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Ladyhawke [1985]
![Ladyhawke [1985]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FNSW158FL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £3.69 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
This lushly produced fantasy has gained a loyal following since its release in 1985, and it gave a welcome boost to the careers of Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer. You have to ignore the overly aggressive music score by Andrew Powell, music director of the Alan Parsons Project (critic Pauline Kael aptly dubbed it "disco-medieval") and director Richard Donner's reckless allowance of anachronistic dialogue and uninspired storytelling, but there's a certain charm to the movie's combination of romance and heroism. Broderick plays a young thief who comes to the aid of tragic lovers Isabeau (Pfeiffer), who is cursed to become a hawk every day at sunrise and Navarre (Hauer) who turns into a wolf at sunset. The curse was cast by an evil sorcerer-bishop (John Wood), and as Broderick eludes the bishop's henchmen, Navarre struggles to conquer the villain, lift the curse and be reunited with his love in human form. The tragedy of this lovers' dilemma keeps the movie going, and Broderick is well cast as a young, medieval variation of Woody Allen. --Jeff Shannon
Average medival fantasy-style film
Review date: 2008-10-14 Rating: 6 out of 10
I saw this film many, many years ago and remember really liking it. I spontaneously bought the dvd recently but found watching it again a lot less appealling.
Even though I enjoyed the story and some scenes were acted really well, the execution let it down at times, i.e. I really hated the soldiers' sparkling new and bright uniforms, they looked really unrealistic and out of place. I also found that Michelle Pfeiffer was a disappointing cast for Isabeau who was supposed to be the most beautiful woman of her time who enchanted a lot of men. However, Pfeiffer with short hair looked just boyish to me and not very beautiful at all (very unlike any later roles).
I also disliked the soundtrack, often music in films passes me by but I actually thought a few times that the eighties soundtrack was pretty awful (despite generally liking eighties music, being a child of the eighties). This film would have benefited from proper orchstral, more classically inspired music.
Overall, this film struggles to stand up to modern film making. It is still watchable but for me hasn't got a 'whoa factor' anymore (and it's also very cheaply pachaged)
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Reviews
Nice story, appalling soundtrack
Review date: 2007-10-22 Rating: 4 out of 10
This film has an engaging story line and, for a 'fantasy' film with little pretence, has moments of poetry and romance that are quite memorable. However, the effect is significantly spoiled by the atrocious choice of music. The '80s electro rock soundtrack is bad enough on its own but it also clashes horribly with the settings, the theme and the mood of the story and the images. The name of Alan Parson (producer of Pink Floyd) was probably used to appeal to the viewers but the bursts of upbeat music that accompany the action scenes makes this film look much sillier than it actually is. The re-make of the soundtrack in surround sound has been carried out satisfactorily; pity they did not ditch the music altogether and replaced it with something (anything!) more suitable.
Medieval Fantasy
Review date: 2007-10-05 Rating: 8 out of 10
A knight played by Rutger Hauer and his lady played by Michelle Pfeiffer both run afoul of evil-bishop played by John Wood. Through the auspices of bishop's confessor played by Leo McKern, our main stars are placed under a curse. During the night, Hauer takes the form of a wolf, while Pfeiffer assumes the form of a hawk by day. The two lovers can only meet one another as humans at dawn and dusk. The only person in a position to help them from their curse is a pickpocket played by Matthew Broderick, who acts as liaison between the lovers. With the help of the guilt-ridden McKern and the correct solar phenomena Broderick endeavors to set things aright.
Praise for the choreographer!
Review date: 2007-10-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
Great film. Great music. Wonderful landscapes. Good baddie. My favourite scene is the horseback fight set in the cathedral. The way the monks in the background move to express their horror, fear and shock at what they are seeing demonstrates totally the sublime art of crowd choreography. They move separately but together at the same time. And you never once get to see their faces. Absolutely brilliant.
What I didn't like. The leading lady's Brooklyn accent. The day for night cinematography.
It needs to be remade. Just for the sake of it.
A love story with a difference
Review date: 2007-03-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film has just about everything: great direction by Richard Donner, who also directed The Omen, Superman and Lethal Weapon, beautiful cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and a wonderful cast - Rutger Hauer is perfect as the brave hero, Michelle Pfeiffer is breath-takingly beautiful as Isabeau and Matthew Broderick provides plenty of comic relief. There is a fine music score by Kate Bush's former arranger and producer Andrew Powell and there is romance, action, drama and humour.
This is the type of film which I never get fed up of watching time and time again and I am not ashamed to admit that the ending always brings tears to my eyes. With this DVD version the film can be viewed in its correct widescreen ratio, making the most of the stunning cinematography. This film is often shown on television but usually in a full screen, pan-and-scan version with the closing credits either edited or speeded up thus eliminating much of Andrew Powell's beautiful closing credits music. Therefore it is worth buying this DVD to see this film in it's complete and correct format.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
John Wood
Michelle Pfeiffer
Leo McKern
Rutger Hauer
Matthew Broderick
Creators:
Matthew Broderick (Primary Contributor)
Rutger Hauer (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036008198
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen,
Release date: 2002-03-04
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 118 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985-04-12
Language: Croatian (Subtitled)
Language: Czech (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: Hebrew (Subtitled)
Language: Hungarian (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Polish (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)