LadyHawke (1985) - The Best Movie You Never Saw

[@SadPeterPan1977]

Worth watching just for the scene where they almost get to touch each other as the sun rises. Rutger Hauer's anguished cry of loss makes that scene.

[@mroctober3657]

That's the only movie I can remember where Rutger Hauer was the good guy. Wait, I think he was a Russian sub commander in a movie where he acted noble-y.

[@adamwoolston253]

RIP Rutger Hauer

[@CorbCorbin]

Mr October You gotta see Blind Fury then! It’s inspired by Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman, and Hauer is the hero lead. Has Sho Kasugi as well, who did quite a few ninja movies in the 80s.

[@SadPeterPan1977]

@@mroctober3657 Also Blind Fury as already mentioned, Split Second I think and Salute Of The Jugger. There's a few from the 80s and early 90s where he's the good guy.

[@mroctober3657]

@@SadPeterPan1977 I recorded Hobo with a Shotgun the other night. He 'might' be good in that.

[@jeanwissinger6013]

And today LadyHawke has risen to be one of his best and has a large following.

[@SereniaSaissa]

Ladyhawke was my ALL TIME favourite Rutger Hauer Movie!!! RIP Rutger Hauer!! You will be missed!! I actually LIKE the theme music for this movie.

[@robertmcpherson1617]

Mine too! And...I also like the theme music!

[@phillipburroughs146]

It is one of his best, but I also thought that “Blind Fury” was just as good or if not better.

[@calebonyqt]

RIP Mr. Rutger Hauer... Ladyhawke is my favorite Rutger Hauer film.

[@bigsonny45]

Mine too! RIP!

[@harryannmorton2556]

One of my very favourite movies of all time god rest you did you love you and I will always remember you that

[@ChesterRico]

Mine is Blood of Heroes!

[@smoke-78-]

I second that. Great movie. I watched it on like cinemax or hbo, late night, high off my ass in the 90's. I was so immersed. I'll never forget that feeling.

[@potterson1710]

Ditto

[@apparition668]

So this is one of my top 10 movies of all time. Even the soundtrack (though I'm a Parsons fan) works for me. Great writing, gorgeous cinematography, and Broderick's deadpan snark works well. He gives it a clueless bumbling that is effective as a foil to a very serious story. And yes- the scene in the snow at sunrise is absolutely heart-wrenching.

[@Highinsight7]

me too... THE LOVE theme alone... makes me weep!

[@Eldanogrande]

+1 - this is a top movie for me, edged out by maybe Star Wars and Princess Bride. The music is excellent when it is orchestral. It's only a few parts where they use a synthesizer that it doesn't work. Matthew Broderick I thought was good. Yes, he has kind of a modern affect, but it makes him relatable.

[@generalsleepy3859]

All of this. I have a soft spot for kind of synthy fantasy soundtrack (Hawk the Slayer is an absolute guilty pleasure), and I think Matthew Broderick is good in the role. He's the comic relief but also has a sweetness and innocence that I think works with the love story well. The anachronism of the soundtrack and some of the acting is in the plus column for me. Amazing movie.

[@cathyfreeze3381]

One of my favorite movies of all time! I honestly never even noticed the soundtrack, and i thought Broderick was terrific in that role. I think it's more your expectations of him that interfere than his actual ability. But ya--Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer make the movie.

[@michaelhorning6014]

This is one movie that manages to be a guy flick and a chick flick at the same time.

[@Life-Row-Toll]

The Wedding Crashers is another one.

[@DaDunge]

The princess Bride?

[@te9591]

@@DaDunge yeah this is totally similar theme and charm to princess bride.

[@AmityvilleFan]

well said

[@RagnarokMic]

@@DaDunge I remember a friend of mine laughing thumbing through my DVD collection: "The Princess Bride, really?" "You've never actually SEEN the Princess Bride, have you?" Converted to a true believer.

[@orinanime]

I really love this movie. I also actually happen to really love the music from Alan Parsons utilized in the movie as well. And I don't think there's anything wrong with Matthew Broderick being cast in the film.

[@coribug42]

He is a good every man.

[@themaestroslady1812]

Agreed I've always LOVED this movie. I thought Matthew Broderick was perfect. His humor was wonderful and he brought a sense of humanity to the role. No complaints about the music either - always enjoyed it.

[@Hoodat_Whatzit]

@@themaestroslady1812 "I know I promised, Lord, never again. But I also know that YOU know what a weak-willed person I am." I liked him in this too. :)

[@robertmcpherson1617]

I don't think Matthew Broderick came off '1985' in this movie! He also mentions Donner's choice of the type of fight choreography. His brilliance of choice was actually the fight choreographer, William Hobbs! He was known for powerful, gritty fights and those in this movie were no exception! Rutger Hauer may not have been a household name in Cinema but he was a star on TV. He played a knight of all things! He really comes off dangerous...but ultimately likeable. He is at perfect contrast with his replacement, Marquet!

[@jbtechcon7434]

Puberty hit me all at once the day I saw this movie. I literally didn't know women were that beautiful. I realized that day that when they call a woman "stunning" it's not a figure of speech.

[@foxdylan9536]

Yes, same applies to some men 😉

[@desertrose1226]

Fox Dylan I find Rutger Hauer stunning ...to me he had a face carved by the Gods.

[@ShadowMage3D]

The crazy thing: She's STILL that beautiful.

[@penny6091]

I'm confused to see this movie labelled obscure. This, "Dirty Dancing", and "The Princess Bride" were THE sleepover staples of girls in the 80's. *Every* woman of my generation has seen this movie many, many times

[@jonathanross149]

You can tell it's obscure, because it is never reacted to.

[@LynneStringerAuthor]

This movie holds the record for me of over 200 views. I can recite it backwards.

[@Dragoncam13]

Dirty dancing and princess bride is well known,not much people really know about this one and it tends to have less reruns than the other two as well

[@Freshpickedrainbows]

Yes, I believe I'm actually a 50 something year old woman at heart, cuz this movie was such a good part of growing up for me

[@sanghoonlee5171]

Every time I catch a glimpse of Michelle Pfeiffer from the 80s and 90s, I'm blown away by her beauty. She was the Amanda Seyfried and Margot Robbie of that era, except better.

[@zimmerman1031]

Pretty fucked up statement if you ask me. You make it sound like after the 90s she magically became ugly. One of these days you're going to be old, and the last thing you're going to want to hear is how age made you an ugly bag of bones.

[@desertrose1226]

Zimmerman and Ms Pfeiffer is still beautiful at 60. Old age does not make you ugly, it just changes your beauty.

[@maryscottoconnor9711]

The only actress who comes close to Pfeiffer in terms of beauty and talent is Angelina Jolie.

[@LordMalice6d9]

Margot Robbie and Amanda Seyfried are still nowhere near as beautiful as Michelle Pfeiffer

[@kimshaffner4576]

I have watched this movie several times. I believe nobody could play Matthrew Brodderick character but him. The entire cast worked very well! I love the movie! Thank you for showing it so more will see it. Whether love or hate people will see it's beauty!!!

[@GrayNeko]

Fantastic film! A 'bring everyone together film'! Kids, parents....This is one of Matthew Broderick's best performances. Michelle Pfiffer is hauntingly beautiful. And Rutger Hauer OWNS it as Navarre! Stop watching this, all due respect to JoBlo, and watch this movie!! It's fantastic!

[@eddieboyky]

Ladyhawke is one of my favorite movies. I think everything works, even the music and Broderick, because the movie is such a product of its time. They all fit together.

[@janices6140]

Not only have I seen it, I've owned the DVD for years. One of my favorite Rutger Hauer movies. May he rest in peace.

[@frecklzface1]

I love this movie and the soundtrack. My sister and I watched it so much we wore out the tape and memorized every line

[@DavidWilliams-nc1ss]

Hello 👋 Jo Anne how are you doing!!

[@erikadlloyd5586]

Rutger Hauer was very popular in the 80's his performance in Blade Runner was great

[@nazur72]

R.I.P Rutger Hauer

[@ImFrelled]

"All these things will disappear in time... like tears in the rain."

[@desertrose1226]

Roy Batty made Rutger's career but he was amazing with every character he played.

[@ShadowMage3D]

@@ImFrelled Frankly, his improvisation with that monologue was a masterpiece.

[@gregmcdonald8962]

I watched it again recently for the first time in probably 15 years, third or fourth time overall and really enjoyed it. I'd completely forgotten about the soundtrack and, while initially jarring, I found it ultimately works in some strange way. I also enjoyed Mathew Broderick; in a movie where a man and woman become a wolf and hawk, respectively, depending on the time of day, his turn as a young thief of French descent isn't any harder to suspend my disbelief of and he brings a charm and genuine likeability* to the character. To me, the whole movie almost feels like a visual representation of what someone might be imagining if they were actually reading this story in a book.

[@tracyannchapel9384]

I adore your description of how this was cast you can imagine these prole easily in your mind as doing these things. Michelle Pheiffer’s character seems modern too when she says the line He’s going to kill me as an aside after she helps Felipe from off the tree. Thank you for your writing.

[@bombshellmsl7045]

Seen it at least 10 times and LOVED IT

[@thenarrator1984]

i grew up on it and it was a regular watch lol

[@ilejovcevski79]

Still loving it.....the soundtrack as well

[@sarahsilverlight2064]

You don't love it, anymore, bombshell? How sad

[@joannietrotter2344]

One of my favourite films. We were lucky in the 80’s because we had some brilliant films.

[@MrMightyZ]

If you don't love this film then you have no heart. The music hasn't aged well but that's cool in itself.

[@SandyEA]

I saw the movie in theaters in '85, and I think you miss the point IMO regarding the both the score and Mathew Broderick role in the movie. The movie is a fantasy not an historical adventure. Broderick's performance and the score made the story MORE of a fantasy to me, it didn't take me out of the movie.

[@GabrieleFunaro]

Correct!! The movie is so original because of all the elements together!! Remove one and it's not Ladyhawke anymore but just "that movie set in the middle ages"!!

[@twincitiestara]

Huh. The music was one of my favorite thing about the movie.

[@icoborg]

@Brian Cairns ohoho you're so wrong... in the '80 was perfect.

[@Марина-о6л1ц]

I disagree, the buttle theme doesn't fit the action :(

[@VidkunQL]

Only five seconds on Leo McKern? He was brilliant in this film. Watch him, and then *try* to imagine another actor in that role.

[@t.versteeg3723]

Dutch Rutger Hauer riding a huge Dutch Frisian horse! What could be better than that!

[@Losrandir]

His name is Goliath

[@patriciabourgeois8348]

Honestly one of my favs and I feel you're not giving enough credit to the cult following this movie has..

[@GabrieleFunaro]

True!! Especially in Italy, where the movie was filmed, Ladyhawke is absurdly famous!!! The cult following is huge!!!

[@daniellogan-scott5968]

I saw Ladyhawk when it released in the cinema. The first shot of Michelle Pfeiffer was amazing. This was the first time I had seen her anywhere. At the time the biggest complaint was the soundtrack -- even in the 80's.

[@Satsujinki1973]

What the hell? Most people loved the Soundtrack?

[@daniellogan-scott5968]

@@Satsujinki1973 You may be right. It did not bother me, but it bothered critics. I can't remember what real people thought.

[@Satsujinki1973]

@@daniellogan-scott5968 I just remember everyone loving it. I may have been living in a pre-internet bubble, but that's all I recall. I still see people comment about how much they love soundtrack on Videos about Ladyhawke too.

[@HunchbackJack]

Loved this movie as a teenager. Even the soundtrack couldn't spoil it for me. By the way - it's "always together, FOREVER apart", not "never apart".

[@kwilson8452]

"eternally"

[@allanmoorhead6546]

I actually loved the opening credits score and thought that it fit the theme of the movie (gallantry and heroism) quite well, at least for it's time. The 1980s style of the movie was also part of it's charm for me, since it was a break from the standard attempts in many fantasy/historical movies to attempt to fake a "realistic" period style for the characters. What could they do? Get all French actors to play in it? It's a fantasy tale, made for entertainment. It's not supposed to be serious.

[@GabrieleFunaro]

Actually, the movie was set and filmed in Italy, not France, and many cast members are in fact Italian!! 😃

[@SupertzarMetal]

The best film you never saw: Flesh + Blood Another good film where Rutger Hauer wields a sword.

[@BasementBerean]

Funny, I just watched this movie with my sixteen-year-old son last night and he said it was a great movie. I saw it back in the 80's. The ending still chokes me up some. The Alan Parsons soundtrack made it unique. It's a fantasy after all.

[@GabrieleFunaro]

True!! Without its soundtrack, it wouldn't be as memorable as it is!! It would be just "any other Mediaeval movie"!! 😃

[@racineg33]

RIP Rutger H. I think this movie is what made me fall in love with short hair on women. Michelle Pfeiffer was absolutely stunning, as she always is.

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

I don't care what anyone says, I loved the soundtrack.

[@phantyon]

+ 1 .... I thought the soundtrack was one of the best things in the movie.

[@keith3819]

The soundtrack was horrible. But I respect the fact that you don't care what I think.

[@QarthCEO]

The soundtrack is what keeps this movie from being a huge hit.

[@nazur72]

@@QarthCEO they could rescore the movie and rerelease. They did that with The Outsiders.

[@OrganizedChaos14]

I love the music of the soundtrack. It's great is listen to on its own. But it doesn't fit with the movie.

[@vic771]

Watched it many times...Felt new EVERY time...

[@baronsengir187]

It was so easy to fall in love with michelle pfeifer in that movie.

[@thenarrator1984]

any* movie.

[@rowanirish]

I did when I was 10.

[@WreckerR]

My first cinematic crush

[@arckocsog253]

Or rutger Hauer

[@little-rascal]

I remember watching this when I was real young. It was one of those movies which totally blew me away. Always wanted to find it again. Thank you!

[@M2Mil7er]

This film was a staple for the fantasy VHS rental market, has a cult following, and lots of coverage in the KZbin community. Not sure who hasn't seen it at this point.

[@ruraladventurer1884]

Yeah, the "you never saw" part was pretty hyperbolic but otherwise he's correct. I watched the crap out of my old VHS copy recorded from HBO when I was a youngling. Great film.

[@eddiegrizzly9839]

me lol

[@miked8064]

I haven't seen it, I'm just here because of reading Ready Player One.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

Ladyhawke fan for forever, baby!

[@hayleyjohnson9505]

I love this movie!! I watched it when it came out in the theaters and it was amazing to me and my sister. I was 18 then and I still love Rutger Hauer now. RIP

[@desertrose1226]

He was loveable. I adore him. So sad he died.

[@LordMalice6d9]

@@desertrose1226 Criminally underrated actor.

[@Andy-vz8mx]

Honestly I like the soundtrack. As someone who never saw this movie before the 2010s and thus watched it as a dated movie, I thought that the aggressively 1985 soundtrack and aggressively 1985 Matthew Broderick performance kinda worked well together.

[@marykateharmon]

This has been one of my favorite films, even as I grew up. I personally always enjoyed the music and how it helped give it a uniqueness to its style.

[@GabrieleFunaro]

True!! Had it had an ordinary musical score, it would have been just another movie set in Mediaeval days!! Contrarily, thanks to Alan Parsons Project, you feel like the story is set in a magical world of its own!! 😃

[@Rekaert]

Some fans love the score to this film, but honestly, you put a classical music soundtrack to it, and it elevates it incredibly. The original score locks it into the 80's.

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

R.I.P. #RutgerHauer 😢💔🌹

[@lindamendoza9283]

I love the music then and now.

[@thepayne7862]

Loved LadyHawke as a kid. I totally forgot Richard Donner directed this.

[@robertchadwell7146]

Personally I really enjoyed the music in the movie.

[@davidlloyd9980]

RIP Rutger Hauer ....Fantastic actor.

[@danphillips8530]

Rutger Hauer and Mattew Broddrick are so good

[@reerjgiorge]

From the starting credits with the amazing music of Alan Parsons, to the very end, this is a master piece. Also, how i miss the 80's... sigh. And due, are you on drugs?????? the opening credits music is simply AMAZING. You dont like it? thats fine, but dont you dare to spread your awful taste to others. It was a perfect choice, and again, it was mostly welcomed by almost every single person who watched the film, with your exception, of course... that earned you a BIG HUGE unfollow. Dude, seriously, go to see a doctor.

[@GabrieleFunaro]

I agree!! The opening credits are some of my all time favourites, absolutely mind blowing in every possible way!!!!! And so is the rest of the movie!!! 😃

[@ZestonN]

I definitely saw this movie, several times, and I love it! And it's disappointing how many movies and TV shows have taken its premise, while at the same time, completely ignoring it.

[@Rosebane]

I saw this movie when I was very young, missed seeing in theaters by a few years. But let me tell you as a fantasy movie it was so perfect. It flowed so well that I never noticed the music score being a problem. I would love to see a well made prequel to it or even a contuation of it. Its just that good.

[@archer201977]

I saw this movie back then when i was very young, this is one of the rare classics that not everyone knows or remembers...

[@michaeltowler2632]

I always liked this movie and the scene as he rode his Horse into the Church.

[@jcfra420]

I think this was when I first fell in love with Michelle Pfeiffer . I have watched this movie so many times, I know the dialogue. "Remember, walk on the left side!"

[@IMDABROWN]

I’ve watched this at least 15 times, it was one of my childhood favorites

[@LucyLioness100]

I love this one. The film is so underrated with a great cast & a classic romance fitting a medieval period piece

[@ryanflake3481]

I have always loved this film, warts and all, and am very happy to see it getting this recognition.

[@MaraJadeSkky]

I grew up on this movie, watched it with my parents. My 9 year old just watched it with me. The cycle continues! It is SUCH A GOOD MOVIE and that soundtrack is *chef's kiss*!

[@lafinrob6841]

One of my favorites. Loved Timeline as well.

[@amsterluca]

I saw this movie about 100 times as a young kid and never saw it again (although I have never forgotten about it) then the other day some guy on the radio playied the intro score and I almost started crying for how happy I was to hear it.

[@karrinnev4585]

Great things are always made, yet, not understood or appreciated by everyone. That's why it's called art.

[@andreap9869]

This movie always makes me cry and is still my favorite movie of all time. I liked the into music!

[@kimberleejoyce9674]

Absolutely is my most favorite movie ever!!!

[@davidgeisler9885]

I loved this movie at the time and the soundtrack was a key part of my enjoyment and I recall it vividly to this day. It was so unique and gave the film a heightened sense of escapist fantasy.

[@ashrafebrahim1444]

I saw it . Great Movie . All the three protagonists were excellent , especially Broderick .

[@alise1973]

Rutger Hauer passed away on 7/19/2019. Ladyhawke has been brought up multiple times on Twitter as one of his best. I hope you get some views in honor of his passing.

[@derreckpressley1165]

I love this movie, especially the musical score and cheesy love story.

[@Highinsight7]

(which matched the cheesy score... which I LOVED! the love theme alone was GREAT!)

[@ordinary-not2525]

I only saw it once, and I love it, especially since Matthew Broderick was starred in it!! As for the music, I actually enjoyed it

[@royfugate]

you so crazy, the score to the film is so epic!!

[@glenndavis5743]

Awesome movie. I have probably seen it 10 times.

[@zzygyy]

One of the best movies from the 80s. This was during the "Dungeons and Dragons" era of movies.

[@salud7432]

Those came much later

[@zzygyy]

@@salud7432 Conan the barbarian, Hawk the Slayer The sword and the sorcerer, Krull and few other b movies release early 80s when Dungeons and dragons was popular

[@wesleywarsmith1113]

DRAGONSLAYER and WILLOW where best!

[@zzygyy]

@@wesleywarsmith1113 YES!!! You remember ..

[@fuckgoogle8857]

BeastMaster

[@Wolfgare-mc4pr]

I love that movie, and the music too.

[@yuckysamson]

Not only did I see it, but I saw it in the theatre, and, it remains one of the only 3 movies to ever make me cry.

[@erikondrums]

I love the soundtrack. I’m a sucker for that 80’s sound mixed with orchestra though.

[@lancelange9377]

I love the soundtrack, especially the opening. There are bits in the movie where the music doesn't quite fit. But I think the soundtrack is part of the charm. There was no KZbin back then, so I very much doubt the soundtrack was responsible for the movies failure.

[@pitiedvod]

You be damned right to say I have had this movie on VHS, DVD, and Bluray. It is an awesome movie that even my wife will happily watch along with me.

[@SusanSloate]

At that time I was deeply into horseback riding. The scene where Navarre follows Philippe, snatches him onto his saddle and THEN jumps a six- or eight-foot fence was UNBELIEVABLE for me to watch, because I could just imagine how the stuntman did it. Wow!

[@alanmike6883]

A eighties classic. It's definitely memorable

[@ssazerac]

Lady Hawke: Still a better story than the last season of GOT.

[@JaysenKov]

ssazerac or the Sequel Trilogy

[@Highinsight7]

Way better!

[@ShadowPa1adin]

#GetANewJoke

[@swirvinbirds1971]

R.I.P. Mr. Hauer. You gave us moments of joy.

[@eneye666]

The music was awesome and period :)

[@GabrieleFunaro]

I agree!! 😃

[@WendyStChristopher_Art166]

One of my favorite quirky films - it's magical and I've seen it countless times. Love the soundtrack, too!

[@darkwolf9253]

I actually really love that movie. Even the soundtrack... I have two different versions of it on CD.

[@ladyblayd]

I saw it, way back when, and it's always been one of my favorites.

[@loriwbahadur]

When Snocaps were still sold in theaters... Still love Alan Parsons, too.

[@mollycblaeser]

My favorite movie of all-time! So grateful that my mother owned it & let me watch when I was old enough.

[@samson7383]

Had to laugh because I did see this movie in the theaters like 30 years ago!

[@loriwbahadur]

Mee, too. And the thirteen other people I was in the theater with. Small town, small theater, nice and quiet audience, until we cried...

[@lisasnyder6516]

Ladyhawke is and always will be my absolute favorite movie and I LOVE the soundtrack.

[@pdgf]

R.I.P. Rutger Hauer! How prescient and timely that you made this about a month before his passing. 😞😢

[@Tenebris_Sint]

Saw it a bunch of times in the theaters as a kid, still one of my favorites.

[@allanmoorhead6546]

It's a 1980s film. It was made in the 1980s, for a 1980s audience. It's supposed to be 1980s. All 1980s films have a 1980s style.

[@sgw9753]

I LOVE this movie! I don't even remember how many times I've watched it. I'm glad I saw this post because now I want to own a copy so I can watch it anytime I want.

[@timmeyer9191]

You should review Time Bandits, Willow, and Dragonslayer.

[@timmeyer9191]

@Cool Waters Warwick Davis stared in Willow. I don't think he was in Time Bandits, but Kenny Baker was.

[@RagnarokMic]

Time Bandits, Willow, and Dragonslayer sounds like an amazing crossover film.

[@NelsonStJames]

Dragonslayer definitely needs a reevaluation. It was ahead of it's time and made when fantasy was not a genre taken seriously by either Hollywood or the audiences at the time.

[@swirvinbirds1971]

@@NelsonStJames Agree. Dragonslayer and The Black Hole are Disney movies that I would actually like to see redone instead of the continuous rehashes they keep putting out.

[@unclest1nky]

@@swirvinbirds1971 I don't think they could improve on such great movies. But if you need to see them remade at least NOT remade by Disney! I don't need another fond childhood memory destroyed by Disney!!!!!!!!!!

[@Taranau]

I'm not sure why Chris keeps thinking these are movies people haven't seen... Matthew and the music, were what critics harped on, at the time. That there are moments, every day, they can see each other, for just a few seconds was the driving force behind the plot. You wanted them to be together... And, that bit, at the end, where Rutger throws the sword like it's a knife... Legend...

[@malirabbit6228]

If you feel / care /have heard anything of Ruter hauer, please see this movie! ! !

[@nickducharme5104]

I watched this as a kid on VHS and I liked it

[@fuckgoogle8857]

Nick Ducharne I still have on VHS and watch often

[@matthewdaley746]

@@fuckgoogle8857 I watched it once, and, never again.

[@WardNightstone]

well at least one writer on Charmed saw it cause they did an episode that was an Homage to it even made a joke about one of them "thinking this would make a good movie"

[@cebukitty]

I’ve rewatched this movie a dozen times. Love the plot, the characters, the lovely music with the 80’s synth. It’s an unforgettable movie. Sure at first the synth music didn’t match the medieval fantasy theme at first, but now it’s what makes this movie special.

[@Savoy1984]

I genuinely love the music

[@paulaw418]

Never saw? I've seen it ABOUT 100 times. Never get tired of it.

[@clintrock]

Bad timing on the Rutger comments with him passing.