It's my first time seeing this movie(I must've totally passed it by in the 80s) and I actually don't mind the music. It's very JRPG-ish, particularly like the games from Nihon Falcom, such as the Ys series and the Dragon Slayer series. They basically take place in "sword & sorcery" fantasy worlds where the osts feature a lot of progressive rock and 80s synth.
Personally speaking, I think that type of thing, in a movie, is a breath of fresh air. Every other sword & sorcery/medieval fantasy movie out there has grand sweeping orchestral scores. It's good and all, but sometimes it's nice to try a different approach. Break up the monotony and such. And to be frank, nowadays, I can only take so much of the whole "Let's try to copy the Lord of the Rings 'epic sound'!" in every modern day fantasy movie released. Sometimes it's good to go against the grain and try something different. In a way, I liked that about the 80s take on fantasy. You had barbarian epics, more grounded medieval fantasy, very imaginative medieval fantasy, fantasy mixing with sci-fi, and so on).

I agree, I bought it on DVD as soon as it came out, it took a little getting used to the first couple of times, but I wouldn't change it for anything now. It's perfect.

However, I am a member of that ancient pre-computer, pre-youtube generation that still believed that art is and should be unchangeable and yes, why not, a bit sacred as well. I don't believe in playing with software and uploading improved versions, and for me it's miserable trying to look for attention by destruction made by people who are frustrated because they aren't capable of creating, and yes why not, a bit a blasphemy. Even if it's not Mona Lisa but just Ladyhawke.
Well said, and I agree whole-heartedly:)! The maker of the film chose this score for his own reasons, whether the audience liked it or notand if you are one who doesn't like the score, then by all means, turn the volume off and put the captioning on:)!
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
Langston Hughes

Don't misunderstand me, I don't think that choice of Moroder was the best that producers could do. Also, I am a generation that grew up with this sound, the Moroder - disco years were my University years, and surely I have certain sentimental feelings for them; however, this music that fit perfectly in movies like Electric Dreams should have been kept out of Ladyhawke. (From the today's point of view we can discuss about music in range from new wave to gothic, including Oldfield, Enya, Enigma, Era, Nightwish for different scenes, but it's different when you look at it with delay of 30 years and, yes, I know that Vangelis was available at the time, and yes, his soundtracks prove that he would be a by far better choice However, I am a member of that ancient pre-computer, pre-youtube generation that still believed that art is and should be unchangeable and yes, why not, a bit sacred as well. I don't believe in playing with software and uploading improved versions, and for me it's miserable trying to look for attention by destruction made by people who are frustrated because they aren't capable of creating, and yes why not, a bit a blasphemy. Even if it's not Mona Lisa but just Ladyhawke.

Sure, I'd do any of those things if I thought it would make them better, at least if it was possible without destroying the original. Just because something gets labelled as art doesn't mean that it can't be improved and that there's anything wrong with improving it. Art isn't sacred any more than the software I write at work is (which someone else might very well tinker with an improve after I've left).
A lot of the Ladyhawke score sticks out like a sore thumb. It's not because it's not 13th century music either - there are the odd occasion when it works really well (such as the moment they almost touch at dawn).

Well, you want a remake. Because whatever you do to a movie you change the original work. Good or not, it is what a director made. If you change any frame, a light of a candle in the distance, a sound of a falling lief, a quick movement of supportive actor's eye or thumb, a ladybug on the doorpost, a sound of a radio from a nearby car with an open window you change the movie as it was made. Because, despite of what modern Hollywood producers and their copycats all over the world neglect and try to make us forget, film is an art, and as one it has to be preserved in the way that his original maker gave us. Would you also replace horns from Blue Danube by saxophone, or change the color of Mona Lisa's sleeve because you prefer blue or violet?

Why must we who hate the cheesy, inappropriate score leave it alone? You will still always have the original to watch with the original score. So what if we want it rescored? It will not affect you or your ability to watch it with the original score in any way.
NOBODY wants a remake, duh! We want a RESCORING, which is a lot different, i.e. only the music will change, NOTHING else!
Sorry dude, but I hated that kind of '80s music as a kid in the 80's and I hate it even more today.

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I rather enjoyed the music.

If the intended purpose were parody.
CB
Good Times, Noodle Salad

"The Blue Boy were depicted in a cheap polyester leisure suit."
..but.. but that would be awesome!

It's not that it's not 13th century, it's that it is really poor music, at least in this movie.
It is the only thing wrong with the movie.
It's as if Gainsborough's The Blue Boy were depicted in a cheap polyester leisure suit.
Obsolete on day one.
It stinks. Period.
CB
Good Times, Noodle Salad

The music was craptacular and totally inappropriate for the movie. So what? It doesn't ruin my enjoyment of the movie itself; I can seperate the two.
It does serve to give the movie a unique character that I find kind of endearing.
You know what would have been worse than the score they picked? Picking a safe, predictable formulaic medieval theme just to satisfy the rest of these boring slobs.

Argh ffs, don't be obtuse. I of course don't hate the people, I don't like Powell's orchestrations and I never will. He wrote the soundtrack for Ladyhawke, which I especially don't like.
I also really don't like his collaborations with the Alan Parsons Project. I never liked 1980s pop/classic combinations. The score of Ladyhawke spoils the movie for me, a movie that I otherwise love, own and rewatched several times. Would have rewatched it more if not for the score.
So please, don't be so literal. And leave us who want a rescore alone. You can still watch it with the original score, it won't affect you.

You've always hated someone who specifically did orchestrations? Where did this Powell hatred spring from? Do you think he botched
The Kick Inside
? Or perhaps he went overboard on "Sebastian"?
Strange hatred to have. I get not liking Parsons, but the Powell thing is very specific.

Well, good for you. I've always hated Alan Parsons and Andrew Powell, so that may explain why I hated the score of this movie, although I love the movie itself.

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I'm an Alan Parsons fan, and I absolutely love this movie. I have the soundtrack on my iPod too.
The score was composed by Andrew Powell who has worked with the Alan Parsons Project, and produced by Parsons.

I just watched this again this weekend and I have to say I hated the music for the most part. There were a few scenes where it seemed to fit. But for the most part, it really drew me out of the movie, which I love. For the most part, the music just doesn't seem to fit and it does date the movie.
I don't think the music had to be 13th century, but it definitely could have been better than what it was.
I would be into a scene that didn't have music and then all of sudden it would start blaring and would jar me out of the mood of the scene. I started putting it on silent and watching with captions on at times.
Scenes where the music didn't jar me: when the hawk is flying across the water with its wings touching the water; the fight scenes; when they are trying to touch each other as the sun rises.
There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-Doctor Who

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Yeah what abour "A Knights Tale" with Heath Ledger. All the crowd is rockin to "Queen", give me a break!!!

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aaaand if this were a modern fantasy being used with equally bad pop music, you'd be moaning like Jacob Marley.