Ladyhawke is a galloping good fantasy adventure with silly music.

The title music of this film is so ridiculously out of touch with the mythic-mediaeval character of the story that whoever put it in should be forced to listen to it continually for the next millenium. Thank the gods for "mute". The rest of the music in Ladyhawke is rather out of touch and silly, but now and then it actually becomes (barely) appropriate -- mostly when it's practically inaudible -- or, as in one scene, there is music in period. The end credit music is just as feckless as the beginning.

No doubt many reviews on this site have got the plot told in detail. We'll skim it here as a framework for discussing the work of the actors. Philippe Gaston, a thief called "the Mouse", escapes the dungeons of the Bishop of Aquila. Philippe is played with great bravado and good humor by a very young Matthew Broderick. Philippe, among other things remarkable in one so young, has learned how to speak to God: with impertinence, humor, and candor. The Bishop is played with superb sang-froid and delicious sliminess by John Wood. During his escape, Philippe runs afoul of the Bishop's armed forces and is rescued by a mysterious knight, Navarre -- played with enormous authority and simmering passion by Rutger Howard -- never more handsome, never more dashing. So matched is he to the role that they melt together. He has a horse, a hawk, and a fabulous sword. The hawk is a miracle of flight; the horse is a wonder. There is also a mysterious woman who keeps popping up at night.

The two travel together for a time. During yet another melee with the Bishops minions, the hawk is wounded. Navarre has Philippe take her to the abode of the monk Imperius -- a wonderfully crotchety character played to within an inch of its life by the estimable Leo McKern -- the very spirit of Rumpole in a brown robe. That night Philippe learns the history of Navarre and his lady: Isabeau d'Anjou, played gently and lovingly by Michelle Pfeiffer, never more beautiful. She and Navarre have been cursed by the Bishop: he to be a wolf by night; she, a hawk by day. Imperius has discovered a way to break the curse.

The rest of the plot, now set up, is very simple. The 4 main characters journey back to Aquila and its cathedral, which they succeed in entering with great difficulty. Isabeau and Navarre finally confront the Bishop in his cathedral and fulfill the conditions for breaking the curse. The Bishop dies just as miserably as we all hoped he would. Everybody else lives on happily.

The virtues of this solidly made, carefully crafted, and beautifully photographed picture are numerous. It's full of poignant and meaningful moments -- and a touching love story. There is far more magic in it than in the Bishop's spell.