Highlander 3: The Final Dimension takes place at 1994, which means it’s a prequel of the second film. After the death of his beloved wife Heather some centuries ago, Connor MacLeod left the highlands of Scotland and wandered around the world. Finally, he got to Japan, where he met the famous sorcerer Nakano, who was an Immortal too. Soon, they became friends, and Nakano taught Conor some tricks. But one day, an old enemy, Kane, came to Japan willing to find Nakano’s cave and kill him. Although he succeeded, after cutting Nakano’s head the mountain collapsed and Kane was trapped. Now, centuries after, an excavation reveals Nakano’s cave.
Highlander III: The Sorcerer, also known as Highlander III, Highlander III: The Magician, Highlander III: The Final Dimension, Highlander: The Final Dimension and Highlander 3: The Final Conflict, is a 1994 American action-adventure fantasy film and the third installment in the Highlander film series. A stand-alone alternate sequel to the original film, it is the final Highlander film that focuses on Connor MacLeod as the protagonist. In the film, Connor MacLeod is forced to face a new, dangerous enemy; A powerful sorcerer known as Kane who threatens to win the fabled “Prize” in order to gain world domination by eliminating Macleod. It grossed between $12.3 and $13.7 million in the US.
The movie completely ignores the events of Highlander II and makes no mention of them. Also, in a 1996 Cinefantastique interview, Highlander producer William Panzer mentioned that several references to the TV series’ continuity were inserted into this film as a means of linking it to the TV universe.
Many of the locations in Scotland from the original film were revisited for this sequel. Several scenes were shot in province of Quebec[3] in Canada: the medieval Japanese village and the building in which Nakano’s cave is found were shot near Montreal. Plus, many sequences in New York were actually shot in Montreal, as well. Other scenes for this film were shot in Morocco.
The U.S. theatrical release was rated PG-13 (the rating is slightly noticeable in the poster featured on this page), and a slightly-longer R-rated Special Director’s Cut was later released on home video with two sex scenes trimmed from the theatrical release restored. On top of this, additional violence was reinstated, mainly the shot of Kane’s head rolling off. The PG-13 theatrical cut originally only showed Kane’s head wobbling from side to side, then cutting immediately to the extreme close-up on Connor saying, “There can be only one.”
Furthermore, several enhanced visual effects shots are present in the American version, including Kane’s arrival in New York City (via a teleportation portal, instead of stepping off of a freighter in the international version), as well as during the final Quickening sequence (where several additional shots of Connor levitating are seen, complete with new VFX work).
Also, the American Final Dimension cut includes alternate musical tracks and cues (including the song “God Took a Picture” during the ending credits instead of Loreena McKennitt’s “Bonny Portmore,” and a rock-instrumental version of Mötley Crüe’s “Dr. Feelgood” during the final battle between MacLeod and Kane).
Highlander III: The Final Dimension (1995)
Directed by: Andrew Morahan
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Mario Van Peebles, Deborah Kara Unger, Mako, Raoul Max Trujillo, Martin Neufeld, Daniel Do, Michael Jayston, Louis Bertignac
Screenplay by: Paul Ohl, René Manzor, Brad Mirman,
Production Design by: Gilles Aird, Ben Morahan
Cinematography by: Steven Chivers
Film Editing by: Yves Langlois
Costume Design by: Jackie Budin, Mario Davignon
Set Decoration by: Paul Hotte, Jean Kazemirchuk
Music by: J. Peter Robinson
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for strong adventure violence and some sensuality.
Distributed by: Miramax Films
Release Date: January 27, 1995
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