Welcome to the Galactic Theater, where we'll explore the works of master manipulators of light waves, examine the themes brought to play, and critique the final products of months of hard work.

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the movie.

That said, on to the review!

In an age when magic still existed, there lived a man named Navarre (Rutger Hauer) and a woman named Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer) who loved each other. There was a bishop (John Wood) who loved (lusted, rather) the woman. There was also a drunken priest named Imperius (Leo McKern) who served as confessor to both the man and the woman who inadvertantly revealed to the bishop the promises between the man and the woman. The bishop, enraged and unwilling to let anyone have the woman is he could not, placed a cruel and terrible curse upon them both. They could be together, but they would be forever apart: for a single instant at sunrise and sunset they could be with one another, but it would pass and either he would become a wolf by night or she would become a hawk by day. Together forever, but forever apart.

Philippe the Mouse (Matthew Broderick) knows none of this when he escapes from the dungeons of Aquila and heads for freedom. But he soon finds himself entangled in the tragic story when Navarre, hearing of his boasts of escaping from Aquila, rescues him from soldiers and demands that he help him enter into Aquila. For Navarre plans on ending at least part of the torment of his curse: kill the Bishop of Aquila--the same bishop that cursed him--or die trying. Philippe also finds himself attracted to Isabeau when he sees her in human form and later uncovers the truth of her daytime condition. It is he who names her "Ladyhawke" (hence the title). Philippe finds himself the unwilling confidante of Navarre and Isabeau, doing his best to cheer them both and encourage them to work at breaking the curse once and for all...without either of them dying to do so.

But things are not as simple as all that. Navarre has nearly lost all hope of overcoming the curse and rides towards Aquila with death on his mind. Isabeau, too, has begun to despair of ever being reunited with her one true love. The monk, Imperius, has discovered the secret to breaking the curse, but Navarre is unwilling to trust the man who betrayed him once before. Philippe, himself, is fearful of returning to Aquila, but what can he do? For Isabeau, Navarre, and Imperius--his only friends in the world--whatever he can...or die in the trying.

Here is a very good fantasy movie. No dragons or real magic, per se (not counting the transformations of Navarre and Isabeau), but still an excellent example of superior storytelling. The plot is easily understood, and its elements readily comprehensible. The scenery only added to the beauty of the movie: think Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Dragonheart, and Willow combined in one. Whether it was the damp sewers beneath Aquila--with what seems to be a monster in it, no less--or the crumbling castle where Imperius has taken up residence, or any of a number of forest scenes--the panoramic backdrops were equally impressive and appropriate to the movie.

There are three scenes that I found especially stunning. First, there is Isabeau's fall from Imperius' castle's tower's crumbling parapet. Despite all of Philippe's attempts to hold on to her, she slips from his grasp and plunges towards almost certain death below. Naturally, at just the right moment (this is a fantasy, remember, and one based on a legend at that) the sun rises and she soars away, the hawk once more. Next, there is the moment when Isabeau, lying beside Navarre (in wolf form) sees the beginnings of their respective transformations. Whoever directed this particularly scene and supervised the editing did an excellent job, especially by highlighting their eyes. We get to watch as Navarre's lupine eyes gradually become human, then see Isabeau's human eyes gradually become avian. It's really a heart-wrenching scene, and I don't blame Philippe for crying when he witnessed it. I felt like crying, too. Third...well, that one's too close to the ending, so you'll have to watch it to see it.

Ladyhawke aired, naturally, before either Batman Returns or Godzilla (1988), so we get to see a considerably different Pfeiffer and a considerably different Broderick. Pfeiffer looks...oh, I don't know...more ethereal than she did as Selena Kyle. There's something more mystical and magical in the way she moves and behaves. I guess "woodsy" attire suits her well. Now, Broderick is definitely younger in this movie and looks it. It gives to him an innocence and naivete that is absent in his "worm guy" persona. The accent he speaks with does wonders for him as well. As for Mr. Hauer, well...he's different from his characters from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (the movie) and Blind Fury, and I can't really say more. But he makes a convincing Navarre, at any rate, just as Pfeiffer makes a convincing Isabeau and Broderick a convincing Philippe.

I just have one complaint about the movie: we never get to see either Navarre or Isabeau really sleep. Navarre seems to be awake all day long in human form, then howls all night long as a wolf. Isabeau flies and flutters about all day as Ladyhawke, then seems to spend the night walking with Navarre or hunting her dinner. It's just a small thing, really, but something that bothered me: when did they sleep?

All in all, though, I wouldn't mind seing another movie like this. The star-crossed lover bit may be old, but that doesn't mean it has to be shunned. Moreover, this was much better than another Romeo and Juliet sort of thing because it's more tragic: imagine being with someone you love but not being with them and tell me that's not a tragedy? I can't wait for the next time someone takes an old European--or Asian or African or North American or South American or Australian or wherever--legend and turns it into a truly magnificent fantasy movie!

You can purchase Ladyhawke on videotape at just about any video store you go to. The name itself is alluring, wouldn't you say?

Interested in buying this video? You can! Just follow the link to order the VHS version or the DVD version. You can also visit the Stellar Video Store for other titles.

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