Rating: 
Summary: Worst movie I have ever seen
Review: I didn't like this movie at all... and not just because it was so historically inacurrate. I found the acting to be atrocious.. and when Dustin Hoffman did his big "vision scene" at the end all I could think was "sword in a field.. definitely a sword in a field" (picture a "Rainman" type voice here) the only one who had any talent whatsoever was the little girl playing young Joan. As far as historical accuracy, the only thing that had any semblance to fact was Joan always going to confession. The visions weren't correct, the characters were so poorly conceived they were comical. Bottom line, if you know nothing about Joan of Arc and would like to learn more, don't watch this movie. If you want to see this character portrayed in a realistic manner and very close to what we know about her historically, don't watch this movie. If you have any kind of knowledge of this aspect of french history you will be disappointed. You're better off renting the CBS miniseries.
Rating: 
Summary: Messenger Delivers
Review: This film is a brilliantly ambiguous look at France's greatest hero, leaving the audience to come to grips with her drives and actions as well as political interferance crossing patriotism with religion. Beautifully directed, an amazingly beleivable performance by Jonovich and its really good to see Dustin Hoffman as a manifestation of the Devil's Advocate.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful Movie! Absolute Must See!
Review: This movie is brutal and vicious from the beginning to the end. It is without a doubt a movie that tells a very strong message! Many of us in life have these same feelings to some degree. I just finished watching the movie and ran here to send in my review! I am very keyed up from watching the movie, So much so that I am at loss of coherant thinking as I am still trying to evaluate what has happened! So I don't want to spoil the movie for you by telling you what happens. Suffice it to say it is without a doubt the most impressive movie I have ever seen! If you cannot afford to buy it...rent it... do whatever it takes but see this movie! (P.S. I will tell you this much.....It is a story of revenge...Brutal, Vicious, Torrid, Revenge)
Rating: 
Summary: Fatally flawed - Leeloo meets Joan
Review: NOW what? For the life of me, I can't imagine why Besson thought that the world needed (yet) another Joan of Arc movie. The "real" Joan wasn't even considered important in France until the 1800's, when her story was resurrected (and embellished - current scholarship doubts whether Orleans was actually under siege at all!) But (sigh), he decided to give it his *treatment*, and this is what we end up with: two and a half hours of his wife (and "Leeloo" from "The Fifth Element") alternately screaming, shrieking, or whimpering in the face of anyone who happens to be standing by. The scrolling text at the opening of the film was illegible and flipped by so quickly no one could read it, not that it seemed to matter. Any "plot" is sublimated to the "art" - gorgeous photography, lush scenery, and realistically violent battle scenes. Warning - this is serious stuff, not a candied-up rendition of medieval warfare. Back in those days, you took out your enemy not by gunfire, but by debilitating them in as serious fashion as possible, including maces, axes, the ubiquitous swords, and some even less pleasant and graphically-demonstrated methods. But along the way, Besson loses whatever guiding vision originally prompted him to make this film. Characters start to answer questions with "Whatever", the Dauphine (John Malkovich playing the usual invertebrate) seems less interested in being King than he is in where the cast party will be, Faye Dunaway snaps and snarls in a puzzling way (one minute she's Joan's biggest patron, only to turn on her with no discernable motivation), and in one of the BIGGEST casting bloopers in the last half of the 20th century, Dustin Hoffman shows up looking like a retread Obi Wan Kenobe, sounding like Dustin Hoffman, and is supposed to be "The Conscience" (apparently because the gaping plot holes required SOME sort of cinematic asphalt to keep the audience at least partially "in" on what is supposed to be transpiring). This is certainly the most serious problem with the movie: if Hoffman is intended to be a sort of mental foil , voicing Joan's inner doubts, he certainly takes his time in making his presence known. If the movie is intended to illuminate Joan's "human" aspects (as opposed to her spiritual side), then three-quarters of the film is wasted on one battle scene after another with nary a glimmer of self-doubt or moral questioning. Buckets of blood, to be sure. No, this isn't the "thinking man's Joan" by a looooong shot. The film is irritatingly anachronistic (see "whatever"), and crippled by hopelessly befuddled motivations and seriously one-dimensional acting by people who should know better AND by the lead, but in her case, being the director's current "significant other" must have gone a long way. Besson's fans will appreciate the cinematography and the hyper-kinetic pacing of so many scenes, but those with a taste for subtlety, or serious philosophic enquiries, or even historical accuracy will find the two and a half hour length about an hour too long.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling and very cinematic.
Review: While the length of this movie may frighten some people from endurng it, one must consider the epic Braveheart's lengthy time, and how it still remains one of the best movies to date. The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, is a brilliant example of such a film, combining stunning visuals and a talented cast to bring the epic story of the infamous story of the Maid of Loraine to life. Milla Jovovich plays Joan, and the cast choice was impeccable. Her ability to change moods from exhilarated to infuriated, and from strong to terrified, truly make the performance believable. Her visions of the saints and heavenly beings are absolutely gorgeous and totally mesmerizing, cutting from shot to shot of different things surrounding her as she experiences them. Battle scenes are filmed from both sides' viewpoints, and the beauty of it is that 99.9% of all things contained are believable. I'm not that big a fan of the score, though (to anyone in my english or yearbook classes, I bet you're surprised to hear thast one, huh?), and I think that it will have to grow on me before I buy the album. But all-in-all, this movie is great, andone that will remain in the mind for long periods after watching it.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth a Rent
Review: This movie had excellent sets and costume design. The acting is good, the character build up was good for some characters. The fight scenes were almost as good as Braveheart. The script was very modern, with phrases like booty. The film dragged a little at some points and could have used some more trimming. The ending was kind of empty in its simplicity. A lot of the story is based on assumption, so don't expect a history lesson. Worth renting but I personally wouldn't buy it.
Rating:
Summary: It could be much, much better.
Review: Luc Besson looks now as a man with the Midas touch surprised for the first time in his life by the result. The thing he'd touched did not turn to gold but to something less valuable - something more like copper. I was stunned by Nikita - no one was expecting such a cool and modern action movie from a French director. Professional was much more kitschy but still enjoyable. The Fifth Element's visuals were so exciting no one really cared about the content and just enjoyed the extravaganza. Now it seems Luc Besson was carried away and decided he can create a masterpiece just from a scrap - from his girlfriend's photo to be exact(see the DVD's leaflet). He employs and directs the team of very skillful cameramen and costume designers, gets the adequate funding - it's easy for the most popular French director planning to tell the story of the most famous French heroine - employs the most handsome French actors and invites some Americans. Like an experienced pyrotechnic he puts together the fabulous fireworks expecting them to burst in the sky in many-colored blaze. What we have instead? Psssshhhhhhhhhick. Why? Obviously Luc Besson has nothing to say about Joan of Arc. He had no coherent idea to express - just action, design and music. There are 3 definite parts in the film - The Visions, The Battle, The Trial. When he feels one more vision would be one too much Luc Besson lets the battle begin. Battle scenes are a genre in themselves, they can hold the viewer's attention with the gory action and display of curious war machines, weaponry and armour. But after an hour it all began to look too much. That is 101th time we are shown "The True Face Of War" in recent years, all these crows pecking dead flesh and oozing bloody limbs lying all over are something we expect to see - their's shocking potential is exhausted. What's next ? The Trial. Nothing memorable here. Dustin Hoffman contributed his name to the film's posters and DVD covers. I am sure it helped to sell hundreds thousand of tickets and copies extra, but the role is just ridiculous. Hoffman in gray beard and hooded robe looks barely recognizable - his best disguise since Tootsie. In a sadistic monotone he is stubbing the girl with his stupid and pretentious questions. By the way - no doubt that was a fashion these days but Faye's shaven forehead makes her look so much like RoboCop I could not concentrate on her words - just enjoyed the unexpected similarity. But! I think that Milla is perfectly cast. Of course first of all she is a model, but do we need a Meryl Streep for the role of young peasant girl, the messenger, the medium? And the girl is so suitably androginous yet sexy, great to look at - since the film is obviously not "serious" I'd prefer to see Milla in a leading role, not someone with richer inner life but not-so-perfect body. Besides, she is a fellow Slav. Any French actress with Gallic calculated charm and sophistication could not be credible in her fervour. The dialogues are contemporary. When I saw Joan stopping her adjutant on his way out of her chamber to ask for a hairdresser I was struck by the realisation that Ms. Jovovich in her The Ritz suite would communicate with a valet in exacctly the same tone,with the same gesture. Most of the reasoning and the concepts worded are clearly does not belong to the Middle Ages. Music is so predictable you hear just what you expect to hear. And the burning scene is so abrupt! I did not plan to contemplate the death throes, but to finish the 160-minutes long film in the 2-minute haste... Still I can not call the movie a complete flop. There are some images - Milla with boyish face and man's haircut on her white horse, raising the banner,etc - that will stay in public consciousness. And I was not bored watching the film. Yes, it could be much better, but still it's definitely worth seeing. I've even bought the DVD - to continue my Luc Besson collection - but I hope the next addition will be more rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: MILLA - THE REAL MESSENGER !
Review: MILLA - THE REAL - "MESSENGER" WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FILM ABOUT MOTIVATIONS. WHY DO WE DO THE THINGS WE DO? SINCE IT DOES ACTUALLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION AND RESOLVES THIS HUMAN DILEMMA - THIS FACT MAKES IT, NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST FILM, BUT NOTHING LESS THAN THE MOST IMPORTANT FILM OF OUR TIME, OR OF ALL TIME FOR THAT MATTER. I'M NOT WELL READ ENOUGH ON JOAN'S HISTORY TO KNOW OF ITS ACCURACY OR NOT, BUT WHO CARES, THAT IS NOT THE MESSAGE OF "THE MESSENGER". I ALSO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PERSONAL LIFE OF THE WRITER-DIRECTOR LUC BESSON OTHER THAN HE USE TO BE MARRIED TO MILLA JOVOVICH THE STAR OF HIS FILM. I DON'T KNOW HOW RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL HE IS, OR EVEN IF HE COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED HERE, BUT HE MUST ALREADY BE A FRIEND OF GOD'S OR WELL ON HIS WAY TO UNDERSTANDING OR ENLIGHTENMENT OR HAVING HIS "MOMENT" WITH GOD. WHAT HE HAS MANAGED TO GET ON FILM IS ONLY THE ANSWER TO THE AGE OLD QUESTION - WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE ! - AND WITH NOT ONE SCINTILLA OR TRACE OF PREACHINESS OR RELIGIOSITY - JUST A SEARCH FOR TRUTH. HIS JOAN WRESTLES WITH SUCH IMPORTANT ETERNAL ISSUES TILL UNDERSTANDING, CONVICTION, AND RESOLUTION THROUGH HER GOD. EVERYBODY BELIEVED IN JESUS BACK THEN, BUT NOT EVERY SOUL HAD IT OUT WITH HIM OR HAD THEIR "MOMENT" WITH HIM AS WE SEE JOAN DO IN THE FILM. THERE IS SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF OPINIONS EVIDENT AS TO WHO DUSTIN HOFFMAN PLAYS IN THIS MOVIE, FROM JOAN'S cONSCIENCE TO THE devil. MY INTERPRETATION IS THAT DUSTIN PLAYED GOD, WITH, IN THIS CASE, THE TITLE OF, OR ROLE OF, HER CONSCIENCE WITH A CAPITAL "C". ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN BRINGING ONE TO A PLACE, THAT WE SEE IN THE FILM, OF CONVICTION, REPENTANCE, SUBMISSION AND CONFESSION. HE SHOWS HER (WE SHOULD ALL BE SO LUCKY - BUT NOW WITH THIS FILM, WE ARE) HER TRUE MOTIVATIONS OF REVENGE, GREED, JOY IN CRUELTY, AND WORST OF ALL PRIDE AND SHE IS CONVICTED AND SAYS -"SET ME FREE". HOW COULD AN ALL LOVING GOD EXPECT ANY MORE FROM HIS CREATIONS, OR ANY LESS. THIS MOVIE IS A STUNNING AND BRILLIANT DEPICTION OF WHAT OUR CREATOR WANTS FROM US - TRANSACTIONS - AND/OR A RELATIONSHIP - OUR BEING HUNGRY ENOUGH FOR TRUTH AND ADMITTING IT WHEN WE SEE IT ABOUT OURSELVES AND ABOUT GOD - IN THAT WE ARE SCREWED UP AND ONLY HE HOLDS THE KEYS OF RESOLUTION (AND PAID THE PRICE, ON THE CROSS) FOR OUR SIN DILEMMA. I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS RELATIONSHIP SO BRILLIANTLY PORTRAYED SINCE ROBERT DUVALL IN "THE APOSTLE" - ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT FILM. HOW ONE GUY LUC BESSON CAN GO FROM MAKING POSSIBLY THE WORST FILM I'VE EVER SEEN "THE FIFTH ELEMENT" TO POSSIBLY THE BEST IN "THE MESSENGER" MUST SAY SOMETHING OF HIS ARTISTRY, AND OF HIS RISK-TAKING. HE WAS BORN TO DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO MANKIND IN THIS FILM ABOUT AN EARLY PROTESTANT. WHETHER HE REALIZES IT OR NOT HIS MESSAGE THROUGH MILLA IS VERY BIBLICAL. I DOUBT HE PRAYED FOR HELP AND GUIDANCE FROM GOD TO DELIVER A BIBLICAL MESSAGE WITHOUT BEING PREACHY, BUT IN SPITE OF HIMSELF HE HAS MANAGED TO DO IT, BY HAVING HIS CHARACTERIZATION OF JOAN SO DILIGENT IN HER QUEST FOR TRUTH - SHE BYPASSES THE STUPIDITY, HYPOCRISY AND DECEPTION OF "religion" AND GOES STRAIGHT TO GOD HERSELF AND HAS HER "MOMENT" OF GETTING REAL WITH GOD. NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN A MAJOR RELEASE BEFORE, THAT I'VE SEEN, OR CAN THINK OF,OFF HAND. THIS IS A MUST SEE FILM FOR ALL. I WATCHED THE CONFESSION SCENE WITH DUSTIN, (WHO IS GOD) SEVERAL TIMES WITH TEARS IN MY EYES. THEN EVENTUALLY BEFORE SHE IS MARTYRED HE HIMSELF GIVES HER THE ABSOLUTION SHE SO DESIRES. LUC PROBABLY MADE A FILM HAVING HIS CHARACTER PERFORM THE WAY HE WISHES IT WER SO - ABOUT BYPASSING religion FOR FORGIVENESS AND ETERNAL MATTERS ETC. BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ IN GOD'S BOOK - I WOULD SAY LUC HAS STUMBLED ON THE RIGHT FORMULA FOR HAVING PEACE WITH GOD AND GOING INTO ETERNITY WHICH WE WILL ALL HAVE TO FACE ONE DAY. I WONDER IF HE IS WELL READ IN THE BIBLE ENOUGH TO KNOW GOD HAS REALLY MADE IT JUST THAT SIMPLE. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME READ HIS BOOK FOR YOURSELF AND SEE. ADMIT THAT HE IS GOD AND YOU AIN'T AND ASK FOR WHAT HE OFFERS IN FORGIVENESS AND ETERNAL LIFE ETC. - AND HE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. IT IS ALL SUCH A GOOD DEAL, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY SO MANY CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOD'S PROGRAM. MILLA IS PERFECT FOR THIS PART AND BORN TO PLAY THIS ROLE WITH JUST THE RIGHT INTENSITY - I JUST HOPE AND PRAY SHE DOESN'T BURN OUT WITH ALL HER VICES BEFORE EVEN REACHING 30 - I'M AFRAID SHE FANCIES HERSELF THE NEXT MARILYN OR GIA ETC. - AND IS BENT ON SELF DESTRUCTION, BUT I HOPE SHE GROWS UP AND LIVES UP TO ALL THAT POTENTIAL TO DELIVER MANY OTHER MESSAGES FROM GOD FOR US, THROUGH HER MANY TALENTS. RUN TO THE VIDEO STORE AND SEE THIS FILM AT ANY COST, OR BETTER YET CLICK THAT ONE CLICK BUTTON FROM AMAZON AND OWN IT YOURSELF ON DVD FOR ABOUT ONE THIRD OFF THE REGULAR STORE PRICES - AND THEN DO WHAT JOAN DEMONSTRATES AT THE END OF THE FILM - HAVE YOUR MOMENT WITH GOD AND ASK FOR WHAT HE OFFERS - IT'S ALL FREE AND EVEN CHEAPER THAN AMAZON.COM . YOU JUST HAVE TO LOWER YOUR PRIDE ENOUGH TO DO THIS.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing Female Warrior
Review: I realize that everyone keeps comparing this to Braveheart...why? This is a totally different story. Jovovich did a spectacular job of portraying Joan. She was innocent and pure, yet crazed and wild. It was extremely refreshing to see a woman warrior for a change and she pulled it off amazingly. The movie was a bit dry in spots but honestly the ending was worth the wait. Unlike the opinions of some others...I thought Hoffman was brilliant...finally a portrayal of god with a touch of darkness. He makes you fear him to some subtle extent. I was glad to see God shown in a shade of grey as opposed to the always white and graceful appearance in most films. I believe that this movie raises alot of questions as to how Joan of Arc was deemed a Saint, if this enactment is accuate..and who knows...maybe she wasn't as blessed as believed. I like movies that make you ask questions and think. This movie did that for me.
Rating:
Summary: stunning
Review: For those not familiar with the real life story of Joan of Arc, and to be to the point she was THE girl who saved France from the English in 1431, and later she got captured and burned by the English. This film is based on her life story and how she became the saviour of her country in the time of crisis, The film start of when Joan (played by Milla Jovovich) is young and for the next half and hour, you get to understand how Joan did what she did later in the film. The middle section of the film involves 2 different battle scenes, they are good, but not on the same league as Braveheart. The last section of the film deals with Joan's trial by the English. This film is well put together by Luc Besson who also directed the Fifth Element and Leon, the cinematography is great, the costume and backdrop are faithful to the 15th century. Milla Jovovich does a wonderful job in performing Joan, she show the character's struggle against the non-believers beautifully, other actors like John Malkovich and Dustin Hoffman also shines in their part, Faye Dunaway is also brilliant in this film as the mother in law of the King. Although the fighting sequence is not as long and as many as Braveheart, it does hold it's own. If you are looking for a film on the line of Braveheart, then you are on the right track, but this film deal a lot more in terms of the character Joan's emotion and struggle more towards the end than expected, but as a whole you won't be disappointed.
| 
