Sunday Classics: Ladyhawke
March 1st 2009 18:15
Ladyhawke, 1985
Above and beyond the whole "total hotness" factor of both Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer in the same movie, there was something more than the Hollywood-magical about the story. The tangible sense of loss and want, the power of guilt and shame balanced by a realistic sense of survival... the message that the measure of a man is what he has the audacity to do for his cause instead of his station or status...
This one movie, Ladyhawke, makes you look at the rest of Richard Donner's work in a slightly different light. You look at Superman and Superman II, and then you look at all the Lethal Weapons, and you kinda have to wonder if that's really what Donner wanted to say. If he could craft something as stunningly visual and visceral as Ladyhawke, was his other stuff somehow interfered with? The gut-punch factor was left out to a large extent until he got to this part.
Almost as an additional testimonial to the magic of this movie, it was during the making of this film that Richard Donner (as director) met his wife, Lauren Shuler (as producer). In October of 2008, they were each given their own stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in a rare double-ceremony. That's almost 25 years of wedded bliss, if you didn't feel like doing the math - and you know how rare that is in Hollywood.
I adore the films that demonstrate the human condition through exploration of the deeper, darker, more complex corners of the soul. It's so hard to do well, and in this one film, Donner and his cast and crew managed to use not only the essence of themselves but also the natural power of landscape to tell a story that, even now after the 104th time watching it, can make me mad, happy, sorrowful, and elated. In fact, the only detraction is the painfully dated soundtrack, but even that can be overlooked on good days.
4.5 Stars
By the way - thanks to whomever fixed the code on my site. It wasn't so much that the advertisements weren't working as that I wasn't getting credited with them. They seem to be operating well. I'm very glad to be back!
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Spike 2
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Excellent film. Broderick ruins it a bit for me, but that's personal and I can live with it given the great story.
Comment by Lilla
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I remember seeing this at 40,000 ft on my way to Europe or some other wierd place.. I remember thinking it was pretty good but ~ like Cibb ~ have to rethink this (so much of the story lost in time) and perhaps chase it down again.. .. .. .. something about two lovers not being able to find the place and time that allowed them to be together as the sun rising changed both their destiny's each day?
Yes, that was it... well said.
Going to chase it down and rewatch.
Lilla ...