The movie Ladyhawke is a classic.
It is directed by one of the most phonomenal directors Richard Donner. People might remember him as an action movie director who is best known for the Superman series, Omen, and X-man. Yet, the Ladyhawke shows a concret evidence that he is capable of directing some movie with depth. From storyline, casting, to scene anatomy and reflection, this is one of the paradigms in the movies in the 80s.
This medieval fantasy flick is totally legendary. The knight, Navarre, and his lady love, Isabeau, was a happy couple who everyone admired. But here’s the kicker — they’re cursed by this sketchy bishop. During the day, Isabeau is a hawk, and at night, Navarre’s a wolf. It’s like some twisted fairy tale.
To shatter the shackles of this cursed fate, Navarre teams up with this sneaky thief named Phillipe, and they’re on this epic quest to break the curse and take down the evil bishop. Along the way, there’s all sorts of crazy stuff going down — sword fights, magic spells, and some serious heart-to-heart moments.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Phillipe brings the comic relief, cracking jokes and keeping things light when stuff gets intense. When they finally confront the bishop, it’s like the ultimate showdown of good versus evil.
The main character is the thief, starring Ferris Bueller. Seriously, he is actually Mathew Broderick, who played in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Deck in the Hall, Wargames, The Lion King, and Godzilla (1998).
In the film, Broderick portrays the character of Phillipe Gaston, a clever and resourceful thief who becomes entangled in a grand adventure. His character is marked by a quick wit and cunning intelligence, which he employs to navigate the challenges presented throughout the story.
In terms of appearance in the pictures, Broderick’s costume reflects the attire of a medieval rogue, with earthy tones and rugged textures that befit his character’s roguish nature. His mannerisms and speech also convey a sense of modernity — just like Ferris — juxtaposed against the film’s medieval setting.
This is an accurate choice of cast since the character needs some charismatic, witty, and youthful style to show that he comes from a very unique background and had a lot of interesting things to say in the movie.
Another accurate casting is the knight Etienne Navarre, portrayed by Rutger Hauer. This character needs to navigate the complexities of his cursed existence, battling both literal and metaphorical darkness as he seeks redemption and a way to break the curse that separates him from his beloved Isabeau. He has to be the Odyssey, the classical hero who has a handsome face and enchanting pair of eyes that shimmer like stars.
Rutger has exactly the characteristics in the requirement. If you’ve witnessed Rutger’s unforgettable depth and passion embodied in Roy Batty’s phenomenal speech at the end of the original 1982 Blade Runner film, you’ll grasp the essence of what’s sought.
The dude who played Professor Falken in WarGames, John Wood, became the bishop this time. Known for his brilliant mind and mysterious style in WarGames, John Wood brings a whole new level of intensity and intrigue to his role as the Bishop.
Director Donner makes a wise decision to steer clear of using dated 80s special effects for the human-to-wolf and human-to-hawk transformations. He relies heavily on repetitive close-up, slow-motion footage of a hawk, reminiscent of being filmed in low lighting with a visible spotlight (ahem… the sun) in the background. Besides the low quality shooting method, the message in this specific scene is profound. The knight and the ladyhawke are both heavily invested in the relationship. They have to endure the pain to not see each other as human everyday. When the sun has risen, the wolf has transformed back into the knight. As when the knight saw the lady and almost went closer to touch her, she transformed into the hawk, adding another sorrow to this curse.
I think the most heart touching part in this film is the fact that the couple managed to stay together and cherish each other. They believed in each other that the one another will take care of themselves when they are in the animal shape. They sought every solution that could break the curse so that they can meet each other again. I am really swayed by one line when the hawk was hurt and the knight said: go cure her, she has become my only purpose of life. The solidarity shines so bright that the darkness of reality cannot shadow their love as human beings. I was deeply touched by the fact that the lady has become more important than the knight’s life. The intensity of determination explicit from the gaze of the knight is undisputed.
The story and the relationship between the knight and the lady reminds me of how blessed I am. Well, I do not have a girlfriend, but I can feel that the true essence is to cherish every time left in my life and live with it. In the movie, the couple found each other and had a wonderful life together. In my case, I found my attitude of striving for progress an advantage that I have, making my life profoundly fulfilling.
I won’t spoil the ending, but let’s just say it’s a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. If you’re into medieval adventures with a side of romance, Ladyhawke is definitely a must watch.
