So bad it’s Good
#2 : Highlander III :The Final Dimension (1994)

Guilty Pleasures that we enjoyed – even though we don’t quite know why.

Movie Title : Highlander III : The Final Dimension
Released 1994
Starring Christopher Lambert, Mario Van Peebles, Deborah Kara Unger
Directed By Andrew Morahan

What is it? Originally – a joke on behalf of the grief-stricken producers - called “Highlander 3 : The Apology”, this was an attempt at salvaging the “Highlander” series after the god-awful “Highlander II : The Quickening”. Returning the series to its roots (more or less), the pic had the now mortal (or is he?) Connor MacLeod (Christopher ‘I need cue cards’ Lambert) taking on an immortal sorcerer (Mario Van Peebles) from his past named Kane. The cartoonish villain tracks the swordsman down in New York where he proceeds to break a few of the antiques in his collection, make a bound for his head, and, I assume (give the boys back home a bit of a laugh, I assume?), videotape Connor’s shag with the scientist. Russell Mulcahy, director of the first two “Highlander” movies, opted not to return for this one. In his place, music video director Andrew Morahan (who actually directed the upcoming “Goal 3”). Sean Connery did not return calls either.

What’s wrong with it? Besides the fact its sometimes nauseatingly bad? Everything from the writing to the performances to the sex scene is just embarrassing. Lambert wouldn’t win an acting contest against Jean Claude Van Damme here. He’s that poor. And Van Peebles – usually quite a good actor - needed to be reminded that he wasn’t at the “Spider-Man” villain try-outs. The supporting cast are even worse though – there’s some obvious ADR at work here, and it really does the film an injustice. You’d think you were watching a Mandarin Kung-Fu movie in spots. AT the same time, I suppose you can’t blame the producers for relooping some of the lines because the actors they’ve hired couldn’t even well, deliver a pizza. Where did they find this bunch?! In addition, the storyline itself is a bit of a cut and paste –there are oodles of plot holes (how did Kane get to New York? How did he learn to drive?); continuity problems (When MacLeod arrives in New York City, he is seen walking down Broadway, and the streets and sidewalks are clean. Then he turns into a side street, and it is ankle-deep in snow) and some obvious franchise contradictions (what’s with Connor having a kid?). As for the production team, I hope they were paid cheap – if they aren’t appearing in shot, or leaving booms in frame, they’re cobbling together badly-lit and wonkily-staged sequences that’d get them fired from an Uwe Boll movie.

What’s right about it? They could have made “Highlander III” a musical with puppets – and had Jason Connery voice his Dad’s part as Ramirez – and it still would’ve been more enjoyable, and endurable, than ‘The Quickening’. The fact that this one at least showed signs of life was enough in itself, let alone the production budget allowing more colours than blue, dark blue and neon blue this time ‘round. In many respects, this was an OK sequel. Shitty movie on its own, but OK sequel. It totally dismissed the events of Russell Mulcahy’s 1991 sequel and proceeded to tell the tale of Connor MacLeod's adventures post-Clancy Brown. It was a smart thing to do. And though the storyline wasn’t very solid, nor anywhere near as imaginative as the first film, it still offered a lot more than what the previous instalment did – heck, the script may even have been better than the movie; they seemed to have taken a little more care with it this time around anyway. There’s a few good moments in this – the sword fights are rather impressive; Mario Van Peebles is a real hoot as Kane (though Clancy Brown still remains the best of the Highlander villains); the music is good (No Queen, but there are nods to the original in the score) and the locations are absolutely exquisite – this time they didn’t pretend they were anywhere else; if the scene took place in New York, they were in … New York. (Oh, and lets not forget about that gratuitous love scene – a randy humpy pumpy scene featuring Deborah Kara Unger – yes, Deborah Kara Unger; not a body double! – and her iron-clad butt cheeks, as they attempt to thin Lambert’s ribs).

Why is it so bad it’s good? Unlike the previous sequel in the series, this is hammy whilst still being fun (as opposed to hammy and boring). Sure, it has its dull bits, and Lambert struggles to hold your attention with his expressionless performance, but the combination of fencing, lavish visuals and the laughable but fun one-liners make it an easy-to-watch hour-and-a-half. (The sequel to follow, “Highlander : Endgame”, was even better).

- CLINT MORRIS

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