Ladyhawke Movie Review

If you’re looking for a fantasy movie with atmosphere, a great cast, a beautiful story, heroes you can root for, and little to no immoral content, have I got a movie for you.

Fantasy is my favorite genre in fiction, but it may be one of my least favorites when it comes to film (other than horror, which I don’t watch at all). The grandeur, the depth, and the wonder that is fantasy fiction rarely translates well onto the screen. This is due in part to the inordinate amount of detail and work that must go into achieving an authentic fantasy world different from our own. Such monumental effort is rarely attempted due to cost or lack of vision.

The fantasy films that delivered best on the promise of their stories were The Lord of the Rings films from 2001-2003. No, they did not do everything right, but what they did do, they did extremely well. Ladyhawke, a relatively forgotten film from 1985, comes closest to these films in giving us a story worthy of the imaginative possibilities of fantasy fiction.

A different kind of fantasy

Ladyhawke is quite different from The Lord of the Rings and really most typical fantasy that makes it to the big screen. It’s set in France during the Middle Ages for one thing. No invented world at all. This is a world ruled by the Roman Catholic Church and various monarchs. The story is fictional, but the setting is not.

Because of this, much of what we’ve come to expect from fantasy stories is not present. No wizards arrive either early or late. No trolls, elves, or dragons make appearances either. Much of the film takes place in villages, castles, and open, sweeping landscapes that very much evoke the historical Europe of the time period. There is a mystical element to the film, but it is more supernatural than magical, and even that is more in the background, or related second hand than something front and center.

Where Ladyhawke soars

But Ladyhawke has so many wonderful things going for it that it doesn’t need any of the typical fantasy trappings to tell its tale.

Chief among these is its highly original story. At its heart, Ladyhawke is a love story. Something rarely emphasized in fantasy because usually fantasy stories gain their force from the epic sweep of their world-saving quests or heroic characters and love interests are rarely more than a subplot.

Even in other genres, love stories rarely work in film because they are more about the passion and visceral emotion of falling in love, not the deep abiding, sacrificial acts that make for true love. But it is the second kind that we see on display in Ladyhawke and that is what allows this film to soar above so many others.

The love story of Ladyhawke is so sublime, so powerful, it almost feels Shakespearean in its depth. For it is a tragic love and this is what lends it such weight and what allows it to anchor the film.

You have stumbled onto a tragic story, Phillipe Gaston. And now, whether you like it or not, you are lost in it.

—Imperious the monk

A truly fantastic cast

As fundamental as the love story is, the main character, Phillipe Gaston, played brilliantly by Matthew Broderick, is just as crucial. He affords the perfect counterpart to the dark and heavy underpinnings of this tale. A light-hearted, wisecracking pick-pocket, he might seem the last person on earth you would want as a hero. And yet, he’s so winsome, and his character makes such a marvelous transformation throughout the film that he ends up being the most heroic character of all.

The other two main characters, Navarre and Isabeau, played by Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfieffer, are perfectly cast as the tragic couple whose star-crossed love underlies the film. Hauer plays one of the most rugged, brave, and noble warriors you will find in any film and Pfieffer is the mysterious beauty who enchants every scene she is in. All three of the main characters as simply fabulous, each admirable and engaging in different ways.

The supporting actors are brilliant as well. The actor for the fallen monk Imperius gives Phillipe some much-needed guidance and direction and adds to the depth of the tragic story. Both the evil bishop and the captain of the guard are also given top-notch performances.

A few stray arrows

As wonderful as this film is when it comes to the depth of its story and the incredible acting, Ladyhawke has a few minor flaws.

The score is regrettably dated in places. Apparently, the producer was listening to a lot of synthesizer music while scouting locations for the film and decided that it captured the essence of this story. Let’s just say he might have gotten a second opinion on this one. While the love theme and several musical pieces are gorgeous and even poignant, and there are many traditional orchestral compositions, at times the score takes away from the immersion as the electronic sounds jar with the medieval world of the film.

And then there are the special effects. If the film had been made today, the effects needed to pull off the more mystical elements would have added greatly to the film’s visual presentation. As it was made almost three decades ago, certain scenes are more symbolic than actual recreations of what is happening. Personally, this doesn’t bother me, but modern audiences may need a little suspension of disbelief in parts.

Finally, there are a few scenes of intense violence that make the story too jarring for younger viewers, so be aware of that.

One for the ages

Ladyhawke’s minor flaws, which mostly have to do with its age, should not discourage you from seeing this film if you have not already seen it. Or from dusting it off if it has been a while since you have.

This film brings to mind the adage, “they don’t make them like they used to.” This film is rare a treasure. A thoughtful tale, dark yet innocent, ingenious yet simple. With its profoundly tragic love story, wonderful characters, strong moral worldview, and heroic and adventurous plot, this is truly a story for the ages. Here you will find characters that shine with both beauty and strength, and even occasional dashes of whimsy.

This film deserves more recognition than it gets. It is one of the greatest fantasy movies certainly, but even more than that, it is a great film in its own right.

I hope you enjoyed my Ladyhawke movie review. If you’ve seen the film or plan to, let me know in the comments.