....	camera operator: second unit
Harry K. Garvin	....	camera operator
Etienne George	....	still photographer
Ian Jones	....	Steadicam operator
Steve Mcleod	....	best boy
Terry Potter	....	gaffer
Rick Raphael	....	Steadicam operator
Julio Serna	....	video supervisor
Peter Turner	....	camera operator
Kevin Fraser	....	key grip: second unit (uncredited)
John Joleaud	....	gaffer: USA (uncredited)
Jamie Thompson	....	cinematographer: USA (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lois DeArmond	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)
Marisa Urruti	....	assistant to costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Albert Coleman	....	first assistant editor
Sharon McGeeney	....	negative cutter
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter
Clay Walker	....	post-production assistant
Maria Montoreano	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor
Seth Kaplan	....	music supervisor
Jonathan Sheffer	....	orchestrator
Blake Martin Moulin	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Jeff Seitz	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)
Jonathan Sheffer	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)
William R. Peck	....	driver (uncredited)
Adam Pinkstaff	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Chris Casady	....	director of animated effects
Jill Gurr	....	script supervisor
Martin Larumbe	....	location manager
Frank Orsatti	....	sword master
Andy Birmingham	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Mark Carlton	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Yvonne Eastmond	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Julie Hansen	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Alejandro Levi	....	location scout (uncredited)
Catherine M. McDonald	....	travel and shipping coordinator (uncredited)
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician (uncredited)
Gustavo Tieffenberg	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lamb Bear Entertainment

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Future Film (1998) (Finland)
• Hemdale Film (USA) (laserdisc)
• Highlight Film (Germany)
• Interstar (USA)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• RCA (video)
• Republic Entertainment
• Republic Pictures Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Seymour Borde & Associates
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Stargate Digital (digital effects)

Other Companies

• Atlantic Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Highlander II: The Renegade Version (UK) (director's cut) (USA) (video title (director's cut))
Highlander - Le retour (France)
Highlander 2 (Argentina)
Highlander 2: The Quickening (USA) (video box title)
Highlander II (USA)
Highlander, le retour (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, and some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

91 min | USA:109 min (director's cut) | Argentina:92 min | UK:86 min (DVD version) | UK:100 min (theatrical version) | Sweden:100 min (theatrical version)

Country:

France | UK | Argentina

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | France:Unrated | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (director's cut) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:R | Norway:15 (video premiere) (1991) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1990-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Lamb Bear Entertainment

Trivia:

The final fight scene between MacLeod and Katana is composed of two seperate battles. They are shown correctly in the renegade version.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the Renegade version, the closing credits list Bruno Curichelli as "Zeist Chief Justice" even though the film has eliminated the whole Planet Zeist angle from the film.

Quotes:

Ramirez: ...we are joined in a way that can never be broken, not even by death. When you need me, you'll only have to call my name. I'll always find you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Making of 'Highlander: The Series' (1992) (TV)

Worst Sequel of All Time

(I May Spoil some of the movie)Without a shout of a doubt, this is by far the worst sequel ever made for a movie. The first Highlander was a great film, it had a good story, good characters and plot that pretty much worked. Highlander II had some of the worst acting I have ever seen, really bad camera work, horrifying choreography in the fights scenes, a story that made absolutely no sense, cruddy special effects and overall, it was just a really bad movie. Though I am a fan of the first Highlander, it seemed to me that a sequel was not possible. Macleod had defeated the Kurgan and won the Prize. Now all of a sudden it's the future, and the immortals came from another world? I am fan of Michael Ironside but this was by far his worst acting job ever as he played the villain, Katana. What makes absolutely no sense to me is that in the first Highlander, the immortals didn't know why and where they came from. Now all of a sudden, Macleod remembers life on his homeworld of Zeist. The one thing that kept this movie up somewhat was Sean Connery's return. Now he died in the first Highlander, but they brought him back. And it really wasn't explained how he came back to life. This was by far the worst of the Highlander series, and the sequels later on disregarded this movie which I felt was a good idea.