I’ve never seen any of the three Highlander films, or one episode of the syndicated television series, so I don’t know Highlander from Hi-C.  But I do know a good action film when I see it, and Highlander: Endgame doesn’t fit the bill.  It’s a slow-moving piece of garbage with choppy fight sequences and bad acting.

The story merges the paths of Connor (Christopher Lambert, from the first three films) and Duncan Macleod (Adrian Paul, from the television series) – two brothers that are members of an exclusive club of immortals.  Supposedly, each of the immortals battle each other, gaining the power of each person they slay.  At the end, only one immortal can exist, which makes no sense because immortal people shouldn’t be able to die!

In Endgame, a diabolical character named Kell (Bruce Payne, Howling 6), who, according to the film’s press notes, has become “the most invincible immortal ever.”  Say what?  That would be like saying that Mickey Mantle was the most Yankeeist Yankee of all time.  Anyway, Kell has killed over 600 immortals and assumed the power of all of his victims.  Only 5,000-year-old brothers Connor and Duncan can stop the power-hungry madman.

Endgame’s press notes also speak of “dizzying time shifts across the eons,” and, boy, they aren’t kidding.  In the film’s first five minutes, the setting switches from 1990 to 2000 to the 1500s.  Don’t look down to find your popcorn or, God forbid, leave to use the bathroom because you’ll be completely lost once you shift your attention back to the film.

Endgame is the directorial debut of Douglas Aarniokoski, who cut his teeth working as an assistant on the last three Robert Rodriguez films.  The screenplay was written by the sequel-happy Joel Soisson, who also penned Maniac Cop 3, The Prophecy 3 and the upcoming Mimic 2.  It’s supposed to be the final film in the series, and to that, I can only say, “Thank God.”

1:25 - for violence and some strong sexuality