The Highlander series is unique both in scope, story and characters. It tells the tale of a group of humans blessed - and cursed - with immortality who live through the ages in secret, battling each other in a mysterious Game. These highly skilled cinematic sword fighters abide by a code of conduct, and rules that dictate how they engage each other in combat.
This includes victory, which is achieved by slicing off each other's heads and absorbing their accumulated power in a process known as "the Quickening." The Highlander film franchise has plenty of these to go around, but some are far sillier and more ridiculous than others.
Silliest: The Guardian vs. Zai (Highlander: The Source)
Not only was the fifth and final Highlander film the worst of the bunch (by far), but its Quickenings were some of the silliest. It doesn't help when the principal antagonist is an extremely uninteresting and bland super-killer, brought to life with goofy special effects and a wooden personality. In essence, the Guardian is the amalgamation of the Highlander villains that came before, but far less interesting.
Proof is shown at the beginning of the film when the Guardian attacks Zai in a corporate tower, and beheads him after throwing him through a conference table. The resulting Quickening features some of the worst cinematic CGI effects around and is so over-the-top that it ruins the actual climax, which destroys the entire tower and razes it down to the ground.
Best: Connor vs. Fasil (Highlander)
This Quickening isn't quite the best of the bunch, but it's still one of the most memorable. It was the first to be showcased on screen in the original Highlander film, and that helped give a little exposition to the audience as to what happens when one immortal beheads another. Future Quickenings would be far more dramatic, but this one served its purpose.
It took place in an underground parking garage, where Connor MacLeod faced down an old frenemy named Fasil (played by the iconic Star Wars stunt coordinator Peter Diamond). The creepiness of the Quickening helped tell a story all by itself, and further added to the mystique and allure of the timeless immortal Game.
Silliest: The Kurgan vs. Kastagir (Highlander)
This particular Quickening is one of the silliest, for all the best reasons. It starts off with the dreaded Kurgan battling Connor's immortal friend, Kastagir (played by Star Wars: The Phantom Menace's Hugh Quarshie) in a back alley. Unbeknownst to them, the two are stalked by an overzealous Vietnam veteran, who is none too happy that this fight is taking place on his turf.
After the Kurgan beheads Kastagir, he guns the victor down, not realizing that he's immortal. When the Kurgan recovers, he stabs the ex-soldier through the chest with his enormous broadsword before making a getaway in an old man's car, with the veteran's terrified wife still in the passenger seat. It just felt too random.
Best: Connor vs. Kane (Highlander III: The Sorcerer)
While the overall premise of the third Highlander film was mostly a direct rip-off of the original (right down to its gravely-voiced villain), the element of magic and mysticism was rather new to the mythos. Kane wasn't the best villain Connor could have faced, but he did a few things that set him apart from other baddies, including attacking another immortal on holy ground, which shattered his iconic ivory dragon katana.
By the time the film was nearing its end, audiences were happy to see Connor conclude the game once more (or so he thought) by 'killing' Kane. The resulting Quickening was reminiscent of the Kurgan beheading in the first Highlander, even if it wasn't so visually grandiose.
Silliest: Kell vs. Carlos (Highlander: Endgame)
Jacob Kell was one of the more interesting Highlander villains in the franchise, mostly due to his penchant for breaking all the rules. Although no on-screen repercussions were ever shown in the same way as they were in Highlander III, it was intriguing to see a villain completely uninterested in the Game itself.
In order to lure out Connor, Kell had his immortal henchmen attack fellow clansman, Duncan MacLeod, in Connor's old home. He managed to fend them off before Kell arrived, however, the renegade immortal Carlos shot Duncan and sent him flying out a window. The interruption enraged Kell so much that he decapitated Carlos on the spot. The severed slow-blinking head was especially silly, given how terrible the CGI was.
Best: Duncan vs. Kell (Highlander: Endgame)
Duncan was forced to behead his own clansman, Connor MacLeod, in order to absorb the culmination of his Quickenings. This and this alone would give him something resembling a fighting chance against the mammothly overpowered Kell. Duncan squared off against his enemy but it was a brutal fight, from start to finish.
Every time Duncan gained an edge, Kell would counter it. One final fancy move by Duncan managed to catch Kell off guard, severing his head and triggering one of the most awesome Quickenings of the franchise. One can only wonder how powerful Duncan became at that moment.
Silliest: Kane vs. Nakano (Highlander III: The Sorcerer)
The opening act of Highlander III attempts to tell the story of what happened to Connor after his beloved wife Heather died in Scotland. It shows him seeking out the sorcerer and blade master known as Nakano, the same man who taught Ramirez how to fight. There, he gained valuable knowledge that would help sharpen his skills.
Unfortunately, both Connor and Nakano were attacked by the renegade immortal Kane and his henchmen. Connor fled while Nakano created two exact magical duplicates of himself, but Kane saw through the illusion. He beheaded Nakano and absorbed his power while the severed head kept talking. It was one of the silliest Quickenings of the franchise, by far.
Best: Connor vs. Duncan (Highlander: Endgame)
This particular Quickening wasn't about raw emotion, the absorption of power, or defeating a deadly foe. It was about one man having to do the impossible in order to succeed and stop a madman. Connor initiated a fight between himself and Duncan in an attempt to get him to kill him so he can absorb his power.
The resulting Quickening was heartbreaking. As Duncan absorbed the full impact of Connor's combined Quickenings, he also shared in his memories in a fitting flashback tribute to the original MacLeod (and Christopher Lambert, the actor who portrayed him). It would be the last time Lambert would pick up the katana.
Silliest: Connor vs. Reno (Highlander II: The Quickening)
After killing the Kurgan and going on to erect a powerful shield to protect the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation, Connor MacLeod grew into a tired old man who was ready to die alone, and peacefully. He wasn't particularly interested in saving the planet anymore, nor did he feel he had the strength to fight on in any meaningful capacity.
That changed when General Katana sent Corda and Reno to kill him. He barely survived an encounter with Corda before the villain was accidentally beheaded, triggering a Quickening that restored Connor's youth and power. Revitalized, Connor fought Reno to the death. The kill, like the Quickening, was incredibly silly, and the battle that preceded it downright laughable.
Best: Connor vs. The Kurgan (Highlander)
The final fight between Connor and the Kurgan in the original Highlander film continues to stand the test of time as the best Quickening of the series. It came entirely by accident when the filmmakers had trouble figuring out what such a pivotal Quickening would look like. In the end, they went for a mixture of practical effects and hand-drawn animation to give some idea of what Connor was going through.
Not only was it creepy, but it was deeply symbolic, extremely powerful, and more than a little disconcerting. By the time it was over, Connor looked as if he had absorbed the power of the galaxy, itself. It wasn't the fabled Prize that he thought it was, but it went a long way in showing just how powerful the Kurgan was.