[Released] Highlander II - European Theatrical Cut - Preservation - Version 2!

[HippieDalek]

Hey, this is Old Biff. I was a part of the team that started the original project with PhineasBg back in the day. I would love to have a copy of your updated version. Such a great film.

Hi Old Biff! I've sent you a PM. I just want to say thank you to both you and PhineasBg; without your work back in 2007 I would never have been able to see and fall in love with this version of the film!

[ITdudeG6]

Newbie here!

Just wanted to say thank you for all your hard work and dedication on all Highlander movies!  

The result of your work probably belongs to a museum! Who knows, maybe one day it will be accepted to one!

[HippieDalek]

So after the recent surprise release of a HD version of the US Cut of Highlander 2 on Amazon UK (please go buy it if you've enjoyed my work preserving the many versions of this film!) I thought it was about time to revisit my preservation of the International Cut and present as much of it as I currently can in HD.

This new version will use a combination of the Blu Ray, the new US Cut HD Scan, what I've managed to restore of the 35mm version so far, and then falling back to the German DVD for stuff I haven't been able to restore yet. This will be version 3, with an eventual version 4 coming once I've been able to restore everything I need from the 35mm. I've no idea when I'll be done with the 35mm restoration, but this new US Cut scan will make my work a lot easier! Part of doing this version 3 is to work out exactly which scenes I should concentrate my 35mm restoration efforts on.

I've started work on this version, and it's time to finally start deciding on something that I always knew would be a headache at some point; the opening credits!

The section outside the opera house will mostly be from the US Cut, with a little bit of 35mm and DVD to cover the trimmed opening. This is a simple decision since the Renegade and Special Editions (Blu Ray) use a different take for this portion.

The section of the credits inside the opera use exactly the same take...but the text size has been changed. So for purity's sake do I go for the US HD scan which preserves the original text size but muddies the details, or do I use the Blu Ray which has much more detail and clarity but a reduced font size?

It's a minor detail that probably no one else would ever really pick up on...and I just can't decide either way. Is preserving the picture quality more important than the font size, or should I use the muddier version to maintain the original look and feel? The layout and actual font are the same from version to version; the only difference is the actual size.

Sadly the 35mm scan I have of the International Cut is too damaged to be of any use here, so that's not an option.

I'd welcome the community's opinions on this one.

EDIT: I've just realised that the shift in font size between the inside and outside parts of the title sequence may force me to use the original font size for the whole thing. I'll experiment with it, but I'd still be very keen to hear everyone's opinions.

Screenshots below:

US Cut HD scan


Blu Ray

[neurofx]

So after the recent surprise release of a HD version of the US Cut of Highlander 2 on Amazon UK (please go buy it if you've enjoyed my work preserving the many versions of this film!) I thought it was about time to revisit my preservation of the International Cut and present as much of it as I currently can in HD.

This new version will use a combination of the Blu Ray, the new US Cut HD Scan, what I've managed to restore of the 35mm version so far, and then falling back to the German DVD for stuff I haven't been able to restore yet. This will be version 3, with an eventual version 4 coming once I've been able to restore everything I need from the 35mm. I've no idea when I'll be done with the 35mm restoration, but this new US Cut scan will make my work a lot easier! Part of doing this version 3 is to work out exactly which scenes I should concentrate my 35mm restoration efforts on.

I've started work on this version, and it's time to finally start deciding on something that I always knew would be a headache at some point; the opening credits!

The section outside the opera house will mostly be from the US Cut, with a little bit of 35mm and DVD to cover the trimmed opening. This is a simple decision since the Renegade and Special Editions (Blu Ray) use a different take for this portion.

The section of the credits inside the opera use exactly the same take...but the text size has been changed. So for purity's sake do I go for the US HD scan which preserves the original text size but muddies the details, or do I use the Blu Ray which has much more detail and clarity but a reduced font size?

It's a minor detail that probably no one else would ever really pick up on...and I just can't decide either way. Is preserving the picture quality more important than the font size, or should I use the muddier version to maintain the original look and feel? The layout and actual font are the same from version to version; the only difference is the actual size.

Sadly the 35mm scan I have of the International Cut is too damaged to be of any use here, so that's not an option.

I'd welcome the community's opinions on this one.

EDIT: I've just realised that the shift in font size between the inside and outside parts of the title sequence may force me to use the original font size for the whole thing. I'll experiment with it, but I'd still be very keen to hear everyone's opinions.

Screenshots below:

US Cut HD scan


Blu Ray

Hi, i am looking forward to this project.

I never came across the uncensored euro-cut of Highlander II.

Do you plan to integrate other languages like german into the final version?  

My Opinion to the fonts: i would prefer the more accurate (lesser detailed) material.  

Thank you very much for putting that much effort in to this great movie!!!!!!

[HippieDalek]

Do you plan to integrate other languages like german into the final version?  

In my 2.1 release of this preservation I included the German and Italian dubs as alternate audio tracks. Given how popular the film is in Europe and how that region has kept this cut alive through the years, I feel it's important to include the dubs where I can.

I had to patch a bit of the Italian dub with the English sountrack as the Italian version cut a short bit of dialogue. I know that there's a French dub of the International Cut somewhere, but I don't have it and the French DVD contains the US Cut; maybe I'll get around to importing the French laserdisc sometime. I also have a partial Spanish dub, but it's a weird combination of the International and US Cuts so I haven't been able to include it in this release.

If anyone has access to any other dubs of this cut then please let me know; I'd love to make them available and keep this preservation as accessible as possible.

[neurofx]

Do you plan to integrate other languages like german into the final version?  

In my 2.1 release of this preservation I included the German and Italian dubs as alternate audio tracks. Given how popular the film is in Europe and how that region has kept this cut alive through the years, I feel it's important to include the dubs where I can.

I had to patch a bit of the Italian dub with the English sountrack as the Italian version cut a short bit of dialogue. I know that there's a French dub of the International Cut somewhere, but I don't have it and the French DVD contains the US Cut; maybe I'll get around to importing the French laserdisc sometime. I also have a partial Spanish dub, but it's a weird combination of the International and US Cuts so I haven't been able to include it in this release.

If anyone has access to any other dubs of this cut then please let me know; I'd love to make them available and keep this preservation as accessible as possible.

Thank you very much! 

Thats really great to hear that you care about the euro-people!!! I dont think we will get anything watchable soon officially.

Can you point me to a source for 2.1 ?

[el_hache]

This is absolutely amazing preservation work! I would love to get my hands on the latest European Theatrical Cut version if possible (I have the Bluray but the original version is fading from memory, I was maybe 5 when I saw it and only once!)

Can I please get this PMed to me? Thanks in advance!