By WarAngel. Click on pictures to enlarge them.

Highlander 3 is a movie fans either love or hate. For one, it richly features other aspects of Connor MacLeod's life. On the other hand, fans find inconsistencies with the first film. One thing is for sure: Highlander 3 is a delicious mix of history, romance, action and adventure, centering a character portayed by one of the world's most favorite actors, Christopher Lambert.

The final version of Highlander 3 had come through a metamorphosis since its original script. Jose de Braga, who crafted the handles for the Sword of Connor MacLeod and the Sword of Kane (entited "Dark Magic") reveals details of the changes made along the way that never fully made it to the screen - details which give us tremendous insight into the depth and drama of the original story of Highlander 3!

The Mountains of Niri

The legend of Nakano. Sorcerer and magician, smith and swordmaker. Originally, Nakano was not in the script. When the character of Nakano was created, the cave in which he lived was supposed to be a stable volcano. The original script depicted Nakano heat-treating the sword in lava which flowed through the cave. His magical powers would add great strength and durability to his swords.

As shown to the left, Dark Magic has a hexagonal tsuba (Japanese for "guard"). In Kane's first appearance at the village in the mountain regions where he commenced the slaughter of the inhabitants - as well as when he first arrives at Nakano's cave - Kane's sword is different from the featured picture. Have you noticed that the tsuba was round and that the blade did not have a fuller? Nakano's sword not only has that fuller but has that same guard, while Kane's guard was round and rusty. "Kane's a bum," says Jose de Braga. "He doesn't take care of his sword, unlike Nakano."

In his encounter with Nakano, he takes Nakano's head and his power and knowledge. Four hundred years later, Kane emerges out of the cave with his two ronins. He has now taken Nakano's blade and guard and has fitted them into his custom black-demon hilt. He is eager to test the blade - on one of the ronins!

Also, some details that vary from the original script. The producers and director had discussed an option where Nakano's sword is retrieved by Alex Johnson (Deborah Unger) and brought to the museum on display. Kane in the bar watches the television interview of Alex's discovery brings him to the meum himself to get his trophy back.

That would have justified his visit to the museum, and the story would have made more sense!

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