Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

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 | Planet | Highlander | Katana | Ozone Layer

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
Phillip 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
Edward Nutkiewicz	...	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
Donald P. Borchers	....	line producer: additional photographic unit
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		(director of photography)

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
Michael Boone	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
John Naulin	....	body armor construction (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tim Drury	....	boom operator
Richard Shorr	....	sound effects
Richard Shorr	....	supervising sound editor
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

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
Daniel Brown	....	optical assistant: Stargate Films (as Dan Brown)
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)
Daniel Brown	....	model shop foreman (uncredited)
Carlos Essmann	....	clapper loader: visual effects unit (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)
Joshua Weisel	....	visual effects production assistant (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
Marcelo Abeal	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gilles Conseil	....	stunts (uncredited)
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)
Brian 'Wheat' Villegas	....	gaffer: visual effects unit (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
Mark White	....	transportation
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

• Highlight Film (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Entertainment (1991) (UK) (theatrical)
• Future Film (1991) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Interstar (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex Odeon Films (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS) (Laserdisc)
• E1 Entertainment Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (director's cut)
• Hemdale Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS) (Laserdisc)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (video) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Olive Films (2012) (Canada) (DVD) (DVD and Blu-ray)
• Olive Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD and Blu-ray)
• Republic Entertainment
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (The Renegade Version)
• Seymour Borde & Associates
• Top Tape (199?) (Brazil) (VHS) (1991 theatrical version)
• Top Tape (199?) (Brazil) (VHS) (Renegade version)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Stargate Digital (digital effects)

Other Companies

• Atlantic Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"Highlander 2" - Argentina, USA (DVD title)
"Highlander II: The Renegade Version" - UK (director's cut), USA (video title (director's cut))
"Highlander 2: The Quickening" - USA (video box title)
"Highlander II" - USA (short title)

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 | Portugal:M/12 | 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:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious spark generators in front of the subway when Katana is driving it at high speed.

Quotes:

Katana:Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If you don't take it out and use it, it's going to rust.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Undergrads: Rivalries (#1.8)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Haunted

One of the worst

This has to be one of the worst sequels ever made. Not that "Highlander" was a great movie to begin with. But still, destroying a concept so completely is almost enviable.

It's the year 2025. The whole earth is covered by a shield that stands in for the ozone-layer that has been destroyed. Connor McLeod has killed all the other immortals and is slowly dying of old age. But something happens and immortals are suddenly starting to show up again and Connor must fight once again.

I don't want to know which drugs the script-writers were using when coming up with the plot for this movie. How DO you start with a movie about immortal warriors on the Scottish highland, and end up with aliens fighting each other under a red sky in 2025?! Do we even want to know? It has to go down into movie history as one of the worst ideas ever. Taking something that was almost a solid story and destroying it completely by introducing weird elements like aliens and shields in the sky.

So, apart from that? Well, even if we do overlook that major flaw this is still complete garbage. What did they pay Sean Connery to appear in this? Either he was well paid or the man doesn't take any pride at all in his work. The action scenes are pathetic, the effects are awful. Christopher Lamberts wheezing voice makes the VIEWERS want to slice his head off.

I consider myself quite the connoisseur of b-movies. I can actually enjoy movies purely because they stink. But this is just so bad that it's not even funny. I rate this 1/10.