Highlander Sequel/s

[Scary Gary]

To this movie geek, the original Highlander is one of my all-time favorite films. As fantastic the original was, the sequels have been utterly disappointing. Assuming that at least one sequel is necessary and you were in charge, what would you have done?

[lynn]

What about after the awarding of the prize a new generation of immortals are born? Because it seemed in the story that these immortals are just being born randomly throughout time, so there's nothing to suggest that they'd stop being born. Lambert can return as a mentor figure, and bring in some new people.

[professordave]

The immortals were created so that their combined power would eventually rest in the last one standing, the highlander. This ensured that Earth had its greatest hero ready when the shadow out of time finally returned to our planet to consume it. Now the highlander must fight this elder god and his sword-wielding minions with the fate of the planet at stake.

[lynn]

I like that idea, because in the original movie there's no reason that they're about, they just are and they just pass the lore on to each other, so having some greater purpose... that's not aliens or something... could be cool

[Gilberto]

Oh my God, I almost don't want to post because I could do a whole episode about this. This is what should do, Gary, and bring Lynn in on it too.

The professor's right; it's a story about destiny. Ramirez sacrifices himself because he knows Connor is important to stopping the Kurgan. He wouldn't have done that if it were just every man for himself.

I like the idea that on the other side of the Prize there is a real threat that must be confronted. It adds a whole new dimension to the story rather than just repeating the same formula over and over. Only Highlander 2 tried to be different, but it was so weird and off track that no one after it even bothered to be original.

[Scary Gary]

I'm game, Sean.

Dave, Lynn, I really like both of your ideas.

[lynn]

I like everyone's ideas, how come just a couple of us spitballing on a forum or podcast can come up with so many ideas so much more awesome than what all those professionals do every time? Lame!

[Scary Gary]

Apr 20, 2010 18:12:33 GMT -5 lynn said:

I like everyone's ideas, how come just a couple of us spitballing on a forum or podcast can come up with so many ideas so much more awesome than what all those professionals do every time? Lame!

One reason why is because we don't answer to a company that controls the rights to our ideas and dictates to us about the demographics.

Another reason is that we don't have millions of dollars to taint our points of view.

[Gilberto]

I think people phone it in on sequels. Original stories are a crap shoot, so they'll try almost anything, but once it has franchise potential they know that all they have to do is repeat the formula.

The great sequels are those few that people really stopped and went "hey, let's think this through: Where can the story go from here?" Empire did that, but Jedi was just about wrapping things up. Aliens did that, but every other sequel was just trying to tread water. Most sequels don't bother at all, either because they have a formula that works or they know they can crank out anything under a successful brand name and at least find a DVD market for it.

The sad, sad truth of it is that success encourages people to stop trying.

[lynn]

Not you guys. 100 episodes and a whole fan forum and you're still cracking on!

[Gilberto]

Luckily we've never had a taste of true success. If I make so much as 1 dollar I plan on becoming an egomaniacal asshole.

[lynn]

And you'd turn green and horns would come out of your head and you'd start laughing manically? Wait, I think I've got a dollar somewhere....

[Gilberto]

We'll be doing this episode in a week or two. Anyone got any suggestions?