Highlander III: The Final Dimension

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Highlander III: The Final Dimension
Directed by Andrew Morahan
Produced by Guy Collins
Charles L. Smiley
Claude Léger
Written by Characters:
Gregory Widen
Story:
Brad Mirman
William N. Panzer
Screenplay:
Paul Ohl
René Manzor
Brad Mirman
Starring Christopher Lambert
Mario Van Peebles
Release date(s) Flag of the United States November 25, 1994
Running time USA Theatrical Cut:
96 min.
UK Theatrical Cut:
99 min.
USA Director's Cut:
99 min.
Language English
Budget $26 million
Preceded by Highlander II: The Quickening
Followed by Highlander: Endgame
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Highlander III: The Final Dimension (also known as Highlander III: The Sorcerer), is the third installment in the Highlander film series. It was first released on November 25, 1994. A stand-alone sequel to the original film, it is the final Highlander movie that focuses on Connor MacLeod as the main protagonist; later Highlander movies focus on Duncan MacLeod, the protagonist of Highlander: The Series.

Contents

[edit] Plot

[edit] 16th century

Some time after the death of his wife Heather, Connor travels to Japan to request training from the Immortal Japanese sorcerer Nakano. Nakano holds his residence in a cave of Mount Niri, and has gained a reputation as a master of Illusion. However, another Immortal named Kane is also interested in mastering the power of Illusion. He is making his way across Asia in order to reach Nakano again, with two henchmen in tow (Khabul Khan and Senghi Khan). Entering a nearby village seeking information, they proceed to burn it to the ground, and massacre its population. Eventually, they reach the cave. Kane soon manages to defeat and decapitate Nakano, despite Connor's attempts to prevent this. However, the energies released during the Quickening cause the cave to collapse. The Highlander manages to escape in time, but Kane and his men are left trapped inside the depths of the mountain. Their situation prevents them from participating in "The Gathering" of 1985.

[edit] 18th century

In 1788/1789, Connor was in France, where he makes the acquaintance of Sarah Barrington, an Englishwoman visiting relatives there, and who happens to resemble the future Alex Johnson. The two eventually become lovers. However, when the French Revolution begins, MacLeod becomes involved.

MacLeod is captured, and sentenced to death by guillotine for treason against King Louis XVI of France. His Immortal friend Pierre Bouchet explains that he was tired of his immortal life, and dupes the guards into executing him in his place. Connor is falsely reported deceased. Believing her lover dead, Sarah is left grieving. After his escape, MacLeod returns to discover that she has moved on with her life by marrying another man, and having children.

[edit] Modern day

In 1994, Connor is living with his adopted son John in Marakesh. It is revealed that in 1987, Brenda Wyatt, the woman he married after the Gathering, was killed in a car accident. Although he survived the accident himself, he still believes that "The Game" is over. Meanwhile, in Japan, two archaeologists have started excavating a cave in order to discover whether the legend of the sorcerer Nakano was based on fact. One of these archaeologists is Dr. Alexandra Johnson, whose interests in the legend eventually lead her to Connor MacLeod. Connor is intrigued by Alex due to her resemblance to Sarah.

The excavations free Kane, who immediately sets out in pursuit of Connor. MacLeod leaves John in the care of his friend Jack Donovan, and then departs to New York City to engage in the final showdown for the Prize. However, as Khabul's decapitated body is found in a hospital washroom, Lt. John Stenn goes on the trail of the main suspect of the 1985 "headhunter" case, Russell Nash. Russell Nash was the alias used by MacLeod during the time of the Gathering. As Alex investigates a piece of cloth found on the site, she discovers that it is a shred of a kilt, with a design that designates a branch of the MacLeod family. This leads her to Nash Antiques, where Connor has returned in preparation for the battle against Kane. The Highlander is confronted on Holy Ground at a former Buddhist shrine by Kane, who proceeds to challenge him. The resulting fight is a violation of the Immortal Golden Rule; the battle ends when MacLeod's katana blade is shattered. Kane flees, and Connor decides to return to Scotland to build another sword. Alex tracks him down, and the two quickly fall in love. However, the trip is cut short, as MacLeod learns from Jack Donovan that his son John is on a plane bound for New York. MacLeod returns as quickly as possible, but he's too late. Kane abducts John, and holds him hostage to lure MacLeod to him. MacLeod meets Kane in an old church mission, and then follows him into an abandoned power plant for their final battle. The Highlander defeats Kane, wins the Prize by receiving the final Quickening, and returns to Scotland with Alex and John to live out the rest of his natural life.

[edit] Cast

Actor Role
Christopher Lambert Connor MacLeod / Russell Nash
Mario Van Peebles Kane
Deborah Kara Unger Dr. Alexandra Johnson / Sarah Barrington
Martin Neufeld Lt. John Stenn
Mako Nakano
Raoul Trujillo Senghi Khan
Jean-Pierre Perusse Khabul Khan
Daniel Do Dr. Fuji Takamura
Gabriel Kakon John MacLeod
Louis Bertignac Pierre Bouchet
Michael Jayston Jack Donovan

[edit] Behind the scenes

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Some scenes for this film were shot in Morocco.
  • The U.S. theatrical release was rated PG-13 (the rating is slightly noticeable in the poster featured on this page), and a slightly-longer R-rated Special Director's Cut was later released on home video with two sex scenes trimmed for theatrical release restored. Aside from this, additional violence was reinstated, mainly the shot of Kane's head rolling off. The PG-13 theatrical cut originally only showed Kane's head wobbling from side to side, then cutting immediately to the extreme close up on Connor saying "There can be only one."
  • The rock beat heard during the final fight is a reworking of Mötley Crüe's "Dr. Feelgood".
  • In a 1996 Cinefantastique interview, Highlander producer William Panzer mentioned that several references to the TV series' continuity were inserted into Highlander: The Final Dimension, meant as a means of linking that film to the TV universe.
  • Reportedly, Christopher Lambert considered this film to be the "real" sequel to the original film, since the actual Highlander II: The Quickening was such a radical departure from what the first film established.
  • Several scenes were shot in province of Québec in Canada: the medieval Japanese village and the building in which Nakano's cave is found were shot near Montreal. Plus, many sequences in New York were actually shot in Montreal, as well.

[edit] Recurring motifs

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

A number of intentional similarities can be seen between the first three films in the series:

  • Each features a scene in which Connor, without a sword handy, is forced to parry another Immortal's weapon with a metal rod. This is seen during Connor's first encounter with The Kurgan during The Gathering in the original, the fight between an aged Connor and assassins Corda and Reno in II, and in Connor's final battle against Kane in III.
  • Another repeated sequence features the main villain entertain himself with an uncontrollable joyride, causing mayhem along the way. The Kurgan recklessly drives around New York City after abducting Brenda Wyatt. General Katana commandeers a subway train, and crashes it at maximum speed, killing everyone aboard. Kane kidnaps Connor's adopted son John and uses the power of illusion to frighten him.
  • In each film, the main villain sneaks up behind Connor MacLeod in their first battle within the present-day timeline (coincidentally, all taking place in New York City), raising his sword for a quick victory while Connor (who can feel his presence) is facing away from him. Connor always manages to avoid the sneak attack.
  • After beheading the main opponent, Connor Macleod says the phrase "There can be only one." The villains, on the other hand, say the phrase just before attempting to behead Connor.
  • Connor confronts his opponents on holy ground at least once in each of the movies, where they taunt him and remind him of the rules of The Game.
  • In every final battle with a major opponent, Connor wears denim jeans and a jacket, along with his gloves and katana.
  • Immediately after revealing his secret to the female lead of the film, Connor says "...and I cannot die." He and his co-star immediately kiss.

Aside from these, and in keeping with the idea of continuity between the first movie and the third (Christopher Lambert has commented that The Sorcerer is the "true sequel to Highlander"), the film has several similarities with the original movie, namely:

  • Both movies featured Connor in Scottish Kilt and, along with Highlander II, begins with a flashback of him in his original hairstyle.
  • Connor is stabbed in the abdomen by the main villain and is spared from beheading in his first encounter with the antagonist. In the present-day timeline, he is spared from beheading again in battle, with the villain screaming There can be only one! before the attempted coup de grace.
  • The Kurgan kidnaps Brenda Wyatt in the first movie. Similarly, Kane kidnaps Connor's adoptive son John in the third.
  • Both villains provoke Connor (while standing on holy ground) with insults against his sexuality.
  • During the Quickening sequences, the decapitated bodies levitate and emit a pale bluish light before the Quickening is absorbed by the victor (usually Connor or the main villain). The exception is Ramirez's Quickening.
  • The main villains live a while longer (for dramatic effect) after Connor's blade decapitates them; the resulting Quickening causes Connor to levitate.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: