#Highlander The Search for Vengeance

[doyouknowthisanime]

Do You Know This Anime?

[jasonsutekh]

Highlander 1 (1986), 2: The Quickening (1991), 3: The Sorcerer (1994), 4: Endgame (2000), 5: The Source (2007), and 6: The Search for Vengeance (2007)

An immortal highlander seeks to build a normal life with his love but is caught in the machinations of other immortals who wish to decapitate him to absorb his power.

Much of the back stories applied are fairly standard but still allow some character development which is significant when dealing with a character who hasn’t changed much for centuries. The lore is quite variable but still interesting and the basic structure always remains the same like the decapitation and need to kill other immortals.

An irritating feature of the films as a franchise is that the core story is rewritten and then retold with every single installment. So there are entire scenes that are essentially just recap with minor details changed. The series also contains a great deal of repetition since the basic narrative is always the same and it only has so much flexibility.

The two films in the franchise that stand out the most are the second and sixth ones because they incorporate science fiction spins into the story which at least keeps a story that’s already been done interesting. The 6th in particular is engaging because it’s an anime so the aesthetics are a big change but still welcome and effective, especially for the gore.

Some of the films are disappointing because the action is occasionally lax on a small budget, with brief glimpses given to what should be big battle scenes. Some fights are also rather underwhelming, especially when the set-up suggest it could be interesting, the most guilty of this is the anime one which implies a good fight will be coming up and then the protagonist kills his adversary of in one swing of his sword, barely seen on screen.

Highlander: 4/10 -It’s below average, but only just!-

Highlander 2: 4/10 -It’s below average, but only just!-

Highlander 3: 3/10 -This one’s bad but it’s got some good in it, just there-

Highlander 4:3/10 -This one’s bad but it’s got some good in it, just there-

Highlander 5: 3/10 -This one’s bad but it’s got some good in it, just there-

Highlander The Search for Vengeance: 3/10 -This one’s bad but it’s got some good in it, just there-

-The lead actor in the first film had voice coaching sessions to create an accent that was non-specifically foreign since the character has spent many years in many countries.

-The production of several of the films were hindered by injuries due to untrained actors attempting their own stunts.

-Early sub-titles for the 4th film included “The Immortals” and “The Search for Connor”.

[madamshogunassassin]

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (2007)

[curiousrentals]

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance | ハイランダー, 2007

“You’ve come to be put out of your misery.”

[derekscorner]

There can be only one

[theanimekid]

Betrayal/ The Veil of Shadow found the new ruler

Synopsis: Love is not eternal, betrayal; cuts deeper than a scar. Now you'll be harmed no longer. You'll be loved once more. Embrace destiny, walk the veil, and rule as a Dark Queen.

Warnings: Monster, angst, sci-fi, blood, betrayal, heartbreak, death,

Shadow owes its birth to light- John Gay

“Love isn’t soft like those poets say. Love has teeth which bite and the wounds never close.” ― Stephen King, The Body

A/n: This will be about two or three chapters long, so grab some coffee, a blanket, and a couple of tissues, make that a couple boxes of tissue

Chapter 1: The Beginning and End

You will never feel pain again. You'll never feel hurt or suffering. You… will never experience betrayal… for now it was the last time… the last straw.

The Strom fumed in spikes of crimson and light-blue lighting. The chaos of thunderstorms rumbled the sky, buildings of merged flesh and bone carved into each like a deathly art, screams were heard for miles, screeching of the bats not living nor dead. As their dark sparks waved into the night. You stood, outside of your castle, watching the depths below, your body shrouded in mystery and despair. Your veil flew with the wind, eyes cold-hearted, broken no more, vengeance craving for suffering. Skin darker than a shade of navy blue. The might of the doors opened slowly, and a black substance moved within. It was quick and swift. Faster than the human eyes can catch.

It soon emerged with its fingertips skimming fingertips. Its purple hood covered its top face. He spoke in a canny yet diabolical fashion. "My Empress... the time has come," It said, As it played with its fingertips rhythmically. You turned to look at your advisor, your eyes sharpened, lowly. " Already?" You asked in a heartache and pitied tone. " I'm afraid yes, a newcomer has been seen in the human world, young and frail as he is, yet more fearful than the rest." The hand movement swayed and urged as his words, Walked away from the highland view. past your blackened throne so lonely and purposeless. Your advisor walked with you down the very, elongated hallway. Your soldiers lined up and bowed to you. "They're the same as always, Urmas."

"They live to benefit you, my beloved empress, as they will always be." He replied in assurance. The two walked for what seemed like a while and reached the end of the hallway. You stopped. Urmas stopped with you. His expression spread with little concern for his queen. " Is there something the matter, my sovereign?" You still stood there staring blankly at the door. " I-I- feel like I've been here before."

Urmas Cleared his throat. " Can you recall, my sovereign?" You shook your head, " I don't know, but yet at the same time, it feels as though." You turned to your advisor, offering your hand to him. Urmas instantly clutched it and held it to his hand. You beamed maliciously, teeth in all, "let's go raise bloodstained nightmare on humanity and make a world for my own." He smiled back." As you wish, my sovereign." The doors opened to a giant glass sphere, spiraling out of different stirs and harmonies. The two of you walked hand in hand. As you got closer to your glass sphere, lightly grazing the outer layer. Urmas walked on the other side of the figure.

The sphere's outer layer moved fluidly, liquifying. Your hand sunk into the glass sphere. Your eyes dilated, turning into a purplish pink. Your vision became severed as you gaze upon the human world into the brightness of the city. Your eyes searched and looked unnoticed. Til you found a little boy with glasses wandering down a dark alley. Frightened and alone, tight where you wanted him. 

You planted his fear into his mind, it took only mere moments before he was nothing more than paste. And a small portal of flesh emerged from the brick wall, pulsating quietly like a heartbeat for an ear to listen. His body remained dismembered and fractured. His eyes plucked out of their sockets. Your eyes blurred again, returning to normalcy. With a sigh of satisfaction, you removed your hand from the sphere. Urmas clapped his hands in applause. " Another astounding work my sovereign," He feted. You walked away from the sphere and headed towards the door. You tumbled to the floor, holding both sides of your head, Your head began to hurt. Screaming in pain as your advisor tried to assist you. Your vision contradicted with light, a picnic on the hill, a man standing next to you with a loving gaze, his hand reaching out to you, calling to you…

You gasped as you raised your head. Your body trembling, your advisor slowly got you back on your feet. "My empress, are you all right?" He questioned. You sighed, bobbing your head left and right. " I-I'm fine... I just, need to rest my eyes." 

*Back on Earth*

One of his shadow soldiers, sat on top of a nearby building, looking down upon its people and others. The shadow sighed in questionable purpose. It's been the fifth time this past year. The visions He saw, his queen in danger, screaming and sobbing for help, it's like an unending loop. Constantly, she was reaching out to him, calling to him...

His master emerged from the wall, Beru and Igris followed soon after, and his black coast got longer and ragged. He stopped at the edge. Sung turned his gaze toward his summon. " Is there a reason why you're not doing your patrol?" The soldier got up and kneeled before his master. " Forgive me, my king... but it feels like something has been bothering me." He didn't even bother looking upon his master. Thinking he will not believe him." And what has been bothering you?" Sung asked. He collected himself and explained clearly and carefully, not to anger him, " Lately, since the past year, I have been seeing visions... visions that I wish I could ignore, but it just couldn't." Sung knelt to his soldier's eyes. " Look at me, and tell me what you saw." The shadow soldier took a deep breath and looked dead into his king's eyes. " I saw... a woman in white, she was surrounded by black waters, she was slowly drowning, but no end. I was going to save her, but she started to cry, sobbing, calling out your name, and others. She turned to look at me, her face was recognizable... my king... I believe... that our queen is alive and needs your help."

Sung's eyes slowly widened, and he can feel his heart wailing out of his chest. She can't be... he watched her... if she is then why...

Beru and Igris can feel the energy around him growing. With his body trembling, he gripped his soldier's shoulders. " Are you... you 100 certain that's..." He nodded in response. Sung can feel his whole world collapse around him. You were alive, alive and alone, scared. " Did you anything else from your visions? Or where she could be? Did she tell you where to find her?" He started asking a million questions. But his soldier only gave him one and a solution. " She said to locate the portal where no man or light can find. The opposite of all worlds... Find the seer. And that's all I can remember." 

The search for the seer begins.

Part 2 in the making👍

[thegreat2000s]

A list of cool anime series that you should totally watch if you haven't yet!

Bleach

Soul Eater

Ouran High School Host Club

Eureka Seven

Naruto

Toradora

Shaman King

Azumanga Daioh

Tsukihime

Chobits

The Melancholy Suzumiya Haruhi

Black Lagoon

Fullmetal Alchemist

Clannad

Saikano

Alien Nine

Digimon Tamers

Serial Experiments Lain

Potemayo

FLCL

Fruits Basket

Transformers Armada

Hajime no Ippo

Code Geass

Death Note

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Eikoku Emma

Hellsing

Digimon Frontier

Shoujo Cosette

Ikki Tousen

Monster

Baccano

Samurai Champloo

Hoshi no Kirby

Megaman NT Warrior

Beyblade

Full Metal Panic

Digimon Savers

Ghost in the Shell

Love Hina

Hamtaro

Chrono Crusade

Ergo Proxy

Fate Stay Night

Devil May Cry

Heaven's Lost Property

Inuyasha

Gundam 00

Higurashi When they Cry

Bakugan

Spice and Wolf

Dinosaur King

Black Butler

Gantz

Zero No Tsukaima

Elfen Lied

Ghost Stories

Kiss x Sis

Xxxholic

Blood+

Highlander Search for Vengeance

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun

To Aru Majutsu no Index

School Days

Lucky Star

Cardcaptor Sakura

Mirai Nikki

Yugioh GX

Another

Jigoku Shoujo

Ore Imouto

Vampire Knight

Gunslinger Girl

Full Moon wo Sagashite

Afro Samurai

Yumekui Merry

Angel Beats

Rosario Vampire

Bakemonogatari

Paranoia Agent

Kimi no Todokete

D Gray Man

To Love Ru

Lyrical Nanoha

Strike Witches

Trinity Blood

Gintama

Welcome to the NHK

[skeletonfumes]

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (2007) Yoshiaki Kawajiri

[randomwriteronline]

He had heard some say, months ago, that Mount Coronet sang laments at night.

Some said it was just the Misdreavus on Stonetooth Rows, as they always were; their howls were well known, their intonations gingerly macabre. It was obvious: it had to be the Misdreavus.

Some said it was just the ghost that had once bewitched the Mad Lone Warden. Many claimed to have heard it, once or twice, and survived only by pure luck; but none could agree on how it sounded like, making it all just tall tales and campfire stories.

Some said it was just the Mad Lone Warden himself, howling away into the night what last shreds of his mind he had left.

Nobody had seen him for a while, now.

Iscan prayed for two hours that morning. He prayed during every second of those two hours, immoble for the first one, then as he prepared himself: he prayed along the way to Jubilife Village, where he preceded the Survey Corps’ departure by a few minutes; he prayed, perfectly silent, as he accompanied them to the feet of the mountain.

If Lord Basculegion knew something, or felt something, he did not show it; he accompanied his warden upstream, in search of Lady Sneasler and her warden.

He found her, alone, purring at the empty air. He explained where and when she would be needed, if she could lend her services to the humans who wanted to ask for them, and if she needed something in return: she waited a moment, as if listening to something, and meowled a reassurance that nothing else would have been necessary. Her basket smelled of rocky salt - she must have been just as eager to quell her fellow Lord, even if she lacked the resources.

Iscan searched the rest of the Highlands despite the red sky of evening creeping ever closer. He scowered the pitch black caves, torn between hoping to see the thing that had whisked his cousin away and demanding answers from it, praying he would be met with his haggard figure as soon as he rounded each corner, or wishing nothing at all would happen. He always emerged unscathed in the end, spared from any surprise.

Perhaps for the first time, that did not ease him.

He searched everywhere he could, retreating even to Fairy Spring when the darkness already coated most of the night sky. Of course, nobody: he had confided in Iscan once that he feared the moon-children would have felt as though he was tresspassing and gotten their vengeance on him.

A little one, shaped like a pink star, waddled up to him once she noticed even the bashful Basculins approached him unafraid to get their scaly heads patted. She peeped at him tentatively: Iscan peeped back at her softly, delighting her, and managed to fetch her from the shore. She almost fit right in the palm of his hand, so small and secure within it that she barely got spooked by the sight of Basculegion just beneath her.

He settled her in one of his pouches, had his Lord turn back around, and headed for the fateful spring where maybe, over two years ago, he shouldn’t have witnessed that haunting concert for one.

Empty.

He didn’t know what he was expecting. An encore? A repeat of it all, from a different perspective? What a silly idea.

A faint sound reached him.

Some sort of chant.

His Lord seemed to retreat within the water, so Iscan let him. Ensuring that Cleffa was safe and snug, with no chances of falling, he carefully climbed his way up, toward the clearing that preceded Moonview Arena, where he could hear Lord Electrode shake and groan in furious agony.

The chant turned clearer and clearer the more he rose; he could have almost sworn it was mitigating Electrode’s suffering ever so slightly.

“So we go, we go, so we shall go...”

It would have been such a clear voice, if the vibrato did not shake it as though its body had been wracked by shivers so strong Iscan could almost see it barely able to stand - but still it sounded wonderful, it sounded gorgeous, it sounded nowhere near as mournful as that old lament should have been.

Its verses would have appeared awkward, in Hisuian: they would have been too long and rough, too obvious in their meaning, maybe they would have seemed even callous with how direct they were. Yet the old Diamond dialect that had been their first tongue as children made it the funeral dirge sound so graceful, so full of life.

“So we go, we go, so we shall go... Under this sky of Sinnoh our hours are done: Death and solitude take us away. So we go, we go, so we shall go.”

Iscan’s veins seemed laced with granite. His steps were slow, heavy; he could not feel his heart beat.

A voice ethereal and otherwordly, like nacre wind chimes, imitated words it clearly had learned only quite recently. It was laced with a melancholic sweetness so true, so affectionate, so very earnestly grieving, that it crushed his heart completely within its loving grip.

“So we go, we go, so we shall go,” they sang together: “Let the rot have us and our flesh fester in the cold sun. The wind shall take our face: so we go, we go, so we shall go.”

Iscan’s neck twisted into a knot.

He prayed.

He prayed. with all his heart.

Cleffa felt warm against his chest, like a small star.

The body was headless, clad in the long dark coat striped with rust like he had first seen it. Its iridescent head swayed it gently just a few steps above ground into a sort of dance; its dead pale wrists were wrapped in spectral tendrils resembling flowing robes, delicate and billowing in the freezing air, almost seeping into its cold flesh. They were manacles never to be broken by any force, human or undead: its partner belonged to it, now, forever, consumed by the purplish flame that had cooled its own violet hue into a bluer one.

The Mismagius smiled at the kind frown with a terrifyingly deep fondness, unaware of its fate of servitude, totally absorbed by the empty citrine eyes.

Under the moon, the silhouette beneath its hat was so very familiar

“And so we go, we go, so we shall go,” the ghost sang, free from the body that he no longer had the strength to move, chained still so tightly to the kind psychopomp who had lead him on the path of self-destruction despite its best efforts to steer him away from it: “Our hearts will be nothing but dust, and Death will be our new spouse: the joy of the deceased’s new wedding is as eternal as Its love.”

Iscan watched him.

He watched him until the tears blinded him.

Of course.

Of course.

In the end, he had just been too late.

“And so we go, we go, so we shall go,” Melli sang to his heart’s content, dancing with his gentle killer, and looked as happy as he never had before.

[kyndaris]

Country Lights

It’s a yearly tradition that when the weather gets cold and the nights lengthen, Sydney celebrates the coming of winter with a light festival. VIVID has been an annual event for many long years, although I couldn’t tell you when exactly it all began. During the pandemic years, of course, VIVID was cancelled as people were shut inside, but since the ‘official’ end of the COVID-19 pandemic, VIVID has returned with a vengeance. 

Events have even sprung up in other parts of the state of New South Wales. One, of course, was held in the country town of Bowral. Known for its flower festival in October, the town is about a ninety minute drive from Sydney.

So, upon hearing of the event, my mother most definitely wanted to take a look and experience it for herself. She had seen a few videos and photos on the most holiest of phone apps: WeChat and wanted in. Thus, I and a few of her friends were roped in to accompany her for an all-women day trip to Bowral to see the sights and make some great memories along the way!

Of course, knowing that the lights wouldn’t be on until night covered the land, we had set up an itinerary for the day that would take us all around the Southern Highlands.

Our first stop was actually a town just past Bowral. One of my mother’s friends had done a search online for places that would tickle our tastebuds or be visually appealing. After driving down from Sydney, we headed to Berrima. There, we visited a small patisserie shop renowned in the area: Gumnut Patisserie.

As my mother was a lover of all things pecan, she ordered a pecan tart (although a perusal of their website actually advises that it’s a macadamia tart, so who can say), and one of our other members put in an order for a passionfruit tart. Once our coffees, and hot chocolate, arrived, we dug in. After all, life’s short so dessert ought to come first.

Once we had warmed ourselves up, we headed towards Harper’s Mansion. Bult in 1834 by James and Mary Harper, it is now a heritage-listed house. What made it stand out in little Berrima, of course, was the fact that the house was much grander than the other residences in the villages during the time it was built. Most houses in the area were slab cottages. In fact, it was modelled on those favoured by the middle-classes in Sydney with walls that were three bricks thick, laid upon a foundation of sandstone. 

After the Harpers passed away, it was bought by the Catholic Church in 1853 nd was used as a presbytery for the nuns of Daughters of Lady of the Sacred Heart. Later, it was rented out before being sold in 1970.

In 1978, it was acquired by the National Trust who repaired the house and it is now managed by local volunteers that provide simple tours of the house. On its land, however, a hedge maze was built along with an impressive garden. The maze, of course, was a must see and our small group of four Asian women found our way to its centre as well as out without too much trouble.

Our tour of Harper’s Mansion over, we decided to take a gander at the Book Barn. The Berkelouw Book Shop is located on the Bendooley estate, which is a winery. As for the book shop itself, it also serves as a restaurant. Sandwiched between the stacks, tables had been placed allowing guests to wander through and pick up whatever they may wish to peruse for lunch or an evening meal.

If there was a place akin to heaven, this would have been it.

From there, we headed to Bowral properly to check out a family-run vintage and antiques market called Dirty Janes. Lunch would be had at Harry’s @ Green Lane in the 2 PM slot. Why the restaurant only had two lunch slots was a mystery but I had to say that its main selling feature, which I wasn’t able to see a lot of, were the books that were crammed on shelves. 

But while the ones at Berkelouw could be flipped through and read, I had a feeling that the ones at Harry’s were most likely props to sell a particular atmosphere. Which is honestly a shame.

Still, it didn’t detract me from the collection of knives and beautifully displayed insect taxidermy cases that could have been bought at Dirty Janes. I, unfortunately, didn’t buy anything to commemorate it but I must admit that there were some pretty good paper weights to be had. Although, there were also pinned spiders...and that’s a real big fat no from me because they’re terrifying. AND WHAT IF IT WAS REAL?!

After looking through the wares of Dirty Janes, we strolled through the heart of Bowral before heading to the nearby lookout to see the sunset.

Once the sun had set, we headed to Centennial Vineyards where the light show would begin.

Words fail to describe the beautiful array of lights that shone up onto the sky. In an attempt to recreate the Aurora Borealis, so named from Boreas, the personification of the North Wind, the clever minds at the vineyards used light and smoke. To be perfectly honest, I’m unsure why it was called Borealis as Australia has its own name for phenomena that can be seen in Tasmania: Aurora Australis, but I suppose Borealis is the one that most people can identify.

This, however, was no show. Rather, it was a whole event with food trucks and space for families to lay out the picnic blanket to watch the sky above them change from red to green to blue to purple. Were it not so cold, it might have been a lovely night out.

As it was, my hands were near frozen until one of our group went and bought us some hot tea from a nearby vendor.

After about thirty minutes of admiring the colourful night sky, we headed back home to Sydney, which was a whole lot warmer than frosty old Bowral. And where I could catch up on some gaming as I raced to finish off a short indie game as Diablo IV had just released that Tuesday.

And also because SOMEONE bought it for me - the DELUXE edition, no less - despite the fact that I had only joked about friends getting it for me as an early birthday present. I wasn’t serious! And I didn’t expect it to be bought! 

I am, after all, an independent young woman who could have afforded it if I had really wanted it (which, I mean, I was probably going to buy it on the day of its actual release).

So, I’m warning you! They-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! You know who you are! You read this blog!

I AM WATCHING YOU!

Stop being nice to me! I don’t deserve it!

Okay, now that my rant is over, I have to say that the Bowral light show, while not as comprehensive as the one in Sydney still had its highlights. Beyond that, it was a good day out with family and friends in what would prove to be a hectic long weekend in June.

[lecv140291]

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (Película)

[lokimen]

Finally watched Highlander The Search for Vengeance, and while I feel like that movie could have used an extra 20 to 30 minutes to flesh out some stuff like the Scottish time and “Rome”, it’s still a solid movie and definitely deserves being called the only good Highlander movie after the first one.

Also the Ninja Scroll artstyle fits really well with Highlander, even if Marcus Octavius was just Genma.

[chibiranmaruchan]

7 of my favourite anime moments for this week (30th November-6th December 2020)

Monday 30th November: Highlander: The search for vengeance (2007)- Moya attempts to save the Highlanders by meeting with Marcus in secret.

Tuesday 1st December: Boyfriend (1992)- Takatou struggles in his first game in the basketball team.

Wednesday 2nd December: Kishin corps (1993-1994)- Taishi brings Maria to his hide out and she helps look after the other children.

Thursday 3rd December: Oedo wa nemurenai! (1993)- Usogumo teaches the Kaga leader's son a lesson for his insolence.

Friday 4th December: Interstella5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003)- Voyager segment.

Saturday 5th December: My sister, Momoko (2003)- Riki and his classmates run the annual school athletic tournament for Momoko.

Sunday 6th December: Adachi-ga hara (1991)- Yuukei recounts his past to the old witch, as her final request before he kills her.

[beardedbarba]

it’s been a long time since i mentioned it, but holy fuck do i love highlander

[ulmicola]

...yup.