Highlander: The Search for Vengeance

When the original Highlander film was released the combination of the sword fighting and the Queen soundtrack quickly made it a hit at the box office. To this day the original film remains a cult classic, and remains a favourite among many fans. Four sequels and three television series later the franchise was becoming stale, and the last film offering was decisively unfaithful to the series roots as Duncan Macleod is one of the survivors in a world gone crazy as he searches for the "Source". I won't spoil the ending for you, but it is a really bad film with an even worse ending. Now Highlander: Search for Vengeance is something new - it is an Anime take on the series and is set in a similar time to the animated series that revolved around Quentin Macleod.

The start sets the scene and introduces us to a post-apocalyptic world full of warriors and mutants, where it's every city for itself. It is the tale of Colin Macleod and his ever lasting search for vengeance - hence the title. The animation style, and the artwork are really well done. Within the first few minutes we see our first animated sword fight, and a quickening to go with it - one that is a little more dramatic than we’re used to from previous films and episodes but of course it being animated the explosions can be bigger without the cost skyrocketing.

Another welcome change in this animated feature compared to the last couple of movies is that instead of the metal soundtrack it's gone back to it's roots of being rock although there is very little of it - most the music now is just ambient.

We learn that in this Highlander meets Mad Max world, things have gotten the way they are due to a terrorist attacks, and then eventually a virus that has started decimating the worlds' population. We also, in traditional Highlander flashbacks, learn that in 125BC in Scotland, Colin was to lead an army of Scots against Marcus Octavius who intends on enslaving them. Colin's love, Moya, is certain of their doom and poisons Colin to stop him leading them to war, and then gets into the Roman army's camp and "kills" Marcus Octavius (who is an immortal) who in turn wipes out Colin's army and kills Moya. It is this that causes Colin to spend the next few thousand years seeking vengeance against Marcus.

When we switch back to the "present" day, we find that the city Colin in is happens to be run by the immortal Marcus. Marcus also has his own flashbacks (unusual for us to see a villain's flashbacks) to 16th century feudal Japan where he gains the eternal gratitude of a female Japanese samurai. Shortly after Colin learns it is Marcus who is running the city and goes after him in the city's tower where he's hiding. This immediately rolls into another flashback to where Colin first goes after Marcus, but he is captured and then fights in single combat. Here he sustains an brutal slash across his face that leaves him dead for many days - but is not beheaded by Marcus due to Colin falling onto holy ground (which happens to be a stone circle, presumably Stonehenge). It is here that Colin comes across a druid and learns he is immortal and there are others like him. Just in case you're wondering why holy ground is so important, it's because it is a rule amongst immortals that they cannot fight on holy ground – the only place an immortal can be safe.

We're then treated to a thousand years of flashbacks as Colin chases after Marcus through the ages taking part in many a well-known conflict, but always failing to kill him. Then eventually they meet in battle, as is expected. The short fight scene is brilliant - I don't think I've ever seen a sword fight take place whilst the combatants are sliding down the face of a building and eventually to his "death".

I was dead, but it's not the first time.

-- Colin Macleod

He then explains to Dahlia, the girl he went to the tower with that he's an immortal seeking revenge for 2000 years because of the death of his wife. In a "dream", the druid then explains that throughout time the women that have been falling for him have all been Moya, but reincarnated. When he awakes he's back at the rebel's base and is treated as a hero who everyone knows is immortal.

The ending is way better than Highlander:The Source as well which is a definate bonus, and in this final battle Colin has something to fight for this time other than vengeance; the lives of every man and woman in New York. So of course as expected he wins, and the quickening has the unexpected effect of destroying the virus.

One thing to remember is that this is by the director of the Animatrix, and again he's produced something that is well worth watching. If you're a fan of the original Highlander movie, it's very likely you'll like this.