Ladyhawke (DVD, 1997)

LadyHawke is a beautiful, enchanting and romantic medieval tale of two lovers bound by the curse of an evil and jealously obsessed Bishop (John Wood). By day, Captain Étienne Navarre (Rutger Hauer) walks as a man while Lady Isabeau d'Anjou (Michelle Pfeiffer) is transformed into a hawk as night falls Isabeau returns to her human form and Navarre takes the shape of a great black wolf. The Bishop's curse dooms the lovers to be together forever but forever apart.

As Navarre returns to kill the Bishop, the warning bells of Aquila announce the escape of Phillipe “The Mouse” Gaston (Matthew Broderick). On his way he rescues the young Philippe who is on the run from the Bishop's men after his escape from the inescapable dungeon of Aquila. Philippe, saved by Navarre and later assisted by an eccentric exiled Monk (Leo Mckern), guides them to the key that will undo the curse and re-unite the lovers.

One of the most heart wrenching scenes in the movie comes as dawn is breaking to find Isabeau and the wolf resting quietly together. As daylight crests the nearby mountains to spill over them and Navarre begins his transformation to human, for a brief moment they look on each other as man and woman once more. The moment is fleeting, as they reach out to each other Isabeau transforms; Navarre's agonized scream echoes through the empty valley as he watches her fly away.

LadyHawke presents the medieval genre with class and wit. Artfully directed and photographed, it is fast paced with plenty of action and thrills for all, while always maintaining the mystical and mythical poetry of the story. The script balances both modern comical elements with classic romance and imagery in a way which keeps the viewer both entertained and enchanted. While the tragic dilemma of Navarre and Isabeau, along with their profound love for each other, is captured and presented in a way that is heartfelt and sublimely moving.

I bought this movie because it has been one of my favorite movies since I was a kid. This story is so beautiful, it's way worth enduring the cheesey seventies music that accompanies it. I have pared down my movie collection to about 50 "must-haves" and this one was definitely in the top 10. I can't wait to see it again, now that's on DVD and I've won it here on eBay!

My daughter and I so enjoyed this movie when she was a young girl, that we played out the video...and now that she is a teenagers and I now have two stepsons, we wanted to see the movie again (and again and again), but couldn't find it anywhere...and of course we've all gone DVD...so I was glad to see copies for sale on eBay. A great story in a wonderful era, performed by good actors...all my kids loved it...and my daughter and I recaptured some memories. Worthwhile older film!

I love this movie. It is so hard these days to try and watch a movie with young teenagers without feeling like you want to cover their eyes and ears every other scene. I watched it with my 11 year old son and he loved it! I wish that there were more movies out there like this!

This is an excelent movie everyone should have in their library. It is a beautiful story that is only a myth but definitely worth watching over and over.

I love it. The movie is very inspirational for anyone who has a lover but cannot be with them. I recommend this movie to anyone who has a special person in their life. The characters portrayed in the movie seem real and have a real problem which can only be solved by the death of the bishop. The bishop put a curse upon the man who is a wolf by night and the woman who is a hawke by day. They are forever together, eternally apart.
I decided to buy this movie because I could not find it anywhere else. No store has it in stock. When I saw it on e-Bay I had to have it right away. I just could not pass it up. The price was right too.
I was shocked that I had found it anywhere. Each time I watch it I have to cry. The characters finally get their dream come true.
My children actually enjoyed it for the setting and the plot of the story. It is definately a tragedy in that their lives forever are trapped with half lives.
This movie is my favorite of all time.

i loved the move a lot it was funney and a rel nice love story the acting was great the cearter were supei loved it

I've seen this movie several times and still could watch it several more times.
I have never owned it so had to add it to my collection. A timeless story about true love and how faith and love can conquer all challenges. Great acting and lots of surprises.

This is one movie you CANNOT miss!! I'd say it's one of the best movies I've ever seen, and if you love Michelle Pfiefer and Matthew Broderick, and a mysterious/tragic love story with a fantastic ending...this is for you...Lots of horses and medieval era goodies.

this is a older movie and i haven't see it in a long time. I love movies of this sort and my roomates hadn't seen it . The movie was well liked.

Love this movie, it was made when Rutger Hauer was a hunk. Great fantasy, poignant love story. Believable.

A story about a Curse, a corrupt Priest and a Love that defied darkness. This was the first movie I had ever seen Michelle P. in and her beauty was flawless, as I love Romance novels this movie really appealed to me. Rutger Hauer was every woman's Noble Knight. Matthew Broderich was so funny as was the priest that lived in the run-down castle.
I highly recommend this movie for youngsters as the story is exciting and tells the story that LOVE truimphs over Evil. A Priest in love with a woman he can not have, the captain of the guard is in love with the same woman who loves him as well. The Priest can't have her and finds out that the 2 are in love and damn them to a life forever apart. There is a thief (Matthew B.) who is the only known person to have escaped the dungeons of Aquilar, Navarre (Rutgar H.) happens upon him hears of this is and is greatly interested in getting into the Fortress of Aquilar to destroy the corrupt priest who has damned himself, Navarre and Isabeau (Michelle P.) (sigh) what lovely names.....

The guards of Aquilar have been told to recapture the theif (Matthew) and return/and or kill him to the dungeons. Of course these guards are the same guards that used to answer to Navarre. Wonderfully exciting story and a mystery too!!

Respectfully Reviewed

It has just the right amount of umph to make it work, not too much cheese and just the right amount of realism. I am not a big Ruger Howard (SP) fan but he was just what was needed for the role. Surprisingly good, it kept my attention throughout. It unfolds one step at a time to reveal story that is unique and captivating. I loved the imagery and the scenery. I am very stingy when it comes to calling a movie excellent, so take no offence, this is not an excellent movie but better than good and worth watching.

It was a decent movie, it took a little while to build up buy when it finally got there it was good.

Delivery of product was great. It came in on time and it was in really good shape. Can't wait until my Mom opens it for her birthday. She loves this movie!

the dvd was in excellent condition and was everything that was promised. the delivery was prompt. i will do business with this seller again.

This is an awesome fantasy that has chicflick , comedy, and macho movie qualities. Matthew Broderick provides comic relief as the escaped pickpocket. Isabeau and Navarre are cursed by the bishop to always have only a brief glimpse of each other at the changing of day/night. He is a wolf by night, she a hawk by day. Much adventure. Getting for all of the family households.

This was an old movie my daughter watched all the time when she was a tween . She loved it and over the years it was misplaced , so she has looked for a DVD of the same movie but was not able to find one . I was lucky enough to find it and give it to her for a gift. She has two girls now , that was her age when she first watched Lady Hawke in years past , they both fell in love with the movie on it's first viewing . I will be looking for other older movies on
e-Bay in the future , movies we watched on VHS as a family , so I can pass on the fun to my grand children .
The only complaint I have was ,there was small damage to the case the DVD was in , but there was no damamge to the movie itself . So nothing to be upset over.
So I really have no complaint . Thanks for asking my opinion .

Rutegar Hauer shines as Captain Etienne Navarre, a medieval knight and his petite l'amour Michelle Pfeiffer as Isabeau his wonderful Lady Hawk. John Wood plays an utterly nasty Bishop of Aquila. With Mathew Broderick as the little thief and Leo McKern the priest who betrays the two lovers.
This romantic fantasy is an escape from the real world to a place where love, honor, and courage are rewarded. Where true love is possible, and two people love each other more than life itself.

This movie stands out for music score, knights and fair ladies in distress, and characters that you can fall in love with. It will have you rooting for the good guys and yelling at the screen for them to vanquish their enemies.

I like that this flik has so many sides it's near goofie. Broderick and McKern (sometimes unintentionally)provide the comic relief. Broderick is so young at this time you'll have no choice but to grin. Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer are both (by this time) established dramatic masters and while some ads give Broderick top billing, Pfeiffer and Hauer carry the movie. This flik would have slipped to absurdity had Pfeiffer and Hauer not so believed their roles and been confident in their abilities. The storyline is clear and straightforward but anytime you rely on spells and hexes and magic your actors and plot had better gel. At this point the hat tip MUST go to Richard Donner. Without clear direction this movie would be an absurd mush. The lack of a verbal description of the curse till later in the movie is not a problem because of the direction. The curse is filled out to give the bad guy a worse color and so you wanna cheer when he buys it. Donners' love of the action genre is blazingly clear here because this would be no more than a noisey chik-flik without it. Instead the magic, curse, etc. works and works well. The ending is a chance to cheer and not merely a glad occasion to wring out the hankie! All in all this is a solid action movie with sides of comedy, fantasy, and romance. Oh, by the way, if you don't like a STRONG, modern score this score may adversely affect you. The score impresses that Donners' intent was an action flik with many other aspects. A hearty well done to ALL involved. Like I said before, so many sides it's near goofie.

very good movie, well written and one of the best cinamagraphed pieces of photography on the market. Very real in it's period reproduction. well cast and well acted. One of the best movies I have seen in a long time.

I have always loved this movie. It is a very different love story with action and suspense for the guys! There are a few actors that I might have replaced but would love to see a good new remake of this story line.

I decided to buy thid movie because I lent my original copy to someone and never got it back. So I had to replace it. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!

i liked the movie.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................