Should they reboot 'Highlander'

[Smegger56]

Should they remake the highlander franchise?

I say this, as the highlander sequels have gotten worse and worse. It's destroying the legacy of the original film IMO.

They need to stop. Hell, get new people involved... as in TALENTED people.

Here, i would like to hear ideas, and opionions, about what you'd like to see in a reboot, or, whether you'd like to see a reboot.

.....................................

This what i'd like to see:

A trilogy of films, that explore who the immortals are and there purpose. We see this by following the life of Connor MacLoed... and he obviously plays a central part in the lead up to the 'gathering'.

Highlander 1 would be set in Scotland, back in 1548. We watch Connor become an immortal and are shown his training by Ramirez. Basically, the flashbacks in the original highlander would be turned into a film.

Highlander 2 would be set in modern day Ney York. This film could bring back the iconic flash back sequences seen in the first film... showing how Connor became the man he is today.

Highlander 3 would be the gathering itself. We'd also learn of the secret of the imoortal and their true purpose on Earth.

All films would be linked to each other, by having a higher force play a role... sorta like people in the background almost dictating actons. So there would be a big mystery happening.

Also, i would only have Connor Macloed as the lead... no Duncan.

Choice of Director would be either: Christopher Nolan
David Fincher

Choice of Connor Macloed: Christian Bale (every film i've seen him in tells
me he can do this role with ease)

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Mass Nerder]

Personally I'd love to just see one remake of the first movie. I loved the first movie as a kid and this movie is one of those films that is a cult classic but not an actual classic so there wouldn't be anything wrong with remaking it. In other words it's okay to remake Highlander but not Psycho. The changes I would make would be I would explain the quickening more like adding in the fact that every time they had a quickening they would gain the other immotrals strength, not have super powers or anyting but everytime they chopped off the head of an immortal they would become stronger. I would in no way tell where Immortals came from. I think we all learned from Highlander 2's mistake. So basically I'd just like to see one remake of the first movie and end it there. Highlander was never intended to be an on going thing. Also I would get Gregory Widen to write it and maybe direct it. Anyway, has anyone read the new comic? I'm waiting for the trade but this is somthing I've been dieing to see since I was in high school.

There can be only one!

 

[mathhater]

If we're talking about ensuring Highlander's long-term legacy and mythology, then by all means they need a restart. This series may have the worst continuity problems of any story ever.

The first movie supposedly ends with the Gathering and Conner winning the prize. (But if that's the case, then every single immortal that showed up in the later movies, and the later tv series would all still be alive and kicking at that time...)

Then the second movie tries to address the origins of the immortals...taking place many, many years later...saying the immortals are aliens, and having the game restart.

Then with the third they go back to the whole mystique of the immortals, and going back in time from part 2, apparantly erasing anything that was done or said in the second movie.

It's all really, really confusing. Like with Superman, they need to settle on one, specific backdrop & continuity, and leave it at that.

 

[cryptic name]

if a reboot has to happen, i say just remake the first movie. splitting it into 3 wouldn't make much sense because the gathering is the main point of action for the movie that leads to the mystery behind mcleoud and so on, split them up and the first two movie are just about a guy who's immortal...ok, so what?

 

[livrule]

To me there is only the original ..... The story, music, acting .... all wonderful.

Everything that followed was pure tripe .... But because Lambert needed the pay days his name was attached to most of it.

Just let it die and enjoy the original movie.

 

[Spider-Fan]

There can be only 1 Highlander movie!!! (At least only one that is good)

 

[SonOfTheDark]

I would like to see a reboot, no copy of the original, but going back to the roots. Keep it more realistic, set in present day with historical flashbacks. Don't tell the origin of the immortals and don't try to explain too much and keep some mystery, at least in the first film. I think it could work as a trilogy around one main character. Doesn't have to be a Highlander, but it would be ok of course. Why not Ewan McGregor? If it should be a scottish character and still look a bit like Lambert in the original. The Watchers should be back in some way, they are a bit like the Talamasca from "The Vampire Chronicles" and there are very interesting plot options.

They have to use the potential for really exciting and spectacular fight sequences, because you are dealing with immortals so you can have fights that are impossible to do with mortals. Like 2 immortals jumping out of an airplane, continue fighting in the air and one head comes off a second before they land in the water. The Quickening (which can also look amazing with modern effects) covers the sea. Stuff like that...

If there would be the same characters (I would prefer new ones), I think this cast could be great:

Ewan McGregor/Christian Bale ... Connor MacLeod
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2005/01/31/bond/McGregor.jpg
http://pellicule.canalblog.com/images/18383484.jpg

Lena Headey/Jennifer Connelly ... Brenda J. Wyatt
http://www.elmulticine.com/imagenes/noticias/lena_headey.jpg
http://www.new-video.de/da/2785.jpg

Derek Mears ... The Kurgan
http://gfx.filmweb.pl/p/296760/po.113740.jpg

Liam Neeson/Jeremy Irons ... Ramirez
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.y...brothers/batman_begins/liam_neeson/batman.jpg
http://www.vh1.com/sitewide/flipbooks/img/movies/people/i/irons_jeremy/50988676_10.jpg

Elisha Cuthbert ... Heather MacLeod
http://www.new-video.de/da/29321.jpg

Edward James Olmos ... Lieutenant Frank Moran
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/dec04/olmos120404.jpg

Jon Favreau/Larry Joe Campbell ... Det. Walter Bedsoe
http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Profiles/20061011/244.favreau.jon.101006.jpg
http://www.wchstv.com/abc/troublewithnormal/larryjoecampbell.jpg

Jason Isaacs ... Garfield
http://www.new-video.de/da/4087.jpg

Charlotte Rampling ... Rachel Ellenstein
http://www.handbag.com/graphics/library4/charlotterampling50.jpg

Wesley Snipes/Djimon Hounsou ... Sunda Kastagir
http://advance.uri.edu/quadangles/spr2006/images/snipes27.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40665000/jpg/_40665048_hounsou1_220getty.jpg

Elias Koteas ... Kirk Matunas
http://www.northernstars.ca/actorsjkl/Media/koteas_headshot_250.jpg

Crispin Glover/Samuel Le Bihan ... Aman Fasil
http://aether.mux.net/Odyssey/casting/charon2.jpg
http://www.arthouse.ru/img/films/CLEFDB/samuel_le_bihan.jpg

Gerard Butler/Colin Firth ... Dugal MacLeod
http://media.monstersandcritics.com/articles/1173162/article_images/sturlar3l.jpg
http://www.anitaspages.net/pics/colin1.JPG

Brendan Gleeson ... Angus MacLeod
http://www.more-magazin.de/stars/gleeson_brendan.jpg

Director? Probably Christophe Gans. He did a great job with "Brotherhood of the Wolf"...

 

[Kent]

They should definately reboot it if you ask me. I love the first movie, but it's far from being perfect. Everything from the (by todays standards) shoddy sword fights to the bombastic use of Queen-songs, and the weird choice of having someone who can't shed his French accent to save his life play a scotsman, and then have a scotsman (Connery) play a spaniard/egyptian.

I think the first Highlander movie had a lot of heart, and a lot of good ideas, and it showed... but it also didn't manage to realize the potential of the concept at all.

The sequels... I don't want to talk about. They're horrid pieces of ****.

Any reboot would have to have some absolutely spectacular sword fights though.

 

[SonOfTheDark]

For the new main character I would either like to see a Connor/Duncan combo, a scotsman maybe born in the 13th century who fights and dies (for the first time) alongside William Wallace on the battlefield. Or a frenchman, with his first death during the French-Indian war or the Revolution. There could be nice scenes with Napoleon for example

The protagonist shouldn't be another bad Kurgan clone, make him a more tortured, serious and also a bit sympathetic character like the villain in Widen's original draft. You don't have to kill him in the first movie, develop him like the antagonist. Of course, the two should have a connection from the past. They could meet on a battlefield, maybe Waterloo or something. They could be interested in the same woman and get in conflict...

A Ramirez like mentor is needed for the reluctant hero. Teaches or improve swordfighting, explain the rules and important stuff (The Quickening, Holy Ground, the Gaterhing, the Prize etc.) But maybe take an Indian or African guy this time. For other immortals, I would also like to see a Spartan (inspired by 300 ^^)...

So, in the first movie you could introduce the main characters, their relationship and the basic rules for immortals. In the second movie they could introduce the Watchers and maybe the Hunters too. The third movie would be the Gathering and the battle to the last. Perhaps have nice twist with a Dark Quickening or something. Of course, it wouldn't be easy to end the first film with a really good climax...

 

[Fried Gold]

I think you're all mental.

 

[Mass Nerder]

Does the new comic act as a reboot? From what I understand it takes place after the first movie but Duncan is in it. So does it ignore the fact that Connor won the prize at the end of the first movie?

BTW has anyone ever read Gregory Widen's original screenplay for Highlander? You can see where all the good stuff in the first movie came from and how the rewrites is where they went wrong. And also WHY THE HELL would you take out the Queens music?! Queen's soundtrack fueled that movie a great deal, imo.

 

[Fanticon]

I'd like to see a Sci-Fi channel style live action version of the cartoon.

 

[Fanticon]

I'd like to see a Sci-Fi channel attempt at a live action version of the animated series.

I feel like I'm the only one that watched this...but it was really dope.

 

[Fried Gold]

I'd like to see a Sci-Fi channel attempt at a live action version of the animated series.

I feel like I'm the only one that watched this...but it was really dope.

You were a dope for watching it.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Why remake it? It was fine the first time! I don't need the over-the-top CGI sword fight to like it.

Like I said, there can be only ONE!!!!

No stupid remake.

 

[Kent]

It was not "fine" the first time. It was entertaining, yes... and it had all the best intentions, and a lot of heart... but that does not make it "fine".

The swordplay was mostly pathetic (When Kurgan swings the sword in his hotel room it looked awesome, but when they started actually fighting... bah), the choice of actors for Connor and Ramirez... well... stupid (Clancy Brown was an awesome choice though)... and it was filled to the brim with awkward moments (Ramirez and Connor were freakin' frolicking in the woods in one scene, I was half expecting wood nymphs or something to appear) and bombastic Queen-music.
In general, there's a ****load of stuff that could've been done better.

Of course, assuming the sword fights in a reboot would need CGI is just that... assuming. I see no reason for CGI, just good choreography, and having the actors really work on said choreography (which is far from uncommon these days).

 

[Warhammer]

I'm not a fan of the Highlander franchise, so let it be.
But if it were to be something new, remake the first film. Don't reboot. Let the movie be a standalone film.

 

[Caliber]

The first was great but the rest seem to remain with the same quality. A new trilogy could work but keep it alot like the first one.

 

[Mass Nerder]

Man I could go on forever and ever how bad the Highlander squeals are. Highlander 2: The Quickening was one of the worst movies ever made and that Renegade Version didn't help at all. And don't get me started on Endgame. Endgame had a cool look to it but Christopher Lambert is suppose to be immortal yet it looks like my grandfather in that movie. The fact that Duncan kill Connor just pissed me off beyond belief.