Watch Highlander II: The Quickening

Highlander II: The Quickening is a science fiction action film released in 1991, directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Christopher Lambert (reprising his role as Connor MacLeod), Sean Connery, and Virginia Madsen. The movie is a sequel to the 1986 hit film Highlander, which tells the story of a group of immortal warriors who fight for the ultimate prize: immortality. In Highlander II, we find Connor MacLeod living in a dystopian future New York City, where the ozone layer has been destroyed and the world is suffering from extreme heat.

In this sequel, we learn that MacLeod is no longer the last immortal, and that the immortals are not aliens as previously thought, but rather humanoids who were placed on Earth over 500 years ago to help stop humans from destroying the planet. They were hidden among humans and were supposed to fight amongst themselves until only one was left.

Connor MacLeod and fellow immortal Ramirez (Sean Connery) are tasked with protecting the Earth from a group of evil immortals, led by General Katana (Michael Ironside), who seek to conquer and enslave humanity. In order to do so, they must first regenerate their powers as immortals, which they had given up to become mortal and have lived for centuries since.

In order to do so, they must journey to the distant planet Zeist, where they will gain their immortality once again. Along the way, they are aided by Louise Marcus (Virginia Madsen), a scientist who helps them understand the true nature of their powers and the history of their kind.

Once they arrive on Zeist, they meet with Louise and the Zeist Council, who inform them that their immortality powers were given to them as a punishment for a rebellion they led against the evil dictator, General Katana. To regain their powers, they must first face Katana in a final battle on Earth.

The film is full of action-packed fight scenes, stunning special effects, and a memorable soundtrack by Stewart Copeland. The chemistry between Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery is a highlight of the film, and their characters' banter and camaraderie bring a lightheartedness to the otherwise dark and gritty story.

Highlander II: The Quickening was not well-received by critics upon its release, due in part to its convoluted plot and deviations from the original film's mythology. However, it has gained a cult following over the years and remains a beloved guilty pleasure for many fans of the franchise.

Overall, Highlander II: The Quickening is an entertaining and action-packed film that delivers on its promise of high-flying adventure and epic battles between immortal warriors. For fans of the original Highlander, it offers a unique and inventive twist on the mythology, while still honoring what made the first film so popular.

Highlander II: The Quickening is a 1991 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.2 and a MetaScore of 31.