Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (2007) (V)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Writers:

David Abramowitz (writer)
Gregory Widen (characters)

Release Date:

5 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

In revenge, patience is a virtue. And after a thousand years, Colin MacLeod doesn't give a damn about virtue ...

Plot:

An anime continuation of the HIGHLANDER saga, following immortal Colin MacLeod's quest for revenge in the future.

Plot Keywords:

Immortal | Revenge | Highlander | Hate | Warrior

Cast

Dave B. Mitchell	...	Malike / Additional voices (voice) (as David B. Mitchell)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alistair Abell	...	Colin MacLeod
Hank Banks	...	Joe (voice)
Kathleen Barr	...	Moya
Jim Byrnes	...	Doc
Emma Fairley	...	Deborah
Janyse Jaud	...	Kyala (voice)
Scott McNeil	...	Amergan (voice)
Thomas Perkins	...	Additional Voices
Zachary Samuels	...	Marcus Octavius (voice)
Debi Mae West	...	Dahlia

Also Known As:

Highlander: Vengeance (USA) (working title)
Untitled Yoshiaki Kawajiri/Highlander Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Germany:86 min (European Film Market)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | South Korea:15

Company:

Imagi Animation Studios

Trivia:

The character of Amergan was modeled on the character of Merlin from the film Excalibur (1981). Scott McNeil, who voiced Amergan, is a fan of Nicol Williamson, the actor who played Merlin in "Excalibur."

Quotes:

Colin MacLeod: You think anyone's listening?
Dahlia: I take it you don't believe in God.
Colin MacLeod: Take a look around. If there is one, he is an uncaring sadistic bastard.
Dahlia: Don't blame God. Global warming, war, pollution. If it looks like hell down here we did it to ourselves.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Highlander: The Raven" (1998)

Typical Kawajiri Film, (a good thing)

First things first, this is a typical Kawajiri film, as you may or may not know, Kawajiri is like a Japanese Frank Miller, meaning all his work share a distinctive feel to them, and follow a similar path story-wise. Some people call this auto-plagiarism, and bash it. However if you are like me, and have really liked his work, from Ninjascroll, to the Animatrix short, from "wicked city" to "vampire hunter D bloodlust", "lens-man", "Cyber city Oedo", etc etc. Then the mere prospect of watching some part of the highlander myth animated in this fashion will have your blood boiling. If you haven't guessed it yet, I really liked the film.

Lets start reviewing it part by part.

Story: It fits in the Highlander myth, this is not about any known Mcleod, so you may think of it as an alternative story-line. Everything is a little clichéd though, still beats the crap out of any Highlander sequel so far.

Setting: The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, very kawajirish, it has this "Fist of the north star" feeling to it, huge bad guys, wrecked urban landscapes, silent heroes, you know the drill.

Character design: Again typical kawajiri film, busty women, sharp factions, impossibly muscular males, you may love it or hate it, I really like it. This is no Inuyasha, boy....

Animation: Very Good, some less than stellar CG shots, and "matrix moments", if you can deal with that there are really well choreographed fights to be seen. Specially gorgeous are the fights that take place in the past.

Sound: Mostly OK, some voice overs could have been better, the movie comes in English just like Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust. There are some great accents to be heard when the Highlanders speak, however some secondary characters could have used better actors.

Music: Gorgeous, really symphonic gives the feeling of epic and greatness to the whole movie.

So if your love for highlander allows you to overlook some small flaws, and some kawajirisms you'll really like the movie.