Highlander 2 (Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, mediabook, July 2025)

[Nitroes]

TBC

Once a terrible film now saved from the jaws of defeat with the fixes they did. I don't think it's had many European releases on Blu-ray.

We need a 4K version.

I have the US release but might be interested in a cool mediabook.

3 discs.

Nothing on Leonine's site yet https://www.leoninedistribution.com/...mit=0&Itemid=0

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DYR9LZN6/

EAN: 4061229340298

[CompleteCount]

Like the Japanese set, you probably get both the "final" version and the theatrical cut, and with a third disc, you might have the Renegade version (with its cosmetic differences from the final version and the uncensored "like to sit on men's faces..." line).

It would be great if it contained the UK theatrical version, possibly the rarest of them all.

[HippieDalek]

3 Discs, coming out 16th May 2025.

I do know that Leonine were looking into a Blu Ray release a while ago, and I was fortunate enough to be in a position to make a few suggestions and requests to them, but I have no idea if any of them were taken on board. Either way I'm excited to see that a new release is coming.

I was only involved tangentially at the earliest stage of this release so I have no idea what the final form will be, but knowing the German market and Leonine my guess would be disc one will be a port of one of the US Blu Ray discs of the Special Edition, probably with a new German dub, with one of the other discs including the current Leonine DVD of the International Cut (German only). No idea what the third disc might be.

This is all just purely speculation though. I'd love it to be something more exciting.

I've always wished that Plaion had this title; given their treatment of Dune '84 and The Prophecy I know that they would go all out when it comes to preserving the alternate cuts. I'm very curious to see what Leonine have done.

[HippieDalek]

Now up on JPC too. Not much more in details, but it also lists 16th May 2025 as the release date. The runtime is listed as 109 minutes so most likely the Special Edition. Price is listed as €39.99.

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/movie/detai.../hnum/12209364

[Gotho(redux)]

Originally Posted by CompleteCount

Like the Japanese set, you probably get both the "final" version and the theatrical cut, and with a third disc, you might have the Renegade version (with its cosmetic differences from the final version and the uncensored "like to sit on men's faces..." line).

It would be great if it contained the UK theatrical version, possibly the rarest of them all.

Now for the million dollar question. Are any of these cuts actually any good?

[Nitroes]

I first seen this in a preview for the UK home video release and just wandered out of the viewing room after 15mins to help myself to the sandwiches and never returned. It felt a very broken film.

Fast forward to last year when I eventually picked up the US remastered/redone release and I really really liked it.

Entertainment Film Distributors had a terrible time with the film (they put a lot of money into it) like that other broken film they put money into 2 years earlier, Slipstream

The original cut will still be very broken.

The original main producers (Davis/Panzer (died during COVID)) are now dead so the rights (which they lost originally due to the film completion bond) could be anywhere now. Lionsgate have their investment back (I think the Blu-rays are now OOP). Davis/Panzer's The Hitcher got a release as the European rights reverted to them so maybe there's hope for a 4K. Donald P. Borchers puts most of his films on Youtube so he can't own much of it.

All the extras on the US Blu-rays (it had a 2-disc with Highlander too) delve quite deep into the financial disaster.

The fixed version has a lot to offer. I also own the Japan Blu-ray never watched it I just thought it looked cool

[HippieDalek]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

The original main producers (Davis/Panzer (died during COVID)) are now dead so the rights (which they lost originally due to the film completion bond) could be anywhere now.

The production company Davis/Panzer is very much alive and is active in both the much delayed reboot project and home releases from Studio Canal and Lionsgate.

Sadly both Peter Davis and Willam Panzer are no longer with us, but COVID had nothing to do with it. William Panzer died in 2007 after a fall while ice skating, while Peter Davis passed away peacefully in 2021 at the age of 79.

As far as I understand it Lionsgate currently owns Highlander 2 (Studio Canal owns Highlander 1) after Davis/Panzer sold it to them sometime in the late 2010s.

Originally Posted by Nitroes

Entertainment Film Distributors had a terrible time with the film (they put a lot of money into it) like that other broken film they put money into 2 years earlier, Slipstream

The original cut will still be very broken.

EFD pretty much saved the film. Due to the many, many production problems the bond company took over and shut the film down planning to just edit together what had already been shot even though vital pieces were missing. EFD provided extra funding to allow shooting to be mostly completed and to allow the producers and director to edit the film themselves rather than the bond company. This lead to the International Cut that was shown throughout most of Europe. EFD still own the UK rights these days but for some reason they only ever issue the vastly inferior US cut.

For some reason the US distributors edited the film down and rearranged it and that lead to the infamous mess that got released over there and gave the film at least half of it's awful reputation.

Originally Posted by Nitroes

Fast forward to last year when I eventually picked up the US remastered/redone release and I really really liked it.

The Renegade and Special Editions fix so much, but ultimately I think it was a real mistake to remove all the references to Zeist and The Quickening. Sure Zeist isn't very satisfying, but it makes more sense than time travel, and the Quickening was supposed to be a main plot thread throughout the film but it was pretty much buried in most cuts; removing them makes an already confused film appear even messier.

I've always hoped for a Blade Runner style "all the cuts" release for Highlander 2. I've no idea if this new German release will be it, but I'm at least hoping they keep the International Cut in circulation as Leonine have been the only ones keeping it alive in recent years.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

Davis/Panzer's The Hitcher got a release as the European rights reverted to them so maybe there's hope for a 4K

What did Davis/Panzer have to do with The Hitcher?

[HippieDalek]

I've been reaching out to my contacts but haven't been able to get any specifics yet, but I just spotted this listing for the upcoming Blu Ray which specifies "Blu-Ray + 2 DVD".

Highlander 2: Limited Mediabook (Blu-Ray + 2 DVD)
https://www.1advd.ch/film/BLU%252DRA...+2+DV/41213117

So maybe a port of one of the US Blu Rays of the Special Edition + Special Edition on DVD + International Cut on DVD?

Hopefully there will be a press release at some point that will give specifics.

[Nitroes]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

What did Davis/Panzer have to do with The Hitcher?

Absolutely nothing

I got them mixed up with Feldman/Meeker.

[Telemachus]

Eh, not touching just another Blu ray in 2025. 4k or go away

[HippieDalek]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Eh, not touching just another Blu ray in 2025. 4k or go away

Trust me, there is zero chance of the mediabook being a 4K; Leonine just isn't the kind of label that shells out for new 4K restorations of films like this...another reason that I wish Plaion had the rights to H2 in Germany.

Given the probably state of the negatives with all the tape material that's been mashed into it I doubt we'll ever get a real 4K release of H2 unless the upcoming reboot does really, REALLY well and rights owners want to cash in.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by HippieDalek

I've been reaching out to my contacts but haven't been able to get any specifics yet, but I just spotted this listing for the upcoming Blu Ray which specifies "Blu-Ray + 2 DVD".

And I'm out...

[Vixen of the Night]

There is a terrific fan-edit out there called Highlander II: Rebuild.

https://fanrestore.com/thread-5720.html

Highlander 2: Rebuild - Fanedit Trailer - YouTube

[Nitroes]

Updated from VHS:



They've reattached Ramírez's head on a new photoshopped body

[HippieDalek]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

I like the artwork. A nice upgrade on the classic German poster. Where did you find it?

[Nitroes]

The new artwork?

Originally Posted by HippieDalek

Now up on JPC too

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/movie/detai.../hnum/12209364

That appeared yesterday I think.

[HippieDalek]

This site has partial details, though it's pretty much just what's on the front of the box.

https://collectors-junkies.com/highl...k-ab-mai-2025/

Sounds like they've done the bare minimum, just repacked the existing German only International Cut DVD with the Special Edition Blu Ray and DVD. At least the Special Edition is back in print on Blu Ray for those who don't have the US or Japanese one, and I'm happy that they're not letting the International Cut fall out of print, even if they didn't take mu recommendation of adding an English soundtrack. One day I'll talk one of these companies into rescuing the International Cut

Disc division:
Blu-ray: Special Edition version 2004 in re dubbing with bonus material
DVD: Special Edition version 2004 in resynchronisation Bonus
DVD: German version and first dubbing 1991

Sound Sources:
German DTS-HD MA 5.1
English DTS-HD MA 5.1

[HippieDalek]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

The new artwork?
That appeared yesterday I think.

Thanks. I checked yesterday but it must have been before they updated it.

[Nitroes]

Pleased it's getting a Blu-ray in wider Europe (I think it had one in the Netherlands only).

That fanedit trailer is pretty good.




Australia