Spoiler Chat - Highlander:The Source [Archive]

StephyC

08-07-2007, 04:14 PM

The film certainly raises more questions than it answers and I do worry, that after the way it has been received so far, those questions will never be answered. I guess we have to wait and see if the US edit is any better received.
Adrian was as wonderful as ever as Duncan but I agree that Peter was perhaps not on best form, or the script didn't allow him to be.
I liked most of the new characters, especially Reggie and Zai. Such a shame that those two had to be killed off. Now Giovanni was a different matter, he was certainly the weakest link in the whole movie and it would have been much better to kill him off in the first few minutes rather than Zai.

As for the way the story went..... Well I liked the ideas behind it but there was a distinct lack of character developement, especially where the relationship between Duncan & Anna was concerned.
I feel they tried to cram too long a story into too short a timeframe. Would have made a great 3 or 4 hour TV mini-series.
There was a lot of talk back in Leeds about wanting to attract new younger fans. Problem is if you came to this movie with no pre-knowledge of the characters or the story in general I doubt you would have a clue what was going on. We, long time fans, can mentally fill in the gaps about the various character relationships but new viewers can't do that.
I sure hope the US edit has made some changes to the special effects, particularly during Duncan's final fight with the, oh so fast, Guardian. The one thing I know we all love is to watch Adrian in fight scenes, but the wonderful way he moves was totally lost. I felt like I was watching two people in a food processor.

Tessa

08-07-2007, 04:39 PM

I didn't care for Methos in the movie, I thought he was a jerk and unworthy of Duncan's friendship and trust. I know Methos is popular with many HL fans and that I'm in the minority here, but I've never personally felt any attraction to the character. I've always felt indifferent to him and never liked him much. After seeing him in The Source I like him even less. If one of our guys had to die, I would have rather it was Methos and not Joe. That was a very heart rending scene wonderfully acted between Adrian and Jim. One of the best in the film. Just my opinion re Methos, I know it isn't the popular one.

I liked the movie, because I love Highlander and I love Adrian as Duncan but there are a lot of things about The Source that I find confusing too. One of my biggest criticisms is the lack of back story for Duncan and Anna. They have so little meaningful dialogue between them with the exception of the scene by the tree where the dialogue between them is barely enough to allow us just a glimpse of the chemistry that exists between them, but outside of that, their conversation is limited and when they do speak, it feels awkward and sometimes a little wooden. I think they were starting to get somewhere with the conversation on the deck of the boat but it ended before they could get there. It would have been nice to know how they met, what their lives were like and why he fell in love with her and in fact, made her his wife! I realize that the film wasn't long enough to do that in the same way the series did with Duncan and Tessa, but it is as though they made no effort at all to show us their history, with the exception of a few short visuals. Thekla's look is perfect for a Highlander female, she looks good with Adrian, but sometimes her acting seemed a touch weak. Sometimes her voice just sounded strange and her line delivery flat, almost as if she was voice-overed and I don't think she was but it's possible. It could be that this is the way she was directed or that she did the best she could too with what she had to work with. I've watched the film a few times now and I do like her a little more with each viewing.

Adrian was the best part of the movie. He was Duncan again and he didn't miss a beat right down to the tiniest little gesture that was characteristic of Duncan MacLeod. I suppose that Adrian knows DM so well, he had no trouble slipping back into his skin and that was more than obvious! He looked amazing and his acting was excellent in every way. He's such a talented actor. As you said, he displayed all the emotions to perfection in true Duncan MacLeod fashion.

The Guardian didn't work for me unfortunately. He looked like a cartoon beside Duncan and that was disappointing because it's not Highlander. Duncan deserved a more memorable adversary. I think it would have worked much better if they made him more human-like rather than like a character out of a video game with all the sped up movements.

I love to watch Adrian's swordplay too and that was sadly missing in the film. Highlander has always been all about swordplay and it just seems wrong not to feature it in the movie. When they did it was that sped up style which shows you nothing of Adrian's skill.

The final scene was entertaining (with the exception of the fight which was so unreal and too fast) but leaves me very confused as to what exactly happened there. It's almost open to your own personal interpretation and obviously, it will all be answered IF there is a sequel but how likely is it that there will be a sequel??

Doctor Cocktail

08-07-2007, 08:43 PM

I haven't seen it yet but I'm looking forward to it (spoilers don't bother me).

I would like to have seen all the movies (five and counting) have some kind of arc and continuing saga built around the characters along the lines of Lord of the Ring or Harry Potter, where they continued to building the story and the characters with each subsequent movie. Each of the Highlander movies have been stand-alone, contained stories, which makes it hard to develop characters and chemistry and the story. And that's different from developing the supporting characters over the course of a series / season.

Like I said, I think I'd take the storyline a different direction with a three-story arc. I think the introduction of new immortals is a good idea.

With today's delivery systems, the die-hard fans would be willing to pay ahead for a dvd and fund the making of the movie that way, instead of using traditional methods.

pepeperfume

08-07-2007, 08:56 PM

As a long time Highlander fan--watched the movies--watched the series--I know things that I'm afraid someone new to Highlander isn't going to understand or appreciate.

I wish a little more time had been taken to clarify Duncan and Anna's relationship--in my opinion it hangs by a thread--and it isn't because of the characters, it's because not enough background is there. Thank God there was chemistry that came across on the screen there....

I think this would have been much better done as a 6 to 8 hour mini series...that way the relationship between Methos and Duncan would have been clear to all--the relationships formed by Methos to Reggie and Giovanni might have had more meaning as well.

If the true relationship between Joe and Methos--Joe and Duncan would have been explored a little more, Joe's death might have been as catastropic to all as it felt to me....

StephyC

08-07-2007, 11:32 PM

In Leeds either Adrian or David A (can't remember which) said that The Source was intended as the first part of a trilogy but would also work as a stand alone film.
When they talked of introducing new immortals I, as it turns out, got quite the wrong impression. I assumed these new immortals, introduced in The Source, would be part of the ongoing story. Yet by the end of the movie they are all dead. Joe is dead and we are left not knowing if Methos survived or not. I have no idea where they might plan to take the story from here because this really did feel like the end of the tale for me.
We all know Duncan's time has to end sooner or later, but as a long time fan I really hoped to see him go out in a blaze of cinematic glory. Sadly, although the acting in the movie is mostly pretty good, the editing and effects fall way short of being glorious.
So now we wait to see if they have fixed the problems with more editing. Lets hope they have, but I do find it rather worrying that the film is going straight to TV in the US and not even to DVD never mind a theatrical release.

Vernon Gaunt

08-08-2007, 12:11 AM

Oh I saw the Russian release and from all the chat I was looking forward to the remix. I remember watching the first Highlander movie all those years ago and was stunned by the idea, cinematography, the music etc. Good story line, pleasant love interest, the Kurgan was a brilliant piece of casting etc etc etc. And of course Queen!

Then came Highlander 2. OK so they mucked about with the story line and concept and turned it into a planet Ziest fiasco but hey I enjoyed that one.

Highlander 3 "There can be only one" No not Connor but the way Mario Van Peobles said it. The best line so far. Another fictional change around.

Bring on the TV series!

OK so there now seem to be watchers and all sorts of bad guys coming out of the woodwork that should have been killed off in Highlander One! Seems like nothing changes. TV genre doesn't do much for me I'm afraid.

Highlander 4 Endgame. Stunning fight scenes and stuff. Story line messed about with again but I can put up with that. What really got me was the way the female fans lambasted some one called "Fishlips" There was no "bling" no magic. Oh come on read between the lines this was a great movie compared to and now you're asking for it-

The Source.

Well, was it released in Russia? Did Lionsgate allow this uncut movie to be released on the unsuspecting Russians? Is this the final Highlander movie of all time? I hope not but have a strange idea it might be. Did Neo win a prize for selling the first copy on Ebay? And he made a profit!

$13,000,000 was around $7,000,000 short of a box office release these days. But don't blame the actors! They are sort of directed - yeah they get told what to do and they then perform to how they're asked. Don't blame the story line because there wasn't much of one. Well there was but OK I couldn't find it. Mind nor could they as The Source is still out there somewhere.

I saw this film as an opportunity to create a base for two others. If it had been me I'd have aimed it not so much at the current fans but at the younger ones and I applauded the filming in digital giving an anime type shoot. It just seems to me that the current fans want the following.

1, Two well set out story lines. One in flash back one at present.

2, More actual sword play, get that katana out and swing the thing cut off heads and lets see a quickening better than the ones we've seen before. Forget the fur coats and strip to the waist stuff.

3, Give the fans a couple of actors that spark together!

4, Make it 1 hour long so that the watchers, No not Joe and co, can leave the room and have a quick cup of coffee without wondering what has just happened.

5, Have a beginning, a middle bit and an end. A satisfactory one that every one understands. Never mind that Pluto is in line with Uranus!!!!! And that Immortals can now fly!

6, Make it into a mini series and stick it on the TV!

OK enough!

You know the sad thing about this is that there must be loads of digital stuff just sitting there waiting to be re-cut and structured into something else

Did I enjoy the film?

I have virtually watched that film frame by frame. At one point I couldn't believe what I found. Two frames upside down. Editor! What editor!

Oh and yes I enjoyed the film.

But not as much as all the others.

Major Spoiler within this vid clip. I made this with one thing in mind. Not to take the mickey but with a sort of promise that it would be re-cut for the US and UK market.

I don't expect this one to be shown at Vancouver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meua6Fw3Z28

Tessa

08-08-2007, 12:20 AM

They must have made some changes, but it would appear they didn't improve enough upon the Russian release for Lions Gate to decide to release it on DVD and THAT is very upsetting! This means that it won't reach a lot of the fans who have been waiting for so long to see it since it's airing on Scifi Channel in the US. I think eventually they will release it, but it might be a while before that happens. I wonder if now there will be a very big run on the Russian release if this is the only one that people will be able to get on DVD? Does going straight to TV necessarily mean that it won't some day be released on DVD? I read somewhere that Lions Gate had removed it from their Future Release schedule but I have no idea if that is true or not. Maybe we'll get some official word from Adrian on his website soon.

I can see how they might continue the story with the focus on Duncan's son Connor, maybe years into the future when he is grown into a young man. They could show Duncan teaching him about swordfighting and all the other skills an immortal needs to know to survive. Then he would step out of the spotlight and into the background and his son Connor would take his rightful place as the new *Highlander* in the Highlander legend, just like Connor passed the torch to Duncan in the TV series. One big question is will Connor have to die a violent death to trigger his immortality or will he be immortal from conception yet he will age into adulthood and then not age from that point on because of the events that transpired in The Source between Duncan, Anna and the Guardian? There is something distinctly different that sets him apart from other immortals as Duncan says *He is the one*. So many questions which we may or may not ever know the answers to. (I sure would hate to see Duncan die at all, unless he is mortal and we see him die peacefully as a white haired old man with Anna by his side. After all, the immortals seem to want nothing more than to be able to deterioriate, get arthritis and die of old age someday for some reason LOL so that would make for a happy ending for Duncan. I couldn't bear to see some other immortal take that head of his. :)

Sara L

08-08-2007, 08:01 PM

Okay, so I followed Victoria's advice for the forum-lazy to try the "today's posts" tab and here I am on a topic I couldn't resist and which might get me thrown right off the forum again.. :D but I just can't refrain from commenting because I get passionate about Highlander, its people and products. Good or bad.

But first things first:
Yes, Budino was easy enough to spot since he reacts to Adrian like he wants to say "Hey, you're leaving? What about me?"
But are those the cameo-'washer women' in the background of the introduction of Zai?

Now the harder part, jumping head first into the worst:

I am aware that this is the AP Fan-Forum and I dearly love the man and his acting qualitites but I honestly can't agree that "Adrian was as wonderful as ever as Duncan". Simply because I could rarely find traces of DM in him.
I know Duncan MacLeod wasn't supposed to be "the man he once was", but that wouldn't include the fact that Adrian didn't sound like Duncan in most of his lines (talking to the Guardian in their first confrontation, talking to Joe who tries to bring him in on the quest, talking to Anna in the flashbacks for instance). His accent was off and the deep burr was missing. He also didn't move like him and even walked differently. And stomping back to Joe's truck like a rampant child was out of character. There were a couple of other little things but I'm afraid this will already turn out quite long so I'll spare you more details.
I can however see where it would be hard for Adrian to slip back into MacLeod with the given story.

Peter would have had similar problems storywise, I assume and I agree that he seems a bit too stiff.

The only one who really is like in the old days is Joe - ironically enough the mortal of the group who you'd expect to change most.

Tessa: It is quite legitimate for you not to care much about the character of Methos but think on this: If they had killed off Methos, you wouldn't have perceived the "major death scene" as a such a heart rendering moment, would you?
And since it was meant to be a trilogy and obviously the torch wasn't intended to be given to a new generation of immortals for a new generation of viewers (which btw, Stephy is exactly how I expected it to be, too), Joe was the logical choice. They had already set the movie in the future and a mortal of roughly sixty years more than likely wouldn't be alive anymore in the sequel so in killing Methos off there wouldn't have been anyone left but Duncan.

I don't think that there was too much story for the time frame, there rather was no plot so no story develops. The expose (can't find the special signs for the accent) falls way too short where the characters are concerned and doesn't show much beyond a post-apocalyptic world and society in ruins. Hence no backstory on Anna and her relationship to Duncan and no backstory on "the gang" for 'non-HL The Series-junkies' and no real character intro for the "newbie-immies". And there would have been time.

Newbies - of which I also like Reggie best, btw. The Guardian was quite funny but is out of place in a HL movie. And did anybody else notice he looks just about exactly like the main 'evil-psyche-personality' in "The Cell". Minus the cockfeathers-hat thingy he wears at the beginning.
Giovanni was very stereotypically portrayed in his decline from hypocrite via egotist to maniac. Didn't like him at all.

About that rotten future: Why on earth IS the world going to hell in a handbasket? And is it only the mysterious "Eastern District" or does good old New York look just like that? Hmm? Methos' "home" certainly didn't look like it and the Vatican wasn't decorated with debris and burning bins, either.

The upside of this inconsistency comes in a respite from the video game world.
I had actually slaved through Brett Leonard's disgusting but well made "Feed" and gotten my hopes up on the use of cgi, filters and imagery only for him to turn around and completely mess this one up with an HDR look gone awry paired with horrible cgis of smoke and ridiculously bad building facades.
Post apocalyptic doesn't necessarily go conform with 'beyond-realistic'. Highlander is no Marvel comic (although Duncan MacLeod was going on strong for the dark super hero type - sticking to the dark, jumping off buildings -cape flying- without breaking a leg or so...since when are immortal and invincible one and the same?) and you're ill-advised to jump just any fashion train that passes by. Especially if said train is stocked with pricy stuff which you can't afford.

Doesn't help matters if you spend your budget on unnecessary explosions, of course. Don't get me wrong, I love explosions and action, but please no big bang and fireball for the sake of having a big bang and fireball. Again, that gastruck explosion was very nice and all but what did it help? And what about the guy they were trying to save in the first place anyway? huh?
Oh, and a tree falling on a BMW X3 and the car explodes in -surprise- a big fireball? Puhlease! Remind me to steer clear of any woods when it's a little stormy. Maybe they should make danger roadsigns, too. You know, red frame, little branch depicted inside... Forget Molotow Cocktails, just throw your firewood!

And the swordfights (which indeed, sadly only were fights against the Guardian) were abysmally filmed. Could have done with a little more actual contact of sword on sword, too.

Beyond the lack of character development, the whole movie felt a little like a Jackson Pollock painting. A group of 'all-at-sea-mortals and immortals' zigs from blot A (open to interpretation) to blot C and then zags on to blot F. It's no roadmovie, no story of initiation, no real character development and the ending shrieks of 'we're running out of (creative) steam, time and money so let's just wrap up in a blop of fairytale-blue moon - no make that planet-lineup - light and bad wirework'.

Main theme of the movie: Quest for the Source. What is the Source? -Remains to be seen. ???

Plus all the questions Valoise raised. Absolutely agree! No stand-alone quality there. And I'd go as far as saying that a fanfic script would probably turned out to be a better HL6.

I'd like to know how much of David A.'s influence is left in this final product.

And one more detail: I would have made the horse which Methos rides off on a white one.. ;)

So, did I enjoy the movie? He** yeah! It's a new piece of film with Adrian, Jim and Peter. Of course I enjoyed it. Put 'em in front of a camera and have them read the phone book or Henry James novels as monotonously as they can make it and I'd settle down with a glass of wine for a perfectly enjoyable evening.

Would I have enjoyed it if not for those three?
-Absolutely not.

End of rampage.
My sincere apologies to everyone I managed to insult. I feel much better having ranted and gotten this of my chest, though.

Oh, and Mr. Gaunt: Very enjoyable post and video! And if I haven't fallen from graceland, I would dearly like to know where those two upside down frames can be found..

Going to hide under the bed from oncoming tomatoes now..:o

Vernon Gaunt

08-08-2007, 08:13 PM

Hello Sara L, long time no see. We met in London at Earls Court. I was the one even more handsome than AP (Oh I wish). You'd know me as Velvet Glove or Steph's better half.

Now set your player really slow. Better still rip the video and use something like Adobe Premier. Check out the bit with Joe and Duncan in the 4 x 4 and watch it frame by frame. You'll get there. There are others. I could screen cap and post but then anyone can turn a picture upside down.

Yeah I know, I should really get a life!

VG

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/randum111111.gif

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/randum111111111.gif

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/randum.gif

So it took half an hour to find but this is how they appear and there are more. Now this maybe just the editors way of defining flash thoughts. To me it looks a little like subliminal stuff, imprinting images like they did in advertising to make you see the image and buy it! Trouble is it works both ways to the point where you could end up disliking the subject. Just a thought!

Yeah I know get a life!

VG

Sara L

08-08-2007, 09:24 PM

Found the frames, thank you.

And of course I remember the charming better half and only enthusiastic (+ just almost as handsome as Ap) male in the group! Which in itself is a compliment because my brain was certainly lacking some oxygen at the time..

I just never got the hang of these various internet identities. I'd forget my own name if I started virtual schitzophrenia.

I found three upside down frames. Two in one blend and one in the next. Maybe it was meant as part of the blend into the disturbing flashes of remembered nightmare-aftermaths...nah.. I'm with you. Someone probably didn't pay attention.

Or some cult-follower sneaked in at night and put them in there to desecrate our favourite guys... (*swell of organ music*) :eek:

Whoops, should have checked first...thanks for posting..

Victoria

08-08-2007, 10:44 PM

Welcome Sara it is great to see you on the Forum and hopefully we will see more of you here now. Yes this is Adrians Forum but all the different views and people willing to put them out there and discuss them are what help to make this Forum wonderful and also start the best discussions ;) As any actor there are always going to be roles that Adrian will play(or the way he performs it as in DM in this) that some will like better than others, that is where it is interesting to discuss this and see where the differences are(ok back to work now, to return later :)).

Doctor Cocktail

08-09-2007, 01:28 AM

...I just never got the hang of these various internet identities. I'd forget my own name if I started virtual schitzophrenia...

That's what I say too. Thank god I was born with a martini in my hand. :D

As abit off-topic, I always thought Adrian would be a good fit in the type of roles that William Powell played, like in "The Thin Man", with someone like a Myrna Loy-type of actress. But then again, who knows, maybe I've had one too many martinis tonight.

As far as the HL franchise, I ponder what Joss Whedon might do, but then that's just me.

RottieGirl

08-09-2007, 02:33 AM

Sara L

08-09-2007, 03:32 AM

I've got a problem with something from this movie. In the movie, Duncan is supposed to have a kid. How could he have gotten any woman pregnant? In the tv show, he told Ritchie that when you're a pre-immortal, you cannot have kids. Now in The Source, he's got a kid? :confused: Could someone please try & explain it to me???

Have you seen the movie?
The closer to the ominous Source the immortals come, the weaker they get and by the time they're in the woods, they are mortal somehow. Which is why
Reggie doesn't revive after being sliced and diced by the Guardian and the reason how Anna gets pregnant during the love scene in the woods taking place the same evening. Of course how she can know just 24hrs later and how the whole thing works in the first place, we don't get to find out...unless they actually do make a sequel. So no kid yet, in case you haven't yet seen the Source.

Vernon Gaunt

08-09-2007, 04:30 AM

That's what I say too. Thank god I was born with a martini in my hand. :D

As abit off-topic, I always thought Adrian would be a good fit in the type of roles that William Powell played, like in "The Thin Man", with someone like a Myrna Loy-type of actress. But then again, who knows, maybe I've had one too many martinis tonight.

Don't tell me you'd substitute Astor for a certain Bodino! LOL.

God how old are we and make mine a dry one would you!

There's a certain TV chef type chappie in the UK called Rick Stein. He had a dog, rough coated Jack Russell, called Chalkie. Thing is the viewers wanted to see what the dog got up to rather than cook stuff. Rick Stein, now that Chalkie is dead, has a picture of the dog on his desk as a memento. Boy these TV and film guys are clever.

Maybe AP should take a leaf out of various books like Alfred Hitchcock's. He is said to make an appearance in every film he directed, well almost.
Perhaps a future Spot the Rot (Bodino sp), could be introduced so everone pays more attention!

Hugs Sara L, you made my day!

Tessa

08-09-2007, 10:17 AM

No need to hide Sara. There is room for all opinions here! No tomatoes coming from this direction. :)

About the death scene, I'm not against them killing off Joe. As much as I love the character and his relationship with Duncan throughout the series and would have loved to see him go on and die of old age in his bed, it was time for him to go. He's mortal, and it was expected. It resulted in one of the best acted scenes in the film. I was just making the point that I could have cared less if they had killed Methos off in the film because I'm not a fan and it wouldn't have bothered me in the least.

Your views on Adrian's portrayal of Duncan is interesting because for me, Duncan was there in every posible way. He was darker, he was more troubled, but we had seen him that way at times in the series over the six seasons so I just viewed him as Duncan in one of his darker moments. I just know that I enjoyed his performance and it never occurred to me that he didn't seem like *Duncan*.

Seeing Duncan with that ridiculous Guardian made me feel I was watching him in a bad cartoon though and I had trouble looking at them together and reconciling that this was Highlander I was watching. I can't get past that one.

There are a lot of things wrong with this movie, the worst of which is the direction and script. (I would also love to know how much of it David A is responsible for as I know Adrian insisted on bringing him in to re-write some of the script) We're still left not knowing exactly what The Source and it's purpose is, which I thought was the actual point of the movie. Any semblance of character development, especially that of Anna and the back story of the relationship with Duncan was painfully lacking. Having said that I like it too for the same reasons you mention. As a huge Adrian Paul fan I relish seeing him in anything, and as a Highlander fan, it's a joy to see our beloved characters together again although I had hoped for a movie that could have lived up to the standard the series set.

pepeperfume

08-09-2007, 02:54 PM

I'm a little surprised by those who say there was no plot or story to this movie because there was. It was just very confusing--and the end result of the movie can be taken in many different ways and it left oodles of questions pending.

As the immortals neared the source they became human---did they stay that way? Or until they finally die a natural death? Upon leaving the Source or having it leave, did Duncan become Immortal again? Once you change from immortal to mortal--can you change back?

Did Methos make it out of the forest and away from the cannibals. And if he confronted the cannibals at all was he mortal with the ability to die? Reference first question--if he survived his exodus from the forest is he mortal or immortal.

Then there is the question of what the immortal world is going to be like now that Duncan didn't fight the guardian and thus won the prize for his son Connner--who is "The One"

From listening to the elder I gathered that the elder was the immortal who should have walked away--like Methos did. The guardian is the immortal who was the chosen--
Because of the way he fought--and because he didn't win the prize, his child was born without a father--and so all the immortals were born in this way.

With Duncan winning the prize--Conner is born with a father--and so I assume all immortals will be born with a set of parents--

Of course this opens a pandora's box of additional questions--will immortal be able to have children--will immortals be born from mortals who can have children--this last is what I think....

Tessa

08-09-2007, 03:37 PM

pepeperfume

08-09-2007, 03:57 PM

I've always been of the opinion that the unanswered question surrounding where Immortals come from is what gave Highlander it's mystery and magic. I loved Duncan's answer in one of the episodes when he refers to it as *a kind of magic*. I never wanted to have the question answered but I suppose unlike the immortals, the franchise can't go on forever and at some point they have to address the question and bring it full circle. Or do they? I would be quite happy to have left it as it was, they have always been among us with their origins unknown.

I so do agree. I was really hoping that The source would prove to be more like the original movie--bad guys--evil immortals beheaded--good immortals doing the beheading. Swashbuckling, Errol Flynn sword play--Hey, Duncan gets his lady--and it might even have been nice to see Methos get a lady too...

Oh well, the actually movie was more along the lines of --Be careful what you wish for--you just might get it---some--not all immortals wanted children--and wanted to be mortal. In the source they got there wish--sortta!

StephyC

08-09-2007, 04:30 PM

I'm a little surprised by those who say there was no plot or story to this movie because there was. It was just very confusing--and the end result of the movie can be taken in many different ways and it left oodles of questions pending.

I agree that there was the bare skeleton of a really good story going there. Trouble is they didn't take the time to fill it out properly and left too many questions unanswered. Leaving the odd thing unanswered is sometimes good but not when it reaches the point of total confusion for the viewer.

I agree that the Guardian was cursed because he made the wrong choice and killed the previous Guardian. The Elder was cursed because he tried to claim the "prize" when it wasn't his right to do so. I wonder what happened to the woman that was with them? Was she also with child? Did she die leaving the child to grow up an orphan and pre-immortal? That would account for where one of the next generation of immortals came from but what about the rest of them?

When Duncan was chosen to fight The Guardian and made the correct choice in not killing him, Duncan got "The Prize". For me that means that said "Prize" was the ability for father a child. That is after all the one thing that most of the good immortals seemed to long for through the ages. The baby Connor is "The One" because he is the first Immortal that would be born knowing where he came from.
But the list of questions is still endless....

Methos: alive or dead? mortal or immortal?

Duncan: mortal or immortal now?
The baby Connor: Born immortal? if so how would he ever grow up as immortals don't age? Would he reach manhood and then stop aging? Would he have to grow up and suffer a violent death to trigger his immortality?

And the one other question that really bothers me: Were the Immoratls in this film supposed to be the only ones left alive in this post-apocalyptic world? If so our little band of heroes but have been on one hell of a killing spree in the time since we last saw them.
If there are others still out there what happens to them now? Do they know the ?Game" is over and ?The Prize? has been claimed?

I like puzzles, I like questions, but I do like to get them answered eventually. Sadly I have a nasty feeling that we have seen the last of Duncan and the last of the Highlander movies or TV shows except for possible future anime versions.

Now every cloud has a silver lining and maybe the demise of Highlander/Duncan will be a good thing for Adrian. People will be able to focus on his other future roles without that inevitable question of "When are you going to play Duncan MacLeod again?" For me Adrian is so much more than just Duncan, but there do seem to be a lot of people who don't see him as anything else.

Vernon Gaunt

08-09-2007, 05:04 PM

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/NDVD_156.jpg

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/NDVD_035.gif

pepeperfume

08-09-2007, 05:08 PM

Hmmm, like I said --a pandora's box of questions....

Perhaps as Highlander Fans we can answer each the way we want....

But if there is this many questions from long time fans of Highlander--or people who have watched the series--what are the newbies going to make of it???

StephyC

08-10-2007, 10:58 AM

(I would also love to know how much of it David A is responsible for as I know Adrian insisted on bringing him in to re-write some of the script)

Me to Tessa. I know David was reported on some boards as saying he and Adrian didn't actually have the amount of input that they would have liked. Whether that is true or not? Who can say without asking them personally.

I wouldn't mind guessing at a couple of scenes that were very much David though.
Joe's death scene for one and the scene between Duncan and Anna under the tree.
For me, they were the only 2 scenes in the film that came close to stirring my emotions the way so much of the series could.

Victoria

08-10-2007, 01:52 PM

(I would also love to know how much of it David A is responsible for as I know Adrian insisted on bringing him in to re-write some of the script) .

Afraid to say there is not as much as we all would have liked in the movie as was first expected. David did do a lot of polishing of scenes and tidying up to try to get the Highlander we all love, but there was only so much he could do with someone else's script l would expect also.

This sure does sound like a great question for the Convention in Vancouver in a couple of months. With David being there we can get all the answers we are after and then pass them on to every here that is not able to be there with us.

Sara L

08-10-2007, 02:35 PM

Hugs Sara L, you made my day!

Anytime! Could really use the hugs and the laugh I got out of the 'hunting season', too since I didn't sleep at all night before last due to one giant ugly eight legged monster (in diameter bigger than my broom!) behind my bed...

Those times I hate living by myself.
And a note on comics and the Source: There was a very popular childrens cartoon here called 'Biene Maja' about a bumble bee and her friend and there was a spider in it called "Thekla". Popular enough for "Thekla" to be a common name for spiders. Much too pretty a name if you ask me. I've been wondering if that cartoon was big in the Netherlands, too.... ?

Danutza7

08-10-2007, 03:18 PM

The best part in this movie is that the highlander will have a baby.:p
Hmmm...Duncan will be father :D
I really admire Adrian Paul for giving a special light to Duncan' character.

Vernon Gaunt

08-10-2007, 08:02 PM

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/spideran.gif

They get every where don't they!

pepeperfume

08-10-2007, 08:06 PM

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b278/velvetgloves/spideran.gif

They get every where don't they!

Hmmm...that's not a eyeborg in dequise, is it???

Vernon Gaunt

08-10-2007, 08:33 PM

Hmmm...that's not a eyeborg in dequise, is it???

Dequise or datquise it's a spider!

Sam

08-10-2007, 11:28 PM

:DVG love your humor. The Elmer Fudd thing was hilarious. I haven't seen "The Source" in it's entirety. But I have had a scene by scene synopsis and I've seen many clips. From everything I have seen and heard I totally get it. Should I be worried about that? Are there things I would like to have seen different. Of course but only slight changes. I think for me it did answer questions and left just enough unanswered ones to keep me interested in seeing others if they get done. I think one of the main lures to Highlander is that we never got closure. I think I got enough from this one to satisfy my mental craving for it but with the new openings it still peaks my interest. Hopefully I'll recieve my copy of the Russian version soon and already made arrangements for a copy of the English version. I can't wait (patience isn't one of my virtues, but it is a work in progress) to finally see it in it's entirety.

Sara L

08-10-2007, 11:49 PM

Dequise or datquise it's a spider![/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

And it's incredibly gross, thanks!:eek: Not going back to read the other post on that page.

Pepe (love it, btw, was always one of my favorites), I actually thought those eyeborgs in the fake advert on the movie site were creepy enough. Wouldn't want one circling me, for sure. So if this horror future was real and they would then on top of that make them even more spider like, I'd be on the next commercial space flight to Mars!

VG and Stephy: You two have a safe trip and relaxing holiday!

fgh2157

08-12-2007, 01:09 AM

Hi All
Sara nice to see you here. Well i am not terribley bright and not sure i understand all that you said in the first post but i have to say i have had misgivings about the source for some time now. I never liked the plot senareo. I always liked the "ordinaryness" of the series, he had to cook, wash and do the shopping and got parking tickets but was still a warrior hero. I wasnt keen on the supernatural turn the source seemed to be taking. I havent seen the film and i dont think i want to now. i loved the series and most of the films !! up til now so i think i will leave it at that. Anyway thats my tuppence worth. Would really love to see Seance and Eyeborgs though i hope it wont be too long before they are availbale in the UK.

Vernon Gaunt

08-12-2007, 08:46 AM

Seance is well worth a watch Fi. Shan't say no more though.

Sara L

08-12-2007, 03:36 PM

Hey Fi, always nice to "see" you, too!

If you didn't understand some things in my post, then it certainly was due to my lacking articulation skills. And the fact that you haven't seen the movie might play into it, too. Wasn't thinking about making everything clear to those not familiar with the movie, yet while was rambling along into a "stream-of-consciousness-rage".. :)

I absolutely agree on preferring the setting in "ordinary life". Even though TV and the movies are meant to be forms of escapism from ordianry life, I prefer sinking into al alternate world of a fictional story with fictional characters who are however still based on nowadays rules of society and technology.
And if it goes sci-fi I'd like it to be a consistent and well-shaped world that I can fully escape to without being thrown back out every other minute by images I can't reconcile with that created world. I'm not making sense again, am I?
Simply put: the makers of a movie should disappear within the story and not bring themselves to attention. If they do, e.g. by obvious post production meddling like visible computer generated images or even simpler, a microphone hanging low and into the picture, it throws me out of the story. Sitting back thinking "yeah, that's not real..the whole left side of the image is straight out of the computer..". And then I have to "escape" my apartment or the inside of the theater all over again.
And concerning the Source, that's what I meant with that fashion train I mentioned in the first post. Those computer images (cgi) are conquering the movies in almost all genres more and more but it's pricey. Mind you, even the big productions which can throw the big bucks at the cgi department often don't get it right. Like Lord of the Rings which had quite a couple of sequences that were so obviously computer generated that I thought they might as well have drawn it and make a comic sequence out of it.
And with the budget The Source had, it's even trickier to create believable images.

What I loved about the TV Series was that with that relatively low budget, they made such great sets and it was shot well to pull off the make-believe. The result was much better than most of the computer stuff you see.

Hope you didn't decide to not see The Source because of my harsh words! The scruffy look and fur coat alone are worth it... :) Just view it as an opportunity to see more AP on screen..

And I can't wait to see Seance either!

Doctor Cocktail

08-12-2007, 05:33 PM

...God how old are we and make mine a dry one would you!...

Ummm, let's just say I'm still working on my first hundred years, ok. :D

And yes, a dry one for you coming right up.

...I like puzzles, I like questions, but I do like to get them answered eventually. Sadly I have a nasty feeling that we have seen the last of Duncan and the last of the Highlander movies or TV shows except for possible future anime versions.

Now every cloud has a silver lining and maybe the demise of Highlander/Duncan will be a good thing for Adrian. People will be able to focus on his other future roles without that inevitable question of "When are you going to play Duncan MacLeod again?" For me Adrian is so much more than just Duncan, but there do seem to be a lot of people who don't see him as anything else.

Now that could could be possible, afterall he has been doing it for abit. IMO that's always a danger of getting typecast into a certain role if you do it too long.

But, I've always thought that Adrian should take a turn at being a bad boy or a rogue or sorts, y'know, something other than "nice".

If he was interested, "Sin in Second City" might be a good project to direct or produce, and of course another might be the "Kushiel's Legacy" series by Jacqueline Carey (I think this has the potential to be another Lord of the the Rings kind of series if it's done correctly, but that's just my opinion).

Me? I'm in favor of the next Highlander story coming from the fan base. There seems to be a passion in the ranks for telling a story. Maybe the Panzer-Davis cats would consider that an option.

Well everyone, bottoms up. :D

Doctor Cocktail

08-12-2007, 09:45 PM

fgh2157

08-13-2007, 12:40 AM

Hi Sara
No dont worry it wasnt anything you said that made me decide i dont really want to see the film . i expect i shall see it one day but i am one these odd people that like to know the end of things first and then i can watch or read the whole thing without worry. I agree whole hatedly about making things believable. Even if it is total fantasie i want it to be done in a way that is believabel or makes sense. And its nothing to do with your articulation skills which are very good i wish i could converse in another language as well as you do.
RE The Source its a shame really becasue when they first announced that they were going to make another HL film i was thrilled and looking forward to seeing an HL film at the cinema but it was not to be. And well we each have our own ideas about immortals dont we. Some one said it was nice it being a mystery where they came from and i agree. Lets your immagination play.

fgh2157

08-13-2007, 12:46 AM

I wouldn't mind seeing Adrian in the series Hu$tle (http://www.hustle.amctv.com/), since Adrian Lester left, they need someone as a lead to spice up the band of lovable rogues. A character who's a sophisticated, stylish, and smooth operator.

I think i have probably said this before but i would love to see Adrain in Deadwood, i think he would be brilliant as a gunslinger.

MSierra

08-15-2007, 02:07 PM

Just an FYI, through various links (which I can't even count) I found a notice that said SciFi would air The Source on Sept. 15th. Still can't confirm via the Sci Fi channel site but it's something.......... I can't wait, I've been looking at all the various trailers available ........... to me they look great! If it doesn't live up to my expectations I blame it completely on the editing team and the Studio for budget limitations. AP look fantastic as always

pepeperfume

08-16-2007, 07:12 PM

MSierra

08-17-2007, 12:48 AM

Hi pepe

mmmmmm Might Fine in deed........ I saw it official on the HL Source site that SciFi will air it on Sept 15 @ 9pm then at 1am on the 16th. I saw somewhere else that Scifi will show it again on the 20th @ 9pm. I know I'll be glued to my seat.....nothing and I mean nothing wil going to stop me from see Adrian that night

pepeperfume

08-17-2007, 05:48 PM

StephyC

08-31-2007, 10:10 AM

Well, I'm be watching at least one of those nights just to see if anything is different than the DVD I watched a few months back....

Has anyone else here seen the version released in the Netherlands. I watched it a couple of days ago and there are some interesting changes. Its 7 mins shorter than the Russian release and there are a few bits that seem to have been cut for no good reason at all.
Overall I think the re-edit and re-locating of certain scenes does let the story flow more smoothly. The ending is certainly better in some ways. That dreadful wire-flying bit is gone and it is made perfectly clear that Duncan is "The One" and he has won "The Prize".
Sadly the final fight still looks like its taking place in a food processor and apart from some changes to the night sky/planets I can't see any other improvements in the special effects at all.
I don't like the new opening title voice over by Thekla the one Peter did was much better and the new titles/opening means we have lost a lot of yummy shots of Adrian on the rooftop to.
Now I'm even more curious to know if this is the version that will be shown on SciFi or is there yet another cut. Says on IMDB that the US release is 102 mins long. This one was only 87mins and the Russian one was 94 mins.

pepeperfume

08-31-2007, 11:12 AM

I did manage yesterday to watch that version.

I'm rather torn.

I wish they would have kept in most of what they took out. But while they rearranged some of the scenes, they took some very good scenes out--some of Zai--some rather nice close ups of Duncan...sigh-that was just WRONG!!!

I would have preferred no music to the love scene/ flash to Reggie/ flash o love scene/ flash to Reggie, etc, etc....

I actually like the fact that they put all of Duncan's flashbacks about his relationship with Anna while he was in the truck. It worked better than the two or three parts separated here and there in the Russian version.

I would have preferred they allow Methos to say the part that he did in the Russian version, then let Anna pick up with the addition dialog...I think that would have worked.

Hey--they left the bury the sword thingie in there--yippe! Joe's death was just as tragic in this version as the last--I don't think they cut any of that--thank God!

I much preferred the ending to the Belgium version. And yeah, Stephy I got it wrong, but kindda right as well. From the Russian version I knew that Duncan was the chosen--chosen to be able to have children--and his new child was "The One." Turns out, it was that Duncan was the Chosen and the One--and the prize was to have children--a different type of immortality. Still not sure whether after the source leaves everyone stays mortal--or turns immortal again....

Two things---they still need to get rid of those faky planets! Grrr! They look so cartoonish--first time I saw them I started giggling--now I just grimace....I really dislike those things....

When I look up in the sky I don't see the actually shape of planets---they could have expressed the comos by just brightening some of the stars--like they did in Tracker...Dah! Large planets in the night sky is too much like an acid trip--not that I'd know what that's about, but I did watch movies in the sixties so I would guess it was like that! LOL!

I hated it--really hated it--that they left the ending fight sped up like that. It sucks not to be able to watch Duncan fight in a normal mode--he usually moves like a stalking predator--but in this rushed, ridiculous speed mode--he looks like an idiot--and I don't like Duncan ever looking that foolish....

Marjon

09-01-2007, 08:29 AM

Has anyone else here seen the version released in the Netherlands.

Last weekend I rented "Scoop" and "The Queen". I was quite surprised to see that Highlander V was on the shelves as well. No mention of Highlander: The Source, only V. Adrian, Peter and Thekla are in big letters on the cover. I haven't spot the dvd in the stores yet and I'm wondering how long the dvd is out here to rent.

I haven't seen it yet, but i will rent it in the very near future! :)

Marjon

09-01-2007, 08:37 AM

I don't like the new opening title voice over by Thekla the one Peter did was much better and the new titles/opening means we have lost a lot of yummy shots of Adrian on the rooftop to.

Thekla Reuten is well known here! People will recognize her name before Adrian's or Peter's. I watched her last night in the movie "De tweeling" (Twin sisters). The movie was nominaded for an Oscar.

StephyC

09-01-2007, 10:02 AM

Thekla Reuten is well known here! People will recognize her name before Adrian's or Peter's. I watched her last night in the movie "De tweeling" (Twin sisters). The movie was nominaded for an Oscar.

Pepe and I have both specualted has to whether Thekla's/Anna's voice was used for the opening and ending voice overs in this edit because she is so well known there.
They somehow seem to have the effect of making Anna much more the main focus of the whole story. Will be interesting to see if its Thekla or Peter doing the intro on the cut they are showing on the SciFi channel.

Sadly though, the whole project has such serious flaws that I don't think any amount of re-cuts can rescue it.:(

pepeperfume

09-01-2007, 11:26 AM

Last weekend I rented "Scoop" and "The Queen". I was quite surprised to see that Highlander V was on the shelves as well. No mention of Highlander: The Source, only V. Adrian, Peter and Thekla are in big letters on the cover. I haven't spot the dvd in the stores yet and I'm wondering how long the dvd is out here to rent.

I haven't seen it yet, but i will rent it in the very near future! :)

Marjon!!!!!

Did you rent Highlander V or just pass it by???

Inquiring minds wanna know.... Tell us whatcha think....

Pleaze........

Sam

09-11-2007, 05:58 AM

:rolleyes:Counting down the days until Saturday when we finally get to see "The Source". ARE WE THERE YET??:p

cbas

09-11-2007, 05:41 PM

5 DAYS, 8 HOURS AND 21 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:p

ljachetta

09-13-2007, 08:04 PM

Hello all,

Haven't seen The Source yet, but from what all you have written it sounds like it was all crammed into one movie and it should have been at least a three-part series .Or just bring the whole series back to television, but only if it is with Adrian Paul as star of the show. He looks as good as ever no different from before.

Sam

09-16-2007, 12:10 AM

:DHi Ljachetta. We'll know soon enough!! 1 hour left!! Tick-Tock....(Coco's brain playing the "Jeopardy" tune..) :rolleyes:

renate

09-16-2007, 03:21 AM

well-I just watched it and I really DON'T think that there was anything wrong with it.
I'll however watch it again 11 pm my time and maybe then I'll know more??:D:D:)
The only part I was really trying in figuring out was that bright light above when Anna was talking and looking at it.

Renate

appeace

09-16-2007, 03:50 AM

Im sorry folks. I must be as dense as a brick!!:confused: I simply did not understand the movie. Where were the character relationships we so enjoyed on the series??? In my opinion, Joe, Methos and Duncan acted like they had never been friends or shared any joyful times together at all.
It looked to me, due to coloring used, and editing, just like a video game my son plays on his puter! Click hyper speed, down a tunnel, turn left, click on the sword icon, fight, fight, fight, defeat the demon, click on hyper speed to jump to next level--etc---etc.
The only saving grace for me was, once again, the superb acting talents of Adrian Paul. He seemed to be the only one striving valiantly to bring emotion and believability to this film. Even PW seemed stilted, not his usual self aware, cynical, cool, portrayal of Methos.
Too many loose ends which they tried to tie in at the end with a monologue, too many Immortal commandments broken for no reason, no attachment to the previous world of Highlander. For me, worse than Endgame with the unnecessary, sorrow-filled, loss of a valuable friend in Joe Dawson:mad:
I would love to see AP have the opportunity to have total creative control over a final Highlander film, ending the story of Duncan MacLeod in the manner in which the series was created-------this film just isnt it:(

MagicPrincess

09-16-2007, 03:56 AM

I was really looking forward to watching it and was going to...honest! But about 20 minutes into the movie, I found myself wanting to do other things. I ended up grading papers and entering them on my computer with Highlander on in the background. I don't know why, but as big a fan as I am, I thought it would at least hold my interest.

And appeace: I loved your comparison to a video game with the hyper-speed! That was great. LOL

cbas

09-16-2007, 09:16 AM

I didn't really watch either as I had to leave for work 30 minutes before the film ended, so I taped and enjoyed my family (boyfriend and cats) for a bit. I checked in here and there. I really have to absorb the film-I'll watch tomorrow, but 2 impressions-APPEACE has the right of it about the mood of the film-looked like Resident Evil or Eve or something; and Anna....liked her-yard of guts from what I saw-a worthy successor to my beloved Tessa.

yobeeone

09-16-2007, 11:07 AM

ROFL!!! I can't resist replying to this. Adrian not walking the same and voice being different. You gotta remember, Adrian is in his 40's now. You don't walk the same as you did in your 30's - even your voice begins taking on a different tone, because you're getting older and maturing. It doesn't matter if one is an actor or not, you can't fight the effects of getting older. (evil grin)

Think of it this way, picture a bloke pushing toward 50 trying to walk like a 30 some year old - he'd look hilariously funny. :D

As for the movie itself, I had to remind myself again and again that Tony Scott wasn't the director. :) I didn't really care for the video game fight scenes. I screamed at the tv when Joe died. (I cried. I love Joe.) I cracked up laughing when Joe shot Duncan again. I liked the Guardian, he was funny. And I liked the exploding car when the tree fell on it. And who couldn't help but grin watching Duncan not be able to control himself and always having to come to the rescue. :D

I think the movie should have been three hours though. It ran here from 9 - 11. At 10 I was staring at the clock going, "There's no way they can tie the movie up in an hour." One more hour added on and it would have smoothed the story out a bit.

On the other hand, when a story makes a person laugh, cry or provokes any other emotions - it's done it's job. :D

Vernon Gaunt

09-16-2007, 11:48 AM

At 5-30am (UK time) this morning there were 86 users on line, So where are all the comments then? Or has The Source taken your breath away?

Yobeeone, I like your style.

Harriet

09-16-2007, 12:17 PM

I think that I will stick with HL series! The movies just do not have the same touch and do not hold my interest. The series captured friendships and problems to solve and a man's life and thoughts. There is just not enough time in a movie to do that.

Doctor Cocktail

09-16-2007, 12:43 PM

Yobeeone, there was almost an hour of commercials in that 2-hour movie though. ;) I knew there was a reason for the mute button.

It seemed to be a mashup of "Max Max", Star Wars (ie Jabba the Hut) or Buffy the Vampire Slayer's obese villain in Season 3(?), and the second Highlander movie, only with a lot of computer-generated effects for The Source.

Duncan says towards the end of the movie, "I'm done with this.". I wonder if that was Adrian talking.

I think I'll write the next Highlander movie. What is it they say, "There can only be fifteen". ;)

Pirateswench

09-16-2007, 12:46 PM

Hello All! I'm Ashley and I'm new to the forum. I just wanted to add a my comments to the movie.

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. For a tv movie i think it was great, but i was disappointed and at times felt that it really wasn't a highlander movie. The whole future aspect just didn't grab me the way the other movies and tv shows have. I think the lack of flashbacks may have had something to do with it.

While the characters weren't their usual selves (i.e. closesness between duncan, methos, and joe) i thought their "new" relationship fit the times. I cried when joe died, and I don't cry for movies! I'm tearing up thinking about it now. Towards the end, the movie did seem to become rushed. Overall I was happy with it. I think all the characters still looked really good for their age considering it has been about 7 years since the last highlander movie and everyone is most definitely older.

My only question is what happens now? Are there plans for more highlander movies, or is this the end of the story? Or is it just the end of duncan's story?

pepeperfume

09-16-2007, 01:00 PM

Bought the Russian Version which didn't have the nice Dialog by Anna explaining what happened there in the end--I was left kindda hanging--you know--going what the heck?
I downloaded and watched the Belgium version as well--which as far as I can tell is identical to the sci-fi version with the exception that the sci-fi version was littered with advertisements, they cut to a commercial just as the love scene by the tree started-which let me tell you--was a real mood buster---and they dubbed every bad word with the exception of hell!

I think they should have left Methos beginning narrative--had Anna take over the story narrative from there. Left all of Zai's part in the movie--there wasn't all that much to begin with in the Russian version, and it is one of the better parts of the movie. What I liked about the Belgium/Sci-fi version is that the flashbacks are all located during the driving scene--in the Russian version there are some in the beginning and a few a little later on--and none at the end. I also liked that Anna explained things at he end--because lemme tell you--it was a true guessing game with the Russian version.

Methos looked great in leather--needed to lose the fringes--and what was with the helmet? He was suppose to be immortal for pity sake! Dah!

Adrian looked splendid as Duncan--in all versions. The true parts that I believe David A wrote was Joe's death scene and the scene with Anna just before the love scene by the tree.....

I DID NOT LIKE that the editors sped up the fighting at the end. Watching Duncan fight for me has always been the symmetry, the skill, the control of the fight--with the speed they used here--I saw none of that!

The dock scene was much longer in the Russian version and much better--I don't know why that was cut!:eek:

StephyC

09-16-2007, 01:15 PM

Must confess that having seen the Russian edit of this film months ago, and then the Netherlands edit last month, I'm somewhat amazed at the lack of response on this forum.
The movie is quite dreadful but that is not Adrian Paul's doing. He cannot be held responsible for the choice of director, the bad script, the amateurish editing or the pathetic special effects. The guilt for those lies at others doors. As fans of Adrian's I feel we owe it to him to be honest with our opinions and not afraid to air them here.
I can live with the story they attempted to tell, in fact I rather like it. But its such a tragedy that they made such a hash of telling it.
Where were the character relationships that we all love so much? Where were the beautifully choreographed and shot fight scenes? I could go on and on but I won't.
For anyone out there that hasn't seen the Russian edit you really should. What was shown on US TV last night seems to be exactly the same as the Netherlands DVD and they cut a lot out of it. I'm not saying the Russian edit was good, but it was certainly better.
R.I.P Duncan MacLeod. I had hoped your swan song would be memorable for all the right reasons but sadly it wasn't.

EROM

09-16-2007, 02:24 PM

I watched the movie last night for the first time. As someone has already commented on, it was cut much too short to really explain the story or to show the development of any of the characters. So again we have been "edited" out of what could have been a good movie. It was apparent that the actors were trying to give their best. Adrian tried so hard to make this a great Highlander movie and it could have been.

There are some very good things in the movie and others have mentioned them. I think the fights were filmed, but the editing again got in the way of actually seeing the beauty and true action of the fights. That is what I really wanted to see and missed. As others have also said, I truly hated all of the sped up actions. It was unnecessary and made watching in some places difficult.

It would be great if we could actually get an Executive Producer and actors version of the movie: an expanded edition to show the true story. Now that might be a good film to watch.

SimplyAdrianL0ver

09-16-2007, 02:38 PM

R.I.P Duncan MacLeod. I had hoped your swan song would be memorable for all the right reasons but sadly it wasn't.

You know Steph I wonder if Adrian had had any idea that the movie would turn out as it did would he have signed onboard. It's a pure shame and my heart goes to Adrian and David Abromowitz who throughout the six years of the TV series put their heart & soul into Highlander only to have outsiders come in and totally mess it up. When I saw End Game I saw a lack of human relationship between the major charactors Duncan, Methos, & Joe, but after seeing this movie it made End Game look so much better.

When the idiots cut out Duncan's line that was in the Russian version at Joe's death scene "you aren't my friend Joe, your the father that never threw me out" I about died, but they left in Duncan's first words "you are'nt my friend" this just goes to show how professional the idiots were that did the edit on this movie to cut out such an important line in one of the few best scenes in this so-called movie..

I am totally disgusted with this final movie it was a total disgrace to Highlander. Let's put it this way "RIP" Highlander My sincere condolences to Adrian, David, and the rest of the original cast.

But, I do look forward to seeing Adrian in "Wraiths of Roanoke" aka Lost Colony and his other ventures he is truely a gifted actor.

Velda

09-16-2007, 02:52 PM

I cannot believe that we waited this long to see it. Since the day it was announced there would be another Highlander movie, fans have been waiting for what we hoped would be the best one ever. I was disappointed to say the least. I have it recorded and will watch it again in the hopes that maybe I'll see something interesting that I missed....however, I doubt it.

When will TPTB let Adrian have full rein with a character that has grown dear to our hearts? When will they let him have control over the production?

I wouldn't blame him at all if he just waved goodbye to Highlander.

Vernon Gaunt

09-16-2007, 03:10 PM

Hi Velda, I have this picture of you tipping that Latte over your teddy bear during the screening. Do you think AP will wave goodbye to Highlander with a full hand wave or just use one finger?

Velda

09-16-2007, 03:54 PM

Vernon,

Actually it was a cup of Nyquil over a box of puffs *S*....and I believe it would be a full hand wave. Leave the one finger wave to the fans *L*

Silver Star Rose

09-16-2007, 06:15 PM

First of all I will say that it was good to see Adrian,Jim,and Peter together again.I think that the magic that was created during Highlander The Series was due largely to the terrific acting and chemistry amongst the cast of the series, and with the fantastic writing and producing of the series.IMHO nothing will ever come close to the brilliancy of the HL TV series,or the first HL movie.

Having said that I will say that I was disappointed in the direction that was taken by the writers of The Source.I was left with more questions than answers.I did not like the fact that IMO The Highlander story was almost ridiculed by characters we've seen else where. The elder seemed to be a la Jabba the Hut from Star Wars,and the cannibal guys seeemed to be a la Mad Max.Highlander has always stood apart from other SciFi movies due to it's originality.It didn't borrow from other movies nor did it do that which had already been done.Each episode was fresh,and resounded with creative and inovative imaginings. The first movie,and the HL Series didn't make you think of any other universe than that of the Highlander universe.

I am,and will remain a fan of Highlander and of Adrian Paul in particular. I hope that the writer(s) will do a better job in the future of remaining true to the Duncan MacLeod that we all know and love.

paula

09-16-2007, 10:14 PM

So many people on this forum have talked about seeing all these other versions of the film, how do you view these? And, how can I get a copy of the DVD's like other people seem to have?

cajunhillbilly53

09-16-2007, 11:42 PM

In fact The Source really never did answer the question as to the origin of the Immortals. What was the Source anyway. And how the heck are you going to be able to see Jupiter and Saturn that well unless you are almost on top of them?

yobeeone

09-16-2007, 11:59 PM

Yobeeone, there was almost an hour of commercials in that 2-hour movie though.

Which worked great since I was consuming vasts amounts of tea! ROFL

Bouncing off some of the comments on the editing of the movie. I think the editors fell into the fatal trap of over-editing. There's that fine psycho point where you edit so much that you lose total control and before you know it - your little piece of work simply falls to the floor and just lays there whimpering. Poor little begger. It's a sad sight to envision. Even as I write about it tiny tears trickle down me lil' face. ;)

Anyway, I hope if there's another Highlander movie that quality and integrity will rule over trying to attract a younger crowd. I really missed the old realistic fight scenes. I was all hyped and ready to join in! Unfortunately, I never got to swing my lil' plastic sword. I did turn on my blender though! ROFL!!! :D

appeace

09-17-2007, 12:59 AM

As was stated earlier, on a cutting room far, far, away is the movie this one was meant to be. If, by some miracle, those cuttings have been saved and they can scoot across the floor and rejoin one another--lolol:o This travesty could be reversed and this film become one of the great stories in the Highlander tradition.
Ill hold my breath while that happens:rolleyes:

Rottweiler

09-17-2007, 01:57 AM

Adrian looked beautiful as ever in this.
But the movie was beyond dreadful.
Painful to watch.

Pirateswench

09-17-2007, 02:12 AM

Sharon D.H.

09-17-2007, 02:53 AM

What I saw of the movie was pretty good, but like some of you mentioned, the editing sucks. Where's the movie? So much looked like it was cut out. I mean, in between all the commercials, made me ask myself at the end of the movie, "What?" :confused:
Maybe on the DVD when it comes out it will be redone to satisfy the Highlander fans and not be edited so _ _ _ _ much. Once again, Adrian was a most excellent actor, portraying the character with flawlessness, but not as deep as the tv Duncan. We are missing pieces of the movie puzzle here and need to be filled in. In the movie, Duncan mentions that all his loves die, Tessa, Kate, and now he was worried for Anna. Well, we need to be filled in on the details of the "in-between" of the "Endgame" and "Source".
One question arises: Was this movie like the one where Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert starred in the one film (the second or third film)? where it didn't connect to the other Highlander movies? If so, this one Source may just be a detour (Like the afore mentioned) in the sequences of movies.
Hopefully in the near future, Adrian will get with some good people to get another most excellent Highlander movie gooing to connect to the first Highlander and the Tv series, with relationships and emotions. something not "edited to death.":rolleyes:
If this version of the Source had a head, I would most assuredly chop it off in its current edited condition.:eek:
On the other hand, the movie has alot of most excellent scenes to work with. Alot of good "whatever" to be redone, or re-edited to make it worthy to bear the name "Highlander".
Here's a thought! was this movie "just a dream of MacLeod's.?" Was he recaptured by the Watcher's and put into Sanctuary again, and now he is dreaming of the future?
Most Avid AP Watcher::D
Sharon
________________

"Fear is to warn us of danger, not make us afraid of it"

joan

09-17-2007, 03:55 AM

I was very disappointed in the film. I felt like I was watching a train wreck. Maybe that`s why there aren`t too many comments here. The comments on other boards and group mails have been pretty negative. I just wish for once they would get the movies right, the way they got the series right. Adrian, Peter and Jim deserved better than that, and so did the fans.

renate

09-17-2007, 06:57 AM

:(:(:eek::p sighh.

Renate

StephyC

09-17-2007, 03:21 PM

What you read on these links really does sum up the whole fiasco!!

http://digitalpraxis.net/highlander.htm

and this one was posted on HLWW earlier.
http://www.pixelsurgeon.com/interviews/interview.php?id=232_

Gee what on earth posessed them to employ this nutter!!!

An extract from Mr Leonards interview:

It was quite a surprise to see your name attached to Highlander: The Source [as director]. Are you a fan of the Highlander franchise?

I was a fan of the first movie, so when they came to me to do it ? it falls into the exact opposite side of my filmmaking oevre, which is, again, effects-driven fantasy sci-fi ? they really wanted to reinvigorate the franchise and do something much better from a script standpoint. I was able to develop the script to a much greater degree of satisfaction than I was able to do with Man-Thing. I just finished shooting it in Lithuania, very challenging. It was like going to the Gulag Archipelago and making a movie. There are great people, great talent there and all that but it?s just a very challenging place especially as it was all exterior nights, six-day week exterior nights in the frigid winter weather. That got a little taxing but I?m very happy with what I got in the can and I?m just starting to edit it. It?s very different. It?s what I would call the dark Highlander. It?s a very dark world. Adrian Paul is the lead. He?s playing Duncan MacLeod from the TV series. I actually had never really even seen the TV series. I?m not a big TV fan so I came fresh to him and his character. I just wanted him to be very dark and brooding, something very different to what I eventually saw in some of the episodes of the TV series. It?ll be a fresh experience for the Highlander fans. It answers some of the questions. There?s a very interesting villain called The Guardian who?s just really strange [laughs].

SimplyAdrianL0ver

09-17-2007, 03:21 PM

Now does this picture remind you of a certain character in Highlander the Source? This taken from one of Brett Leonards movies. Could this be The Elder's twin sister or cousin?

58

murphy430

09-17-2007, 03:34 PM

Sharon, I don't know if you want to wait for the DVD to come out. With all these negative reviews from the fans I wouldn't be surprised if Lions Gate
decides to not put it to DVD. They never put Tracker out on DVD and that
was a great series and the fans would have bought. So if they didn't think Tracker was worth DVD, dont' know how they will feel about this movie.

:confused:

Phoenix

09-17-2007, 03:38 PM

I was a fan of the first movie, so when they came to me to do it ? it falls into the exact opposite side of my filmmaking oevre, which is, again, effects-driven fantasy sci-fi ? they really wanted to reinvigorate the franchise and do something much better from a script standpoint. I was able to develop the script to a much greater degree of satisfaction than I was able to do with Man-Thing. I just finished shooting it in Lithuania, very challenging. It was like going to the Gulag Archipelago and making a movie. There are great people, great talent there and all that but it?s just a very challenging place especially as it was all exterior nights, six-day week exterior nights in the frigid winter weather. That got a little taxing but I?m very happy with what I got in the can and I?m just starting to edit it. It?s very different. It?s what I would call the dark Highlander. It?s a very dark world. Adrian Paul is the lead. He?s playing Duncan MacLeod from the TV series. I actually had never really even seen the TV series. I?m not a big TV fan so I came fresh to him and his character. I just wanted him to be very dark and brooding, something very different to what I eventually saw in some of the episodes of the TV series. It?ll be a fresh experience for the Highlander fans. It answers some of the questions. There?s a very interesting villain called The Guardian who?s just really strange [laughs].
What a revealing interview this is. This man who was chosen to direct 'The Source' seems to have had little or no interest in the subject having only watched the first Highlander film and his 'oevre' in his own words is for the 'effects driven sci-fi'. So for my money he would have been the last person to have been selected to direct a story driven film. The only thing I can say is that now we know who is responsible for this fiasco it make me feel so much better because I know none of it was the fault of the actors who did a great job when you consider the dross of a script, in the main, they had to work with.:):):)

StephyC

09-17-2007, 03:39 PM

It?s a Wrap ? everyone made it through?
The shoot finished with a final shooting ratio of 65:1, with over 90 hours of captured footage, and a total amount of data nearing 80TB. This had been some production operation, and really belies the true budget for this film!

Oh and where is the other 88.5 hours of captured footage???? Surely what we have seen wasn't the only part worth using????

All in all this was one ?amazing? production ? and you can read into that what you will?!

Oh I have, I have!!! It was amazingly badly managed!!!!

StephyC

09-17-2007, 03:44 PM

With all these negative reviews from the fans I wouldn't be surprised if Lions Gate decides to not put it to DVD.
I think you might find that the very reason it was on the SCiFi channel is beacuse Lionsgate didn't think it was even worthy of a DVD release by them. I read on one of the US movie press sites that Lionsgate have removed it from their catalogue. Don't know if this is true but it could well be.

SimplyAdrianL0ver

09-17-2007, 04:00 PM

Oh and where is the other 88.5 hours of captured footage???? Surely what we have seen wasn't the only part worth using????

Oh I have, I have!!! It was amazingly badly managed!!!!

You know what amazes me is the fact that End Game's failures for content were blamed on the fact that Panzer Davis didn't have artistic control of this movie. Okay so Panzer Davis buys back the rights to Highlander & now promises the fans a movie that will be far better and more along the lines of what we the fans expected & what do they do "Totally Muck it Up" by hiring a director that doesn't have a clue about the world of Highlander. This not only messed up the character's relationships but also destroyed one of the most intergral ingredients of Highlander - the Sword Fights by trying to introduce special effects that didn't belong there in the first place. I wonder if F. Braun McCash saw this fiasco? It had to make him cringe.

Again disappointed I just would love to hear the excuses for this one, but the man responsible is no longer with us to explain but can Peter Davis fill in for him?

bryant.wanda

09-17-2007, 04:17 PM

Hi everyone. My name is Wanda. I'm new to the site, but a longtime fan of highlander and of Adrian Paul. I just want to say is I hated the movie, The Source, but loved Adrian's performance. I just wish Joe did not have to die.
Methos was not the old Methos. The plot could have been thought out a little better. They just threw Anne. It took a while to figure out what happened to his wife Kate. How do we know if Anne will die because of the curse put on Duncan by the witch or gypsy?

yobeeone

09-17-2007, 04:25 PM

One of the links I clicked on mentioned the really low budget they had to work with for The Source and that it was part of the problem.

I think the best way to have a neverending budget and a super exciting 3 hour massive movie, with tons of incredible swordfights, making it the best Highlander movie yet, is to do a total remake called, "Highlander The Source!" A Jerry Bruckheimer film! :D

SimplyAdrianL0ver

09-17-2007, 04:30 PM

I think the best way to have a neverending budget and a super exciting 3 hour massive movie, with tons of incredible swordfights, making it the best Highlander movie yet, is to do a total remake called, "Highlander The Source!" A Jerry Bruckheimer film!

Oh Yobeone I love your sense of humor!!! But, on a more somber note you're so right!!!!;)

yobeeone

09-17-2007, 04:52 PM

Oh Yobeone I love your sense of humor!!! But, on a more somber note you're so right!!!!;)

Just think of how cool it would be to have a Highlander Bruckheimer film! There would be mini-highlander action figures complete with cool sets with quickening effects! Adrian's face on the front of cereal boxes! "Duncan" donuts!!! Methos Menthols! Highlander Lego sets! T-shirts, lunchboxes, hats, swords, quickening alarm clocks that zap the crap out of you if you hit the snooze! It would be sooo cool! :D Yeah, I know. I gotta lay off the Morning Thunder tea. :D (yo sneaks off for another cuppa.)

PS: Let's get demented! Picture the Kraken as the Guardian and Captain Jack as the Elder. ROFL

SimplyAdrianL0ver

09-17-2007, 04:55 PM

Just think of how cool it would be to have a Highlander Bruckheimer film! There would be mini-highlander action figures complete with cool sets with quickening effects! Adrian's face on the front of cereal boxes! "Duncan" donuts!!! Methos Menthols! Highlander Lego sets! T-shirts, lunchboxes, hats, swords, quickening alarm clocks that zap the crap out of you if you hit the snooze! It would be sooo cool! :D Yeah, I know. I gotta lay off the Morning Thunder tea. :D (yo sneaks off for another cuppa.)

Thank you again for putting a smile on my face and laugh too! Now send me some of that tea it sounds like a good pick me upper!;)

cbas

09-17-2007, 07:31 PM

Now that the Source has aired in the US here are my impressions:

I'm so sad to say it but I WOW: the movie BLEW. No exposition at all, which is odd because Joe Dawson was always "Mr. Exposition" in the Highlander universe! And Joe's death? the character and the actor deserved much, MUCH more. I liked Anna, but hated that I had to fill in the blanks for myself about who she was and how she won Duncan. Sooo many questions....Anna and Duncan's story? What possessed him to finally marry? (ONE MORE TIME PEOPLE....KATE NEVER HAPPENED!!!!!!)I have always assumed that in the future the world goes to hell in a handbasket, but exactly how did this happen in The Source's future? What is the precise process by which Duncan became so world weary and disillusioned? Couldn't Methos find a better (smarter) bunch of immortals to team up with? Why in the NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY did Adrian not direct????? Finally, and I humbly beg all the producers, PLEASE give us a DVD with all of the stuff you left on the cutting room floor!

Doctor Cocktail

09-17-2007, 09:27 PM

B R E A K I N G N E W S . . . .

Highlander: The Source is to be renamed Highlander: The Lost Episode (just kidding)

It's nice to know that Adrian has a sense of humor throughout all of this and has displayed exemplary professionalism, since none of this is directed at him personally, but mostly at the people who spliced it together.

Namaste, much love, and have a martini.

Vernon Gaunt

09-17-2007, 09:32 PM

cbas as you were treated to the bleeping cut version you may not have seen the total demise of Joe according to the Russian Version so just for you I've cut and clipped it. This is what I saw back in May I think. At the time I regarded it as some of the best filming. And what did they do LOL cut it to shreds.

WARNING DON'T WATCH UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN HIGHLANDER THE SOURCE.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6VTs0AAI97A

cbas

09-17-2007, 09:59 PM

Vernon, you are my hero! Thank you so, so much. That was the most beautifully shot scene in the film-why truncate it? To the editors of this mess, please remember Crack Kills :p Anyway THAT was a death scene worthy of both Duncan and Joe/Adrian and Jim. It elicited the heavy heartedness I should have felt when I watched the movie Saturday night.

To all the other comments, it is so true that AP is not at fault. He did his best, and just because there are holes in the backstory you could drive a semi through, doesn't mean there wasn't a story that might have been enjoyable had it been properly fleshed out and edited.

Here's a proposal, maybe if we can agree we can start a petition:

All the fans worldwide take up collections among ourselves (I am planning to volunteer for double overtime). We talk AP into buying the rights, we salvage what of the film and the obvious 90% that must have been left on a cutting room floor that we can get our hands on, and we string it together. Those of us who can write cobble together a script that includes necessary back story, and the final factor? We hire Peter Jackson (needless to say we won't be working with New Line Cinema). Michael Bay is a good choice, but I don't think we need another Explosions King of the Universe at the helm.

So, who's in? ;)

Wufwuf1

09-17-2007, 11:46 PM

I would love to see all the clips released on a site like this and let the good people here rebuild this movie. With todays technology, many people here have the ability (including myself) to fix this thing. Give me the HD input and a month or two, and everything that found its way to the floor, and i honestly think that even with my rudimentary skills, i c ould mak a more cohesive attempt. Sorry from all I read, Adrian did have a large part atleast at the beginning, and to see it end this way is a travesty.

paula

09-18-2007, 01:04 AM

I am definately in!!! The ending needs some scenes with Duncan and his son also, more back story of Anna & Duncan and more of the friendship evident between Duncan and Methos.

I am new to this forum and was trying to reply to Vernon's post but couldn't figure it out so thanks to Vernon for the death of Joe Dawson clip and how do I get my hands on a copy of the Russian DVD?

Also, did the Russian version show Duncan with his son because the Sci Fi movie never did and never did I hear that Duncan's son's name was Connor. Was that on the Russian version?

Doctor Cocktail

09-18-2007, 01:29 AM

"We talk AP into buying the rights, we salvage what of the film and the obvious 90% that must have been left on a cutting room floor that we can get our hands on, and we string it together."

Does this mean we'll finally get to see the long lost Riverdance in kilts scene? hehehehe

Victoria

09-18-2007, 07:55 AM

I must say there have been some very wide ranging opinions of this movie all over the net. As a Highlander movie l am afraid it has dropped the ball. Is has no flashbacks and all the chemistry amongst our fav men has all but disappeared and the story well !!!!

But if l look at it from a different point of view and do not think of it as the wonderful Highlander we all know (and do not compare it), then l do enjoy the movie. Adrian does a fantastic job, l did not mind the charactor of Reggie but l could really take or leave most of the other characters.

Adrian tried so hard to bring us the movie we all wanted. I have heard many stories from the set how Adrian was constantly on the go between doing his scenes and also doing a lot of the second unit work. As we know Adrian is a guy who puts in 150% to anything he does and it is a shame that the people directing and editing had no idea of the Highlander we all know and love. If some one comes into a franchise like this to do a film they really should do their homework.

This movie really needed the old team back together to bring us anything good at all as suggested by Carmel when we where talking the other night.

I think the only way we will ever get the movie we all want is to get the old Highlander The Series team back Directing, Producing, editing and definitely writing it. No one can write a Highlander story like David can. And l think the Directing job has to go to Adrian who has the best idea of what highlander is and what we all want.

We can all but hope and dream that maybe one day we might get the movie we have been waiting so patiently for. Something that is character driven with all the guys back together. Duncan, Methos, Joe (yes he lives again) and Amanda. Well it is a lovely dream if nothing else :)

yobeeone

09-18-2007, 11:24 AM

Does this mean we'll finally get to see the long lost Riverdance in kilts scene? hehehehe

ROFL!!!! Glad I wasn't drinking my tea when I read that one! Hilarious!!!!

yobeeone

09-18-2007, 11:30 AM

Joe (yes he lives again)

Aaaahhh...now that's a scene most of us would cheer over! Joe comes back from the grave and shoots the director...it was the only way he could rest in peace. (yo giggles and heads for more tea.)

daisy696

09-18-2007, 01:42 PM

VG, thanks for posting that clip. That scene was sooooo much more in the Russian version, much more heart heavy. Im glad I was able to see this clip.!!!

Sharon D.H.

09-18-2007, 03:17 PM

Aaaahhh...now that's a scene most of us would cheer over! Joe comes back from the grave and shoots the director...it was the only way he could rest in peace. (yo giggles and heads for more tea.)
Great thinking, yobeeone. Joe comes back (maybe as an immortal?) and shoots the director so Adrian can take his place in the re-editing.
All the actors and crew worked hard on the movie, but yeah, editing was shredded to death.

StephyC

09-18-2007, 03:31 PM

There were other bits that were so much better in the Russian edit to. Like Peter's voice-over at the beginning and some great close-ups of Duncan thinking about Anna.
I did 4 YouTube vids about 6 months ago when I first got the DVD.
There is something in them that really made me giggle when I saw the newer edit of the film. Near the beginning of the Russian cut we see Duncan's feet running along a wall and he then leaps across to another building. A couple of scenes later he drops to the floor in the alley to rescue the girl.
In my vids I cut it so that he runs jumps and lands in the alley. Couldn't believe my eyes when I watched the new edit and saw they had done exactly the same thing. What did they do watch fans YouTube vids to get editing ideas???? ROFL:eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJuaZUVYks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gumh3dd0ZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3KjefWltxI

Only just made this one public cos of the huge spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h3UAzDD9eA

cbas

09-18-2007, 03:51 PM

Does this mean we'll finally get to see the long lost Riverdance in kilts scene? hehehehe

Hey, why not? There's enough of us worldwide that if we all chipped in about $1, we could sweet talk AP into doing this in the first place, hire Peter Jackson to shoot backstory, buy the rights and save the sweepings from the cutting room floor, AND do a killer blooper reel!! :D

cbas

09-18-2007, 03:56 PM

Aaaahhh...now that's a scene most of us would cheer over! Joe comes back from the grave and shoots the director...it was the only way he could rest in peace. (yo giggles and heads for more tea.)
Even better, Yo; Joe rises from the grave, takes the concealed sword from his cane that he should have been rocking for YEARS, and beheads the director!! (Cbas giggles and heads for more Cuban Espresso).

Sharon D.H.

09-18-2007, 04:00 PM

With Duncan winning the prize--Conner is born with a father--and so I assume all immortals will be born with a set of parents--

So they are born with a set of parents until The Source reappears in another 10,000 years and the scenario unfolds again, (a *Gathering* of sorts??) with a chosen one who must face the Guardian and should he take the Guardian's head this time he becomes the next Guardian and the babies go back to being foundlings? That explains the absence of the fathers, I still wonder what became of the mothers of all the immortal children born within the past 10,000 years. That's one of the problems with the theory. They must have been planning to address it and all the other questions in the second film of the trilogy. Maybe the next two films will be tv movies without the issue of whether or not they'll be theatrical releases and they'll be able to make them within the confines of a tight budget. That all hinges on how well received The Source is and it's not looking too promising considering how poorly received the Russian cut has been.

I've always been of the opinion that the unanswered question surrounding where Immortals come from is what gave Highlander it's mystery and magic. I loved Duncan's answer in one of the episodes when he refers to it as *a kind of magic*. I never wanted to have the question answered but I suppose unlike the immortals, the franchise can't go on forever and at some point they have to address the question and bring it full circle. Or do they? I would be quite happy to have left it as it was, they have always been among us with their origins unknown.
Some of you have stated "Conner" is Duncan's son. Where did you recieve this particular information? I watched the movie on Saturday and didn't catch that one.

The new characters were ok. I liked the kid Reggie. Zai too. Methos into Web system linked with the other immortals was a new twist on things.

Where can I find these other versions of the Source that have aired in other countries? How did you people see them?

Thanks for all the links in all of these posts. Joe dying really sux. I still think Duncan has been re-captured by the watchers, put into Santuary and is dreaming.

I always wondered if there was an immortal behind the watchers. How else would the watchers know who the Immortals were unless another immortal felt them and set a watcher on them for Histories sake?:p:p
Sharon
_____________

May the winds always be at your back

pepeperfume

09-18-2007, 04:54 PM

[B]Some of you have stated "Conner" is Duncan's son. Where did you recieve this particular information? I watched the movie on Saturday and didn't catch that one.

The Russian Version---another little thing they didn't think was important enough to include in the sci-fi cut!

yobeeone

09-18-2007, 06:36 PM

Even better, Yo; Joe rises from the grave, takes the concealed sword from his cane that he should have been rocking for YEARS, and beheads the director!! (Cbas giggles and heads for more Cuban Espresso).

Coool!!!!! I like that one!!!!

Tessa

09-18-2007, 10:54 PM

cbas

09-18-2007, 11:36 PM

The Russian Version---another little thing they didn't think was important enough to include in the sci-fi cut!

Interesting; I guess my sentimental heart is at one with at least one writer for the second time in Duncan's timeline. I immediately assumed at the end of The Source that a boy would be Connor Joseph or a girl Mary Tessa.

In season 3, I also correctly pegged the method by which Duncan would let Dr. Drip (Anne) know that he was alive (having Joe give her tickets to Paris at the bar and then Duncan calls her there).

Doctor Cocktail

09-19-2007, 12:24 AM

Yes, there were some novel ideas that didn't get nearly enough credit, such as . . . .

The Guardian singing the Queen song "Who Wants to Live Forever". This was pure genius, but I tend to think he was a little tone-deaf though, or maybe it was because his super speed warped his voice.

Somewhere on the cutting floor, there was the long-awaited meeting of Duncan and Ben Matlock (the tv attorney played by Andy Griffith). ;) (sorry, now I'm being silly, but it could happen)

I know there's more I missed in there somewhere on the cutting floor.

Anything else that caught your eye?

Matthew MacLeod

09-19-2007, 05:33 AM

Seen preview on the Sci-fi Channel it is replaying on Thurs sept 20th at 9 pm and 8 central.

renate

09-19-2007, 06:19 AM

:D:D:p

that's what I thought of it.

Renate

renate

09-19-2007, 06:21 AM

you meaqn to say that the Russian version was better:o:o
What do I know:D

Renate

StephyC

09-19-2007, 06:49 AM

The Guardian singing the Queen song "Who Wants to Live Forever". This was pure genius, but I tend to think he was a little tone-deaf though, or maybe it was because his super speed warped his voice.

I didn't like the Guardian because they simply didn't make the character menacing enough but at least he was far more amusing in the Russian edit.
They cut all his mimicry out of the SciFi version. His first encounter with Duncan was much better on that DVD and then there was one funny line in the cannibals camp where he says "MacLeod MacLeod" and Duncan replies "Bullshit Bullshit":D

Matthew MacLeod

09-19-2007, 07:03 AM

I read that wrong.. LOL I'll go to sleep now..

Sam

09-19-2007, 09:01 AM

OK Let's see here. I didn't like the character, Giovanni's look but the acting was good until he goes after the Guardian. I didn't like the costume for the Guardian or anything else about him. I thought the lines were lousy and the acting unconvincing. I wasn't crazy about the costume that has been dubbed as Jabba The Hut but it sufficed and the actor I thought did a good job with it. I thought the movie was a really good movie until someone hacked it to pieces and I too was irritated by the excessive commercials.
Now for the things I loved about it... I thought the rest of the cast did an excellent job. I thought it was some of the best acting I've seen by AP. I liked the role of Anna but would have liked more backstory. Loved the love scences...OOOHH can you say bark burn?? I was halfway expecting a forest fire in the first one and the second one made me cry. I loved the death scene with Joe. I cried there too but I felt it was cut too short. (Yeah I know I'm working backwards here.) I loved the quickening at the tower. And I loved the scene where AP jumped from the building but I have to ask...What the Hell was he thinking?? He could have killed himself darn it!! I still would like to see the Russian Version in it's entirety so I can at least see some of what was cut out. As for the story line...I liked it and the concept of the movie.

dreamer

09-19-2007, 05:28 PM

Buddy.....about that scene where he jumps from the building. Remember when Adrian talked about it and said Alex was upset with him cause it was too dangerous? :D

StephyC

09-19-2007, 06:28 PM

Now lets get away from all the negative stuff for a few moments. I'll keep one memory of The Source its gonna be this!!!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/stephyc/dms2.jpg

yobeeone

09-19-2007, 10:27 PM

[CENTER]Now lets get away from all the negative stuff for a few moments. I'll keep one memory of The Source its gonna be this!!!

Drool-fest? :D

Sam

09-19-2007, 10:46 PM

:pYeah I really like that look on AP too.
I remember Dreamer Buddy!! And if I had been Alex I would have nailed his cute feet to the floor and beat him stupid with a stick until he agreed NOT to do it!!;)

paula

09-20-2007, 12:06 AM

Here is an interesting review that came in a Google Alert. Apparently not everyone hated the film. :) Here is one guy's opinion.

http://paetersbrain.blogspot.com/2007/09/highlander-source-movie-review.html

You know, I was disappointed at first but the more I thought about it, the more I like the movie. This could totally be salvaged with minor editing! I really hope it comes out on DVD and would love to see about a 3 hour version. The only thing that was really missing was more back story on Duncan & Anna, more of a love scene, the friendship of Duncan & Methos and the ending needed some scenes showing Duncan, Connor & Anna living happily. Also, a little more Scottish music and I think it would be great. Maybe this stuff is on the editing room floor and someone will pick it up and re-do it. I for one, would love to pursue it and find out how we can make it happen.

Velda

09-20-2007, 01:08 AM

Very nice Stephy....yep....very nice.

renate

09-20-2007, 05:48 AM

Matt-is it on tomorrow night on Sci Fi and what time??
Maybe I better go check my tv guide out.

Renate

renate

09-20-2007, 05:50 AM

I don't blame her a bit on that-I would too:D:)

BTW-Stephy GREAT POINT/VERY NICELY DONE:p:D

Renate

Sharon D.H.

09-21-2007, 03:31 AM

Why is Anna targeted as the one to have the visions about the Source?
Methos is a Dr.......Duncan says so when Joe is stabbed....
What happened between Methos and Duncan? Why are theyso bitter towards each other?
Are they the last four immortals left at this point in the movie? Until the Guardian begins to kill them all off? I hate how Reggie was stabbed to death and the way Zai had to die, he should have survived as well. Really, thjis story is about mercy and strength of will to give it when one is tempted to judge one as evil or corrupt. the prize is a child, and if the Source wants to test you, whether others are still alive or not is really what is all about.

This movie is reallhy good when one pays attention to the details, and the hard work all nput into it and consider where it was shot.
It wasn't bad, just has room for improvement in some areas and all the commercials could have stayed away. The love scene with Duncan and Anna was really Hot and very much in detail, what there was of it. The stupiod commercial interrupted it. I hate that.
This is my second time to watch it and the first time i was disappointed, but the second time you catch what you didn't the first time. This is a really good movie when you pay attention and ignore all the commercials. There are more questions than answers but in time hopefully they will be answered.
I know all the actors did a good job with what they had to work with and it was a decent movie for tv. Hopefully, if the DVD comes out, there will be added footage to some of the scenes to make it a true Highlander movie. This one is just different in that it was Dark and not in the traditional fashion. But all in all, it was good. More dialogue was the backstory, not action or flashbacks. Too many commercials made me lose interest the first time so this time I payed more attention to the story itself and I like this movie. It just needs some work.. not much though.;)

__________________
Life is full of surprises.

renate

09-21-2007, 05:59 AM

I know that I paid more attention this time-it was toomodernly done-I guess-too much on the future.
However I loved Duncan and the chemistry betweenAnna and Duncan-awesome. Too bad we couldn't see extra footage when her baby came-darn all. Would've been interesting.

Renate

ps hated the interruptions of commercials big-time:mad:

Sam

09-21-2007, 08:45 AM

Sharon, I'll try to answer you questions with my understanding of things and maybe it will help.
First..Why Anna :because she was the love of Duncan's life at the right point in time that coincided with the awarding of the prize.
2) The bitterness between Duncan and Methos..: Stems from Duncan giving up on helping to find the answers to their Immortality because of his split with Anna and emotionally giving up because of the losses he suffered as a result of being immortal. That along with the fact that even though he hopes he is "The One" deep inside he knows that it really is Duncan. (I've heard some say they didn't like the Quest basis but the whole theme all along throughout Highlander is that it is a Quest to find out who they are, why they exist and why there can be only one and who is the one.
3) Are they the only ones left?? :Answer is yes as far as they know. In the monologue it says there are only a handful left and two are in this area... A handful is usually 5 and there are 5 in the movie. The two it spoke of were Duncan and the first immortal killed by the Guardian. Also remember the story told by the Elder how they began on there quest.

Sam

09-21-2007, 09:18 AM

I have heard questions come up about the planets and the final scene so I'll give my input on that as well.
Each year the planets orbital path brings them closer to the sun. There have long been theories that the planets will eventually be drawn into the sun one by one but that's a theory. Anyway.. As the immortals took heads they gained power (hence Duncan's ability to make that jump and the hyper speed they used during fights.) However It would take a tremendous magnetic force to draw all the planets into alignment so that the closer they got to it's closest point of origin (The place Anna stood) Their powers would be drained by the Source then become the greatest at that peak moment.(kind of like a tornado or hurricane effect. It draws all the moisture and power around it and pulls it into a Vortex where it stores the most power.) And Planetary alignments were mentioned in one of the first two Highlander movies but I can't remember which one exactly. So this last scene was a combination of science blended with spiritualism. The Source is the cosmic effect added to the religious affect to allow the creation of a child's life force. So the Child IS the Prize. And it makes sense that it would be since they can have anything else they could want and the nature of mankind is that we all want what we can't have. Along with the fact that having a child in some aspects guarantees ones own immortality as long as the bloodline continues and traditions are passed on.
Why did Joe have to die?? Well he was a mortal who was getting older and what more Valiant way for him to go out than protecting the man he most admired.
Which brings us to Methos...Well there had to be at least one thing left unanswered cause in case there was to be a Trilogy in which Methos could escape the cannibals (we've seen him make such escapes before..) and return and if there never is another Highlander then we can assume he also died Valiantly in his respect for saving Duncan and Anna. So the baby and Methos were our Cliff-hangers. IHOP that has always been one of the reasons the Highlander has had the longevity it has. Because it did go out leaving so many unanswered questions. OK now this is just how I understood the movie and why I liked it. It challenged me to think back and remember through all the movies, epis and life lessons. So that's what I think.

Sam

09-21-2007, 09:37 AM

:eek:OOPS I almost forgot "The Guardian". He was there to make sure they couldn't finish their quest or that Duncan became so fierce with anger in the heat of battle that he would take his head because then the curse would be removed from him.
Anna's visions can be explained simply as a strong emotional connection to Duncan which enables her to have that kind of ability. (like when you sense something bad will happen to someone close to you and you don't know why just that you do.
If I'm correct in my interpretation (and those of you attending the Con may get the chance to ask) it would have taken a great deal of ingenuity to put it in movie form and pull it off so I think all things considered along with the problems getting the costumes made (which AP mentioned) that a lot of work went into it and I think the editing took out a lot of key things that would have made it better.

Sharon D.H.

09-21-2007, 11:12 PM

Thanks, cocoknight, for your input and answering my questions. The movie is really very spiritual when you think more on it. It also makes one think of their own mortality and how little time there is for us on this earth to try to do right. Not waste time with bitterness and hatred. Forgive and try to be more like Duncan in that we should try to give mercy instead of revenge or our own brand of "justice".

If there is going to be two other movies to this one, I think they might try the Star Wars effect in that they start in the middle and tell the story that way, with the beginning being the end, in a weird sort of way.
It may be quite interesting.

Peace to all

Sam

09-23-2007, 10:12 PM

;) You are welcome Sharon and I do agree with the first part.
About Star Wars though I'm not really sure. I'm probably the only person on the planet who didn't like it. Watched the first two and after that ...well...

evrmc1

09-24-2007, 02:46 AM

I watched it twice. It was a little dark to me. The TV shows were a lot better.
Its a shame that all had to die to find the One being pure of heart. All of this just to have a kid. I have seen worst. I guess I liked the flash backs best of all in the TV shows. I guess it was a pay check for AP.

murphy430

09-24-2007, 12:16 PM

I re-watched it this weekend, and without the commericials every 8 minutes it was a much better movie. If the American version would take out the filler of the re-runs at the end that would be a huge help. Sure hope the dvd version if it comes takes that out and puts back in the line by Duncan saying that Joe was the father who never threw him out. Why that one second worth of film was edited out is quite a mystery. It only adds to to the story not detracts.

Molly

09-24-2007, 07:17 PM

Just saw the movie last week. A few comments:

About Methos, all a bit tough on him: I always liked Methos and think this movie wasn't the scene for him to be his old self as in the series. This movie was dark and meant to be so. Times were chaotic, troubling, to the point of evil, and the end was near. No one...no one knew what the "Source" was, in truth, and no one knew who would be the "One". Methos cared deeply for Duncan. He shows that in this movie well.

The best part for Methos was when he was on the makeshift "cross" telling off the Priest dude, saying something to the effect of "I walked with Jesus and learned from him, watched what he did, and you...you are no Christian..." Whatever the lines were....

The movie's end was a bit odd to me...caught me off-guard, I guess. Not sure but I have to watch it again to see if I like it or not.

Duncan was tired of living so long and for what? He had no idea of the "what for". He lost his loves, he couldn't procreate, what was there to live for? Can't blame him for losing hope. I think I would. How could you even have faith if you watched everyone else die with the hope of eternal life when you have immortality? Ironic.

vicjbr

09-24-2007, 10:19 PM

I just gotta say, that I LOVED THIS MOVIE.... All the movies and all the episodes, Duncan couldn't have children...this was just too sweet....I cant wait to see if they do a sequel about the baby... I thought that the scene where methos told uncan to go after his wife, was so like Methos...
The sex scene between Anna and Duncan was also very nice.
I was really sad when Joe died tho. When you think back to how they first met in season 2, n how their friendship grew, there was no better was for him to die, with Duncans sword protecting Duncan. It was so nice that Duncan buried his sword with Joe too... All that they went thru with Horton...It was a nice closing..

Now, as much as I loved this movie, I have 1 question... In the series Duncan was dating apalm reader. and the she said... "You will have many loves, but you will never marry, not me, not anyone".... I think that it would have been better if they got married at the end of the movie too... Because when he propossed to Tessa, they never even married....:mad: .....
And like many others I cannot wait for the DVD, to catch the extras

Thelt

09-26-2007, 10:31 PM

vicjbr

09-28-2007, 11:24 PM

I must have missed that part in endgame....

Vic
regardless......very good movie

:)

RottieGirl

02-28-2008, 02:51 AM

I finally watched it. I must say, it's not very good & it leaves me a bit puzzled. All the time in the series, Duncan had said that he could never have children. Not before he was immortal or after. In the movie, Anna was pregnant with Duncan's child. How did everything suddenly change? Please, someone clear this up for me. :confused:

MeridianXO

02-28-2008, 06:36 AM

It takes some getting used to. I had to watch it about twenty times to start liking it. My dad, who really isn't familiar with the story liked it the first time around, despite the plot holes and dorky dialogue in some places (His words, not mine). The fact that I just admitted to watching it twenty times tells you that I REALLY WANTED TO LIKE this movie. *haha* I didn't even mention that I have three different regions of it now and I pause certain scenes quite frequently...No, no, no. Not THAT scene. Get your minds out of the gutter people. *Grins* No, I pause for scenes that would appear to be rather trivial to some...Okay...all, but Jenni, who gets stuck dealing with my eight page e-mails discussing it in scientific detail. :p

As for the answer to the question, the PRIZE is the ability to have a child. Or, at least that's what Duncan's prize is. I still haven't figured out if the prize is the same for everyone (I'm ignoring the whole mortality thing cause it's kind of dorky...My words, not my dads *haha*) who 'could have won'. Just picturing Reggie with a kid makes me snicker and the visual of Methos trying to explain "Believe me, I've seen it all" to a disbelieving teenager causes quite a few smiles as well. Oooo, a plot bunny just smacked me upside the head with that idea. Too bad I stopped writing fan fiction.

Anyways, does this answer your question? I had to re-edit this post so many times because the urge to insert much dry humour about this movie kept sneakin' in when I was checking for spelling errors.

It really is good if you give it a few more chances...It'll grow on ya. ;)

~Heather