• Joan of Arc (1999) | | | |
• No Good Deed | | | |
• .45 | | | |
• Joan of Arc - Child of War, Soldier of God | | | |
• The Million Dollar Hotel | | | |

Somewhere in-between lies the truth
Review written by: CloudDancer From
Having seen the Ingrid Bergman version "Joan of Arc", and now "The Messenger", anyone who is somewhat familiar with that period's personalities would agree that somewhere in-between lies the true Joan. The Ingrid Bergman version depicts Joan as a much too innocent and pious young woman who could never have led the many thousands into battle. The Milla Jovovich version is a bit too irreverant but warrior enough to join the bloody gnashing of teeth and breaking of heads as was customary in battle those days. So...for those too unkind with this film, you must agree that somewhere in between is Joan of Arc and we needed both versions to realistically form a picture of what she was truly like. Both films were well directed and well acted.

No more heroics, please
Review written by: Lai Chi Wei From Okinawa, Japan
Format: Bluray
Movie: 9.5/10
Picture: 8/10
Audio: 9/10
Extra: 1/10

This is a great and rare movie that takes a critical view of a of piece of "well-known" history. It provides a plausible explanation to the "Joan miracle", much better than the readily accepted one.

No one in this movie is a heroes, a saint, or, for that matter, a devil. Everyone is self-serving in his/her own way and behaving just like a human being. Joan was driven by her single-minded hatred for the English and her wish to drive away the invaders. The French crown prince just wanted his crown. The English wanted Joan convicted as a heretic so as to nullify the claim that "god is on their side". The church wanted to stay out of it because it wanted look aloof and impartial to all Christians, French as well as English. It has nothing to gain in engaging in religious controversy.

Joan was a charismatic leader because of her single-mindedness and her conviction of a greater purpose. This is a quality people cluster to in a time of turmoil. Think of the Hitlers of our world. It is only human to have doubts, but we are charmed by people who don't. There is a fine line between charm and insanity.

The movie is roughly divided into two parts: the first part about the fighting is gritty and realistic, no heroism, just plain and brutal. The second part deals with the question of faith. Had Joan been firm to her believe, no one could accuse her of anything. Her claims of miracle was as legitimate as that of any saints in history. Her incrimination was only possible when she began to doubt herself. Dustin Hoffman was her conscience and self-doubt.

Ask yourself this question: if there is a god, why would he take the side of the French? The English king came from a line of Normand aristocrat and has as much claim to the French throne the French crown prince. Why would god take sides in any human conflict at all? All war sprung from greed and the failure to settle matters in a civilized manner. No more heroics, please.

Good chance that was blown
Review written by: Sharon M. Faulkner From Portales, NM
Many people including devout Catholics do not accept that Joan of Arc had voices from GOD because many of the things that she claimed were unScriptural and GOD does not contradict Himself. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia says that many of her claims "would be rash to deny but...." and that is now many people feel.
It would have been nice to see two talented filmmakers examine why, if she didn't hear from GOD, a simple peasant girl who were very religious would head off to bloody battlefields to take on an almost unstoppable enemy. Faith or Patriotism or what?
I don't know but they could have done better than this mess.
She didn't not have her village sacked (her part of France was under the Burgundians not the English), her sister (if she had one) was not killed or raped (or the reverse as this says).... But then she gave no evidence of insanity either.
Maybe her story will never be told right but it can be told better.
By the by many peple say that Dustin Hoffman was "excellent" but that is knee jerk... what the heck was he supposed to be? He looked like a cross between the Mad Monk and Igor!!

The Messenger:The Story of Joan Of Arc.
Review written by: Jose Lopez From Miami,Florida USA
The Messenger: The Story of Joan Of Arc :

I was browsing through my netflix and see this movie and saw 2 stars-2 1/2 stars when I said you know I should give it a try, Dustin Hoffman is in it and it's about Joan Of Arc,I am Catholic and I like movies like that. So I see the movie and it is looking good except the graphic parts and half-way It starts to sink that what the director Luc Besson intended is his biased view of events. I then google and it confirmed my suspicions, In LEFTIST Rag "Le Monde" He is as quoted as saying Joan Of Arc Should have followed the commandments if she is a true Christian ,Thou Shalt Not Kill"and quote. Although he fails to realize it's Thou Shalt not Commit Murder. In fact there is such a thing as a Just War and Self Defense is covered as well. Murder is a different story,So you get another Liberal Trying to rewrite history and make Joan Of Arc look crazy.The French Adore Joan Of Arc and for Good Reason,she wasn't crazy. As for the Acting, I thought John Malkovich was great, and The Battle Scenes are good even if they are not ACCURATE by a longshot,and certainly you see why The English and French hate each other(The English Protestant wackjobs who would later rather Follow Henry and his Hideous Girl and Become Anglican-a Mutated Form of Catholicism),this movie is entertainment not historical,I will look elsewhere for A Joan Of Arc movie perhaps it will not be such a Special Effects Bonaza but I want to see a less biased movie.

A total reinvetion of the legend
Review written by: AP Coen From Omaha NE
Where to start with what is wrong...The costumes and weapons are not the correct period, Jesus has fair skin and blue eyes. Joan has black hair not blond, the accents are all over Europe and not correct for the English or French except the few times a real Frenchmen is cast, and because of research done by French historians such as Roger Caratini, Its clear today that Joan's influce in battle was less leading the charge and more along for the ride.

Lets not talk about the acting, but rather the over acting. I wouldn't go after every actor but Mila J goes from wimpering idiot straight to wild eyed loon at the drop of a hat.

The real Joan of Arc was zealot that heard voices yet was charismatic enough to rally the French at a critical time and was sold out to the English when her usefulness to crazy ratio dipped too low. This movie portrays her as a raving loon that got what was coming to her.