Highlander III: The Sorcerer (Highlander: The Final Dimension) (1993)

5% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
39% of users liked it
(38,133 ratings)

This theatrical sci-fi action tale is actually the first in a series of direct-to-video features derived from re-edited episodes of the syndicated television show Highlander (1992-1997). Adrian Paul stars as Duncan "Mac" MacLeod, kin of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), the main character from… More This theatrical sci-fi action tale is actually the first in a series of direct-to-video features derived from re-edited episodes of the syndicated television show Highlander (1992-1997). Adrian Paul stars as Duncan "Mac" MacLeod, kin of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), the main character from three previous Highlander features. The MacLeods are two of a race of Immortals, destined to wander the planet forever, capable of dying only by beheading and battling with swords of those of their ilk that have gone evil. Connor appears to help Mac battle Slan (Richard Moll), a fellow Immortal gone wrong, but Slan gets the best of Connor, hurling him from a bridge, leaving Mac to finish Slan off. Months later, Mac becomes involved with another Immortal, Reinhardt (Christopher Ohrt), and his girlfriend Rebecca (Vanity). Believing Reinhardt dead at Mac's hands, Rebecca seeks vengeance for her lover's death, but Mac discovers that Reinhardt, still alive, is manipulating them both. This revelation leads to a final showdown between Mac and Reinhardt. Highlander: The Gathering (1993) also introduced some of the TV series' regulars, including Mac's best friend Richie (Stan Kirsch) and girlfriend Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Andrew Morahan
Written By: Brad Mirman, William N. Panzer
Genres: Action & Adventure, Television, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Jun 16, 1998
Studio: Hemdale Home Video

Critic Reviews

Derek Elley, Variety
An unbelievably trashy meltdown of the tartan warrior franchise.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
How could an action-adventure film that cost $34 million, most of which clearly went into pyrotechnics, computerized special effects and scenic locations, end up looking cheap, silly and lifeless?
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
As for Van Peebles, he's quite the ridiculous sight and sound.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Mostly the film morphs into a block of dullness.
, Empire Magazine
Lame, but in a good way.
, Time Out
Lambert is as uncharismatic as ever, while Van Peebles is as frightening as a wrestler in mock angry mood, and just as ridiculous.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
This has got to be the worst franchise every created.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
There should have been only one!
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
How tough could it be to make a "Highlander" that makes sense?
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
One of those uninspired films that gave sequels such a bad name.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
They definitely don't come any worse than this.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
This is the end of the Highlander series, they say. Not an eon too soon.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The most illogical of the trilogy.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
If it wasn't set eight years later, no one would never know the difference (and of course, never mind the ultra-cheesy, low-budget special effects!).
, BBC
What it can't copy is the first movie's sense of surprise: we're never jolted by any of the sword fights here as we were with the original's broadsword battle in a carpark.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

David L

Ignoring the events of "Highlander 2," this film picks up 9 yrs after the first. We find MacLeod living with his adoptive son in Morocco and satisfied that he is the last immortal and has the coveted "Prize." Soon he receives a cognition that more immortals are… More
Ignoring the events of "Highlander 2," this film picks up 9 yrs after the first. We find MacLeod living with his adoptive son in Morocco and satisfied that he is the last immortal and has the coveted "Prize." Soon he receives a cognition that more immortals are alive (revived from "death" by an archaeological dig) and packs for NYC for a duel with the evil sorcerer immortal Kane. Made while the TV show was at its peak, this film benefits from the influence of its narrative and production style that had been refined over the years. Most of the characters and their relationships (especially the love interests) are thin and underdeveloped. The movie relies heavily on nostalgia for the 1st film for the impact of its emotional scenes. It also mirrors it's story to the point of being a near remake. The police hunt subplot simply drops out of the picture near the end and the villains are too silly to be threatening. The special f/x are enjoyable but underused (Kane barely uses his illusions during fights.) Still, the deja vu, and pretension and trickery themes are well handled (though not explored as much as they could have been). Lambert is as appropriately melancholy and good humored as in previous entries, Van Peeples is clearly having fun with his deliciously devilish over the top performance exploiting every villainous cliché in the book, Unger is soild in her role and quite beautiful (even more so in the obligatory sex scene, of course), and Mako's dignified presence is, of course, a welcome addition to the "Highlander" saga. The special f/x were good for its time and are still fairly impressive today. Overall, a competent production and a mildly entertaining, if rehashed, film with some interesting ideas that were not fully realized. This is the best of the sequels
Dean M

The third entry in the series has no discernible plot and suffers greatly from the absence of Sean Connery as the Highlander's mentor.
Jason S

We go back to the original premise but it takes on a new level of "What the..."
xGary X

Another feeble sequel to Highlander that again ignores it's own rules. Tries to recapture the magic of the original, and fails miserably.
Steve B

Just when you thought it couldn't possibly be any worse than Highlander II... Logic takes a vacation in part three of the increasingly-mind-numbing Highlander series. Van Peebles is frozen in the 14th century (or thereabouts) and thaws out in the 20th. Macleod is no longer… More
Just when you thought it couldn't possibly be any worse than Highlander II... Logic takes a vacation in part three of the increasingly-mind-numbing Highlander series. Van Peebles is frozen in the 14th century (or thereabouts) and thaws out in the 20th. Macleod is no longer "only one" (though since Van Peebles wasn't actually DEAD all this time, one wonders how Macleod got the prize in the first place), and has to do battle with Van Peebles -- who, for some reason, knows how to drive a car and use a FAX machine. Brilliant. It just doesn't get any dumber than this... at least until Highlander: Endgame.