Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

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

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers:

Gregory Widen (characters), Brian Clemens (story)

Stars:

Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Virginia Madsen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lambert	...	MacLeod
Sean Connery	...	Ramírez
Virginia Madsen	...	Louise
Michael Ironside	...	Katana
Allan Rich	...	Neyman
John C. McGinley	...	Blake
Phillip Brock	...	Cabbie (as Phil Brock)
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

Storyline

The second "Highlander" movie, again with Christopher Lambert and Sir Sean Connery. It's the year 2024, and all of the ozone above Earth is gone. To protect people from dying, MacLeod helped in the construction of a giant "shield", several years ago. But, since there isn't anyone left who's Immortal after MacLeod's victory in the previous movie, he has stopped being an Immortal. Now he is just an old man, until one day some other Immortals arrive on our planet. You see, the Immortals come from another planet.

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Plot Keywords:

horatio character | highlander character | immortal | katana | planet | 

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Taglines:

It's a kind of magic.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, and some sexuality and language

Details

Country:

UK France Argentina

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Highlander II: The Renegade Version

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,280,490, 3 November 1991

Gross USA:

$15,556,340

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,556,340

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davis-Panzer Productions, Harat Investments, Lamb Bear Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 109 min (director's cut) 86 min (DVD) 100 min (theatrical) 100 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby DTS (director's cut)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Russell Mulcahy in those days, "Buenos Aires has the futurist and apocalyptic style I want to show."

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Goofs

Ramirez and MacLeod enter the prison with a car. The guards shoot the car with machine guns from all sides. MacLeod's friend Louise Marcus, in the trunk of the car, survives unhurt.

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Quotes

Ramirez: [the audience is laughing at him] My apologies.
[to the actor portraying Hamlet]
Ramirez: Enough of this useless banter, I will be on my way and leave you to converse with your skull. Farewell, dear shithead, farewell.

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Alternate Versions

On at least one occasion (06/17/06) another version was shown on TNT. This one differed mostly at the end. Connor takes Katanas head, destroying the shield. We hear Ramirez's voice over as Connor is still standing in the middle of the light ray, with Louise smiling back at him. The movie ends right there with Connor smiling back. The end credits feature a female singer as opposed to Lou Gramm's 'One Dream'.

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Connections

Referenced in The Spoony Experiment: The Beastmaster (2011)

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Soundtracks

Destroy Shield
Performed by The Seattle Symphony and Symphony Chorale
Produced by Stewart Copeland and Jeff Seitz

User Reviews

McCloud from Outer Space

All true Highlander fans will simply not acknowledge the existence of Highlander 2, wih good reason: Planet Zeist.

if you were to see part 2 and not the Original, it would be ok, cuz it would make sense in its own way. H1 and H2 are effectively unrelated films. But Highlander was quite an original story. H2, unfortunately, is a bit goofy and out of sync. Quite laughable in its own way.

If you want a good laugh, check it out. It's high cheese. If you're a Highlander purist, it DOESN'T EXIST. The intention was probably good, trying to show the aftermath of McCloud's mistakes after winning the original "tournament", but the premise is ruined by Planet Zeist, and Michael Ironside is just rehashing the Kurgen. He's a bit funnier in the villain role, but it doesn't save the movie from being silly