Ladyhawke: Broderick, Hauer and Pfeiffer in a Richard Donner Fantasy

I have to give the credit for this movie to Richard Donner, the director. The story is pretty ordinary. The acting is acceptable, but not extraordinary. The cinematography is beautiful, but I've seen better. Still, through his craftsmanship, these ordinary elements are transformed into an extraordinary movie.

The movie follows the story of Philip Gaston (Matthew Broderick), a.k.a. Philip the Mouse. He escapes from the prison of Aquila. While bragging to men who turn out to be guards from the prison, he is overheard by Captain Navarre (Rutger Hauer). Captain Navarre rescues Philip in order to have his help in breaking into Aquila where he wants to kill the bishop.

The bishop once put a curse on Navarre and Isabeaux (Michelle Pfeiffer)who was his love. The curse changes her into a hawk by day, and him into a wolf by night. The two travel together but can never be together in human form.

Philip eventually learns the story from the priest (Leo McKern) who used to be the confessor to both the lovers. The priest believes he knows how the lovers can break the curse, also. The first thing they must do, however, is to keep Navarre from killing the bishop. The lovers must appear together in the cathedral of Aquila and face the bishop together as man and woman.

Philip, though a thief and a liar, is a pious man and spends much of the movie talking directly to G-d. Though the story is about the lovers, it is told through Philip's eyes, and it is this point of view that holds the whole thing together.

From the moment I saw it, this became one of my favorite movies. I have watched it on dates, and watched it with children. Pfeiffer has never been more beautiful than she is in this movie, and Hauer defies everything I've always thought about him by actually demonstrating acting ability. This movie only hints at how good Broderick's acting abilities would become in later years, but even here, his acting is solid.

There is lots of swordplay in this movie, but minimal gore. Yes, some blood, but certainly not what corresponds to the wounds people suffer. There is no sex and no profanity in the movie. If your children like swords, horses, and magic then this is a great movie to watch with them.

Lift a glass of mead to the makers of LadyHawke. They did a great job.