Highlander: The Search For Vengeance

Manga to the uninitiated can be an intimidating place, with each title having a myriad of sequels and prequels, none of which explain any back story, and all of them packaged so similarly it's difficult to tell the quality stuff from the crap. Well, here's a good one. Taking only the basic outline of the original film, adding elements of Fist of the North Star and Escape From New York, its story involves clansman MacLeod trying to hunt down the man who crucified his wife Moya, a mission that takes him into the distant future. As well as the primary motivation, the film manages to convey a deeper grudge of the solitary barbarian against the edifice/artifice of empire, represented by Roman/Nazi baddie Marcus. The best use yet of this mediocre franchise. [Mack MacDonald]