Highlander: The Source

Last updated
Highlander: The Source
Highlander 5 poster.jpg
Poster
Directed by Brett Leonard
Screenplay by
Story byMark Bradley
Based onCharacters
by Gregory Widen
Produced by
StarringAdrian Paul
Peter Wingfield
Jim Byrnes
Thekla Reuten
Cinematography
  • Steve Arnold
  • Dmitrij Gribanov
Edited byLes Healey
Music by George Kallis
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date
  • September 13, 2007 (2007-09-13)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13 million
Box office$213,205 [1]

Highlander: The Source (released in some countries as Highlander 5: The Source) is a 2007 American science fantasy action adventure film directed by Brett Leonard. It is the fifth installment in the Highlander film series. The film and its prior installment, Endgame (2000), follow the continuity of Highlander: The Series (1992–1998), continuing the story of immortal swordsman Duncan MacLeod, with actor Adrian Paul reprising his role from the series and Endgame. It is the only Highlander film not to feature the original protagonist, Connor MacLeod. Taking place in a future version of Earth that is largely violent and chaotic, the story depicts Duncan and allies seeking out an energy well that may be the "Source of Immortality".

Contents

The Source is the only Highlander film not theatrically released in North America. Instead, it was broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel on September 15, 2007. Originally intended as the first of a planned trilogy of Sci-Fi Channel original movies, no further sequels have been planned due to overwhelming negative response. At the 2009 Highlander Worldwide Convention, TV series producer David Abramowitz referred to The Source as a "bad dream" Duncan had.[ citation needed ]

Plot

In the near future, parts of human society have fallen to violence and chaos, with many now living as homeless scavengers and gangs fighting over territory. A group of immortals still has resources and access to advanced technology. It includes the ancient Methos, computer hacker Reggie, warrior Zai Jie, and Cardinal Giovanni, who represents the Vatican. The group seeks to locate the "Source of Immortality". Zai Jie seems to find a lead on its location. However, while contacting the group, he is killed by the Guardian of the Source, a monstrous immortal with unnatural speed. Convinced that they need help, Methos asks his old friend Joe Dawson to find Duncan MacLeod.

Duncan separated from Anna Teshemka, his mortal wife who decided that she could not remain with him because of his infertility. While wandering the wastelands, MacLeod is attacked by the Guardian and fights back before Joe Dawson recruits him. They rendezvous with Methos's group at a monastery to meet with the Elder, an ancient being that can help locate the Source. At the monastery, they find Anna, who has been having visions related to the Source.

A group of immortals once found the Source in ancient times. Upon slaying the Guardian, two of the three survivors were cursed, with one of them becoming the new Guardian while another became the endlessly decaying Elder (the third is later implied to have been reincarnated as Anna). Anna's visions mean that she knows the way. The Elder warns that the closer they get to the Source, the weaker they will become and lose their immortality.

The Guardian arrives and attacks Reggie and Dawson on holy ground. To save Dawson, Duncan throws his katana at the Guardian, temporarily wounding him. Unaffected, the Guardian breaks the sword and kills Joe before escaping. Duncan then buries Joe and leaves with the others to find the Source, which seems to be on an island ruled by gangs of cannibals off the coast of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea.

After fighting locals, Duncan finds two butterfly daggers and decides to use them as his new weapons. The group then drives to a deserted house close to where they believe the Source to be. That night, the Guardian starts slashing Reggie. Due to their proximity to the Source, his wounds do not heal, and he dies. After burying Reggie, the group continues. During the journey, Duncan and Methos conclude that the expression "there can be only one" does not refer to one person becoming the last immortal and claiming the Prize, the power of all immortals who ever lived. It actually refers to the fact that only one immortal can claim the Source's full power.

At a roadblock, the group is captured by cannibals. While the cannibals celebrate, the Guardian frees Anna and forces her to accompany him to the Source. Giovanni then escapes. Believing it is his destiny to be "the One", he leaves Methos and Duncan to die. Duncan then frees himself and Methos. Methos concludes that Duncan is "the One" due to his incorruptible nature. He rides off on a horse to distract the cannibals, allowing Duncan to chase after Anna. Meanwhile, Giovanni is decapitated by the Guardian.

Duncan finds Anna in a clearing. The Guardian appears and challenges him. Now yards away from the Source, MacLeod matches the speed and strength of the Guardian. Anna seems to commune with the Source. When Duncan tries to join her, an energy barrier blocks him. The fight continues and MacLeod uses superhuman speed to bury the Guardian in the ground up to his neck. Now immobilized and defeated, the Guardian demands death. MacLeod refuses and so the curse does not transfer to him. The Guardian vanishes in a blast of light, screaming that he is now "cursed forever." Having proved his purity of heart, Duncan joins Anna and connects to the Source. As they stand together, the film ends with the image of a fetus.

In the DVD release of the movie, dialogue is added which reveals that the couple will have a son. Duncan declares that "He is the One."

Cast

Production

As early as 2001, producers of the previous film, Highlander: Endgame , were discussing plans for a fifth film with fans at conventions. [2] However, the production of the film was plagued with several problems. The original rights holders, Miramax Films, decided to sell the rights back to the producers due to the lackluster performance of Endgame. Also, Adrian Paul refused to reprise his role as Duncan Macleod, as he was disappointed with the previous film. At this point, the producers decided to ask Christopher Lambert to reprise his role as Connor Macleod (despite the character having been killed off), but Lambert demanded more money. The producers were left with no choice but to renegotiate with Paul again, even offering him a producer's credit as well. In July 2005, Lionsgate Films acquired the rights to the film under the title Highlander: The Journey Continues, with director Brett Leonard at the helm as director, and actor Adrian Paul in the lead role as Duncan MacLeod. Leonard said: "Highlander is an amazing ongoing story that I can bring my visual style to. Everything I have done has led me to this kind of mythical fantasy." [3] Filming began in October 2005, [4] and concluded the following December. In June 2006, Adrian Paul revealed that Highlander: The Source had been undergoing editing and visual effects work. The actor said that composer George Kallis had been brought on board to create a film score that was recorded by an 80-piece orchestra. [5] Production was originally intended to be filming in Africa before it was decided to film in Europe.

Release

US release

Lionsgate had originally planned to release the film in 2006. [6] When that plan failed to work out, several release dates were listed in various places; for example, February 2007 was listed in some official The Source auctions, as well as on actress Thekla Reuten's own website, and March 2007 was listed on composer George Kallis' website. Eventually, even the official auctions began using simply a broad "First Quarter 2007" release date. As of February 14, 2007, producers Peter Davis and William Panzer of Davis/Panzer Productions, in conjunction with Lionsgate Entertainment, were editing and remixing the film.

Lionsgate finally released the film as a direct-to-TV movie, which premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel on September 15, 2007. Screenwriter Joel Soisson ultimately won a Writers Guild of America screenplay-credit arbitration, and was listed in the final U.S. release's end credits under the pseudonym of "Mark Bradley". Plans to continue the films with The Source being the first of a trilogy have since been abandoned.

In 2008, a short film called Reunion was released in the DVD collection of Highlander: The Series. The film, written by series producer David Abramowitz and directed by Don Paonessa, starred actors from the show reprising their roles. The story did not acknowledge the events of Highlander: The Source and seemed to contradict it in some ways, taking place around 2008, roughly ten years after the end of the TV series. At the Highlander Worldwide Convention the next year, TV series producer David Abramowitz referred to Highlander: The Source as a "bad dream" Duncan had, leading many fans to dismiss it from canon.[ citation needed ]

Despite previous announcements and long-standing rumors that a "Producer's Cut" of the film would be released straight-to-DVD and/or theaters in September 2007, the U.S. Sci-Fi Channel aired the film at 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM Eastern, on Saturday, September 15, 2007 as a "Sci-Fi Original Movie". [7]

Russian release

An early version of Highlander: The Source, which had been shown to distributors in October 2006, was released on DVD in February 2007 in Russia, and was quickly copied and distributed online. These copies of the release began to proliferate across the Internet. The same cut was later released in Brazil, Poland, [8] Romania and Germany. [9] [10] After this release, producer Peter Davis stated that the Russian version was not the final producer's version, and that Lionsgate would release the finished film in September 2007. [11] This was the TV premiere, eight minutes shorter than the Russian version, and featuring different opening and closing narration.

Reception

Critical reaction to Highlander: The Source was universally negative. Christopher Monfette of IGN gave The Source a score of 1 out of 10, saying: "The worthwhile days of Connor MacLeod, it would appear, are officially over—dead, decapitated, and depleted of their power. The struggle for an immortal to move through life unchallenged has since mutated into an awkward arrangement of mismatched mythologies, TV-to-movie crossovers, and a steady stream of low-budget, direct-to-DVD cash-cows which may, in the end, prove to be the only truly immortal thing about this series." [12]

Brian Orndorf of DVD Talk gave the film one half star out of five, saying: "The Source is nothing less than a parody of what has come before. If you've seen the previous sequels, you already know that's saying something. There is some relief that this franchise will finally be put out of its misery, because nobody in their right mind would try to keep this series going after watching just how boneheaded Highlander: The Source is." [13] Danél Griffin of Film as Art gave The Source one half star out of four, remarking that "it's bad—cheesily bad, colossally bad, monumentally bad, bad enough to make you never want to watch another movie again bad." [14]

Keith Breese of FilmCritic.com gave the film one star out of five, saying: "Not only will Highlander fans be disappointed by the film's nosedive into nonsense, but the average viewer will be stunned by the backyard quality of this film. The acting is uniformly terrible, the special effects are hideous, the sets are cheap and grubby, and the direction is uninspired. The film is an utter failure. ... Surely this is the final nail in the coffin lid for this film series. If it isn't, then something is truly wrong with the universe." [15]

The Sci-Fi Movie Page gave The Source one and a half stars out of five, saying: "Just when you think that this is a franchise that can't sink any lower, along comes Highlander: The Source. ... One gets the impression that The Source was filmed with theatrical distribution in mind but that no sane cinema distributor would touch it with a ten-foot barge pole. Good for them. Instead it went straight to the SciFi Channel and now the DVD shelves where you should let it stay, collecting dust." [16]

Related Research Articles

Highlander is a media franchise created by Gregory Widen. The series began with Highlander, a 1986 fantasy film starring Christopher Lambert, who played Connor MacLeod, the titular Highlander. There have been four theatrical Highlander films, one made-for-TV film, two live-action television series, an animated television series, an anime film, original novels, comic books, and various licensed merchandise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Paul</span> English actor (born 1959)

Adrian Paul Hewett is an English actor best known for the title role of Duncan MacLeod on the television series Highlander: The Series. In 1997, he founded the Peace Fund charitable organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan MacLeod</span> Fictional character from the Highlander multiverse

Duncan MacLeod is a fictional character and the protagonist of Highlander: The Series, which ran for six seasons from 1992 to 1998. The character also starred in two spin-off films, Highlander: Endgame and Highlander: The Source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tessa Noël</span> Fictional character in Highlander

Tessa Noël is a fictional character in the television series Highlander: The Series, portrayed by Belgian actor Alexandra Vandernoot. A professional artist and sculptor, Tessa is the lover and confidant of the series protagonist Duncan MacLeod, played by Adrian Paul, an immortal swordsman born centuries before in the Scottish Highlands. In the pilot episode "The Gathering," Tessa is said to have been in a relationship with Duncan for twelve years already and the two co-own MacLeod and Noël Antiques in the fictional city Seacouver, Washington. Alongside Duncan, she is a mentor and friend to young Richie Ryan.

<i>Highlander: The Series</i> Television series

Highlander: The Series is a science fantasy action-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the eponymous "Highlander". It was co-produced by Rysher Distribution in the United States, Gaumont Television in France, Reteitalia in Italy, RTL Plus in Germany, and Amuse Video in Japan. An alternate sequel to the 1986 feature film Highlander, it features a storyline in which the protagonist of that film has not won "the Prize" sought by all Immortals, who still exist post-1985. Christopher Lambert reprised his role as Connor in the pilot episode, which introduced series protagonist Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal who was taken in by the same clan of Scottish Highlanders who had found and raised Connor generations before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connor MacLeod</span> Lead character of the Highlander franchise

Connor MacLeod, also known as The Highlander, is a fictional character in the Highlander film series, and appears in the extended franchise of the television programs: Highlander: The Series and Highlander: The Animated Series. In the films and live-action series, he is portrayed by Christopher Lambert. In the animated series, he is voiced by Lorne Kennedy.

<i>Highlander: The Search for Vengeance</i> 2007 anime film by Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance is a 2007 adult animated dystopian fantasy action film and an anime installment in the Highlander franchise. The film was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and was written by David Abramowitz, also the writer for Highlander: The Series, Highlander: The Raven and Highlander: The Source. The film was a joint venture between Imagi Animation Studios and Madhouse Studio, with Imagi providing the script and the soundtrack, while Madhouse produced the animation. It was produced in association with Davis-Panzer Productions and distributed by Manga Entertainment on June 5, 2007 and aired on July 30 on Sci Fi's Ani-Monday block. The film is dedicated to the memory of William N. Panzer, who died in 2007, and was the co-owner of the Davis-Panzer Inc., which was the company who created the franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Dawson (Highlander)</span> Fictional character

Joe Dawson is a fictional character in the Highlander franchise, created for the live-action TV show Highlander: The Series. A marine who leaves active service after losing his legs during the Vietnam War, he finds a new calling by joining the order of Watchers, people who record the lives and actions of immortals who secretly live on Earth. His main assignment during the course of the show is to chronicle the life of protagonist Duncan MacLeod, an immortal swordsman born in the Scottish Highlands. When the Highlander learns about the Watchers, he meets Joe and the two eventually become friends. Joe Dawson is portrayed by actor Jim Byrnes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda (Highlander)</span> Fictional character

Amanda is a fictional character in the television series Highlander: The Series and Highlander: The Raven, portrayed by actress Elizabeth Gracen. She is one of the Immortals, immune to old age and death except by taking the head off. Some Immortals play The Game, seeking each other out for a duel to the death, for which the survivor is rewarded with a Quickening.

<i>Highlander: Endgame</i> 2000 American film

Highlander: Endgame is a 2000 American fantasy action film directed by Doug Aarniokoski and starring Adrian Paul, Christopher Lambert, Bruce Payne, and Lisa Barbuscia. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series and it serves as a continuation of both the Highlander film from 1986 and the Highlander television series. The film reunites Duncan MacLeod, the lead character of the series, and Connor MacLeod, the lead character of the films. In the film, the Macleods need to deal against a new enemy named Jacob Kell, a powerful immortal who is willing to break any rule to win the Prize. This marks Lambert's fifth and final appearance as Connor. Highlander: Endgame was released on September 1, 2000. A stand-alone sequel, Highlander: The Source was released seven years later, with Paul reprising his role.

<i>Highlander</i> (film) 1986 fantasy film by Russell Mulcahy

Highlander is a 1986 British-American fantasy action-adventure film directed by Russell Mulcahy from a screenplay by Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood, and Larry Ferguson. It stars Christopher Lambert, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown, and Sean Connery. The film chronicles the climax of an age-old war between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and present-day storylines. It is the first film in the Highlander franchise.

James Horton (<i>Highlander</i>) Fictional character

James Horton is a fictional character from Highlander: The Series, portrayed by actor Peter Hudson. A mortal Watcher, he is protagonist Duncan MacLeod's archenemy and fellow Watcher Joe Dawson's brother-in-law.

In the Highlander franchise, human beings born with the power of "the Quickening" become immortal if they suffer a premature death by unnatural means. After the First Death, they are ageless and invulnerable to death unless their head is removed or destroyed. From the time they are born, immortals and "pre-immortals" cannot biologically have children. Immortals can sense each other's presence and may take Quickening power from another of their kind by beheading them. They duel each other across the centuries, a deadly "Game" with few rules. One day, the last few will fight during "the Gathering" and the survivor will win the Prize, the collected energy of all immortals who ever lived, enough power to conquer or destroy humanity. "In the end, there can be only one."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie DeSalvo</span> Fictional character

Charlie DeSalvo is a fictional character from Highlander: The Series, portrayed by actor Philip Akin. A martial artist and former Navy SEAL, he works with and befriends the series protagonist Duncan MacLeod, an immortal swordsman from the Scottish Highlands. He was introduced in the third episode of the second season, "Turnabout", and was a recurring character throughout season two and three. Like MacLeod's allies Richie Ryan and Joe Dawson, Charlie often aided the Highlander in adventures where they attempted to protect people from criminals and evil forces. In the season four episode "Brothers in Arms", he appeared in his twelfth and final episode.

Watcher (<i>Highlander</i>)

The Watchers are a fictional order of humans who record the lives and activities of immortals in Highlander: The Series and Highlander: The Raven, as well as related stories and movies.

<i>Highlander: The Series</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the international fantasy series Highlander: The Series, part of the Highlander franchise, consisted of 22 episodes produced between 1992 and 1993, and began airing on October 3, 1992 in broadcast syndication. Highlander: The Series follows the adventures of Duncan MacLeod, a 400-year-old Immortal who can only die if he is beheaded; conflict inevitably finds him because he is part of the Gathering, an ongoing battle in which all Immortals have to fight and behead each other until only one is left. The season was released on DVD as a nine-disc boxed set on November 12, 2002 by Anchor Bay Entertainment. It is also available at the online video on demand service Hulu, a joint venture between NBC and Fox Broadcasting Company.

<i>Highlander: The Series</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of the American drama/adventure television series Highlander began airing 25 September 1995 and finished on 26 May 1996. The series continues to follow the adventures of Duncan MacLeod, a 400-year-old Immortal who can only die if he is beheaded. MacLeod is involved in the Game, an ongoing battle during which all Immortals have to behead each other until only one is left.

<i>Highlander: The Series</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of the American drama/adventure television series Highlander began airing 23 September 1996 and finished on 19 May 1997. The series continues to follow the adventures of Duncan MacLeod, a 400-year-old Immortal who, just as the Immortals of the movies, can only die if he is beheaded. MacLeod is involved in the Game, an ongoing battle during which all Immortals have to behead each other until only one is left.

<i>Highlander: The Series</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of the French/Canadian drama/adventure television series Highlander began airing 5 October 1997 and finished on 16 May 1998. It was the final season of the program. The series follows the adventures of Duncan MacLeod, a 400-year-old Immortal who can only die if he is beheaded. The ongoing battle between Immortals is known as the Game.

<i>Highlander: The Game</i> Video game

Highlander: The Game is a cancelled action role-playing game based on the Highlander franchise; it was to be published by Square Enix for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game was announced in January 2008 by way of a trailer on Gametrailers.com. Highlander: The Game was officially canceled in December 2010.

References

  1. ↑ "Highlander: The Source".
  2. ↑ Harry Knowles (2001-09-17). "Highlander 5". Ain't It Cool News . Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  3. ↑ Paul Davidson (2005-08-04). "Highlander: Going to the Source". IGN . Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  4. ↑ Paul Davidson (2005-10-21). "New Highlander Starts Shooting". IGN . Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  5. ↑ Adrian Paul (2006-06-29). "Scoring The Source". AdrianPaul.net. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  6. ↑ Paul Davidson (2005-07-05). "How Many Highlanders Can There Be?". IGN . Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  7. ↑ Schedule Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine . scifi.com
  8. ↑ Monolith - DVD Details Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "e-m-s - DVD Details". Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  10. ↑ "e-m-s - Blu-Ray Details". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  11. ↑ Highlander: The Source Official Site Archived 2007-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Christopher Monfette, Highlander: The Source Review, IGN, February 14, 2008.
  13. ↑ Highlander: The Source Review, Brian Orndorf, DVD Talk, March 29, 2007
  14. ↑ Highlander: The Source Review, Danél Griffin, Film as Art
  15. ↑ Keith Breese. Highlander: The Source Review Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine , FilmCritic.com, 2008
  16. ↑ Highlander: The Source Review, The Sci-Fi Movie Page
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.