In Last Action Hero Jack Slater, protagonist of the fictional action film series, complained about having to fight and defeat increasingly formidable opponents only to face even more formidable in each new sequel. This Sisyphus-like predicament is shared by Connor MacLeod (played by Christopher Lambert), protagonist of the film series started in 1986 with Highlander. The last appearance of that character occurred in 2000 with Highlander: Endgame, the fourth instalment directed by Doug Aarniokoski. The film serves both as sequel to three previous films and to The Highlander: The Series, television spin-off which was aired between 1992 and 1998.
At the beginning of the film Connor MacLeod is still the best of the Immortals, people with superhuman abilities that include long life than can be ended only by another Immortal. Yet the centuries of struggle with his peers have finally worn him down and after his beloved secretary and adopted daughter Rachel Ellenstein (played by Sheila Gish) dies in bombing attack on his New York apartment, Connor decides to quit and retire to Sanctuary, place for Immortals who want to end fighting for mystical Prize. That fight is continued by Connor’s cousin and fellow Immortal Duncan MacLeod (played by Adrian Paul). When Sanctuary itself is attacked by assassins, Connor is forced to take the sword for the last time and go against his former best friend. Jacob Kell (played by Bruce Payne) has some issues to settle with Connor from time when two of them were still mortal. Through centuries he has decapitated hundreds other Immortals and accumulated their power in such quantities that even Connor can’t defeat him. Connor and Duncan, whose former girlfriend Kate/Faith (played by Lisa Barbuscia) has joined Kell’s gang of evil Immortals, are forced to think about some extreme and unpleasant options in order to defeat Kell and prevent him from getting the Prize.
Just like the third instalment Highlander III: The Sorcerer, script for this film ignores certain plot details from the 1986 original, while relying more on the television series. Viewers who haven’t seen the latter in its entirety would have some serious difficulties while trying to comprehend all the important details. Scriptwriter Joel Soisson doesn’t help matters with parts of the plot that look artificially inserted into this film or are simply uncovincing. Romantic subplot between Duncan and his former girlfriend seems to serve no other purpose than an excuse for Lisa Barbuscia to provide some nudity and exploitative erotica. Bruce Payne, on the other hand, just like in so many films, goes over the top as villain. Adrian Paul is solid in his role, but Christopher Lambert is surprisingly good as Immortal resigned to his fate. Direction by Doug Aarniokoski is, on the other hand, poor and even fails to employ talents of Asian martial arts star Donnie Yen. Poor impression is somewhat improved when authors bring film’s bleak premise to its logical conclusion, at least if the character of Connor MacLeod was concerned. Endgame was greeted poorly by critics and by fans, with many of the flaws being attributed to studio executives’ meddling during production and cuts of exposition scenes that made it incomprehensible to non-fans. Adrian Paul returned to the role of Duncan in direct-to-video sequel Highlander: The Source, released in 2007.
RATING: 3/10 (+)
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