# Why is "Highlander" such a classic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734 "2010-11-06T21:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/21 "2010-11-07T04:19:42Z")
Scene: Half of Kurgan’s face on the screen, the other half is the door to his room behind him. In walks a hooker. Kurgan looks up. “Hi, I’m Candy” “I’m sure you are.” It was the action, the sound track, the editing, the shots, the villain… ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/22 "2010-11-07T20:26:04Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The one with Mario Van Peebles…well, when has he ever made a film that was improved by his presence? _Heartbreak Ridge_ and _Jaws: The Revenge_. Unfortunately they were both pretty crappy films to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/23 "2010-11-07T20:35:03Z")
It’s a classic because a lot of people enjoyed it. As someone who liked the movie I don’t think I know anyone (myself included) that ranks it as a “true classic.” It’s not so bad that I think its only value is MST3K treatment (which is where I put movies like the Tremors series or _The Core_), but it’s also corny enough, has enough bad acting and bad one liners that it’s really a guilty pleasure (in the vein of Commando or RoboCop.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/24 "2010-11-07T20:43:20Z")
Hey! Don’t go dissing _Tremors_. The first one was great, and the second wasn’t all that bad either. After that they were crap, but still… ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/25 "2010-11-07T20:48:39Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Highlander is a classic because the concept is just flatout balls-to-the-wall amazing. > > I mean a group of immortals, who don’t know they are immortals until they die, compete in a centuries long tournament to be the last one standing by **chopping off each other’s heads**. > > That is just fucking brilliant! > > ETA: I’ve only seen the first movie and a smattering of TV series episodes, but I agree with you, the **actual execution** leaves a lot to be desired. I saw what you did there… ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/26 "2010-11-07T21:10:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Hey! Don’t go dissing _Tremors_. The first one was great, and the second wasn’t all that bad either. After that they were crap, but still… I dunno, I’m a fan of the first 3. On topic, don’t underestimate the attraction of a premise that results in single, skilled combat. From the personal shields of Dune, to the force of Star Wars, to the samuri to the Spiderman. One on one, being more than we can be, is money in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/27 "2010-11-07T21:32:00Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > Though Clancy Brown is made of awesome and redeems the whole thing. Also, the voice of [Mr Krabs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clancy_Brown)! > [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > The concept is the star of Highlander, it hasnt lost its good looks over the years. The concept is the star in a great many of these films, I found John Carpenter’s They Live to be a similar beast. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/28 "2010-11-07T21:44:16Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Also, the voice of [Mr Krabs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clancy_Brown)! > **[Clancy Brown | Actor, Producer, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000317/)** > > Known for: The Shawshank Redemption, Starship Troopers, Thor: Ragnarok Cast a Deadly Spell, Shawshank Redemption, Buckaroo Banzai… He’s made appearances in so many series; Hercules, Enterprise, ER, Outer Limits, Earth 2, Lost, Law and Order… Voice work in The Power Puff Girls, Samurai Jack, Superman animated series, Justice League (both as Lex Luthor), Avatar, Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, Ben 10, Kim Possible, The Batman (Lex again, plus Mr. Freeze and Bane), American Dad, Penguins of Madagascar… Well, look at the page. Awesome career. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/29 "2010-11-07T22:01:30Z")
What sequels?! 🙂 Joking aside, this is one of my favourite films, but I’d agree “cult classic”, not “classic”. The DVD version I have has a commentary track that is well worth hearing, and possibly the best DVD commentary I’ve ever sat through; the entire film was something of a disaster and – it seemed to me from the commentary – that it was a wonder it got made at all. I can’t attest to the veracity of this, just based on my memory of the commentary, some of the bits that stuck with me: [ul] [li]The music was serendipitous. Queen were originally intended to do only one song for the film but loved the concept and ended up doing the whole soundtrack.[/li][li]The “American” cops in the film were about the only ones the makers could get. Because it was shot in England there were contractual issues and the bit-part actors all had to belong to British Actor’s Equity and there weren’t many available with American accents.[/li][li]In the scene where all the windows blow out of the brick buildings they were old (Victorian?) buildings that were being demolished and the windows were really heavy duty affairs that needed a lot of “oomph” to blow them out like that.[/li][li]And the real highlight: Lambert couldn’t speak English at the time. Yep, read that one again. 🙂 He was hired on the strength of his work in Greystoke and was on a pay-or-play (?) contract – that the right term? – he was going to have to be paid whether they ended up using him or not. And then the film makers met him and realised he couldn’t actually speak English![/li][/ul] All up the commentary left me with a sense of an all round sense of debacle and a wonder that it was ever completed. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/30 "2010-11-07T22:06:20Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > What sequels?! 🙂 > > [li]And the real highlight: Lambert couldn’t speak English at the time. Yep, read that one again. 🙂 He was hired on the strength of his work in Greystoke and was on a pay-or-play (?) contract – that the right term? – he was going to have to be paid whether they ended up using him or not. And then the film makers met him and realised he couldn’t actually speak English![/li] Are you sure, I know Lambert was born in NY and I always thought he spent part of his childhood there. P.S: nice to see two diff Highlander threads so alive, takes me back to my twenties. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/31 "2010-11-07T22:08:56Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Also, the voice of [Mr Krabs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clancy_Brown)! > > The concept is the star in a great many of these films, I found John Carpenter’s They Live to be a similar beast. I’m now reminded that the star of They Live, Rowdy Roddy Piper, plays an immortal in an episode of TV’s Highlander. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/32 "2010-11-07T23:07:30Z")
I’m just surprised we have two Highlander themed threads going on currently. One about the show that ended 12 years ago and the other about the movie that came out in 24 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/33 "2010-11-07T23:26:40Z")
The original movie was awesome. The sequels were crap and the TV series just ok. What made the first movie great was a really original premise and a compelling and well executed story. Immortal guys chopping each other’s heads off with swords because “ther can be only one\>” What’s not awesome about that? The best thing about it was that they never explained _why_ these guys were immortal or why there could be only one. Leaving that question unanswered made the movie, because any possible attempt at an explanation couldn’t help but sound stupid. Look at how bad it was when George Lucas tried to explain the Force. Sometimes it’s better not to explain. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/34 "2010-11-07T23:32:42Z")
Another thing I think led to _Highlander’s_ popularity was the elemt of discovery and surprise it had for people at the time. It was not a big theatrical hit. It gained its following from HBO and video rentals. It was the kind of movie you checked out on HBO at 1:00 in the morning, out of boredom, not expecting anything and ended up getting totally pulled into. So you told your friends about it and packed a bong, and there was that sense ownership you get from appreciating a movie/book/album together that nobody else knows about. Like you’re in on something. It’s well known now, obviously, but it took a while for _Highlander_ to get there. It was one of those late developing things that built its following after its theatrical release. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/35 "2010-11-07T23:32:44Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > [Clancy Brown - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000317/) > > Cast a Deadly Spell, Shawshank Redemption, Buckaroo Banzai… > He’s made appearances in so many series; Hercules, Enterprise, ER, Outer Limits, Earth 2, Lost, Law and Order… > Voice work in The Power Puff Girls, Samurai Jack, Superman animated series, Justice League (both as Lex Luthor), Avatar, Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, Ben 10, Kim Possible, The Batman (Lex again, plus Mr. Freeze and Bane), American Dad, Penguins of Madagascar… > > Well, look at the page. Awesome career. Yo, don’t forget **Carnivale** , the best work of his career IMO. /lone remaining obsessed Carnivale fan But anyway, he’s awesome. One moment that kills me every time is when he licks the priest’s hand in the church. I love that! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/36 "2010-11-08T02:11:40Z")
Because it’s a fucking awesome movie. It was a movie clearly aimed at a ‘music video’ style of presentation. Lots of cuts, mobile camera, that first Loooong shot in the Garden. Plus a premise that took time to explain itself. I saw it on its first release (my first movie with Lady Chance) and that cut from NYC to Scotland left us all confused. It took time and a solid bit of back and forth as it revealed through images and scenes rather than through a lot of exposition what the hell was going on. Toss in swordfights, stylistic lighting and such, a crazed gun nut, some inspired comedy bits and you have a movie that was head and shoulders above its neighbors at the time. Mind you, it wasn’t EVER going to be an award winner, but for what it was, a self-aware film with a sense of style and storytelling, it did a great job of it. The filmmakers and the actors were having a good time and the set up was good. “Don’t EVER speak to me again…” “I hope someone cuts your head off, asshole.” Plus it gave us a line for the ages. One that still resonates… “There can be only one.” ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/37 "2010-11-08T02:39:19Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > I saw it once in 1990 but remembered essentially nothing about it, so when I noticed that TiVo had recorded it as a suggestion my husband and I watched it. > > What the fuck. It was so bad! And how did they manage to make multiple sequels and a tv show? Crude and slow…your attack was no better then that of a clumsy child. Highlander won the Academy Award for “Best Movie Ever Made” because it was fucking awesome: -[Soundtrack by Queen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnrXiaPVeHY) -Sean Connery -Swordfighting (although one would expect a Highlander to use a traditional Scottish claymore instead of a Japanese katana) -Humor (“I apologize for calling your wife a bloated warthog, and I bid you good day.”) -“THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!” ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/38 "2010-11-08T02:58:34Z")
I saw it as a teenager and being into fantasy/DND I really enjoyed it. I deny any other movies. I liked most of the series but also deny some of the later episodes. It’s not a guilty pleasure. I admit that I enjoyed back in the day. I haven’t watched it in a long time, though. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/39 "2010-11-08T03:39:41Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Michael Ironside, who is like the anti-Michael Caine. (Michael Caine is the guy you hire if your film is kind-of shit and you want to make it seem better than it is; Michael Ironside is the guy you hire because your film is totally shit and you hope that by making it even worse it’ll fall into the “so bad it’s good” category.) > > Stranger I’m tempted to go edit Ironside’s wikipedia page and link here for the cite… ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734/40 "2010-11-08T03:46:18Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Crude and slow…your attack was no better then that of a clumsy child. > > Highlander won the Academy Award for “Best Movie Ever Made” because it was fucking awesome: > -[Soundtrack by Queen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnrXiaPVeHY) > -Sean Connery > -Swordfighting (although one would expect a Highlander to use a traditional Scottish claymore instead of a Japanese katana) > -Humor (“I apologize for calling your wife a bloated warthog, and I bid you good day.”) > -“THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!” No, no, the line is ‘I apologize for calling your wife a bloated warthog, (insert classic Christopher Lambert heh, heh), and I bid you good day.’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-highlander-such-a-classic/559734.md?page=3)