Rating: 
Summary: Bashful's DVD Summary #040
Review: Best:1) The story of Joan of Arc is fascinating and this version is probably the most accurate that we'll ever get (since we have only sketchy information in the history books).
2) There is plenty of gritty battle action with blood and body parts flying.
3) The wide assortment of of medieval weapons used (catapaults, gravity cannon balls, multiple arrow shooters, boiling oil, maces, flails and decapitation devices) were more varied than any other movie. That alone makes this one a classic.
3) The movie explores Joan's later doubts about her voices/visions being from God very well. They use a imaginary devil's advocate character (played by Dustin Hoffman) to allow her to argue with herself. In the process, we're given a lot to think about ourselves. Worst: 1) Milla Jovovich over-acted at times, especially when the camera was close to her face. That made her character a little scary. (Who knows, however, what the real Joan was like).
2) The only special feature is a very worthwhile 25-minute documentary about the actual historical events surrounding Joan of Arc's life. It would have been good to to have even more background information on this fairly complicated story. Recommendation: The low amount of special features is the only reason I don't give this DVD 5 stars. The movie itself is so rich that it requires repeated viewings to catch everything. Both men and women should find something to like in this epic.
Rating: 
Summary: No luck for Luc
Review: If two great film artists, Carl-Theodore Dreyer and Robert Bresson, saw fit to restrict their talents to Joan of Arc's "passion" and "trial," then what on earth Luc Bresson thought he could do with her whole story is sheer megalomania. An action film director, he simply hasn't the skill to capture one of history's greatest enigmas on film - even with a large budget and an international cast. And he is clearly besotted with Milla Jovovich - else why would he cast her in The Fifth Element as 'the perfect human?' She is so out of her depth in this role that she's embarrassing to watch - turning poor Joan into a complete neurotic. The film suggests that the real puzzle of history is not that Joan of Arc led a French army into battle - and won - but that the Dauphin and his ministers actually permitted this apparent nut case to do so. She obviously hadn't the imagination - neither did Besson - to look deeply into this young woman's soul and find something authentic - like a 15th-century peasant girl made so ecstatic by her visions and voices (made ridiculous in the movie) that she convinced enough of her countrymen that she was sent to liberate them. I can think of maybe two or three living actresses who could pull it off, but they're far too old to play a 19-year-old. Viewers should purchase the newly restored and gloriously remastered Passion of Joan of Arc to get glimpses of what art can do with the enigma of Joan.
Rating: 
Summary: bloomin awful
Review: Why did I watch this travesty at all?? Awful movie, screeching demonised Joan of Arc? Watch the miniseries instead with Peter O'toole and Lelee whatshername. It's much better than this thing.
Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking film about the human side of Joan of Arc
Review: This year I have seen three films on Joan of Arc and there are reportedly more versions out there. First I saw the Leelee Sobieski depiction of Joan which provided an interesting, if conventional view of a saintly Joan. Next I viewed the outstanding Criterion Collection DVD of Paul Dreyer's classic "Joan of Arc". While in black and white, it may be one of the finest movies ever made. Dreyer's script follows fairly faithfully the trial of Joan. He depicts a saintly, yet human Joan who is suffering greatly. Renee Falconetti's performance is unforgettable in this silent film (to which has been added a beautiful score, "Voices of Light"). Finally I got to see Luc Besson's version. I was fully prepared by prior reviews to give this movie a miss. Well, forget the reviews. This is a thinking person's Joan of Arc. Bresson is really exploring what may have motivated Joan. Much of this is conjecture, of course, but then again, this is a "movie" and not "lives of the Saints". Besson speculates that from childhood Joan may have had psychotic episodes where she extrapolated meanings from random events. Her psychosis may have deepened when Joan experienced a traumatic experience, like the death of her sister at the hands of English soldiers. Her voices then told her to drive the English from France. Seems logical. Milla Jovovich's depiction of the young, innocent Joan, the avenging angel Joan, and finally the doubting Joan was very fine throughout the film. I particularly liked the character of Joan's conscience (the anima to the vengeful Joan's Id). The role is played by Dustin Hoffman. He punctures Joan's "balloon" of religiosity, questioning whether or not God really told her to attack the English. With this Bresson appears to be questioning not only Joan's source of divine inspiration but the justification of any religeous war. This may explain why the battle scenes are so horrific and graphic...so that the audience subequently gets the point that Joan wasn't fighting a battle with God on her side. In summary, what we find from Luc Besson's movie is not the divine view of Joan but the human view. It is a valuable contribution to the various depictions of Joan of Arc's life. Why is there so much controversy over Besson's version? Is it because many of us like the certainty of the official version and find it difficult to "think" about an alternative, an all too human Joan of Arc?
Rating:
Summary: What was her motive? It makes for a long movie....
Review: Did she hear from god, was she insane, or was she just after revenge? After seeing this movie about the French martyr'saint Joan of Arc. You have heard the story a dozen times no doubt so here is my take on the movie. Luc Besson's mark is left in this movie giving you cinematography that is breathtaking, a okay script, and amazing scenery. The action is done in such a way that at points it is difficult to distinguish between the Joan's Army and whomever she is fighting. But that point it made mute when you realize how the camera work brings you into the fighting. The movie has a gritty dirty feel thus furthering the point that this war is not some holiday. The movie gets a bit long so after she is captured and put on trial you might want to take a break. Whatever you do not turn it off, Dustin Hoffman's performance is not to be missed. A wonderful film, but long. When I think about it I would have to go with Luc Besson has done it again, but not on par with his other movies.
Rating:
Summary: No luck for Luc
Review: If two great film artists, Carl-Theodore Dreyer and Robert Bresson, saw fit to restrict their talents to Joan of Arc's "passion" and "trial," then what on earth Luc Bresson thought he could do with her whole story is sheer megalomania. An action film director, he simply hasn't the skill to capture one of history's greatest enigmas on film - even with a large budget and an international cast. And he is clearly besotted with Milla Jovovich - else why would he cast her in The Fifth Element as 'the perfect human?' She is so out of her depth in this role that she's embarrassing to watch - turning poor Joan into a complete neurotic. The film suggests that the real puzzle of history is not that Joan of Arc led a French army into battle - and won - but that the Dauphin and his ministers actually permitted this apparent nut case to do so. She obviously hadn't the imagination - neither did Besson - to look deeply into this young woman's soul and find something authentic - like a 15th-century peasant girl made so ecstatic by her visions and voices (made ridiculous in the movie) that she convinced enough of her countrymen that she was sent to liberate them. I can think of maybe two or three living actresses who could pull it off, but they're far too old to play a 19-year-old. Viewers should purchase the newly restored and gloriously remastered Passion of Joan of Arc to get glimpses of what art can do with the enigma of Joan.
Rating: 
Summary: Unexpected yet unremarkable
Review: Decent effort, somewhat uneven in quality. Not what you might expect from a Joan of Arc film.
At first glance this looks like it might be a Braveheart knock-off. It has all the elements-A zealous hero leading her people to glory, martyrdom, gritty medieval battles, scheming monarchs, etc.
However, Joan of Arc is portrayed as impulsive, bull-headed, and more than slightly bonkers. While this will undoubtedly annoy viewers who are hoping for a reverent medieval tale of glory and martyrdom, it does add an element of ambiguity to an otherwise unremarkable movie.
Jovanovich's performance is intense, but rather monotone. The film would have been better if she had been able to change up her routine from time to time. Dustin Hoffman is the real star of this movie despite limited camera time, offering a brilliant performance as Joan's needling conscience. The interplay between Hoffman and Jovanovich makes for some of the best moments of the film.
Besson's cinematography and Hoffman's performance make this movie worthwhile, but by no means extraordinary.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting interpretation.
Review: Despite the historical inaccuracies in this film, I still find it interesting. Mainly because Luc Besson took a very secular approach in portraying the Maid. Many of the biographies and movies on Joan of Arc take the easy out and portray the Church's version of her story. But the stray facts against the legend are not explored. But Besson takes a chance on them. The maid was not canonized until 1920. If her sainthood was such a foregone conclusion why such a long wait? Why was she not canonized after her posthumous rehabilitation trial? Her squire Jean D'Aulon had a very earthly love for Jeanne. He is an historical figure that many biographies gloss over. Even in Regine Pernoud's biography he is only a fleeting character. This man was practically with her from day one. He dedicated himself to her the minute she first appeared in court and was captured with her at Compeigne. In the rehabilitation court records, he admits that he thought she was beautiful, saw her naked many times and slept next to her on compaigns. In general, his testimony is the testimony of a man who was in love. Also many of her fellow soldiers also admit to seeing her naked and thinking she was a very lovely woman. But of course they stated that her saintliness prevented them from seducing her. But if Jean D'Aulon and the others were so chaste in their conduct toward Joan, why were they so interested in looking at her body? Besson's movie did not omit D'Aulon's love for Joan. His tenderness, and unconditional love for her, despite her sometimes erratic behavior, are some of the films saving graces. Jeanne served with Gille de Rais, better known as "Bluebeard". If the Maid was sent by God, why did she not prevent Gilles' later atrocities? It would have been a very small prevention on her or God's part and I am sure the families of all the children he murdered would have been grateful. Anyway, this film tries to address some of these questions without denying Joan's incredible accomplishments. The attention to period detail in regards to medieval warfare is excellent. While at times, the film is rather awkward it is a rather brave reinterpretation on Joan. As a counterpoint, also watch the wonderful TV adaption on Joan's story.
Rating:
Summary: The Truth
Review: Its a shame, that a lot of the opinions I read here are somewhat senceless. Luc is frensh, he worked together with the one and only museum which is dedicated to joan. Whats the sence in making her lunatic if it is not the truth? How Luc and Milla portrayed her is closer to the way Joan really was as all of those so called critics may think. Do you really believe she is the person portrayed in all those "I am the good and pure Jeanne" movies? Then you`re wrong. Its not my opinion its a fact from a scientific study made by those, who really know and not only believe. Watch the movie and judge for yourself. Open your mind.
Rating:
Summary: Abysmal doesn't even cover it.
Review: This unsightly contribution in Milla Jojovich's career proves quite well that, aside from looking breathless, panting and screaming, the actress cannot tackle a serious acting challenge.
A true mockery of Joan of Arc, this film conspires to make the Poucelle D'Orleans seem like a deranged woman incapable of controlling an army-- whereas the historical Joan of Arc showed an eerie capacity for military manoeuvres, whose fame became to widespread that entire cities surrendered at the mention of Joan of Arc at their gates. Through her (dictated) letters (for she was presumably illiterate), and her recorded answers to the Inquistion, we have come to know that Joan of Arc, born in Domremy, was an unusually lucid 16-year-old (she was burned at the stake at the age of 19) with a gift for words (which may give credibility that she was actually related to the Dauphin through the bloodline of Anne the Adultress and thus must have received some degree of education), as well as sharing the distinction of being the middle age's most distinguished transvestite (sharing the same historical period as the Basque transvestite and noblewoman Catalina de Erauzo, the Lieutenant Nun).
Milla Jojovich's portrayal of Joan of Arc is insulting to anyone that has ever studied this remarkable character, giving us instead a histrionic and half-mad woman who cannot keep her composture for a second and who apparently has the resolution of a twig, fueled into battle by unknown fervors that vanish as soon as the battle scene is over. Joan of Arc was a hard and somewhat fanatical Christian, but in no way was she the blithering idiot that Jojovich's acting makes her out to be. There is also a scene of "self-examination" during Joan's captivity with the Burgundians that serves little point other than to stress the idea that Joan is absolutely nuts. Indeed, all the Damsel of Orleans does through half the movie is to claw and hyperventilate... truly a shameful performance, and abysmal script-writing. If you want a GOOD film about Joan of arc, check out the Criterion Collection and look up Carl Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc, don't waste your time with this Hollywood-produced piece of glitz, filth and shallowness.
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