Capitalizing on that '80s boom of sci-fi action blockbusters, director Russell Mulcahy was determined to bring Highlander to the big screen which involved different time periods, sword fights, and the legend Sean Connery. That sounds great on paper, but the end result was a box office flop. That being said, Highlander went on to achieve cult icon status and even spawned a sequel due to its over-the-top cheese factor and perhaps its story. But one thing is for sure with Highlander, there's nothing else like it today, and it serves as a nostalgic piece of cinema where a lot of great talent came together to create something this bold and fun.
A young and barely English-speaking Christopher Lambert (team Raiden), and a menacing Clancy Brown, along with Sean "you're the man now dog" Connery serve as some of the highlights of the film. With Michael Kamen and Freddie Mercury delivering the score and song pieces for Highlander, the value and tone of the movie are raised with each scene inside their melodic madness and genius. This also amplifies some of Mulcahy's camera shots and transitions as he navigates both timelines with effectiveness and an odd nature that is full of surprises.
But on the other hand, his inability to shoot intense and fun fight scenes might be one of the reasons people have flocked to this cult film because these action sequences make no sense and look like they were orchestrated by someone's nine-year-old brother. Still, that's what makes Highlander cult-level enjoyable. Well, that and Sean Connery hamming it up on the screen.
READ OUR FULL FILM REVIEW OF HIGHLANDER HERE
Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Highlander travels to 4K+Blu-ray in a steelbook from Lionsgate and Best Buy. The discs are housed inside a glorious steelbook case and an illustrated clear plastic sleeve. The artwork features new artwork of the sword and the two leads fighting it out. Inside are more illustrations of the big fight scenes and one of Lambert himself as well. It looks amazing. There are four lobby cards along with an insert for a digital code inside as well.
This Highlander Steelbook comes with a stellar 2160p UHD 4K transfer with Dolby Vision and might be the best the film has looked since it was released all those years ago. This is the same transfer we covered a few weeks ago.
This steelbook release offers both a DTS-HD 5.1 mix and a DTS-HD 2.0 stereo option. The 5.1 track is more fluid with better bass and an overall immersive atmosphere, especially with Kamen and Mercury's music being implanted. Again, these are the same tracks from our previous coverage.
There are over 283 minutes of bonus features dedicated to this movie here. New and vintage interviews, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes, and three commentary tracks are all on tap.
4K DISC
BLU-RAY DISC
Highlander is here to stay and there is not only one anymore, but many versions of this release. This Best Buy Exclusive might look the prettiest though with its steelbook artwork, 4K + Blu-ray Discs, inserts and postcards inside, and more. For fans of the film, this might be the ultimate way to view the film and pay tribute to the work of the fantastic extras. Highly Recommended!
There isn't just one - also available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray:
Highlander - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Highlander - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector's Edition [UK Import]
Highlander - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook [UK Import]
