For those not deeply embroiled into the HIGHLANDER series, you may be wondering, "What's the difference between the RENEGADE VERSION and THE QUICKENING version of HIGHLANDER 2?". Well, let me drop some knowledge on your asses, or at least what knowledge my dying brain can muster. Director Russel Mulcahy (director of the original)'s version of the film was "besmirched" when the suit-and-tie butt-plugging producers decided they'd take over and make the film into something that the kids would love: intergallactic sword fighting, to go with the ever present love for space travel, made popular by STAR WARS, STAR TREK, and SPACEBALLS. We all know what a fucking bad idea this was. Come to think of it, retarded circus monkeys with steel rods in their asses and electrodes hooked up to their brains would never make such a bad decision! Or, yes, I'll say it, even Roger Corman wouldn't do such horrible things to a HIGHLANDER sequel.
Anyway, after the horrors inflicted on the QUICKENING version, fans foamed and raged when they discovered there was an alternate film, Mulcahy's cut, the fabled RENEGADE VERSION. Well, someone finally got the message and decided to unleash THE RENEGADE VERSION to those who were unable to pick up a copy in the underground circuit, like me. Hey, Death God or not, I lack the proper connections... bite me limp dicker! So, anyway, this new version display not only Mulcahy's version of the film (including 16 minutes of new footage) but is also digitally remastered... so, I guess you CAN shine digital shit.
Anyway, the basic changes involved in the movie center around the origin story of Connor, Ramirez, and all the other immortals. In THE QUICKENING, as you may sadly be forced to remember, we were told that the immortals came from some way out orb called the planet Zeist and happened to become immortals when they were introduced into Earth's atmosphere... bullshit right? Anyway, this changes, as we're introduced to Mulcahy's original plan: the immortals are actually from the past, and are already immortal to begin with, due to some freak of nature, like a mutation. From here on out it pretty much plays the same. Connor and Ramirez, now in the distance past of Earth, still attempting a mutiny against the evil tyrant General Katanna. They still lose, only this time they're exiled to the future, as per orders of some high tribunal... here I have to wonder how much sac Katanna really possesses. If he's as big and bad as he's made out to be, why does he answer to a fucking tribunal?! Did Hitler have to go over his plans with a trio of D&D fans in hooded bathrobes? NO! Did Charlie Manson ask permission of such people if he could found a cult? NO!! Did Skeletor need his mommy's permission to take over the galaxy?! NO!!! Therefore, I say thee nay Katanna, you're a puss!
Anyway, aside from the "galaxy-far-far-away becomes a-very-long-time-ago" everything winds up the same. Ramirez the friendly ghost returns, Connor gets young again and uses the chance to get laid. He falls for the female leader of the militant green peacers of the future, she convinces him to destroy the shield, he and Juan the Walking Apparition take out the big business complex, Connor lightens the load off of Katanna's shoulders and blows up the shield generator with the 'Quickening' power. Connor still makes a cool sword swinger, Katanna still takes a gnarly ride on the subway, and the airplane safety video still makes me laugh till blood shoots out of my nose. However, to add a little something to this extra review, I will now name off a few humorous scenes featured in HIGHLANDER 2 that I neglected to elude to in the review for THE QUICKENING:
1.) The movie opens in the future, obviously, where we discover that opera houses will feature large neon signs that simply say "OPERA". You know, like today's "DINER"s or "MOTEL"s! Now, a short pause for you to laugh and laugh and laugh...
2.) Connor, now an old fart, opens our flick as he plays audience to said Opera, showing he's a man of varied flavors considering he opened HIGHLANDER while attending a pro-wrestling event... Who knows, maybe he'll open Part 3 watching some old "Rock 'n' Wrestling" videos! Okay, another pause...
3.) One last opera referance: that chick singing is the world's worst lip-synch. She makes Milli Vanilli look like the Three Tenors. Speaking of Milli Vanilli, I got the dead one here right now and he thinks that last joke was pretty funny. So I'll pause again so I can pry the drugs away from him...
4.) Despite the fact that he and Connor were sent to the "future" via a fancy high tech time machine, Ramirez is startled and amused by such simple things as cars, television, and planes, as if he were a time displaced neanderthal. Something doesn't quite gel there...
Well, that's it for me. What it all boils down to is this: despite the changes, RENEGADE does not translate into GOOD. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to tape my guest-hosting episode of "The Psychic Cook". I'll be serving this Milli Vanilli guy's drug preserved heart, boiled up with a side of lung and a dish of sauteed spleen and rocky road ice cream for dessert. Magnifique! While I'm gone, feel free to "Have a drink with 'Jimmy'".
Sequels: HIGHLANDER: THE FINAL DIMENSION, HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME
If You Liked This Flick, Check Out: BEASTMASTER 2: THROUGH THE PORTAL OF TIME or BATTLEFIELD EARTH