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Summary: A couple mistakes...
Review: I wish to correct two spelling errors in my review which may have been caused by my lack of knowledge of the French language. France's Marshall's name is Gilles de Rais (not de Rey), and Charles' loyal but curse-spewing captain is La Hire (not Laer). This may seem a small error, but I am quite particular about my writing, and I am compelled to acknowledge and correct such mistakes. Thank you for your time.
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Summary: Braveheart with breasts
Review: This film is quite confusing. The possibility of Jeanne being a prophet is imposibble a) she cant perform any tricks and b) cant predict the future. She is a girl who is very eager to go into war with english most likely for revenge. She claims that god talks to her and tells her what to do. 2 and a half hours the film is long and quite boring near the end you cant decide whether its god or the devil Jeanne is consulting with. Oh and she goes into war Braveheart style gets badly injured but is still eager to go back and fight. I can give you one reason to watch this film Mila Jovovich thats about it.
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Summary: i made it! ..........through the movie
Review: excellent supporting cast, terrible lead actress and sooo incredibly long. oh, and dustin hoffman mumbles at the end. a must not see.
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Summary: The Messenger is the best!
Review: Milla Jovovich gives an Oscar worthy proformance in the fantastic real life war movie, The Messenger. The great battle sequeces and special effects make this the best war movie since Braveheart.
Rating:
Summary: Get me out of her head.
Review: Visually, this movie is stunning. The performances are good, and it's a technical marvel.However, we spend far too much time in psychoanalysis of Joan. The director is trying to make it clear that Joan's motivations may not have been clear, even to herself, but should it take so long to drive that point home? GET ON WITH IT ALREADY. The humor in this film was oddly placed, and gave a surreal feeling. Whether that was intentional, I don't know - however it further served to detatch me from the subject.
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Summary: veridic & beautiful
Review: Even for us, french people,we know our history, but this masterpiece, is the most interresting, esthetic and intense drama I've ever seen the music are great too ! enjoy
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Summary: Better to rent it... than to buy it if you really want to.
Review: In comparison to Joan of Arc (1999): Starring: LeeLee Sobieski, Jacqueline Bisset Director: Christian Duguay This movie doesn't even rate close to it. I give the above one I listed, a FIVE STAR rating. It was made for TV but it is definately worth the purchase. More so than The Messenger.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant filmmaking with a fatal flaw
Review: This is a rather irreverent and disturbing look at the life of Saint Joan of Arc. The portrayal of her early life was very good, giving her a sincerity and piety that made the child Joan an attractive character. However, once Milla Jovovich took over as the teen Joan, she became a raving lunatic. Clearly, this was no accident. She and director Luc Besson are husband and wife, and it is obvious that this is their combined interpretation of Joan. The problem with this portrayal was that Joan was made to be appear so demented that she lost credibility as a believable character. Her belief in her voices was depicted more as mad fanaticism than unshakeable faith. Personally, I have no problem with this interpretation, since I am more apt to believe her voices were the result of an unbalanced psyche than the voice of God. The problem I have is believing that anyone, even in the 15th century, would give an army to someone who is so obviously over the edge. Moreover, it is a stretch to believe that even the most desperate of simple minded men would follow such a character into battle. If the portrayal were just a little more balanced, with moments of piety, sincerity and lucidity, the viewer and the other characters around her might be justified in saying, `Is she divinely inspired or simply mad?' Only when that question resonates has Joan been portrayed effectively. In this interpretation there was never any question. She was clearly a madwoman. It was almost a relief when they finally did away with her. That being said, I must say that from a technical standpoint this was a brilliantly directed film. Luc Besson has produced a compelling visual work of art. The opening scenes of young Joan running through the fields were exquisite. The battle carnage was authentically grisly and the action realistic. The costumes were wonderful and the locations and sets well chosen and well crafted. His camera perspectives gave great impact to every scene. His imagary of supernatural events was electrifying. In every regard, other than Joan's character interpretation, this was an inspired work. Milla Jovovich gave a superb performance as Joan The Mad. Though I don't agree with the interpretation, I can't imagine such insanity delivered any more effectively. She really seemed well suited for a jacket with wrap around sleeves. In every scene she exuded white hot intensity, especially in the battle scenes. Her performance was truly tour de force. Faye Dunaway was fabulous as the cunning Yolande D'Aragon. She was so nefarious and in control, deliciously evil and conniving. John Malkovich did an excellent job portraying Charles VII, however he was a bit old for the part. Charles was born in 1403 and met Joan in 1429 at the tender age of 26. Malkovich has trouble passing for 46 (his actual age) no less 26. Dustin Hoffman's minor role as the conscience was also quite well done. Unfortunately, it lost some effectiveness because he was never really put in context. Was he another of Joan's creations or an actual being? A little defining dialogue would have helped develop his character better. This is a fine film with a fatal flaw. If the story is to work, Joan must be a beloved heroine. In this portrayal, she does not endear herself to the viewer. Contrarily, she is a disturbing and off-putting character. For this reason I rated it a 7/10, though it easily qualified as a filmmaking 9 or 10.
Rating:
Summary: Merely entertaining
Review: The movie is ente However, a movie based upon a real person'slife should be more than just entertaining; it should be instructionaland inspirational. Due to it's apparent historical errors, it is neither educational nor inspiring. It's just another dazzling Hollywood production--lots of glitter, but little substance. It was not a total loss; it piqued my curiousity. I must learn more of this person, Joan of Arc. I've ordered two biographies from Amazon.com and I rented the Leelee Sobieski version of this movie. The Sobieski version is better. Milla Jovovich was good, but Leelee was a much more convincing 18 year old girl.
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Summary: My opinion...don't bother....
Review: I have seen three films based on the life of Joan of Arc, the Ingrid Bergman film from the late 1940's, the video verison of the recent mini-series and this one, and this is, by far, the worst of the three. Historically, it is a farce, (Joan did in fact have a sister named Catherine, but she was not in any way harmed by the English, in fact, Joan's village apparently only suffered one minor raid during the entire war)...Bishop Cauchon, far from wanting to "save Joan's soul" was the spearhead of the plot to completly discredit her and have her burned. Neither did she sign with an "X"one of her letters to the English garrisons around Orleans still survives in a museum and the signature,Jeanne, which is what she called herself is plain...All period sources agree on how even tempered she was, becoming upset only on very rare occasions. The Joan of this film seems closer to a lunatic than the peasant girl who led an army. I will admit that the costuming is superb, as good as any I have ever seen. Joan's spiritual side in this film is almost non-existent, shown only by her requests to hear Mass during her imprisonment. As it stands, I only give this film two star based on the cimenatography and the costuming...The great "Joan of Arc" film is still to be made....
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