Highlander III: The Final Dimension (1993)

By Greg
Score: 2/10

When it comes to sequels, you pretty much know what you're going to get. Similar characters to a story you're already familiar with. This film is of no exception, esspecially when the first film states "There can be only one." Highlander (1986) is a classic cult 80's film starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. Its not the greatest film, but it does make for an entertaining story of man who can't die, labeled an immortal, and then ultimately must fight against other immortals, until there can be only one. There are good immortals and bad immortal, Connor MacLeod is the victor and ultimately is the only one. Five years later Highlander II: The Quickening is released, nothing to do with the previous film, except Lambert and Connery return in the future when the world's ozone layer is depleated, this film will be reviewed at another time. Final we have number III.

The Final Dimension.

Alas, the film starts off muddled with a slight retelling of the origin of Connor MacLeod or his alias Russell Nash. And after becoming an immortal and losing his mentor (Connery in the first tale), he travels to seek out a mystic/sorcerer and learn the art of illusion and how to survive being an immortal, of course in the first its his immortality and longevity of experience that helps him to retain his head. Only new villain Kane (Mario Van Peebles) and two similar Mongolian looking goons, also want to acquire the secret of illusion from this mystic, taking his head and gaining his powers, this is the way of in this world of immortality. Sever the head and you get their power.  Of course, Kane beheads Nakano the mystic, obtains his power of illusion and he and his two goons are then caught in an avalanche and consequently frozen. Very much like a soap opera, the film was.

Jumping into present day, Nash, thinking he was "The One" now has  the feeling of yet another immortal. Which then contradicts the first film, very much soap opera mentality. Was for money, obviously, but truly whatever it was to make this installment, the idea failed. Its pretty standard, crazy illusions created by Kane to trap MacLeod, sword fighting, love interest cause drama, more sword fighting, kid gets captured to lure MacLeod, final sword fighting. Not much redeeming with this one, if you like lousy sword fighting, Mario Van Peebles or Christopher Lambert, this film is all you. Otherwise, there are much better sword fighting immortals, like the first Highlander, made in 1986. Its the only one you need, with a musical score by "Queen" can't go wrong.

Starring: Christopher Lambert, Mario Van Peebles, Deborah Kara Unger and Mako
Directed by: Andrew Morahan
Budget/Gross:  $26,000,000 (estimated)/$36,800,000 (Worldwide)
IMDB Rating: 4.0/10
Tomatometer: 5% critics and 39% audience liked it