Immortals, pot and young lust bombard theaters

WILL RENICK
DM Arts & Life Editor

Highlander: Endgame

Rated R

The FOURTH final battle is at hand and the fate of mankind rests in the balance. Highlander: Endgame, the pulse-pounding final chapter in the Highlander saga will join two immortals: Adrian Paul, the star of the cult television series and Christopher Lambert, the man who started it all on film.

These two immortals team up for the first time ever to take on the ultimate force of evil. Led by an insidious bald drag queen named Kell, the most powerful immortal of all, a team of ruthless immortals set out on a quest to win the game at any cost.

Connor and Duncan discover the rules have changed, as they encounter vicious assassins, each one possessing lethal skills in martial arts and swordfighting. To survive, one of them may need to make the ultimate sacrifice. In the end, "there can be only one."

Early reviews for this suggest that it could be the worst movie of the worst year in Hollywood history. Considering that it's all been downhill since the first (even though Sean Connery played a Spaniard), the so-called masterminds behind the Highlander franchise should practice what they preach, and there should have been only one.

Starring Adrian Paul, Chrsitopher Lambert and a buncah other people you've never heard of and will never see in film again.

Saving Grace

Rated R

There's nothing funnier than a middle-aged librarian look-a-like selling pot. "Saving Grace" is a genuinely funny British comedy about Grace, a recently widowed woman left with a wonderful estate and beautiful garden at the cost of a huge mortgage and loads of debts to pay.

To cure her financial ailments, she develops a horticultural talent for raising Marijuana plants. But, when Grace gets into trouble for pushing her product around town, audiences will certainly side with the left hand of the law in order to "save Grace." Early reviews say this one will be a contender come Oscar time, not to mention that it looks genuinely funny. Enjoy it, even if it requires a drive to Memphis. Starring Brenda Blethyn, Tcheky Karyo, Craig Ferguson, Valerie Edmond Martin Clunes and a bunch of other gap-toothed British people.

Whipped

Rated R

"Four college buddies get together once a week to discuss their recent sexual exploits. Things get complicated when they realize they've begun to chase the same girl, the beautiful Mia (Amanda Peet). As they find themselves battling with each other for Mia's affection, they begin to question their past actions, wondering who will walk away with the grand prize."

Buzz on this one has been mixed, but when the MPAA cursed this puppy with the dreaded NC-17, they cut all the vicious stuff and released it on the internet. Slashed down to a kinder, gentler R-rating, expect a lot of raunch.

Starring Amanda Peet, Brian Van Holt, Zorie Barber, Jonathan Abrahaam, and Judah Domke.