Outline for first Term Paper

Laws of Physics in “Highlander” - Outline

Introduction -

2. What is Highlander.
3. Highlander and 80s special effects / early computer graphics and practical effects.
4. How does Highlander's world deviate from “real” physics – they are immortals but the still must adhere to human levels of physics.

Body 1 ( Impact and Gravity )

1. The affects of weight and force in fight scenes – breaking stone with steel and fist/face. Implying levels of superhuman strength inconstantly. The Fight between Kurgan and Ramirez – Kurgan was strong enough to shatter stone walls, yet his sword was undamaged. He then smashed Ramirez’s chest yet Ramirez was not severely wounded.
2. The affects of impacts on flesh. How strong are these warriors. If a sword strike to the neck is the only sure kill, but not a rock to the head, how superhuman are they.
3. With each kill souls are absorbed into the victor, the victor is lifted by this force which must be strong enough to lift their weight. Why is the force pushing out not affecting the environment more. - Every kill in the movie shows light materials movie easily with little effect on more substantial objects.

Body 2 ( Weightlessness and Inertia )

1. The ability for the chosen to defy gravity with great jumps and avoid death due to high falls, and seemingly endless ( at times ) stamina. - Kurgan falls 3 stories and has large stones land on his head. They are supposed to be more than average, but again, how superhuman are these fighters.
2. The ability to accelerate forward with very little effort. There seems to be no opposing force being exerted upon movement. - The fight Between Mcloead and Fasil, how many times can Fasil flip backwards before he gets dizzy, and the jumps from car to car with retaliative ease.

Body 3 (Action and Reaction )

1. Being shot has the strength to move them back while not moving the shooter back equally, but in the same sense some gunshots don’t move individuals. How strong are modern guns compared to 17^th century ones. - Kurgan is shot multiple times and is pushed / stumbles back from an Uzi, where as Mcleod merely falls when being hit by a 17^th century flintlock.
2. Off angle blows that are withstood so that there is no effect on the fighters or their weapons. - Tying back to ( Impact and Gravity ) there are several off angle blows that should have rendered the fighter off balance but instead they stood firm. Again how superhuman does this movie want them to be.

Conclusion -

1. The debate of what magic can and can not do, or what is should and should not do.
2. When using magic effects in movies what laws must it follow, despite it being nearly limitless at times.
3. Special effects taking real world physics well beyond anything believable.