[Released] Highlander II - 35mm Grindhouse Edition

[interaser]

But if you really want to see plot holes you should check out the US Theatrical Cut which was put together by the film's Insurance Company and is edited entirely without logic. 

All day yesterday I read info about this movie, please tell me one thing, if it's so bad why do you devote so much time to it?

[dvdmike]

For me I loved it as a kid, I rented it a lot! (UK version) and saw Highlander 3 in the cinema due to it.
It has some great lines and moments but as you grow up you realise it has nothing else

[HippieDalek]

All day yesterday I read info about this movie, please tell me one thing, if it's so bad why do you devote so much time to it?

Ha ha, a very valid question that I often ask myself.

Part of it is my love of disasterpieces, sometimes it's just fun to watch a trainwreck of a film.

Part of it is also I've never thought of it as a truly awful film. I mean it's atrocious as a sequel, but if you take it as a standalone 90s sci fi action flick it can be pretty entertaining. I mean Highlander 2 is miles ahead of something like the Super Mario Bros. Movie (Ok, the US cut is probably on SMB's level).

Also I just kinda love the world. I was too young to catch the likes Blade Runner in the cinemas so seeing Highlander 2 was my first dystopian hellscape; it just kinda stuck in my head.

To top it off you've got some great sets and amazing lighting.

There's a lot to love in Highlander 2...but that might just be the Stockholm Syndrome talking.

[Hitcher]

And you can never get enough of Sean Connery.

[HippieDalek]

And you can never get enough of Sean Connery.

Sean Connery is the best thing about the film! He's clearly decided that the film is beyond saving and is just having fun with the role. So much fun to watch.

[Plissken1138]

And you can never get enough of Sean Connery.

Sean Connery is the best thing about the film! He's clearly decided that the film is beyond saving and is just having fun with the role. So much fun to watch.

https://i.imgur.com/FvSE8Wn.gif

[Sc0tTeVsy]

After months of discussion in this thread I'm finally able to release the entirely unrestored scan of a Russian Theatrical 35mm print of Highlander II: The Quickening!

This is the 100 minute European/International cut of the film, which is very different from both the US Theatrical Cut and the later Renegade Version, and features none of the CGI additions of the Special Edition. 

The MKV contains chapter points at the start of each reel, and both English stereo (from the Hong Kong laserdisc) and Russian mono (from the print) audio. Both are unrestored, so expect even the English laserdisc audio to sound a bit rougher than the restored English track I used on my Standard Definition preservation.



Time to set some expectations though. As you'll know if you followed the scanning thread, reel 1 of this print is what I would describe as "splicey". There was a lot of damage to the first reel resulting in many splices and jumps in the footage. I've synced the laserdisc audio to the spliced footage but it can make for a sometimes difficult viewing experience. However things significantly pick up once reel 2 starts (around 19 mins, when MacLeod goes to the bar). The other reels fair a lot better but there are still some (but far fewer) splices during the rest of the film, along with the usual scratches, dirt and occasional discolouration.

So this grindhouse presentation may be a little more "grindy" than others.

Despite the damage the colours and detail remain excellent throughout. In most comparisons I've made so far the detail of the print usually outdoes the detail available on the Blu Ray, and of course this offers the original theatrical colours.

I plan to use this scan, combined with the Blu Ray and other sources, to attempt to re-create the film in full HD. However as you'll see from this scan there is a long way to go.

For now I hope you enjoy, and please let me know if you have any feedback

Thank you to everyone who made this project possible! This would not have happened without you.

PM me for links.

[Sc0tTeVsy]

Hi HippieDalek,

This looks really fantastic and it must have been a labour of love? Great work. Would it be possible to send me a link as I'd love to watch this being a long time fan of Russell Mulcahy as well as 35mm footage?
Cheers

[dvdmike]

This looks amazing!!!
It can totally be worked on also.
Lots of things I had no idea about and had forgotten totally

[HippieDalek]

This looks amazing!!!
It can totally be worked on also.
Lots of things I had no idea about and had forgotten totally

Thanks! I've already started working on it, but it's going to take quite some time...

I hope to have a restored sample scene available soonish though.