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LadyhawkeRating:
Release Date: 15 August, 2000 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $9.99 You SAVE: $4.99! Cast: Complete Cast (8 total) |
Ladyhawke Reviews
Great Date Film with some DVD flaws
Ladyhawke is a midevil fantasy. Starcrossed lovers have been cursed to be together forever but apart forever. From sunrise to sunset Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer) is hawk. While from sundown to sunrise, her beloved Navarre (Rutger Hauer) is a wolf. Into their lives comes Philippe "the Mouse" Gaston (Matthew Broderick), a petty thief and escape artist. Philippe has just escaped from prison and is being chased by the guard. The same guard who Navarre used to be the Captain of the Guard.
Navarre has returned to France to kill the Bishop (John Woods) who cursed Isabeau and himself. But first he must get through is old command. In the process, both he and hawk Isabeau are shot with arrows. Philippe takes Isabeau to the priest Imperius (Leo McKern). Imperius is the priest that betrayed the couple to the Bishop. Imerius has been guilt ridden for this and has found a way for the couple to break the curse but Navarre is blinded by his rage and will not listen.
Everything comes to a head at the Bishop's abbey. Navarre confronts the Bishop but cannot kill him because of his love for Isabeau. Then something fantastic happens, a day with night and a night without day or as we know it, an eclipse. This allows both to appear in human form and confront the bishop.
This was an early film in each of the stars careers. Each had their breakthrough film and were looking for the next big film. They achieved this with three great performances. This film did not rely on a special effects but use simple dissolves and lighting.
The only negative that I have with the DVD is that the musical score blares out and if you have the sound right for the music, you can't hear the actor. If you have the sound right to hear the actors, the music will blast you out of your seat. But this is more a warning and not a complaint.
DVD EXTRAS: None
Great entertainment, a lot of fun
I have this movie on DVD and watch it periodically.
It is a compelling question; why does this 1980's movie make you want to watch it over and over?
There is no doubt that the story is compelling and convincing. I like Rutger Hauer and Matthew Broderick alot. Michelle Pfeiffer isn't bad, isn't great. Leo Kern and John Wood complete the central cast and are all very believable.
Others have commented on the movie music as just wrong.
One reviewer commented on the anachronistic phrasing.
I believe it is the plot and the way it is played by Hauer and Pfeiffer of non-consummated love that keeps watchers coming back. It is a compelling story. There are several factors that keep this story from being a great movie. There is the use of the film technique that made it dark and grainy at times. Probably the music. But what jars me the most is the anachronistic language. Phillippe is simply too well spoken to have been a street urchin all his life. I also recall Michelle Pfeiffer's "Oh, damn!" when she is distracted by The Mouse as she feverishly--as a human--tries to catch a rabbit and fails. Her "Oh, damn" had more the intonation of '80's girl who cannot find hairbrush than medievel damsel in starvation distress. Hauer really stayed in character and period the best here.
Bottom line--watch it. With all of it's imperfections, this is a movie that moves you to care about the characters and you will be taken up in to their fantasy dilemma.
More Customer Reviews (35 total)
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