Not So Awesome Movies 1 — Highlander (Russell Mulcahy, 1986).

I am a pretty big fan of portraying myself as a PFC (pretentious film cock for those not in the know). I throw out names like Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer as if they are all that is needed to prove I belong to some elite cinematic club. But even someone who consumes such a careful movie diet as I do can not deny the appeal of a bit of good old fashioned “action”. This is also not to say that an action movie (or any movie with the goal of entertainment over enlightenment) can not be high art. Robin Hood (Flynn or Fairbanks), Rio Bravo, hell even something like Die Hard (which I’ll admit I have not seen in years, but I bet it will hold up) are all examples of guilt-free guilty pleasures. But sadly, since the advent of the Hollywood Blockbuster model (thanks a lot Star Wars); true “pure entertainment” classics are few and far between. This was made all too clear as I returned to one of my teenage year’s favorites, Highlander.
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