It isn't so much that the screenwriters (Art Marcum & Matt Holloway) are telling a different story, but that they are telling the same story in the wrong way.
[EDIT]
...in the original film it is implied, though never clearly stated, that the immortals live by a certain code and that part of that code is to only use an edged weapon of choice (usually a sword) in their duels. You never see an immortal pull a shotgun or AK-47 and unload on their opponent, then calmly woke over to take their head.Yet in the remake the use of firearms is not only allowed, it is welcomed. At one point in the script while Ramirez (MacLeod's mentor, played by Sean Connery in the original) is teaching MacLeod how to fight, he tells him to always become proficient with the weapons of the time, and use whatever is necessary to gain an edge.
Later we see MacLeod employ a sniper rifle in the hope of catching The Kurgan unawares and dispatching him from a safe distance. This all might be practical, but by including this element much of the charm of the original film is lost.
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“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison
This is disappointing. If there's ever a franchise in need of new life, it's Highlander - while I enjoy the first film, it's essentially an intriguing concept that isn't done nearly as well as it could have been. This doesn't seem like it's improving upon the original in any way.
Yet another franchise that Hollywood is attempting to ruin even more than it already has been.
Seriously. Hollywood needs to let this shit go. A sniper rifle from a "safe distance"? Since a bullet won't kill him (he'll just heal), by the time he gets there to "take his head", he'll have gotten up and walked away. The whole point of the sword fight is so you're in close when it's time to make the kill and it can be done immediately.
Highlander, Ghostbusters, The Three Stooges, etc, etc, etc. They're completely out of ideas and are just content to sit there and remake everything over and over and over again.
I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT MAKES SENSE. IT WORKED FROM TIME TO TIME ON THE TV SHOW, SO I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM. USING AN EDGED WEAPON WAS NEVER PART OF THE CODE. THE SWORD WAS JUST THE MOST PRACTICAL WEAPON FOR CUTTING OFF AN OPPONENTS HEAD.
"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
The Mangler Bros. Psycho Dayv Armchaireviews Notes on Suicide
But the sword duels and celtic myth feel are supposed to be a theme of Highlander. Highlander with guns,lol.
That makes about much sense as Jason shooting people dead with a gun instead of goring them with a axe.
That is okay though not many franchises left i care about they cannot change or ruin.
I wonder how GI JOE is going to be, probably as bad as tranformers or bayformers.
The reboots for robocop and freddy kruger will be shit too i'm sure.
Next thing they redo conan the barbarian as well and have that sin city hack direct it.
“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.
I'm intrigued by the Robocop remake, but only because Darran Aronofsky is at the helm, and I've absolutely loved every film he's made so far. Pi is like an Eraserhead that actually kinda makes sense; Requiem for a Dream is the best film about addiction I've ever seen; The Fountain is a heartbreaking metaphorical musing on how we deal with death; and The Wrestler is the best character study I've seen since Taxi Driver. If anyone can "get" Robocop and do it properly (I enjoy the original, but it's a bit stale today), it's him.
Though I have to say, I'm quite happy his version of Watchmen never happened (although it's not like Snyder did the greatest job in the world).