Ladyhawke

Rating:
Summary: Scenes from this movie have stayed with me for years
Review: I saw it in the theatre, prompted by buying the tie-in book. (Yes, there's a book, with a slightly altered story, by Joan Vinge, no less. It's almost impossible to find now.) The entire small audience was mesmerized by the movie, and I rushed out and bought the VHS tape at full price. I watch it about once a year, and lend it out to others regularly. It's time to get the DVD. Many people comment on the music. I find it annoying in some spots, but the scene with the hawk over water is fine, and the music works very well in the big fight scene, adding to the tension and to the shock at the sound break. If you've seen the movie you know what I mean. It's a movie for tough-minded romantics, people who enjoy fantasy, and people who want to look at beautiful cinematography of Italian hills and rocks.

Rating:
Summary: The music just doesnt work
Review: I love this movie and I would call it timeless, I would have given it a 5 rating except that the music really really dates it. It echos with the distinctly 80's synthesizer sound and it just does not work within a medievil format. Otherwise this movie is fantastic, it has a timeless theme, great acting, Broderick is his usual self, fun, funny and all around excellent.

Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: This has long been one of my favorites in spite of the miscasting of Pfeiffer as the heroine---she is overrated and is especially poor in this one. She is much too cold to be credible in this role. Fortunately, Hauer and McKern are great and Broderick is not too bad, although he suffers in comparison with these two pros. The story is pure fun and just a delightful fantasy. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movie of the 1980s
Review: Wide Screen review gave both 3 stars for audio and video. I would disagree. The Dolby surround 5.1 on this mid 1980s movie is simply wonderful. You can hear horse galloping, draw bridge, and jungle sound from your surround channel. The only drawback is not enough bass. But the Dolby Digital sound is wonderful. No problem with the picture as well. Bright and clear. This movie is certainly the best movie for Richard Donner (as director), Michelle Pfeiffer (as the leading actress) and Rutger Hauer and Matthew Broderick(as the leading actors). You should know the storyline by now, about a couple who were cursed. One to be hawk at day the other as wolf as night so they can never meet as human being. Wonderful movie and excellent DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A sweeping epic with some of the best swordfighting ever...
Review: An excellent telling of the classic tale of star-crossed love. Rutger Hauer is excellent in his very subtle performance as Etienne Navarre, the once and future Captain of the Guard. He is a man haunted and driven, but stoic beyond words. Mathew Broderick is delightful as Phillip Gaston, 'The Mouse' who finds himself caught up in the web of mystery that surrounds Navarre. Personally, I always found Michelle Pfeiffer's performance a little flat and unbelievable, but it may just be my preference.

The downside of this movie is that the soundtrack is horrid, there is no attention to any type of historical context (Where are they? When are they? Where did they get that horrid armor?) but it doesn't seem to matter much.

The upside is it is a wonderful tale, and has some of the best sword fighting ever. As a professional stunt performer, swordfight choreographer, and a fencing coach, I must say that the battle between Navarre and Marquet in the cathedral at the end of the film is about the best I have ever seen, in terms of realism, as well as appropriateness to the characters and plot. These two -hate- each other, and they fight tooth, fang, and claw knowing only one will survive. This is not the 'pretty' sword fighting of Princess Bride, but the gritty reality of edged combat. Add in the element of them battling on horseback on the stone floor of the cathedral, and this is truly an amazing fight.

If you like films such as Highlander or Excalibur, you will like this film. If you are really into this movie, check out the book, as the ending is different, and far more poignant...

Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: I saw this movie for the first time about a week ago and I liked it a lot. The only things that bothered me were the music, and Michelle Pfeiffer's short hair. If she had had long hair and if the music were more "medieval" sounding then it would be perfect. About the movie... I won't write a summary of the plot, because several people have done so already, but if you like medieval romances, watch this movie. You will probably want to buy it. Also, I am surprised I haven't heard of this movie before, being that it has famous actors (Pfeiffer, Broderick) but it should be famous.

Rating:
Summary: An Enduring Classic
Review: I have seen this movie probably 20 times. I never tire of it. While there has been criticism about the soundtrack, I can only say that your reaction to it will depend on your taste and how much a movie's soundtrack affects your feeling about the movie. While in some movies the soundtrack is very integral, I think in Ladyhawke the soundtrack is really not that important. I personally enjoy the music very much and I hadn't ever really thought about it--I think it fits an 80s movie and it's kind of interesting and different--however, I recently watched the movie with a friend who said the soundtrack was "cheesy." Whether you like the soundtrack or not, the story is so compelling that it is doubtful the music will keep you from enjoying the film. The story is based on an old legend about two lovers who have been cursed by an evil bishop so that the man, Navarre, is a wolf at night and the woman, Isabeau, is a hawk by day. The lovers' path crosses with that of a thief named Philippe "the mouse", played by Matthew Broderick. Romance, action, adventure, and a little comedy ensues to bring you to a dramatic and heartwarming ending. The story itself is at once beautiful, dark, sad and uplifting, and it's definitely the kind of movie that captivates you in a way that will stay with you for a long time, perhaps forever! If you're particularly empathetic you will probably be brought to tears at some of the more poignant scenes. This is an enduring classic that is sure to become one of your favorites if you choose to watch it.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful, romantic, glorious movie
Review: This is probably, of all my favorite 80s fantasy movies, the best of them all. This movie has everything: adventure, romance, tragedy, comedy, true love, evil, and redemption. This is a masterpiece. A true masterpiece.

A young thief named Phillipe Gaston "the Mouse" escapes from Aquila, the fortress-like city belonging to its corrupt Bishop. He roams along the countryside, until he runs into some of the men sent out to hunt for him. But a mysterious man, Captain Etienne Navarre, appears and rescues him. Navarre is a mysterious, lonely man whose only companion is a lovely hawk he has with him always, and who needs Phillipe's help.

That night, as they stay in a farmer's barn, Phillipe sees a wolf and a beautiful young woman outside--but the woman vanishes during the day, as Navarre vanishes during the night. Phillipe soon discovers the tragic reason why the two cannot be together: they are cursed--he is a wolf at night and she a hawk by day. As animals, neither is sentient, so they don't remember anything that the other says or does. Their only glimpses of each other are as they transform at the end and beginning of days.

This could have been very depressing, but Matthew Broderick's unusualy humor makes it funny at time. As a seemingly honorless young thief, Phillipe talks to God frequently and, as he learns to help others, becomes a better person. The big-brother-little-brother relationship that seems to form between him and Navarre is particularly endearing.

I fell in love with Rutger Hauer in this movie, as the stalwart, tragic knight Etienne Navarre. Hauer's rugged good looks are only a small part of his appeal--extremely expressive eyes and his quiet voice add to it. He's the knight every women dreams of. The part where he watches the wounded Isabeau plummet to the ground and murmurs, "No...", the part where he tenderly holds one of her dresses, and the scene where he and Isabeau have a brief glimpse of each other as humans are his finest moments.

Michelle Pfeiffer, whom I had only seen in "Age of Innocence" before, is perfect as the lovely lady Isabeau. Though she plays an innocent and sweet person, Pfeiffer shows that Isabeau is also a strong and brave one. Together, she and Hauer are so convincing that you'll find yourself with tears in your eyes.

Leo McKern is a very rough jewel in this movie. Playing the tormented old priest, Imperius, who committed a mortal sin by betraying the lovers, he is alternately amusing, haunted, and grim. Though definitely not as handsome as Hauer or Broderick, he is no less convincing and just as good an actor.

There's no nudity or gratuitous violence in this movie, although there IS violence. There is a bit of swearing (nothing worse than "damn you to hell," meant literally) and references to a "dark side" bishop who is in love with Isabeau.

Although I do wonder: Evidently clothes vanish if Isabeau or Navarre transform while wearing them. Then how did Navarre manage to dress himself, scamper up a rock ledge, and fire his crossbow only seconds after sunset, if he woke up nude the day after? (Never mind me, I'm just nitpicking)

The characters are set in a land of lush fields, beautiful mountains, fortresses and ruined castles, forests and midnight thunderstorms. The costumes are beautiful and simple, from Imperius's rags to Navarre's black armor to the bishop's stark white robes.

Anyhow, this movie is a must see--it has something for everyone. You'll come away from it feeling a little richer in spirit.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent romantic adventure.
Review: It's hard to imagine a romantic adventure of this caliber being made today. In fact, it was somewhat anachronistic when it was made in the mid 1980s. But I wish that there were more movies this good being made today. I don't know how many times I've seen Ladyhawke but it's been quite a few, and I never seem to tire of it. In fact, although I already had it on videocassette, I bought the DVD version even before I had a DVD player because I din't want to take a chance that it would become unavailable. This movie is that good.

The title, LadyHawke, comes from the fact that the lady (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a hawk by day and a woman only at night as the result of a curse placed by a jealous bishop. Because of the curse, her lover (Rutger Hauer) is a wolf at night and a man by day. Thus, although the lover's are always together, they are also always apart. An old priest (Leo Kern) comes up with a plan to break the curse and enlists the help of a young thief (Matthew Broderick) in implementing it. This is a truly wonderful movie with a great script, fine acting, and great atmosphere and photography plus lots of action, suspense, and romance. A winner that's on my top dozen films list.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, but terrible soundtrack
Review: To begin with, Rutger Hauer (Navarre) and Michelle Pfieffer (Isabeau) are amazing in the film. Hutger Hauer is one of my favorite actors and this turns out to be one of his better roles. The high points in the film include the quest to break the curse the bishop puts on Navarre and Isabeau, and the fight scene with Navarre and the new captain of the guard near the end of the film. Overall, the film has a great storyline that should appeal to any sword and sorcery fan.

However, I did have a couple of problems with the film. Matthew Broderick's character is slightly annoying. I understand that he is suppossed to be comic relief, but do we really need him talking to God every five minutes. Second, the soundtrack just doesn't fit the style of the movie. I believe the movie should've had a soundtrack similar in style that was used in the original "Highlander." At least it would've brought a more serious tone to the movie.

Lastly, for any Rutger Hauer fan out there, check out the movie "The Hitcher." You just can't imagine how frightening this movie is.