Ladyhawke (1985)

It is a performances centric movie

Admirable film.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

After a little more than 30 years of only knowing of this movie, I finally watched this online just now. Matthew Broderick plays a petty thief who escapes the medieval prison-a place that no one had escaped before. The evil bishop isn't happy about that and has his men go after him. But a captain from previous battle manages to save the thief. I'll stop there and just say I very much enjoyed this movie, Broderick is both funny and touching when his character goes through some changes. Rutger Hauer is fine as the captain and Michelle Pfeiffer likewise as his true love. If you haven't seen this movie, I don't want to reveal their dilemma but I will say they deserve each other. Oh, and I also loved Leo McKern as someone who knows the history between Hauer and Pfeiffer and tells it to Broderick's character. Nothing more to say except I highly recommend Ladyhawke.

Amazing tale of medieval era with multi elements to support this picture. A cruel curse of Hawk and Wolf became nights and days in never-ending suffering and pain...but have a thief boy who can help even he don't want for....Matthew Broderick in one's best performance...Rutger Hauer was a convincing black knight and Michelle Pfeiffer is gorgeous than never, but who stolen the movie is Leo Mckern as remorseful priest exiled on a crumbling old castle and your redemption in the end...without forgetting Alfredo Molina as fantastic hunter... enjoyable and remarkable movie from the great director Richard Donner!!!

for me, one of the lovely memory. the metamorphosis and the similarities with Romanian fairy tales. the actors giving the right expected characters. the beauty of Michelle Pheipher as dove. Rutger Hauer as the brave man, looking the love of his life. and, not the last, magnificent Gaston of Matthew Broderick. the fight between good and evil. in delicate, touching, convincing colors. the Medieval air for a story out of time. a film for dreamers. and lovers. and the searchers of the flavor of childhood memories. maybe, a small gem. or, just a lovely memory from an unique golden age because the tension, the humor, the deep emotion, maybe the tears are the embroidery who reflects the spirit of this beautiful/maybe not great, film.

You know, growing up in the 80's with a real thirst for fantasy adventure was pretty tough. There were plenty of books to scratch the itch for sure, but TV? Feature films? Hmm, not so much. Having watched more than enough sub-standard sword and sandals fare ("Ator the fighting eagle", anyone? "Prisoners of the Lost Universe"?) I can honestly say "Ladyhawke" is the only film I saw from that period that has remained a firm favourite ever since. And yes, that includes "Highlander"!! The reasons are pretty obvious. The film is directed by someone who at least knows how to set up the camera - I can't pretend that Richard Donner is one of my favourite directors but he does a top job telling this story. The cast is where this film really excels, though. I'm still convinced that Rutger Hauer is one of the great lost leading men in Hollywood history and in this he's awesome. Michelle Pfeiffer is ridiculously beautiful and handles herself very well and Matthew Broderick is excellent as the glue that holds the film together, ace at the comedy and really selling the drama. Also, John Wood is a brilliantly unsettling villain and Leo Mckern, Alfred Molina and Ken Hutchison do great character actor work. The overwhelming feeling is of a film properly made, with a decent budget, quality cast and great locations. The story itself is nicely streamlined, with no unnecessary longueurs and fine pacing. And Finally Hauer might just be riding the greatest horse in cinema history! That's not a spoiler, right? The only real problem with the film is the score, which I admit is...terrible. Why Donner went with a horrible synth and drum machine score for a medieval fantasy love story is beyond me. And probably him, now. That aside, this film is properly brilliant. Really.