Highlander: Endgame
Encyclopedia
Highlander: Endgame is a 2000 fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth (and final) theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series
. The film stars Adrian Paul
as Duncan MacLeod
, the lead character of the series, and Christopher Lambert
as Connor MacLeod
, the lead character of the films.
) returns to his former home in Glenfinnan
, Scotland
, to save his mother from his former friend and village priest Jacob Kell (Bruce Payne
). Kell executes Connor's mother for witchcraft
. Connor kills both Kell and his adopted father, Father Rainey, and sets Glenfinnan ablaze. Jacob Kell is reborn as an Immortal, and vows vengeance against Connor for Rainey's death. He spends the next four centuries killing people Connor cares about. Kell amasses great power by ignoring the rules of The Game; he recruits several lesser Immortals as disciples, who overpower other Immortals so Kell can take their heads. By the turn of the century, Kell has 661 Immortal kills (compared to 262 for Connor MacLeod, and 174 for Duncan MacLeod).
Ten years before the present-day events of the film, Kell orchestrates the death of Connor's adopted daughter Rachel Ellenstein
. Heartbroken, Connor departs for The Sanctuary, where Immortals are under surveillance by a subgroup of Watchers
to prevent The Prize from being won.
A decade later, Kell and his disciples attack the Sanctuary, and Connor is believed to be beheaded along with the other Immortals there. Duncan MacLeod
(Adrian Paul), compelled by a vision he has of the slaughter, begins to investigate. Meanwhile, Mathew Hale, the watcher supervising the sanctuary, looks on at the carnage, and decides that they will now turn to "volunteers" to refill their test-subjects' numbers. Duncan goes to see Methos
, who tells him about the Sanctuary. Duncan cannot believe that Connor would even go to such a place. He later leaves London for New York, where he goes to Connor's loft. which was destroyed in the explosion that killed Rachel. Sensing an Immortal, he turns to see Kate (Lisa Barbuscia
), his wife from 200 years before. Then Kell's posse arrives, and fights Duncan (disregarding the rule of one-on-one combat). The fighting stops when Kell arrives, but Carlos shoots Duncan, who falls on a spike, killing him. Kell is furious with Carlos, and beheads him: as the Quickening begins, a van drives up to where Duncan fell, and takes him away.
Later on, Duncan wakes up, only to realize that he has been taken by Watchers who want to keep him in the Sanctuary so that he does not win the Prize. He is later saved with the help of Methos
and Joe. He discovers Connor was spared by Kell, so as to allow the evil Immortal to make his life even more miserable. Kell wants to kill Duncan in order to torture Connor, and given the number of Quickenings he has received, this seems quite likely to occur. Additionally, Connor is too guilt-ridden by the deaths of all his loved ones to stand up to Kell by himself. Duncan later confronts Kate (now using the alias "Faith") at a fashion shoot, and asks her why she is with Kell. She tells him how much she hates the fact that she will never have children or grow old and die, and believes that Kell understands her pain. Duncan must earn her forgiveness, or face her as an embittered part of Kell's faction. Later on in his hotel room, Kate arrives after having a chat with Kell, and the two make love. Though it would appear that she has forgiven him, it is not the case, and she tells Duncan that she will never forgive him, but Duncan tells her that it is never to late for redemption, and that he will wait, even if it takes years or centuries.
Ultimately, Kell executes his group in a mock Last Supper
to gain their powers, and Connor convinces Duncan that he must be beheaded in order for Duncan to have enough power to rival Kell. After an emotional goodbye, Duncan follows Connor's advice, and beheads his beloved clansman.
Soon after, Duncan and Kell engage in a final battle. At first, Kell easily overpowers Duncan, even when MacLeod attempts a supposedly-unbeatable sword move that Connor taught him. Just before Duncan's impending death at the hands of Kell, Connor seems to take control of Duncan's body, and kills Kell by jumping over him and decapitating him as he turns around. Duncan absorbs all of Kell's massive power. He then goes to Glenfinnan
, Scotland
to bury Connor next to Connor's first wife Heather
. The Producers' Cut ends with the revelation that Kate/Faith is still alive. Calling herself Kate again, the two Immortals seem to rekindle their romantic relationship.
; Paris was the original location of Methos
's home rather than London; Duncan MacLeod lived on his Parisian barge during the modern-day sequences; and Hugh Fitzcairn
appeared during the Shanghai flashbacks. The titles of the various drafts included Highlander IV: The Immortals, Highlander: The Search for Connor, and Highlander: World Without End. Gregory Widen
, writer of the original Highlander
, worked on the early drafts and was in talks to direct the film. Widen had previously directed the film The Prophecy
, which he also wrote. Portions of Widen's writing were used for Endgame, though he received only a "Characters Created By" credit.
Billy Idol
and Jean Claude Van Damme were considered for the role of Jacob Kell.
Natassia Malthe
and Juliet Landau
were considered for the role of Kate/Faith.
The film features several shots from the original Highlander
. The first is a computer-altered and enhanced shot of Glenfinnan
, which was originally the shot of Connor walking away from his village. The second is a shot of the Silvercup sign, pulled from the scene of the Kurgan taking Brenda to the building. And in the rooftop Quickening, two shots of Connor and Heather together are taken from the first film. Castle Stalker
is seen briefly in the film during Connor's flashback scene. This building was also seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
.
Donnie Yen
served as the film's martial arts choreographer and also played the role of Jin Ke, who was based on a real historical figure: Jing Ke
, renowned for his failed assassination of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang
. Hip-Hop producer Damon Dash
makes an appearance as one of Jacob Kell's Immortal minions. Professional wrestler Adam Copeland
, known as "Edge" in the World Wrestling Entertainment
, makes a cameo appearance
as Lachlan. A reference is made to Copeland's wrestling persona when Duncan says to Lachlan, "Looks like you've lost your edge, lad."
The movie was meant to act as a bridge between the Highlander television series and the spin-off series Highlander:The Raven that was continuing on TV back in 1999. But these plans started to go awry when "Raven" was cancelled due to low ratings and the change in syndication as well as production delays started occurring due to cast availability problems. Dimension Films, which took on the project as a way of invigorating the franchise, realized that its plans for the film were not going to meet expectations and scaled back on its release.
Filming began on October 22, 1999 and ended on March 7, 2000. Much of the bulk of filming happened in Romania which was opposed by the producers.
Endgame' s theatrical distributor, Dimension Films
, demanded that cuts be made to the film to give it a faster pace. The deleted footage contained exposition
necessary to understanding the Highlander universe, resulting in a theatrical cut that was criticized for being incomprehensible to audiences unfamiliar with the franchise. An extended cut with restored footage was later released on DVD. (See "alternate versions" below.)
Jing Ke was a professional soldier serving the Chinese King (and later, Emperor) Qin Shi Huang
and was charged to protect the workers who built the Great Wall of China from nomad attacks. A highly-skilled unarmed fighter, Jin Ke's preferred weapon is a spear. Dissatisfied with the emperor and his bloody actions, he took part in a conspiracy to assassinate him. The conspiracy, however, was discovered and all its members were killed, except Jin, who awakened as an Immortal. He thought this new life would enable him to amend his faults, so he decided to live honorably, defending the right causes and fighting evil. In 19th century China, he met Jacob Kell, who convinced him that honor existed only in victory. Swayed by Kell's words, Jin Ke chose to become the first of his followers. He was used as a backup plan when the remaining members of the gang failed to accomplish their mission. This was seen when the gang tried to kill Duncan MacLeod. After Winston, Cracker Bob, Carlos and Manny were unable to kill him, they stepped aside so that Ke could fight Duncan. However, Duncan was as strong as Ke and their fight was interrupted by Kell. He was the first member to be killed in the gang’s “last supper," and the only one to raise a sword against his former leader. Despite this, Jacob Kell killed him effortlessly. Jin Ke appears to be a highly fictionalized version of Jing Ke
, a wandering swordsman who failed to assassinate Qin Shi Huang
.
"Cracker" Bob was owner of an explosive and eccentric personality. It is unknown where he originally came from or what his real name was. He met Immortal Jacob Kell, a former priest who was pursuing a centuries-long vendetta against Connor MacLeod in Georgia in 1926. Traveling through the South, Kell recognized Bob as a pre-Immortal. When Bob proposed to lead him to his next destination, Kell accepted, curious to see what the latter was preparing for him. At the city's exit, Bob tried to rob him, but Kell beat him easily. Amused, Kell decided to keep him close. Bob then became the second member of his group after Jin Ke. His weapon of choice became a heavy wooden club covered in spikes and he started to wear eccentric clothes (probably made by Faith, who was a fashion designer). He was the second member executed by Kell in the gang's "final supper". Before being beheaded, Bob could do nothing but smile at Kell, realising he and the other members had been tricked.
Winston was born in Jamaica in 1834, and was raised by former slave parents. In 1865, he was witness to the brutal repression used by English troops to stop the Jamaican rebellion. He would see his parents die before his eyes. Insane with rage, he attacked the soldier responsible for their death and “died” from a bayonet through the heart. After becoming Immortal, he turned into a frightening adversary for the colonists. After the island’s independence, he became a mercenary. In North Africa, during World War II, Winston met and joined Jacob Kell’s gang. He later became the leader of a network of marijuana smugglers in New York, under Kell's command. In 1972, he discovered among the network's members an Immortal named Carlos. Carlos would also join the gang. Winston led the members on their missions. When they failed it was up to Jing Ke to finish the job, as seen in the attack on Duncan MacLeod, when Jing Ke had to intervene. He was the third member to be executed by Kell in their "last supper".
Carlos was born a slave in South Carolina in 1789. He became Immortal after being lynched by a local vigilante group at the time of a slave rebellion. Carlos would then kill several slave owners and white racists. He would also attack Ku Klux Klan members. If by chance, he was “killed” doing the misdeeds, it would give him a certain pleasure to reappear in front of his killers and terrify them before killing them. He wasn't a big lover of swords preferring to use guns against other Immortals. In 1972, in New York, he was part of a marijuana smuggling network, led by Immortal Winston. This would lead him to Jacob Kell, with whom Winston was allied. The gang served his purpose of not having to fight with swords and within the gang he was safe from other Immortals. During the gang's attack against Duncan MacLeod, Carlos decided to shoot MacLeod. The impact hurled him through a nearby window, ultimately enabling him to escape from certain death. Displeased by the fact of having disobeyed his orders by using a gun, Kell taunted Carlos to attack him. Carlos attacked him and was beheaded within seconds.
Manny was a young Hawaiian who in 1965 joined the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The young Private was terrified of being killed, unaware of the fact that he was a pre-Immortal. His commander, who was an Immortal, sensed that Manny was a pre-Immortal and tried to reassure him by saying that the bullets couldn’t do anything to him. But Manny, however, didn’t believe him and was certain that his fate was to die in Vietnam. That is until, one day, his regiment was attacked by the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong artillery decimated all the troops. Amazed, Manny reawakened as an Immortal and was able to survive. Unfortunately, his commander, despite his immortality, was killed by the heavy artillery. He would later join Kell's gang, illusioned by Kell's charismatic spell. He was a low profile member within the gang contrastating with his more active team members Cracker Bob, Winston and Carlos. Just like his status in the group, he was executed by Kell in their "last supper".
At the beginning of the movie, it is shown that Jacob Kell had killed 661 Immortals. After killing his five henchmen, this number goes up to 666
.
" which features improved visual effects, sound mixing, and color-timing, and restores numerous scenes of exposition
intended to make the story more easily understandable for audiences unfamiliar with the Highlander franchise. The "producers' cut" includes the "Kate lives" ending and removes the line of dialogue in which Methos
refers to the Sanctuary as holy ground, which was criticized by fans.
The Region 1
(United States and Canada) DVD includes, as a bonus feature, a rough workprint
cut of the film. The visual quality of the rough cut is rather poor, with unfinished special effects and a timecode visible at all times, and alternating between widescreen and full-screen. This cut features a subplot involving Connor giving a Christmas tree to an orphanage every Christmas, an activity picked up by Duncan after Connor's death. Kate does not appear in this version of the film at its conclusion, unlike the producers' cut included on the DVD. The rough cut also notably features an extended version of the "Last Supper" scene in which Jin Ke plunges his sword into a wall and beheads himself after realizing that he cannot beat Kell, thereby denying Kell the opportunity to kill him. In the other versions of the film, this scene was edited to make it appear that Kell beheads Jin Ke (off-screen) along with the rest of the group.
Among other changes was the edited blurring of a large JVC
billboard that was prominently featured during Connor's death scene in the theatrical cut.
, based on 53 reviews, higher than Highlander II
(0%) and Highlander III
(5%), and a score of 21 out of 100 on Metacritic
, based on 37 reviews.
Elvis Mitchell
of The New York Times
gave Endgame a mildly positive review, saying: "It's nice to see mindless violence back in a B picture
, where it belongs, and the swordplay is impressive. When [the movie] sticks to the hand-to-hand battles and doesn't try to offer deeper thoughts on the life of an immortal, it works on its own terms." IGN
gave Endgame a score of 8 out of 10, saying that "fans will be pleased," adding: "Endgame proves to be both true to the spirit of the first film and the television series, [it has] a solid story to tell, [and it] features the best fight sequences of the series."
Andrew O'Hehir of Salon.com
said, "Personally, I enjoyed it about the way I enjoyed the Mortal Kombat
movies, meaning that its genuine fun and its unintentionally ridiculous moments are roughly in balance." Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly
remarked: [Fans] will be thrilled that Connor MacLeod and his fellow clansman Duncan MacLeod engage in a vein-popping showdown to see which immortal will bump off the other, thereby achieving a quickening of multiorgasmic proportions. Those who aren't in the cult of this popular genre fantasy not only won't understand what the previous sentence is about, but may also wonder what's so great about perpetual life if it entails shlepping from one badly lit, cheesily art-directed, peat bog-colored century to another, spouting hollow dialogue."
Travis Eddings of Film Threat
gave the film one half star out of five, saying: "After viewing Highlander: Endgame, it's obvious that Aarniokoski has no idea how to make a film. ... The only reason why this film earns one-half of a star instead of zero is due to some unintended laughs. It's funny to see what passes as acting in this movie." James Brundage of FilmCritic.com gave the film one and half stars out of five, saying: "Highlander: Endgame possesses all of the elements of a straight-to-video
action movie. Cheap special effects that look cool, weak characters that still pull heartstrings, and a bunch of actors no one really knows unless you have seen this or that obscure flick. And, taking that view, one wonders why the hell I even had to watch Highlander: Endgame in theatres."
Carlo Cavagna of About Film called the film "a disaster," adding: "The plot and the characters' motivations are nonsense. Lambert's character has nowhere to go, and his once-magnetic glower is tired and worn. Several opportunities for spectacular action are squandered because the movie's villain has a tendency to execute summarily his own henchmen. Paul's modicum of charisma, director Douglas Aarniokoski's broad panoramas that recall the original Highlander, and Lambert's amusing skirmishes with a Scottish accent are not enough to provide any redeeming value.
Critics on the one hand praised Bruce Payne's performance in the film. One reviewer said of Highlander: Endgame that "the one in the cast that seems to be having the most fun is Bruce Payne. Traditionally Highlander villains give performances that go completely over-the-top and well into the stratosphere. Payne contrarily gives a performance where he enunciates every syllable with relish and dramatic weight, resulting in a performance that is entirely captivating whenever he is on screen." Andrew O'Hehir, who reviewed the film for Salon.com
, stated that 'playing Kell as a cockney thug with triple crucifixes embedded in the heels of his Doc Martens, Payne is more fun than either of the stars'. A reviewer for Trash City stated that 'Endgame is pretty good, largely thanks to Bruce Payne's efforts as the bad guy, who is right up there with Clancy Brown
's original decapitator', the Kurgan. Marke Andrews, writing for The Vancouver Sun
, stated that Payne provided the 'focal point' in the film and that he dived 'into his role with gusto'. Andrews also stated that Payne's 'facial expressions rival Jim Carrey
's in The Mask
.
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985...
. The film stars Adrian Paul
Adrian Paul
Adrian Paul Hewett , better known as Adrian Paul, is an actor best known for his role on the television series Highlander: The Series as Duncan MacLeod. In 1997, he founded The Peace Fund charitable organization.-Early life:...
as Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod is a fictional character from the Highlander multiverse. Duncan MacLeod serves as the protagonist for the TV continuation of the Highlander franchise, which comprises Highlander: The Series and its spin-off movies, Highlander: Endgame and Highlander: The Source...
, the lead character of the series, and Christopher Lambert
Christopher Lambert
Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert is an American-born French actor who has appeared in French, European and American productions. He is best known for his role as Connor MacLeod, or simply "The Highlander", from the movie and subsequent movie franchise series of the same name...
as Connor MacLeod
Connor MacLeod
Connor MacLeod, also known as The Highlander, is a fictional character in the Highlander film series, as well as the television programs Highlander: The Series, and Highlander: The Animated Series...
, the lead character of the films.
Plot
In 1555 AD, Connor MacLeod (Christopher LambertChristopher Lambert
Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert is an American-born French actor who has appeared in French, European and American productions. He is best known for his role as Connor MacLeod, or simply "The Highlander", from the movie and subsequent movie franchise series of the same name...
) returns to his former home in Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan is a village in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end of Loch Shiel, at the foot of Glenfinnan.- Glenfinnan Monument :...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, to save his mother from his former friend and village priest Jacob Kell (Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
). Kell executes Connor's mother for witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. Connor kills both Kell and his adopted father, Father Rainey, and sets Glenfinnan ablaze. Jacob Kell is reborn as an Immortal, and vows vengeance against Connor for Rainey's death. He spends the next four centuries killing people Connor cares about. Kell amasses great power by ignoring the rules of The Game; he recruits several lesser Immortals as disciples, who overpower other Immortals so Kell can take their heads. By the turn of the century, Kell has 661 Immortal kills (compared to 262 for Connor MacLeod, and 174 for Duncan MacLeod).
Ten years before the present-day events of the film, Kell orchestrates the death of Connor's adopted daughter Rachel Ellenstein
Rachel Ellenstein
Rachel Ellenstein is a fictional character from the universe of Highlander movies, portrayed by actress Sheila Gish.Rachel Ellenstein is one of several characters from the Highlander universe to appear in both movie and television series continuity .-Highlander:Born in 1936 in Amsterdam, Holland...
. Heartbroken, Connor departs for The Sanctuary, where Immortals are under surveillance by a subgroup of Watchers
Watcher (Highlander)
Watchers are a secret organization that watches the Immortals in the Highlander: The Series and all subsequent related series and movies.They were introduced in the season 1 finale as a cliffhanger for the following season...
to prevent The Prize from being won.
A decade later, Kell and his disciples attack the Sanctuary, and Connor is believed to be beheaded along with the other Immortals there. Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod is a fictional character from the Highlander multiverse. Duncan MacLeod serves as the protagonist for the TV continuation of the Highlander franchise, which comprises Highlander: The Series and its spin-off movies, Highlander: Endgame and Highlander: The Source...
(Adrian Paul), compelled by a vision he has of the slaughter, begins to investigate. Meanwhile, Mathew Hale, the watcher supervising the sanctuary, looks on at the carnage, and decides that they will now turn to "volunteers" to refill their test-subjects' numbers. Duncan goes to see Methos
Methos
Methos is a fictional character from the Highlander universe - the film series, the television show Highlander: The Series, and several fiction books. He is an Immortal. He is portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield in both series and the movies. Methos, as one of the The Four Horsemen, represents...
, who tells him about the Sanctuary. Duncan cannot believe that Connor would even go to such a place. He later leaves London for New York, where he goes to Connor's loft. which was destroyed in the explosion that killed Rachel. Sensing an Immortal, he turns to see Kate (Lisa Barbuscia
Lisa Barbuscia
Lisa Barbuscia , also known as Lisa B, is an American model, singer and actress. She is known for small roles in a number of films, including Bridget Jones's Diary, Highlander: Endgame, and Almost Heroes. Her father is of Italian and Irish descent, and her mother is Puerto Rican...
), his wife from 200 years before. Then Kell's posse arrives, and fights Duncan (disregarding the rule of one-on-one combat). The fighting stops when Kell arrives, but Carlos shoots Duncan, who falls on a spike, killing him. Kell is furious with Carlos, and beheads him: as the Quickening begins, a van drives up to where Duncan fell, and takes him away.
Later on, Duncan wakes up, only to realize that he has been taken by Watchers who want to keep him in the Sanctuary so that he does not win the Prize. He is later saved with the help of Methos
Methos
Methos is a fictional character from the Highlander universe - the film series, the television show Highlander: The Series, and several fiction books. He is an Immortal. He is portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield in both series and the movies. Methos, as one of the The Four Horsemen, represents...
and Joe. He discovers Connor was spared by Kell, so as to allow the evil Immortal to make his life even more miserable. Kell wants to kill Duncan in order to torture Connor, and given the number of Quickenings he has received, this seems quite likely to occur. Additionally, Connor is too guilt-ridden by the deaths of all his loved ones to stand up to Kell by himself. Duncan later confronts Kate (now using the alias "Faith") at a fashion shoot, and asks her why she is with Kell. She tells him how much she hates the fact that she will never have children or grow old and die, and believes that Kell understands her pain. Duncan must earn her forgiveness, or face her as an embittered part of Kell's faction. Later on in his hotel room, Kate arrives after having a chat with Kell, and the two make love. Though it would appear that she has forgiven him, it is not the case, and she tells Duncan that she will never forgive him, but Duncan tells her that it is never to late for redemption, and that he will wait, even if it takes years or centuries.
Ultimately, Kell executes his group in a mock Last Supper
Last Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
to gain their powers, and Connor convinces Duncan that he must be beheaded in order for Duncan to have enough power to rival Kell. After an emotional goodbye, Duncan follows Connor's advice, and beheads his beloved clansman.
Soon after, Duncan and Kell engage in a final battle. At first, Kell easily overpowers Duncan, even when MacLeod attempts a supposedly-unbeatable sword move that Connor taught him. Just before Duncan's impending death at the hands of Kell, Connor seems to take control of Duncan's body, and kills Kell by jumping over him and decapitating him as he turns around. Duncan absorbs all of Kell's massive power. He then goes to Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan is a village in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end of Loch Shiel, at the foot of Glenfinnan.- Glenfinnan Monument :...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to bury Connor next to Connor's first wife Heather
Heather MacLeod
Heather MacLeod is a fictional character from the universe of Highlander movies, portrayed by actress Beatie Edney.Heather MacLeod is one of four characters from the Highlander universe to appear in both movie and television continuity .-History:Daughter to a blacksmith named Angus MacDonald, Heather...
. The Producers' Cut ends with the revelation that Kate/Faith is still alive. Calling herself Kate again, the two Immortals seem to rekindle their romantic relationship.
Production
Early drafts of the screenplay differed greatly from the final cut in several respects. The Kate character was originally named "Alexis"; most of the flashback scenes occurred in Shanghai instead of IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; Paris was the original location of Methos
Methos
Methos is a fictional character from the Highlander universe - the film series, the television show Highlander: The Series, and several fiction books. He is an Immortal. He is portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield in both series and the movies. Methos, as one of the The Four Horsemen, represents...
's home rather than London; Duncan MacLeod lived on his Parisian barge during the modern-day sequences; and Hugh Fitzcairn
Hugh Fitzcairn
Hugh Fitzcairn is a fictional character from Highlander: The Series, portrayed by actor Roger Daltrey. An Immortal, he is a friend of protagonist Duncan MacLeod.-Appearances:...
appeared during the Shanghai flashbacks. The titles of the various drafts included Highlander IV: The Immortals, Highlander: The Search for Connor, and Highlander: World Without End. Gregory Widen
Gregory Widen
Gregory Widen is an American screenwriter and film director.A student in UCLA's screenwriting program, he sold his script for Highlander while still an undergraduate. Before entering the UCLA program, Widen attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.Widen worked as a firefighter for...
, writer of the original Highlander
Highlander (film)
Highlander is a 1986 fantasy action film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. It stars Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Roxanne Hart. The film depicts the climax of an ages-old battle between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and...
, worked on the early drafts and was in talks to direct the film. Widen had previously directed the film The Prophecy
The Prophecy
The Prophecy is a 1995 fantasy horror-thriller film starring Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, and Viggo Mortensen. It was written and directed by Gregory Widen, and is the first motion picture of The Prophecy series including four sequels...
, which he also wrote. Portions of Widen's writing were used for Endgame, though he received only a "Characters Created By" credit.
Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
and Jean Claude Van Damme were considered for the role of Jacob Kell.
Natassia Malthe
Natassia Malthe
Natassia Malthe is a Norwegian model and actress.-Biography:Natassia is the younger of two daughters. She was born in Oslo, Norway. She is half Filipino. She is usually credited by her birth name however is sometime credited as 'Lina Teal'...
and Juliet Landau
Juliet Landau
Juliet Rose Landau is an American actress best known for her role as Drusilla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff show Angel, the latter appearance earning her a Saturn Award nomination. She is also known for co-starring as Loretta King Hadler in Tim Burton's Ed Wood.She has appeared in a...
were considered for the role of Kate/Faith.
The film features several shots from the original Highlander
Highlander (film)
Highlander is a 1986 fantasy action film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. It stars Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Roxanne Hart. The film depicts the climax of an ages-old battle between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and...
. The first is a computer-altered and enhanced shot of Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan is a village in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end of Loch Shiel, at the foot of Glenfinnan.- Glenfinnan Monument :...
, which was originally the shot of Connor walking away from his village. The second is a shot of the Silvercup sign, pulled from the scene of the Kurgan taking Brenda to the building. And in the rooftop Quickening, two shots of Connor and Heather together are taken from the first film. Castle Stalker
Castle Stalker
Castle Stalker is a four-storey tower house or keep picturesquely set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. It is located about north east of Port Appin, Argyll, Scotland, and is visible from the A828 road around mid-way between Oban and Glen Coe. The islet is accessible from...
is seen briefly in the film during Connor's flashback scene. This building was also seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
.
Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and world wushu tournament medalist...
served as the film's martial arts choreographer and also played the role of Jin Ke, who was based on a real historical figure: Jing Ke
Jing Ke
Jing Ke was a guest residing in the estates of Dan, crown prince of Yan and renowned for his failed assassination attempt of Ying Zheng, King of Qin state, who later became China's first emperor...
, renowned for his failed assassination of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
. Hip-Hop producer Damon Dash
Damon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
makes an appearance as one of Jacob Kell's Immortal minions. Professional wrestler Adam Copeland
Adam Copeland
Adam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract....
, known as "Edge" in the World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, makes a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as Lachlan. A reference is made to Copeland's wrestling persona when Duncan says to Lachlan, "Looks like you've lost your edge, lad."
The movie was meant to act as a bridge between the Highlander television series and the spin-off series Highlander:The Raven that was continuing on TV back in 1999. But these plans started to go awry when "Raven" was cancelled due to low ratings and the change in syndication as well as production delays started occurring due to cast availability problems. Dimension Films, which took on the project as a way of invigorating the franchise, realized that its plans for the film were not going to meet expectations and scaled back on its release.
Filming began on October 22, 1999 and ended on March 7, 2000. Much of the bulk of filming happened in Romania which was opposed by the producers.
Endgame
Dimension Films
Dimension Films is a motion picture unit currently a part of The Weinstein Company. It was formerly used as Bob Weinstein's label within Miramax Films, to produce and release genre films...
, demanded that cuts be made to the film to give it a faster pace. The deleted footage contained exposition
Exposition (literary technique)
At the beginning of a narrative, the exposition is the author's providing of some background information to the audience about the plot, characters' histories, setting, and theme. Exposition is considered one of four rhetorical modes of discourse, along with argumentation, description, and narration...
necessary to understanding the Highlander universe, resulting in a theatrical cut that was criticized for being incomprehensible to audiences unfamiliar with the franchise. An extended cut with restored footage was later released on DVD. (See "alternate versions" below.)
Jacob Kell
In the earliest scripts of Highlander Endgame, the main antagonist was first introduced as an unnamed, powerful Immortal stalking Connor and killing his close friends to fulfil an unknown agenda. Later, the character's name was revealed to be 'Jacob Kase'. This was the name used throughout the original script. However, this was modified from Kase to Kell after comments that it sounded too phonetically similar to the previous Highlander III villain Kane. The resulting name (although not Scottish in origin) was used in the filming of the movie. Kell is portrayed initially as a crusader out to avenge the death of his mentor at Connor's hands. The struggle between Kell and Connor was to mirror to a certain extent the relationship between Kate and Duncan, respectively as well as explore the possibility of an evil antagonist with close ties to the clan MacLeod. Despite the changes between the script and movie, the actual Jacob Kell retained much of his personality—his metamorphosis from a reluctant enforcer of justice to a sadistic mad-dog killer played an important part in the film.Jin Ke
Portrayed by Donnie YenDonnie Yen
Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and world wushu tournament medalist...
Jing Ke was a professional soldier serving the Chinese King (and later, Emperor) Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
and was charged to protect the workers who built the Great Wall of China from nomad attacks. A highly-skilled unarmed fighter, Jin Ke's preferred weapon is a spear. Dissatisfied with the emperor and his bloody actions, he took part in a conspiracy to assassinate him. The conspiracy, however, was discovered and all its members were killed, except Jin, who awakened as an Immortal. He thought this new life would enable him to amend his faults, so he decided to live honorably, defending the right causes and fighting evil. In 19th century China, he met Jacob Kell, who convinced him that honor existed only in victory. Swayed by Kell's words, Jin Ke chose to become the first of his followers. He was used as a backup plan when the remaining members of the gang failed to accomplish their mission. This was seen when the gang tried to kill Duncan MacLeod. After Winston, Cracker Bob, Carlos and Manny were unable to kill him, they stepped aside so that Ke could fight Duncan. However, Duncan was as strong as Ke and their fight was interrupted by Kell. He was the first member to be killed in the gang’s “last supper," and the only one to raise a sword against his former leader. Despite this, Jacob Kell killed him effortlessly. Jin Ke appears to be a highly fictionalized version of Jing Ke
Jing Ke
Jing Ke was a guest residing in the estates of Dan, crown prince of Yan and renowned for his failed assassination attempt of Ying Zheng, King of Qin state, who later became China's first emperor...
, a wandering swordsman who failed to assassinate Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
.
"Cracker" Bob
Portrayed by Ian Paul CassidyIan Paul Cassidy
Ian Paul Cassidy is an English actor, who has appeared mainly in American and Australian productions. In 2000 he played Cracker Bob in Highlander: Endgame and in 2001 he had a starring role in the drama series The Beast, which was cancelled after five episodes...
"Cracker" Bob was owner of an explosive and eccentric personality. It is unknown where he originally came from or what his real name was. He met Immortal Jacob Kell, a former priest who was pursuing a centuries-long vendetta against Connor MacLeod in Georgia in 1926. Traveling through the South, Kell recognized Bob as a pre-Immortal. When Bob proposed to lead him to his next destination, Kell accepted, curious to see what the latter was preparing for him. At the city's exit, Bob tried to rob him, but Kell beat him easily. Amused, Kell decided to keep him close. Bob then became the second member of his group after Jin Ke. His weapon of choice became a heavy wooden club covered in spikes and he started to wear eccentric clothes (probably made by Faith, who was a fashion designer). He was the second member executed by Kell in the gang's "final supper". Before being beheaded, Bob could do nothing but smile at Kell, realising he and the other members had been tricked.
Winston
Portrayed by Oris ErhueroOris Erhuero
Oris Erhuero is a British actor, producer, writer, and former fashion model. He is highly acclaimed for being the most photographed and publicized, international fashion runway and print model of his time era...
Winston was born in Jamaica in 1834, and was raised by former slave parents. In 1865, he was witness to the brutal repression used by English troops to stop the Jamaican rebellion. He would see his parents die before his eyes. Insane with rage, he attacked the soldier responsible for their death and “died” from a bayonet through the heart. After becoming Immortal, he turned into a frightening adversary for the colonists. After the island’s independence, he became a mercenary. In North Africa, during World War II, Winston met and joined Jacob Kell’s gang. He later became the leader of a network of marijuana smugglers in New York, under Kell's command. In 1972, he discovered among the network's members an Immortal named Carlos. Carlos would also join the gang. Winston led the members on their missions. When they failed it was up to Jing Ke to finish the job, as seen in the attack on Duncan MacLeod, when Jing Ke had to intervene. He was the third member to be executed by Kell in their "last supper".
Carlos Jones
Portrayed by Damon DashDamon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
Carlos was born a slave in South Carolina in 1789. He became Immortal after being lynched by a local vigilante group at the time of a slave rebellion. Carlos would then kill several slave owners and white racists. He would also attack Ku Klux Klan members. If by chance, he was “killed” doing the misdeeds, it would give him a certain pleasure to reappear in front of his killers and terrify them before killing them. He wasn't a big lover of swords preferring to use guns against other Immortals. In 1972, in New York, he was part of a marijuana smuggling network, led by Immortal Winston. This would lead him to Jacob Kell, with whom Winston was allied. The gang served his purpose of not having to fight with swords and within the gang he was safe from other Immortals. During the gang's attack against Duncan MacLeod, Carlos decided to shoot MacLeod. The impact hurled him through a nearby window, ultimately enabling him to escape from certain death. Displeased by the fact of having disobeyed his orders by using a gun, Kell taunted Carlos to attack him. Carlos attacked him and was beheaded within seconds.
Manny
Portrayed by Vernon RietaVernon Rieta
Vernon Rieta is an American Kung Fu specialist, actor/stunt performer and artist.Born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii, Rieta started learning Kung Fu at the age of 11. He has studied in the styles of the five families: mok gar, fut gar, hung gar, choy gar, and lau gar...
Manny was a young Hawaiian who in 1965 joined the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The young Private was terrified of being killed, unaware of the fact that he was a pre-Immortal. His commander, who was an Immortal, sensed that Manny was a pre-Immortal and tried to reassure him by saying that the bullets couldn’t do anything to him. But Manny, however, didn’t believe him and was certain that his fate was to die in Vietnam. That is until, one day, his regiment was attacked by the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong artillery decimated all the troops. Amazed, Manny reawakened as an Immortal and was able to survive. Unfortunately, his commander, despite his immortality, was killed by the heavy artillery. He would later join Kell's gang, illusioned by Kell's charismatic spell. He was a low profile member within the gang contrastating with his more active team members Cracker Bob, Winston and Carlos. Just like his status in the group, he was executed by Kell in their "last supper".
At the beginning of the movie, it is shown that Jacob Kell had killed 661 Immortals. After killing his five henchmen, this number goes up to 666
Number of the Beast
The Number of the Beast is a term in the Book of Revelation, of the New Testament, that is associated with the first Beast of Revelation chapter 13, the Beast of the sea. In most manuscripts of the New Testament and in English translations of the Bible, the number of the Beast is...
.
Alternative versions
The DVD release features a 101-minute "producers' cutDirector's cut
A director's cut is a specially edited version of a film, and less often TV series, music video, commercials, comic book or video games, that is supposed to represent the director's own approved edit...
" which features improved visual effects, sound mixing, and color-timing, and restores numerous scenes of exposition
Exposition
Exposition may refer to:*Exposition *Exposition *Trade fair*Exposition , the debut album by the band Wax on Radio...
intended to make the story more easily understandable for audiences unfamiliar with the Highlander franchise. The "producers' cut" includes the "Kate lives" ending and removes the line of dialogue in which Methos
Methos
Methos is a fictional character from the Highlander universe - the film series, the television show Highlander: The Series, and several fiction books. He is an Immortal. He is portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield in both series and the movies. Methos, as one of the The Four Horsemen, represents...
refers to the Sanctuary as holy ground, which was criticized by fans.
The Region 1
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
(United States and Canada) DVD includes, as a bonus feature, a rough workprint
Workprint
A workprint is a rough version of a motion picture, used by the film editor during the editing process. Such copies generally contain original recorded sound that will later be re-dubbed, stock footage as placeholders for missing shots or special effects, and animation tests for in-production...
cut of the film. The visual quality of the rough cut is rather poor, with unfinished special effects and a timecode visible at all times, and alternating between widescreen and full-screen. This cut features a subplot involving Connor giving a Christmas tree to an orphanage every Christmas, an activity picked up by Duncan after Connor's death. Kate does not appear in this version of the film at its conclusion, unlike the producers' cut included on the DVD. The rough cut also notably features an extended version of the "Last Supper" scene in which Jin Ke plunges his sword into a wall and beheads himself after realizing that he cannot beat Kell, thereby denying Kell the opportunity to kill him. In the other versions of the film, this scene was edited to make it appear that Kell beheads Jin Ke (off-screen) along with the rest of the group.
Producers cut
The producers of the film disagreed with Dimension Films over the running length and story structure of the film. They were unsatisfied with the theatrical cut, and upon its DVD release, they re-edited the film and added twelve minutes of new footage, which included:- A new opening sequence, in which we see Duncan and Connor roaming the streets of New York and Duncan buying a hot dog. Connor tells Duncan that he has an errand to run, and leaves a concerned Duncan behind after telling him to "watch his back." The scene goes to Rachel walking towards the antiques store.
- The shots of the photographs with Rachel and Connor in them are not in the DVD cut. Instead we see Rachel enter the store, go to the loft and find a TV playing a video of herself and Connor at various points of her life. The phone rings and when she answers, the store explodes just as Connor walks up to it.
- The DVD cut has Duncan walking past a payphone on his way to MethosMethosMethos is a fictional character from the Highlander universe - the film series, the television show Highlander: The Series, and several fiction books. He is an Immortal. He is portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield in both series and the movies. Methos, as one of the The Four Horsemen, represents...
. He answers the phone and a woman (later revealed as Faith) tells him, "Whatever you fear about Connor MacLeod, fear the worst." She says that she is a friend and hangs up. As Duncan walks on, we see a watcher named Matthew spying on Duncan from a cafe saying into his cellphone, "He's on the move." - During the scene where Duncan is at Connor's destroyed loft, the posse enter and Winston says, "It's time to show our Immortal brother a thing or two." Cracker Bob has more of an entrance. We see him crash in on his motorcycle swings his bat and says, "Someone order a club sandwich?" Duncan mocks his outfit and Bob complains to Faith.
- A Flashback to Kate and Duncan's wedding is re-edited. We See Duncan sitting at the table with Kate, and one of their friends gets drunk and collapses while urging the two to kiss. They do, then we see Duncan, Kate and their wedding guest dancing. From there, we see Connor walking through the door and embracing Duncan.
- After Duncan and Faith separate at the studio (the fashion show scene), we see them roaming the streets. Faith goes to Kell's temple, then her apartment. Inside, we see Kell waiting for her. The dialogue makes it clear that they have a sexual relationship and Kell suspects that she may turn over to Duncan's side. We go from this scene to Faith walking about the streets of New York and then entering Duncan's hotel room where they have an intimate moment.
- The fight scene between Duncan and Kell is extended.
- We see a scene where Duncan is bandaging a leg wound and taking off his coat. The watcher Matthew is pointing a rifle at him. "Just watching," someone says. Matthew turns and Joe is standing behind him. Matthew raises his rifle at Joe, but Joe shoots him with a revolver. Matthew dies.
- Duncan's face morphing into Connor's, and back, a few times is reduced in their visibility and intensity.
Among other changes was the edited blurring of a large JVC
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
billboard that was prominently featured during Connor's death scene in the theatrical cut.
Theatrical trailer
The trailers for the film feature several shots showing Kell using mystical abilities (such as stopping a sword in midair with some sort of force field, cloning himself and holding an orb with Connor's screaming head inside of it). Also, Connor and Duncan are shown emerging from some sort of portal. None of this footage made it into any released version of the film, and the footage is only seen in the trailer. No explanation for the nature of these scenes has ever been willingly released by the producers or film studio, although it has since been revealed that these shots were never intended for inclusion in any finished cut of the movie — they were shot exclusively for its trailer, instead. No mention of Kell's magical abilities exists in the online version of an early screenplay.Critical response
Critical reaction to Highlander: Endgame has been negative. It holds an 11% "rotten" rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 53 reviews, higher than Highlander II
Highlander II: The Quickening
Highlander II: The Quickening is the second installment to the Highlander film series, released on January 31, 1991.-Plot:In August 1994, news broadcasts announce that the ozone layer is fading, and will be completely gone in a matter of months. In Africa, millions have perished from the effects of...
(0%) and Highlander III
Highlander III: The Final Dimension
Highlander III: The Sorcerer, also known as Highlander III, Highlander III: The Magician, Highlander III: The Final Dimension, Highlander: The Final Dimension and Highlander 3: The Final Conflict, is the third installment in the Highlander film series. It was first released on November 30, 1994...
(5%), and a score of 21 out of 100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, based on 37 reviews.
Elvis Mitchell
Elvis Mitchell
Elvis Mitchell is an American film critic, host of the public radio show The Treatment, and visiting lecturer at Harvard University. He has served as a film critic for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the LA Weekly, The Detroit Free Press, and The New York Times...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
gave Endgame a mildly positive review, saying: "It's nice to see mindless violence back in a B picture
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
, where it belongs, and the swordplay is impressive. When [the movie] sticks to the hand-to-hand battles and doesn't try to offer deeper thoughts on the life of an immortal, it works on its own terms." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave Endgame a score of 8 out of 10, saying that "fans will be pleased," adding: "Endgame proves to be both true to the spirit of the first film and the television series, [it has] a solid story to tell, [and it] features the best fight sequences of the series."
Andrew O'Hehir of Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
said, "Personally, I enjoyed it about the way I enjoyed the Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (film)
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series...
movies, meaning that its genuine fun and its unintentionally ridiculous moments are roughly in balance." Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
remarked: [Fans] will be thrilled that Connor MacLeod and his fellow clansman Duncan MacLeod engage in a vein-popping showdown to see which immortal will bump off the other, thereby achieving a quickening of multiorgasmic proportions. Those who aren't in the cult of this popular genre fantasy not only won't understand what the previous sentence is about, but may also wonder what's so great about perpetual life if it entails shlepping from one badly lit, cheesily art-directed, peat bog-colored century to another, spouting hollow dialogue."
Travis Eddings of Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
gave the film one half star out of five, saying: "After viewing Highlander: Endgame, it's obvious that Aarniokoski has no idea how to make a film. ... The only reason why this film earns one-half of a star instead of zero is due to some unintended laughs. It's funny to see what passes as acting in this movie." James Brundage of FilmCritic.com gave the film one and half stars out of five, saying: "Highlander: Endgame possesses all of the elements of a straight-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
action movie. Cheap special effects that look cool, weak characters that still pull heartstrings, and a bunch of actors no one really knows unless you have seen this or that obscure flick. And, taking that view, one wonders why the hell I even had to watch Highlander: Endgame in theatres."
Carlo Cavagna of About Film called the film "a disaster," adding: "The plot and the characters' motivations are nonsense. Lambert's character has nowhere to go, and his once-magnetic glower is tired and worn. Several opportunities for spectacular action are squandered because the movie's villain has a tendency to execute summarily his own henchmen. Paul's modicum of charisma, director Douglas Aarniokoski's broad panoramas that recall the original Highlander, and Lambert's amusing skirmishes with a Scottish accent are not enough to provide any redeeming value.
Critics on the one hand praised Bruce Payne's performance in the film. One reviewer said of Highlander: Endgame that "the one in the cast that seems to be having the most fun is Bruce Payne. Traditionally Highlander villains give performances that go completely over-the-top and well into the stratosphere. Payne contrarily gives a performance where he enunciates every syllable with relish and dramatic weight, resulting in a performance that is entirely captivating whenever he is on screen." Andrew O'Hehir, who reviewed the film for Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, stated that 'playing Kell as a cockney thug with triple crucifixes embedded in the heels of his Doc Martens, Payne is more fun than either of the stars'. A reviewer for Trash City stated that 'Endgame is pretty good, largely thanks to Bruce Payne's efforts as the bad guy, who is right up there with Clancy Brown
Clancy Brown
Clarence J. "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in live action as The Kurgan in the cult classic film Highlander, Byron Hadley in the award-winning The Shawshank Redemption, Brother Justin Crowe in HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivàle, and Career...
's original decapitator', the Kurgan. Marke Andrews, writing for The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
, stated that Payne provided the 'focal point' in the film and that he dived 'into his role with gusto'. Andrews also stated that Payne's 'facial expressions rival Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
's in The Mask
The Mask (film)
The Mask is a 1994 American superhero comedy film based on a series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. This film was directed by Chuck Russell, and produced by Dark Horse Entertainment and New Line Cinema, and originally released to movie theatres on July 29, 1994 through New Line...
.