"HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME" (2000) (Adrian Paul, Christopher Lambert) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Heavy Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Moderate None Mild Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Moderate Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: Two of Earth's immortals must battle the most powerful immortal ever with the fate of mankind resting in the balance. PLOT: Connor MacLeod (CHRISTOPHER LAMBERT) and Duncan MacLeod (ADRIAN PAUL) are two immortals who've been living on Earth for several hundred years, blessed and/or cursed by their inability to die unless they're beheaded, which only occurs when two such immortals battle each other. Such immortality has its drawbacks, such as the guilt and remorse of living long after one's many loves have died. Connor is feeling such pain as it's been ten years since a family member died in a suspicious explosion, while Duncan still laments his decision to "kill" his bride, Kate (LISA BARBUSCIA), long ago in the past to activate her immortality. That turned out to be against her wishes and she still holds a grudge against him to this day. While Duncan has moved on with his life, Connor has gone into seclusion, believing that such isolation will spare him from romantic loss ever again. His sanctuary, however, is brutally interrupted when the most powerful immortal ever, Jacob Kell (BRUCE PAYNE), and his thugs - including Jin Ke (DONNIE YEN) -- kill many other isolated immortals, but let Connor go free. That's because Kell seems to have a score from the past to settle with Connor and plans to keep him around until the end when he's done killing the rest of the world's immortals. Realizing that Kell's growing more powerful every day - due to him absorbing the powers of the 600 hundred plus other immortals he's previously slain - Connor and Duncan then set out to stop the megalomaniac before he becomes completely invincible. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the original movies or the TV show spawned from them, they probably will. Otherwise, it's not very likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For violence and some strong sexuality. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: CHRISTOPHER LAMBERT plays a several hundred-year-old immortal who's been in seclusion and/or otherwise moping around due to outliving all of his loves. A killer of other immortals - his tally is above 250 - he sets out to stop Kell and his megalomaniacal plan. ADRIAN PAUL plays his ages old friend and fellow immortal who hasn't killed quite as many immortals, but still tries to help stop Kell. We do see a flashback where he "kills" his wife to activate her immortality, and does so without her consent or prior knowledge (he did so to have her around forever). BRUCE PAYNE plays the increasingly powerful and megalomaniacal immortal who's out to kill every other immortal and rule the world. LISA BARBUSCIA plays Duncan's (former) wife who still holds a grudge against him for making her immortal against her wishes. DONNIE YEN plays one of Kell's goons who's proficient at martial arts. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated action/adventure film. Violence is rated as extreme due to a great deal of fighting (including swordplay, hand to hand combat and shootings) that's often lethal (many people are beheaded), otherwise injurious and usually bloody to some degree. Such scenes may be suspenseful or unsettling for some viewers, may prove to be imitative to impressionable kids, and those involved in such mayhem have extreme cases of bad attitudes. In addition, they also create some tense family moments. A married sexual encounter is seen with brief, but occasionally graphic images of movement, nudity and sensuality, while some other women are seen in their bras and panties in one scene. Profanity consists of several "s" words and just a handful of other expletives and colorful phrases. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may wish to see it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in this film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Duncan gives Connor a goblet containing what's presumably liquor and tells him "Drink up," but Connor doesn't drink any. Kell and others have a toast with wine. BLOOD/GORE We see what looks like dried blood from Connor's nose. Blood comes out when Connor jams a jail cell bar into another person's body. A woman's neck is bloody after black powder explodes on her chest. Connor's sword is bloody after he kills many people while defending himself, and some of his victims are bloody. Jin Ke has a bit of blood from his mouth after being shot. We see some blood when people are decapitated (but it's not too graphic). Duncan has some bloody visions (such as a stream of blood running down a person's hand). Duncan spits out some blood after being kicked to the floor and then has some bloody cuts on his body caused by a fight. We see several slender construction rods sticking up out of Duncan's body after he fell onto them. Kell holds his sword to a man's throat and then decapitates him (we see the cut and light pouring out of the wound, as well as the severed head on the floor). We see a flashback of Kate with blood on her chest and neck. We see many dead bodies on a battlefield in the past (with swords sticking out of them, but nothing in graphic detail). Connor holds a sword close to Kell's neck, causing some trickles of blood to spill out (also seen in close-up). Connor has some blood on his body/clothing after a swordfight with Kell. To become immortal, Kate must first die and so Duncan reluctantly stabs her in the chest with a knife, thus temporarily killing her (and spilling her blood, but we don't see the actual stabbing although we do see the knife sticking out of her chest). We later see that his hands are bloody as is her chest and neck from the wound. We see blood splatter and spill onto a table when Kell kills others (we also see blood on his swords). We see a hole in a person's neck, but light, rather than blood, comes out. Duncan's face and clothing are bloody after a fight. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Kell obviously has both for enacting revenge upon Connor for centuries by killing those he's loved, and for wanting to become the most powerful immortal ever (after killing more than 600 other immortals). Thinking that Connor is practicing black magic, Jacob and others in the past decide to burn his mother at the stake. In the past, some men have faked orders from the King so that they can stop people and demand tolls from them as they pass. We learn that both Connor and Duncan have killed several hundred other immortals, but we don't know in what exact context (defending themselves or being the aggressor, etc.). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may also be tense or unsettling to some viewers. A man sticks a needle up Duncan's nose (while he's struggling, but restrained) to inject some sort of sedative into him. To become immortal, Kate must first die and so Duncan reluctantly stabs her in the chest with a knife, thus temporarily killing her (and spilling her blood, but we don't see the actual stabbing although we do see the knife sticking out of her chest). GUNS/WEAPONS Swords/Knives/Shotguns/Handguns/Machine guns/Explosives/Black powder/Club/Claws/Chains/Spear: Used to threaten, wound, or kill people. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Bullsh*t," "You look like sh*t," "Rot in hell," "Go to hell," "You watch your ass" and "What the hell is going on?" It's possible that all of the swordplay and other stylized fighting that occurs could be enticing for some kids to imitate. To become immortal, Kate must first die and so Duncan reluctantly stabs her in the chest with a knife (while she's sleeping), thus temporarily killing her (and spilling her blood, but we don't see the actual stabbing). Some disturbed kids might get the idea to do the same. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of generic, action-oriented and some ominous/suspenseful music plays during the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 4 "s" words, 4 asses (1 used with "hole") and 1 hell used as exclamations. SEX/NUDITY At a model photo shoot in the present, we see various women in their bras and/or panties and see some cleavage. Kate comes into Duncan's place and slips off her skirt, partially revealing her in her panties. We then see a flashback to their initial wedding night long ago where he removes part of her clothing, she removes his shirt and he then picks her up and lies her down on a bed. We then see him partially on top of her, passionately kissing while holding her leg up beside him. As the scenes quickly come and go, we see her on top of him, him behind her (in a head and shoulders shot) and her sitting nude on top of his lap (we see her bare butt and back). We then see him caressing her bare breasts and then an aerial view of him between her legs (we see his bare butt and some movement). Later, we then see another brief glimpse of her bare breast, all suggesting that she slept with him in the present as well as in the past. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES A woman related to Connor is killed in an explosion. In the past, Connor sees his mother being burned at the stake and despite his attempts to save her, she dies. Connor kills the man that Jacob sees as his father. We learn that Duncan and Kate were once married, but that their relationship became strained when he "killed" her to activate her immortality curse (she lived, but then hated him for making her immortal without asking her first). We see a flashback of Connor at one of his wife's graves. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Immortality and what living forever would be like. Duncan's decision in the past to "kill" his wife in order to activate her immortality. VIOLENCE An explosion destroys a building and kills the woman inside (the latter isn't seen). In the past, a person breaks down a door, knocks Connor to the floor and then wraps a noose of sorts around his neck. In the past, villagers begin to burn Connor's mother at the stake. He begins to break free from his jail cell, but a guard grabs him and throws him to the floor. He then takes one of the loosed bars, jabs it into another person and then slices two other people with a sword (apparently severing one of their hands, but this isn't completely seen). He then kicks and knocks over others once outside and tries to save his mother, but the black power hung around her neck ignites and explodes, killing her. Connor then fights others with his sword, striking down many people, some of which he impales. As the scene ends, we see that much of the nearby village is engulfed in flames. Men fire shotguns and machine guns at Kell's goons, striking down many of them (although they're immortals and therefore aren't permanently injured). The motorcycle that Jin Ke is riding explodes as he hops off and begins doing some martial arts fighting with others. He's then hit with shotgun blasts and falls to the ground. Another person then kills another person with his sword (not seen in its entirety), with a third person then shooting at that first one. The first then slices that person's legs with his sword. Kell kills many immortals in their sanctuary by decapitating them (with blood and/or light coming out from the wounds). Duncan and Connor get into an adventurous sword fight with several thugs in the past where they hit and kick, but don't kill them. In the present, Kate kicks Duncan backwards to the floor. He then gets into a fight with Kell's goons who are variously equipped with swords, spiked clubs, chains, and claw extensions on their hands. During this, he's cut several times on his arm (with some blood) while he kicks some of them. He and Jin Ke get into a sword vs. spear fight that then turns into a hand to hand and foot to foot martial arts battle with each delivering punches and kicks to the other. Although Kell puts an end to the violence, one of his thugs then repeatedly shoots Duncan, causing him to fall out of the building and land on and be impaled by some slender construction rods (since he's immortal, however, he doesn't remain dead). In response, Kell holds his sword to this man's throat and then decapitates him (we see the cut and light pouring out of the wound, as well as the severed head on the floor). We see many dead bodies on a battlefield in the past (with swords sticking out of them but not in graphic detail). Connor holds a sword close to Kell's neck, causing some trickles of blood to spill out (also seen in close-up). The two then get into a swordfight where Kell stabs/slices Connor on several occasions, but purposefully doesn't kill him. To become immortal, Kate must first die and so Duncan reluctantly stabs her in the chest with a knife, thus temporarily killing her (and spilling her blood, but we don't see the actual stabbing although we do see the knife sticking out of her chest). We later see that his hands are bloody as is her chest and neck from the wound. Kell kills four other people with his swords, decapitating all of them (we only see some blood splatter and spill onto a table). Two men fight each other with swords (with one also punching the other in the chest and face and kicking him), ending in a decapitation. Two more men fight with swords and throw each other around, with one repeatedly stabbing the other in the body with a knife before the other decapitates him (causing all sorts of explosions, fires and lighting bolts as a result). Reviewed September 1, 2000 / Posted September 1, 2000

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