@@lamarkatchings1109 Actually, Highlander - The Series was from the 90s. It would have been great if he starred in better action movies after the show ended in '98. But also, Adrian Paul is in great shape these days, he teaches sword combat classes. Cool dude.
I think it had more to do in era before streaming there were more limited number of movies and shows and those that existed wante bankable stars. Yes, Highlander had a hell of a following but it was on smaller networks for mist of its run although more international in presence but Adrian’s acting style was not something seen as A list but i hear him speak and realize his natural speaking voice sounds very Bond and he could do all the fighting scenes himself. He really should have been given chance in bigger movies or tv series after that but I think he was probably tired of constant tv shooting schedules already. Bond had Brosnan and Adrian would have been similar to Connery, Dalton, Brosnan and I don’t think he was under consideration then but at same time as Timothy Dalton and Pierce who were bigger names. I thought it should be Adrian Paul rather than Craig but Craig is better actor overall but Adrian looks more like Bond should and the better fighter. Daniel Craig was bot sophisticated enough for Bond whereas Adrian Paul was and the Duncan character had that. So much goes into business that viewers don’t always get what they want.
@@globaltiger9370 It had to do with the fact he was overly "identified", "copy/pasted", "associated" with this character of Duncan McLeod, exactly as Guy Williams was too much associated with Zorro character. People could not see anymore in another role and that's why his career has been fucked up by the same character we like to watch him act still today.
I think the surprise factor of this move has more to do with why Connor thinks it's unbeatable than the actual mechanics of it. It's easy to figure out how to defend against it if you see it at half speed and then have some time to practice it, but it's an unorthodox move that Connor probably came up with himself or learned from Ramirez so other immortals most likely wouldn't recognize what he was doing and have a defense ready I think this is the real reason he emphasizes the importance of manipulating your opponent's mind; the "wait wtf just happened" reaction like Duncan's is just as key as mechanically executing the move properly
Became more of a Duncan fan, as he became the highlander, playing the role so much longer in the series and movies. Connor always seemed less skillful/sure with the sword, turns out the reason for that was Christopher has an eye condition making him practically blind without his glasses, and an immortal wouldn't need to wear glasses... that almost cost him a finger when he had an accident in Highlander2, while fighting Michael Ironside. I think Highlander set an amazing standard when it came to period pieces
I went to the highlander sword experience last year. I wish I had known it would be such a work out. I was gassed by the end. Adrian Paul was a class act as well. Very nice and approachable.
@@punkinfingerz7439 Or you just start historical fencing for a fraction of the costs. And learn how Rapiers, Fechtfeder and longswords have been used back then. To be fair, Adrian Paul seems like a really nice guy. When his swordxp was in Hamburg, two of my club mates and fellow trainers where his co-trainers for the event. I think they had lots of fun there.
@@mephisto8101 I wish I can be there but I don't live in LA or in Chicago I wish I can learn from THE Duncan Macleod trained by the bad ass OG Highlander Connor Macleod.
@@dolria1 the stronger in the skills of the sword and quicking? Maybe he is but he didnt have the heart. In any form of combat, you need to be ready physically, mentally, spirituality, socially, and emotionally. Any part out of wack will throw off your game.
@@erikdrum6934 Connor knew he was going die. He knew he was mentally stronger than Duncan to die. He decided to go out on his own terms rather Kell's and decided Duncan's quickening was where he would spend eternity rather than Kell's
@@dolria1 Duncan was the better fighter in the modern day, he grew to be much faster, stronger, more agile and a master of the martial arts. He surpassed Conner by the time they met in Endgame
I just realized the reason why I like this scene. Of all the sword fighting he did in the franchise, this was the only one where Conor actually looked like he knew what he was doing and moved like an expert swordsman. In the other scenes with a katana, he looked like a 5 year old trying to chop wood with a heavy two handed axe.
@GoldBeard The Thirteenth We have met in Carthage. You were there when the Roman Legions burned my city. You killed me and my family. Now I am back and I want revenge. Met me in Rome at the Colosseum
that super move lockbehindhead looks awesome at first but then like a guarantee to loose your head immediately after. his sword becomes a guide for the other guys sword ... who just needs to pull left and head is gone. also love duncans flashback accent, its so funny.
if connor learned this unstoppable move from Ramirez then why Ramirez didn't use it against the Kurgan? As i said in other comments the whole continuity of the story is a great mess!
@@BrotherDerrick3X yes you have a point here! After all Connor had not only Ramirez as mentor but also had Nakano in Japan! But i think that the movie ENDGAME erases all the facts from the previous sequels even from the movie HIGHLANDER 3 THE SORCEROR that had a "logic" continuity. In this movie Connor was closed at the sanctuary after the death of Rachell that happened at the age 2000. And also in the previous films Connor was the only immortal left alive except of Kane that was trapped in Nakano's cave in Japan for centuries
There's one fault to your logic there - if you watch, you'll see that Connor has his hand on Duncan's sword arm, which gives him leverage while also serving as a brace against Duncan sliding his sword to the left. That's how he forces Duncan to spin and open himself up to the decapitation strike. The best defense against this move (aside from Kell's wrist blade deus ex machina) is to step back, which would pull the sword down against your opponents arm, slicing through the muscles and tendons (the arteries if your lucky, and taking the whole arm if you're really lucky). The resulting pain will prevent your opponent from performing the decapitation strike, and leave them vulerable to a stomach thrust or and over-head blow if you're fast enough.
Chris has been a smoker most of his professional life and Adrian had trained in various forms of athletics most if his life (Dance, MA). Perhaps he comes from better genetic stock as well?...Im sure lifestyle choices may have been a factor.
I like to think that the reason that some immortals look older than they started out is because eventually the age catches up with them. Ramirez was all salt and pepper by the time he met Connor but I am willing to bet he looked a man of 20 when he became immortal 2000 years prior. That's the only reason why I can fathom that Connor looks older in the present day.
Actually it's because they age naturally until they die. Kenneth died aged ten and was around for over eight hundred years. They get stuck looking like whatever age they were when they died.
Immortals don't age, they get stuck at the age they where when they "died" as normals. Connor looks older, because Christopher Lambert was 15 years older than when he did the first film. We just have to accept that he's supposed to look like he's still just a guy in his lat 20s. We just use supension of disbelief for it.
Duncan was very young when the training took place (1631-1592 is 39 actual years old). I think this was before Duncan’s first quickening(s) so he had a lack of training beyond Clan warfare (he was killed in Battle) so it wasn’t the same as 400 year old Duncan who had significant training and experience. Duncan seemed more active in the game than Connor was throughout his life but they both had period out of it. Conner supposedly had 262 kills to Duncan’s 174 in endgame and Kell having 661 so only explanation is Kell sought out immortals to kill where the other two didn’t and avoided killing. It was mentioned thatConnor didn’t have will to live longer besides in Duncan - Connor took the deaths of the few he loved even harder and he loved Duncan like both a father and brother. Duncan had far more social relationships in life than Connor had - Conner was a loner who didn’t attach easily where Duncan had many friends throughout his life and was more extroverted. He knew Duncan would live on where Duncan’s death would have broken Conner as it was really his only significant living attachment. The characters have kinship but were very different people.
I think it was mentioned that Joe thought that Duncan would lose to Grayson and that was first time Duncan killed a very old and powerful immortal and Joe expected Duncan would lose and he would get reassigned but Duncan ended up winning with the unexpected move when he was about to be beheaded and this made Duncan much stronger going forward in the show there after.
It is unknown how powerful Darius was perhaps more than Methos or any immortal at time of his death since he beheaded Emrys and perhaps other truly ancient immortals that were many times older than Methos at the time of their deaths but Emrys turned Darius good and Darius left the game and all the power Darius had left the game since he wasn’t beheaded by an immortal but by hunters without another immortal in the vicinity. Not sure difference in series if Actor that played Darius would have lived and Darius continued to be mentor and good council to Duncan .
@@alexanderhaakan8829 he encountered hermit immortal in cave and the hermit wanted Duncan to take his head which Duncan didn’t want and hermit took his own head and Duncan got his first quickening which he didn’t understand and repressed the memory until Conner found him. Hard to weave storylines across series and movies that were consistent though as film happened long after series so keeping timeline challenging but point still that Duncan new at game and still being mentored and taught.
Nobody overheard them talking about immortals but I guess real reason is they all spoke Italian in there and nobody knew English especially in whatever year this was in 1600s.
Funny. I have never supposed at any moment Duncan was the one going to die at the end. Just logically. Kell is presented to us as a Connor's antagonist killing all his relatives to make him suffer. So, it was much more probable Connor sacrifizing to allow his last living relative to defeat him than himself killing a one he cares about to defeat Kell.
Probably if your opponent wants to monologue, you can just slide the blade to the side and....well probably wont behead but still leave a nice cut. These are just movies, in reality people would rather pull a gun or go straight for a kill if both using swords. Not bothering to talk talk talk.
There's likely a counter, but it isn't sliding your blade inward. The trouble comes from the left arm grab. At the beginning of the move Connor grabs Duncan above the elbow. He might be able to get a tap with his wrist, but if you do that, your elbow goes out as you engage. If you move your wrist in to try and go for a hit, you weaken that arm. Connor just has to push. He's holding the tension on the blade with the back of his head and that separation gives him a hold to complete a shove. He can block a neck slice by just moving his head back but worse, Duncan is separated from his blade and Connor has the lower center of gravity forcing Duncan to outstretch his arms. Basically as Duncan's sword is away from his body, he loses strength, and Connor is at ideal position. In swordsmanship it's very bad when someone gets into your center and your blade it outside it, if someone gets between you and your blade, usually that's the end - so while this move is "unstoppable" you have to analyze it from earlier - because this moves already almost complete by the time they're interlocked. A headbutt seems logical, but because Connor is lower, it's actually much harder to do this and it will throw you off balance again. If you want to counter that move, it has to be earlier, but funnily enough here's where the whole thing breaks down. At 2:04 it's already over, Connor has his sword inside Duncan's center, with Duncan's sword outside of it. He's toast at this point - the crossguard and the close-in spacing makes it difficult, but Connor can score a very debilitating hit right here by turning to his right and slashing. It's an awkward left handed slice that needs to negotiate a crossguard - but if Duncan tries to resist that by manipulating the crossguard further, same issue as before - his elbow goes out and he loses all his power. He can also step-in and go for a slash through - basically a shove using the side of the blade. Connor can put the side of the blade right into Duncan's face and Duncan can't do much about it. That's a winning hit. There's something to be said for the fact that Connor just blocked by doing a direct hit on a blade as he turned, risking its integrity... But funnily enough they switch to thicker blades for this maneuver, you could break a rapier trying the first counter Connor does. So somebody knew what was up. Duncan could get out of this by simply retreating, but the premise was, "Attack me". The only thing about this, the "setup" Connor describes isn't the actual maneuver - it's just "a setup" so it kind've escapes analysis, because the part he wanted to show was the unorthodox grapple / guard. This whole thing comes down to a mid-fight grapple and an unusual way of bracing your sword. The guy that plays Duncan is actually a very capable martial artist, it wouldn't surprise me if he made sure this move was at least viable. They mention it needs to be executed properly, to cover the fact that this position is pretty absurdly dangerous, and very specific, but we're also dealing with people who are thousands of years old and do nothing but prepare, and execute, sword fighting maneuvers. To put it another way, it may seem absurdly specific, but when you're dealing with people who have the time these do to practice it, absurd starts to become the norm. It's similar in any sport - someone comes up with a gimmick, then everyone uses it and finds the counter. There's always a counter. I think the whole "unstoppable" bit is him trying to say that you can manipulate an opponent with unorthodox moves, and to learn them, which might be what makes it so unstoppable... strange unique tactics work. As swordfighters learn moves, the odds of a "new" move become viable meta becomes higher and higher, so... it is incredibly unlikely anyone would go for this setup given that a nearly-debilitating cut could be made without any technical necessity, but... in the right situation almost any ridiculous move CAN work if you execute it properly. You wouldn't see fencer's do a backflip, but over thousands of battles, eventually you'll see a dozen people try it and eventually one land it. But all in all I'd say it's way too complicated to be viable, and setting it up looks wildly impractical. You give up a sure-hit just to set it up... And if it's anticipated, and you turn BEFORE you're thrown, you can likely avoid the cut by dashing in and slightly to your right, causing them to have to adjust their footwork to complete the swing - it'll be awkward, but you need to spin in, not away, so very likely to beat this it ends up being a very awkward grapple, which is less sword-fighting and more wrestling at that point - at least for the relevant evade. I hope that was useful.
@@BigMac8000 i'm not gonna read that wall of text. i will just ask, why couldn't duncan just level his blade on connor's shoulder and slide it into his neck? connor uses his head as a fulcrum to exert rearward horizontal pressure on his blade, but that shouldn't prevent duncan from raising his grip to shoulder level to release connor's trap.
When I was young(er), EVERY TIME a new Highlander movie came out, I would hope "maybe THIS one will be awesome again". And EVERY TIME I would be disappointed. Nothing ever came close to the first one. And, oh god, they want to reboot the "franchise". Now That I've grown up...please...just let it die. There can be only one (film).
A huge problem with EG is that it proposes the idea that the number of heads an immortal takes is the prime determinant of their power, which was never suggested in the previous films or the series. The Prize is suggested to be the ultimate power, but here we’re basically told that you’re building to it with each victory. Duncan defeats - and that easily on a few occasions - much older and more ruthless immortals, any of which should have taken many more heads and possibly as many as Kell. Methos himself is suggested to be an inferior opponent to MacLeod despite the fact that he has to have at least double or triple the kill count.Just a bad premise all around.
I never understood why they had Connor Macleod killed off by his fellow-clansman Duncan in Endgame. Was it because Christopher Lambert got sick of the role that he wanted out of the franchise?
Christopher Lambert has a eye degenerate condition. He was going blind. And being the fact he is swinging a sword while blind, he could have seriously injured or kill somebody.
@@ETH5626 it was also a passing of the torch between the older highlander and the younger highlander. It was going to take the two of them to defeat Cain. Conner had the strength and knowledge to defeat Cain but he lacked the heart because Cain can get inside Conner's head. Duncan had the heart but lack the skill and strength to defeat Cain. Conner was willing to sacrifice himself to give Duncan what he needs to defeat Cain.
@@erikdrum6934 Maybe but it still sort of dick move just to kill off Connor. I'm sure there could have been another way to beat Jacob Kell without killing off Connor cause Killing him off like that was a huge mistake for the franchise.
Lambert and Paul were great choices for The Highlander rolls. Instead of Endgame. A movie about Connor training Duncan..That would have been excellent . Instead of Lambert losing his head
My same thought exactly. Watching the movie endgame i was highly disappointed of how Connor died in the end. He was the stronger between them both, and he should live, not Duncan. I saw the movies when i was 7-8 yo and after few years i watched few episodes of the series. For me, there is only one Highlander- Connor Mclaud. Killing him was a huge mistake for the frenchise. His accent, his acting- Christopher Lambert is the one and only Highlander. The first movie and the third movie are the only movies for me. All the rests are garbage.
@@dolria1 I liked it, Connor lost his will to live, knew that Duncan combined with his strength still had love in his heart and the desire to overcome.
@@jonathanmora8208 its a kind of posta di donna into durchgreifen (meanig grabbing the arm). The position in which connor has the sword behind his head is actually quite a strong position for grappling and for striking the opponents face with the pommel. The end of the technique is bull,but alltogether the scene is quite well choreographed.
They screwed up big time by making Adrian Paul survive the "Endgame" movie considering it is Lambert who "tricked" him in the righ position to lose their fight how good of a swordsman can you be to do that?!
You probably know this, but incase someone else reads you comment and is confused, its because its from the movie which was made after the TV show ended.
Actually it was filmed during the final season. Also, Duncan never needed to employ such a maneuver because he was generally superior to everyone he faced in the Series. Kell was the only opponent he ever faced who he wasn’t better than/evenly matched with. Honestly, Kell isn’t even all that skilled a swordsman; he’s merely aggressive, opportunistic and a master of manipulation. Kurgan he wasn’t, though he seemed to have Kurgan-level raw power in a more refined and patient package.
Connor primarily resided in france for so long he gained a French accent but it was addressed in movie when cop asks Connor (As Nash) with comment he talks funny where he is from and Nash/Connor responds, “Lots of Different Places”. Lambert was french but it makes sense if Connor lived in france and french was often lingua franca to civilized society during much of that time.
I STILL don't understand why older immortals felt driven to train newbies; I mean, they don't gain anything from it, and if they do their job TOO well... 💀
Because some believed in redemption, and also others didn't buy the trope of "only can be one". Which turned out to be true. Forgiven, peace and working together for a better place on Earth. If you watch the later series and installments with Duncans character.
It's a tradition. The good and less good see each other more as brothers, knowing they may one day be the few left. Even evil ones often take a mentorship when it suits them. Even a few of them had a measure of loyalty between them and would avenge the death.
The good immortal wants to increase the chances that a good immortal will win the prize. Whilst the evil immortal wants the other evil immortals to whittle down the other immortals so when its comes down to it, they have a better chance of winning. Also it would be very lonely for them if they only hung with mortals as their life span is way less then theirs
Duncan may have been dead by that point since Highlander the movie is supposed to take place after the TV show, that being said this movie, and the one that came after it aren't exactly viewed in a kind light.
The explaination is that the events of the original film was a mini-Gathering. In reality, the films and show shouldn't be connected. Heck, the original film shouldn't even have sequels.
Duncan wasn’t invented. Connor won the prize in ‘85 (yes, ‘85 not ‘86. Listen to what Brenda Wyatt says). Duncan appears in the TV series. Which in my opinion happened in another time....
A rapier would be a terrible sword for cutting a head off. The katana, often used in these movies, is an actual cutting sword while the rapier's primary function is to stab, not to slash.
@ Fly Beep Fuck ! now i can't watch this SHIIITE! knowing that just ruins it ! LOL! well really joking aside i knew that already ; having done some fight direction now i just recalled the series intro QUEEN on the soundtrack beginning and ending with that katana slash swoooosh ! ENJOY!
Luis Alberto Franco Garcia He was a legend among immortals. He was trained first hand by the legendary Ramirez, who was known to be an excellent swordsman. He also trained with the legendary sorcerer Nakaki. And so he was taught by the best. And he was unusually kind for an immortal, whereas most immortals seem to have been rather dark and ruthless. Furthermore, the fact that he defeated the strongest immortal in existence, the Kurgan, cemented that he was perhaps the best.
Connor wasn’t trying to beat Duncan as he wanted Duncan to take his head. The entire fight at the end was Connor forcing Duncan to take his head as he knew Duncan wouldn’t unless forced, not only that Connor by that time was broken and had no desire to carry on.
@@tyrantgregcagkaiju71 Oh Duncan executed it properly but somehow Jacob was able to block it with a wrist blade what Connor said was fucking bullshit "Unstoppable." my ass.
They move with the vigor of very tired old men. Also, why would you stand in a left guard with a one-handed sword? To expose your left side and shoulder? Highlander, sadly, never had good sword duels, and that includes the original movie.
As much as I dislike this movie, I like the relationship between Connor and Duncan. Now the part where Connor tells Duncan "Properly executed my friend..." to me it would had been better as "Properly executed my Kinsman..." since they are Kin and from the same Clan. I disliked the idea that the Immortals were changeling babies that were found and had no real human connection to people. It was the folly of the Highlander 2 movie that they had made them aliens, and then never really explained anything. I made my own fan fic origin that all Immortals were descendants of the Nephilim.
no friend works better since just because they are kinsman doesn't mean they have to be friends and i'm almost sure the highlander 2 movie was classified as non canon
@@majinnemesis Highlander 2 definitely is not Canon. But my point is that the original novel that was written for the original movie dictated a limited amount of Immortals based on that one was born every generation. Granted that it was a bit of a hassle because it made it seem like only just a few were born, that idea was not too bad to an extent. In my idea this actually happens but obviously it has happened since the dawn of humanity with the mingling of renegade Angels and humans creating the Nephilim. With their destruction, their seed mingled with humanity gave birth to the Immortals, and such The Game was meant not only to cleanse humanity of the blood of the Nephilim but to provide the world a chance for betterment but as Immortals were basically humans with the seed of Immortality based on their angelic genetic connections, their line is spread throughout humanity. Like in the ancient times humans were given rules of Divine origin, so Immortals were too given their own which were an extension of the regular humans but included the rules of the Game and a prophecy that mentions in description the Macleod line without being direct. These rules would make sense as to why they are not to fight in what is considered Holy Ground. The Kinsman thing is better to me because since the Highlander franchise has them being this "Changeling" BS, Connor and Duncan being actual family from different generations like in my idea makes so that their bond is not just friendship, it is family. Unlike Ramirez and Connor whom were extremely great friends that would had needed to fight in the future (Had Kurgan not taken out Ramirez or Connor) the prospect of family facing family is stronger considering that Immortals can't have children.
This "unstoppable move" is just bs. Connor is blocking his sword with his own head while Duncan can freely cut his arm and neck by just moving his sword to the side. Prime example of movies often doing swordfights completely wrong. Stuff like that, turning the back to the opponent and waving the sword around like a child usually fill out the checkbook of dumb movie swordfights. 😁
Love the sound effect of the sword right at the end as Connor spins his sword around after showing Duncan the "unstoppable" move, like the sword is razor sharp! 😂😂 yet when Duncan says he's in control and Connor says "are you!?" over Connor's shoulder you can clearly see the sword is just pressed or cut metal in to the shape of a sword has no detailing of the blade or nothing!-yeah great razor sharp sword you got there Connor 😂😂
It's a blunt practice sword. These are called "feders" and are used for practicing longsword. But I can confirm from experience they make that noise when they slide. If you're unlucky its the last thing you hear before getting popped in the face and even with a fencing helmet that rings the bell lol.
@@thelonerider9693 awesome to know they did their homework there! You see that's what made our films great!! All those subtle little things are what make the BIG difference!
@It's Candy Time Boys and Girls You're just baiting someone to say that out loud aren't you? LOL! ~~ well indeed it is almost CANDY time HALLOWEEN up ahead ! ENJOY!
There won't be another unless there's a reboot. Both actors are too old to play their roles, and neither is interested in reprising those roles. Plus the last several Highlander movies/shows were... calling them bad is to be generous.
DANGEROUS COMEDY True, but even a sequel needs to provide proper foundations for the audience. Perhaps some fans are introducing their friends to the franchise with this particular entry. It’s kind of like how every succeeding episode or season of a T.V. show always begins with a recap of the previous entries.
One of the few highlights of this lame flick...this whole franchise was flawed by tried to shoehorn into a perfect original film (the theatrical release, not Mulcahy’s crappy director’s cut) that was fully resolved by the end. It should have been all prequels. Seeing immortals through history would have been much better than what we got. Hope the makers of the John Wick films remember this for their reboot.
