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Phineasbg/ HIGHLANDER II: Extended Versions (Released)

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 (Edited)

Highlander Returns, The International Version (AKA, Highlander 2 The Quickining/ U.S Title)

A CHANCE IT NEVER HAD…

Without a doubt, this is one of the more interesting backstage sagas in modern film. Once upon a time, a production team went down to South America to film a sequel to a very popular movie from 1986 called Highlander. Leading this team was the director of the first film, Russell Mulcahy, and there was no reason to believe that the production would go any way but smoothly. Fate, however, had other plans. During the course of filming, the local economy took a nosedive, and inflation went through the roof, driving up production costs. This caused tensions to flare in many quarters, and soon arguments began to brew between the production company, the director, and even the insurance company that held the completion guarantee for the film. In the end, final creative control over the film was taken away from the director; thus, Russell Mulcahy had no say in the final editing of the film, which instead was handled by others whose main objective was to try and come up with something that would make the most money as opposed to something that made sense. The original theatrical cut (for American audiences), subtitled The Quickening, which resulted from this so disgusted Mulcahy that he walked out on the premiere within the first fifteen minutes. A few months later, an alternate cut of the film with a little more footage was released for British audiences, this version resembled closer to the vision that the director originally had for his film. Years afterward, when the Highlander franchise began to enjoy resurgent success thanks to exposure to new fans through a syndicated television series, Mulcahy and members of the original production team went back and recut the film into what is called the Renegade Version for video release, which significantly alters the premise and recuts the Highlander returns version. This is the most generally accepted cut of the film as far as most fans are concerned. Incredibly, there may be at least one more cut of the film following the theatrical release’s premise, and there is still footage that has remained unused in any cut. No released version of the film is completely consistent with the original Highlander from 1986

One of the film’s saving graces is Sean Connery’s performance, short on screen time though it is (he filmed for a total of nine whole days). It’s obvious he’s having fun in the role (three and a half million bucks for just over a week’s work would make anyone happy, though, I suspect), and his scenes, particularly those before he reunites with Connor, are among the most amusing in the film. If the film is going to be relatively nonsensical anyway, might as well enjoy the fun parts, and Connery provides several of them, making the most of a bad situation.

Christopher Lambert is, of course, in his element as Connor MacLeod, a character whose screen persona he helped to shape in the first film. MacLeod is Lambert’s single best role, and it shows.

Facts about the International Version:
This version contains some of the footage from that is in the “Renegade Edition” although the sequence of events is more like the theatrical release. It also contains footage and dialog not seen in either of the other versions. Noteworthy differences include the following: During the opera scene the intercutting and the dialog is far superior that the theatrical or the Renegade version, it flows better.
While Katana is fighting the rebels on Zeist soliders from both sides use machine guns. Connor and Louise leave earth for Zeist at the end of the movie.
other added scenes included scenes only shiown in the TV version: At ther beginning of the film Brenda his wife is dieing of Cancer from the sun she has a wrist band that clearing signifies her passing. Evene more footage of the race to the top of the Earth above the shield and altenate dialog. The original dialog from the script is intact in most scenes.

This version was commonly used for television broadcasts and I have obtained a cut of the TV version and the Alternate cut in which I am talking baout.

What I need is someone or people with an interest to help me restore this to the best possible.

Using to versions.

Highlander 2 German internatinal cut
Highlander 2 JAPAN CUT - The American TV version

Now the Japan cut is fullscreen ratio 1:33.1 and colors are washed out and has onscreen no removable japanese subtitles, qulity is poor and sountrack is not much better. However, this soundtrack is the only copy of the version avaible in english. It has a horrible hissing noise but it will have to work or maybe we could work on it.

The German Highlander 2 is shown in the correct aspect ration of 2:35.1 the color is very fine and the defention very clear. However, sadly only has a 5.1 soundtrack in German and no English subltitles.

These version are almost identical until the last scene, in the Japan cut Connor and Louise leave earth for Zeist at the end of the movie.
The footage shown is the actually footage that is on the Highlander 2 Directors Cut new dvd IN THE outtakes/ DELETED footage area, but in the Japan/ TV version cut is in finished form , the horrible shot of Connor floating into space and Louise saying take me with you is the scenes I am talking about. This scene would be the only edit.
In the German Cut it ends like the Renegade version. This is the only change thus would allow us to add the Japan Cuts English dialog and overlay it onto the 2:35.1 footage of the German version up until those last few minutes.

I myslef do not have these capablities nor the computer to pull of this feet. What I am asking for is help. I will provide the Cut of the movies and if someone could overlay the english soundtrack and edit the scene and work on the english soundtack a bit, this would be great. Keep in mind this may be a bigger task than actually I am stating, the two speeds of the movie are off which in this case we would have to slow the pace of the Japan/ TV cut verus the german cut.

Please help me with this project, it has been something I have been trying to do for years but no one is ever interested. I think the Intrernational cut is somewhere close to what the director inteneded and often makes more sense in scenes. It would make a great addtion to anyones Highlander library.

Thanks.

Mitch.

BTW!! whoever helps me with this will have free rain to my complete movie collection, some of which people even on these boards say don’t exist, but I keep quite sometimes and beg to differ. I never give away all the apples.

peace…

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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I would be glad to help out as I just last week picked up a Deluxe Widescreen copy of The Renegade Version on Laserdisc at a Videostore that was getting rid of their Laserdiscs. Let me know what I can Do
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It's funny..just the other day I was commenting on how anything after the first Highlander didn't even need to be made. I saw the regular H2 and hated it. I tried sitting through the Renegade version, and stopped after fifteen minutes.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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LOL...hello again, DAYV. I guess we're done hijacking this thread. Sorry, guys.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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I have access to the 2 different 'Renegade' DVD sets here in Australia. Info on them can be found here.

To contact me outside the forum, for trades and such my email address is my OT.com username @gmail.com

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If you need someone to help clean up the Japanese version's soundtrack, I can help you out.

Let me know.

FF

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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"Hitler II: the Quickening" is one of the worst 10 "films" ever excreted; the only way to edit it to a watchable form is to shorten it by 110 minutes.
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Thanks for the interest guys! I personally think this project is worth it. The thing that makes this special is the dleted and alternate footage, it fills in the blanks and makes sense, it is far superior to the renegade cut. You'll see!!!

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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I have a copy of the version that came out about a year or two ago where they re-did the Special Effects and reinstated the Deleted Scenes. I had often thought of doing a further fan edit to try and recapture the magic that was the original. Maybe one day...

-B
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"it is far superior to the renegade cut. You'll see!!!"

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but one of my biggest problems with any version of H2 is the inital premise: the stupid shield over the Earth. Unless you can make that go away.......well........

Oh, and immortals coming from another planet kinda blew it for me too. In my mind, the film just went in so many wrong directions all at the same time. If it had been anything other than a Highlander film, it might have been better - it just seemed like someone took two very disparate films, and tried to slap them together.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Probably a mistake, but here in France, Highlander 2 was released on DVD with the Us cut instead of the international cut that was released in french theatres. I have it and it has a english track and a 16X9 transfer.

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Updated!! Fanfiltration has given the green light to have a look at it. I want to thank everyone thats involved in the fanfiltration team.

It is possible that once and if we complete this cut and transfer we may be able to edit it with all the avaible version to create a Highlander 2 thats fits in the Highlander Universe, there are ways. But for now

This fan edit will rock... you'll be amazed.

Again, a special thanks to Fanfiltration for giving it a look atleast.

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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Originally posted by: Mitch
Highlander Returns, The International Version (AKA, Highlander 2 The Quickining/ U.S Title)

A CHANCE IT NEVER HAD......

[EDIT]

What I need is someone or people with an interest to help me restore this to the best possible.

Using to versions.

Highlander 2 German internatinal cut
Highlander 2 JAPAN CUT - The American TV version

Now the Japan cut is fullscreen ratio 1:33.1 and colors are washed out and has onscreen no removable japanese subtitles, qulity is poor and sountrack is not much better. However, this soundtrack is the only copy of the version avaible in english. It has a horrible hissing noise but it will have to work or maybe we could work on it.

[EDIT]

Mitch.....



Mitch and others that may be intregued by this project,

I may have some very good news on the restoration of this film's "International Cut".

Looks like I have found a LASERDISC of the "Japan cut" with the "no removable japanese subtitles" and the LD cover is in japanese too. Got it for $5. It's being shipped to me from Australia. If we are lucky, this will have a beter quality english soundtrack on it that can be overdubed onto the German version's letterbox video. Let's just hope this Laserdisc is the cut of the film we want for this project. Man, I would hate to think I spent a whole $5 on the American cut.

More to come...

FF

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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http://www.geocities.com/fanfiltration2006/highlander2-info.jpg

Hey, I Got this "VHS press kit". It's a nice little bonus for your Highlander 2 Restoration project.
Highlander 2: The Quickening VHS press kit.
Includes:
-Press kit. 5:00
-Christopher Lambert (I cannot die) 1:40
-Connery/ Lambert (I can help you) 1:51
-Madsen/ Lambert/ Connery (An Eternity) 1:14
-Ironside/ Lambert 1:45
-Trailer 2:04

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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Few more "Highlander II" items I got for a DVD bonus/extras section:

A production used script, and 3 production storyboard sets.

This complete script is dated May 7th 1990, and is 106 pages long.
http://www.geocities.com/fanfiltration2006/H2-script-101-a.bmp
Also, 3 sets of printed production used storyboards each approximately 70 pages long.
http://www.geocities.com/fanfiltration2006/H2-art-2.GIF
I can scan all this in for the extras.

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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Wow! Fanfiltration is a class act, I myself didn't even know that stuff existed.

This DVD is gonna be rockin when it's finished.

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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This is a terrible film, of course, but there is something that deserves a reedition - the real Highlander... A release that would combine the different features from the currently existing ones and add some new ones. For example, the two versions of the script. The early version is quite an interesting read - it's strange to see the opening at a porn cinema, the famed tagline existing as "There can be BUT one", the character of "Richard Taupin, alias Conor McLeod" sobbing "I'm the last. Oh Christ, I'm the last one! I can't stand it. Oh God, I can't stand it! The scream of your blood. The shriek of trees. Stop it!" or another character by the name of "Juan Cid Romirez" crying "Oh, Santa Maria! Madonna!", as he gets slashed to pieces by the never-named villain that would become Kurgan...
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Originally posted by: SammyTheBull
"Hitler II: the Quickening" is one of the worst 10 "films" ever excreted; the only way to edit it to a watchable form is to shorten it by 110 minutes.


Poor, poor, poor "Highlander 2".
It's just too bad this movie has had such a bad time of it.

If there is one film out there that is in definite need of a fan edit, it's this one!

It's very true; Highlander 2 was one of the biggest disapointments in film history. But in fact, it's not at all a bad production. The acting is passable, cinamotography is on par with other big films of it's time, and the sets show a good deal of production value (even if the huge street set tends to look a bit more like a ride at a movie studio theme park at times).

The original USA edit is 100% BAD, and the Renegade version does not go far enough for my personal taste.
Well, that's why people like us do what we do. EDIT!

Building a better "Highlander 2" can, AND WILL be done!

With all the versions of H:2 around the world, and with so much alternate and deleted footage available for our use, a fan edit just has to be (at least) attempted.

Just for fun,
I know of at least nine Sci-Fi related moves that I would say are worse (or atleast no better) then "Highlander 2".

I would pop "Highlander 2" (The Original US version) into my DVD player before I would even look at:

1) Battlefield Earth 2) Spacehunter (Adventures in the Forbidden Zone) 3) Conan: the Destroyer 4) Matrix: Reloaded 5) "AI"
6) Bicentennial Man 7) The Phantom Menace 8) Batman and Robin 9) Event Horizon 10) Red Planet
Let's go on.....
11) Alien Resurrection 12) The Fifth Element (Chris Tucker killed this!) 13) Independence day 14) Armagedon 15) The Avengers
16) JP2: The Lost World 17) Waterworld 18) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 19) The Postman 20) KRULL 21) Revenge of The Sith

FF

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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Not that this is intended to be a listing thread, but:

"9) Event Horizon"

Great film/effects/acting/setting, until Sam Niell comes back to the ship rebuilt. Then it all turns stupid.

"11) Alien Resurrection"

Better than 3.

"12) The Fifth Element (Chris Tucker killed this!)"

My first DVD. Tucker did a great job.

"17) Waterworld"

A guilty pleasure.

"18) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"

Fun to watch.

"20) KRULL"

I just recently bought this little gem on DVD.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Call me crazy, but Bicentennial Man is one of my favorite films...and Waterworld...and god help me, even The Postman.

Really, really disliked the new Star Wars films.
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After the project of creating an English dilaog on the German WS Cut. I was toying with some ideas.

A future ultimate fan cut. Like Fanfiltration stated " A re-cut must be done"

With all the cuts the deleted scenes and all the footage from the versions we have someone could create a exteneded cut and then from there retool it and refine it.

Some ideas -

Cut Ramerez and his plane ride. By just showing him on plane will be enough - need to cut all the scenes inside the plane ride including the dumb scene wherer the inflight info shows him a plane crashing and his reaction to it. That whole scene is a good example of trying to add humor by failing miserably.

Cut - All of the Katanas Goons Luaghter. I actually tried this years ago, just that added a lot to the film.

Cut - Katana telling hid goons dialog to go to Earth except the part where he says "go there, find him, Kill Him" and cuts the laughter of the goons.

Add - back in the scene where Katana steps on Brendas grave, I love how Katana toys with Connor in this scene.

Cut - Katanas Cab ride completly - everything specially Jerry Prichert. This scene is funny but adds nothing to the movie - i think it's an example of underesting the audience. I am sure Katana is capable of getting to the wherehouse for his battle fine and we really don't need to know how he got there, the scene just plain sucked. Plus, it would add to Connors entrance into the wherehouse, suddenly we here Katanas and we are like holy shit.

Oh ya!

Cut -on Katanas extrance when he has the famous 600 mile per- hour subway ride trims are needed here. cuts of the dash board showing the mph could be moved around to show only 200 mph shot of the dashboard. Also cut katana line " this isn't Kansas anymore"

Add - the full german cut version of Connor and Loiuses trip above the shield and what they see, this scene was sweet.. It shows them actually climbing to the top of the mountain.


These are jusy some examples that would improve he over=all quality of the film, anymore idea Fanfiltration or where you thinking the same thing?





Cut -





Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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I agree with cutting out the incessant laughter of Katana's henchmen. Also, either edit down or remove his insane subway ride. I have to disagree and say leave ALL of Ramirez's scenes in tact. He is the only comic relief in the movie, and has more charisma than any other character. To remove any of his scenes (or parts of them) would be a crime.

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Update - I have sent the German cut and the TV cut to Fanfiltration 3 day priority mail for them to look at.

Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.

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Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.