Highlander II: The Quickening

Name: Highlander II: The Quickening
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: November 1, 1991
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 31
Cast: Allan Rich, Christopher Lambert, Ed Trucco, John C. McGinley, Michael Ironside

1991

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Ratings

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4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Ratings

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Highlander 2: The Quickening

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Movie Details & Credits

Highlight Film | Release Date: November 1, 1991 | TV-14

Starring: Allan Rich, Christopher Lambert, Ed Trucco, John C. McGinley, Michael Ironside, Phillip Brock, Rusty Schwimmer, Sean Connery, Steven Grives, Virginia Madsen

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

Director: Russell Mulcahy

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy

Rating: TV-14

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas

It makes clearer much that was so vague in the original; it even jokes about how confusing its premise is. In short, audiences who made the first film successful enough to warrant a second will be getting a bit more for their money. Read full review

Mark Caro

Mulcahy has toned down the fancy, self-conscious camerawork of the original, which he also directed, and pushes the story forward with enough flash and pop to divert viewers from the shaky premises. [01 Nov 1991, p.F]

Rita Kempley

With its fancifully moldering sets and technical effects, Highlander 2 is little more than a barbarous arena, a Conanistic return to paganism for those among us who still laugh at violence. Read full review

Louis Black

The acting is terrible,with Connery, at his lowest common denominator, stealing the show. For those of you who worry that MTV video art will destroy cinema, the ineptitudes of this film vividly detail the radical difference in forms. It sucks. But it would have made a great comic book. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Highlander 2 is beautiful. But it's largely incoherent. The film is desperately overplotted; events and years rush by and pile up like cars in an interstate wreck. It's also terribly overexplained. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

The dullest and shoddiest action-adventure flick of the year, with only a few cute Sean Connery moments to rescue it from total, sheer and utter bogosity. [01 Nov 1991, p.29]

Roger Ebert

Highlander 2: The Quickening is the most hilariously incomprehensible movie I've seen in many a long day - a movie almost awesome in its badness. Read full review

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User Reviews

MovieThirst

Nov 14, 2022

We want it back and we want to see Christopher Lambert back in movies, please

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

evokings

Jul 11, 2019

To begin my review of this movie, there are a few different cuts of the 2nd highlander film, so depending on which version you watch your rating/viewing experience may change, the 1st US cut of the film attempts to retcon the plot of the first movie, and that is it's major drawback, that andTo begin my review of this movie, there are a few different cuts of the 2nd highlander film, so depending on which version you watch your rating/viewing experience may change, the 1st US cut of the film attempts to retcon the plot of the first movie, and that is it's major drawback, that and maybe some of the practical effects are hilarious there is more to note but for the most part it was a let down for many. now the best version available to watch on dvd/blue ray would be the Directors cut "Renegade edition" which was released on dvd and a lot of the issues seen in the original US cut were edited better... there still are issues with the film, but it is a lot easier to watch vs US theatrical cut, so if you want to watch the best version of the film skip the original US release of the film and watch the directors cut or renegade edition.… Expand

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clem666

Jul 30, 2023

Highlander 2, also known as "Highlander II: The Quickening," proves to be a disappointing sequel that falls short of after its poor predecessor. Despite its noteworthy strengths, the film suffers from several shortcomings that hinder its overall impact.
The movie takes us to the future,Highlander 2, also known as "Highlander II: The Quickening," proves to be a disappointing sequel that falls short of after its poor predecessor. Despite its noteworthy strengths, the film suffers from several shortcomings that hinder its overall impact.
The movie takes us to the future, precisely in a year from now, where we find Connor MacLeod, portrayed by the still-queen Christopher Lambert, to be a mere shadow of his former self. The twin villains introduced are simply lame, lacking the charisma and depth that made the original film's antagonist so captivating. Furthermore, the decapitation scenes, a signature of the franchise, feel poorly executed and rather ridiculous, undermining the gravity of the battles.
One of the most puzzling aspects of the film is the return of Ramirez, played by Sean Connery. How he is still alive and part of the plot remains a head-scratcher and is never adequately explained, leaving the audience perplexed. Adding to the film's mediocrity are the awkwardly placed and silly love and sex scenes in the street, failing to add any meaningful depth to the characters or the story.
The metro scene is yet another letdown, lacking the thrill and excitement that one would expect from a Highlander movie. As the plot progresses, rules appear seemingly out of thin air, contributing to the film's disjointed narrative and leaving me wondering about the filmmakers' decision-making process.
And what is the deal with the propeller room? The concept is poorly introduced and leaves us feeling disconnected from its relevance to the overall storyline. How did Sean Connery mater this giant helix? And again no explanation to that.
The movie's attempt to portray a katana fight is laughable, lacking the authenticity and finesse that one would expect from such a scene. Sadly, the female lead comes across as an empty shell, devoid of personality or character development, making it hard to empathize or connect with her journey.
On the bright side, Highlander 2 does redeem itself with some great final images that offer glimpses of the potential the film could have had if handled better.
In conclusion, Highlander 2 disappoints on multiple fronts, with its poorly explained plot points, lackluster performances, and overall weak execution.… Expand

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Kai82

May 25, 2020

A frequent contender for the worst sequel and worst movies of all times list. It is the curse of the movie industry that a sequel has to be made even when the story is finished and everything is told if the original movie made enough money. Strangely Highlander is one of the few franchisesA frequent contender for the worst sequel and worst movies of all times list. It is the curse of the movie industry that a sequel has to be made even when the story is finished and everything is told if the original movie made enough money. Strangely Highlander is one of the few franchises where you can make prequels in a working way. An immortal has lived for centuries or some for millennia. You can make stories from all ages with interesting twist and plots. Because they were there they witness the truth and not the later lies or corrections of the historians. So you can get away with many additions or changes to history. But back to this movie. To be fair while it is pretty bad it may not even be the worst movie in the Highlander franchise as “The Source” is viewed by many as the inferior movie. It is a sequel of the first movie that shows a grim future. So far it is O.K. But then after a view scenes to put it mildly they are adding some unique ideas and make bold choices. I must praise the courage to pull this off. Also I would not have come up with these ideas. Not even as idea number 1000. The new elements ruin the myths. Some people say that less is more and a good mystery adds spice to a story and is better than a weak revelation. Look at Avatar and the handling of the Firelord. He is teased and always shrouded in mysteries like a legendary figure. It is build up to the max and does not disappoint. Other example would be “The Force Awakens”. It was so fun and interesting to talk about ideas, theories and characters before “The Last Jedi” crushed the creativity. Again I must return to the movie. The acting is adequate for me but I feel the actors know the mess they were in. The special effects were fine for the time. It is only the alienating story and explanations that ruin this movie and all the myths. Everything that was mysterious and interesting is now like something ripped out of a B movie script or poor fan-fiction. There are movies that were destroyed by ideas and this is the best example. Overall it is a mess of a movie but strangely not a franchise killer. It may be not the worst movie of all times and also not in the top ten but defiantly so bad that I warn you.… Expand

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Highlander372

Sep 30, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you really like the first Highlander then avoid this movie at all costs. You find out in the first act of the movie that MacLeod and Ramirez were Aliens from another world. I’m actually not kidding! This completely destroys the mythology of what the first movie sets up. If you want to watch something good from this franchise then go watch the first Highlander or the Highlander tv show.… Expand

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