Rating: 
Summary: Gorgeous and Heart-Wrenching
Review: Okay, I'll admit it: I'm not usually a big fan of silent films. This movie, however, is absolutely gorgeous and, while sometimes difficult to watch, keeps your attention throughout. The use of close-ups throughout the film create an intense intimacy between the characters and between the viewer and the characters. Falconetti (Joan) is able to convey a very real sense of the fear, faith, and innocence of a young peasant girl like Joan was, and her performance struck me to the very core. I think that the hair-cutting scene is one of the most beautiful cinematic moments I have ever seen. Also, her final walk to the stake, and when she is clutching the crucifix to her breast, are truly heart-wrenching and so intense it's both hard to watch, yet hard not to. The sets and costumes are not really what the director was interested in, so most of the movie is based on dialogue between Joan and her inquisitors. Somehow, the fact that you can't actually hear words being exchanged (and only read them every so often) makes it that much more poignant. The muscial score for the film, "Voices of Light," is very fitting in most of the scenes, although occasionally I found that the music used was too "loud" and busy for the action occurring onscreen--a soprano solo might have been more appropriate. Overall, though, it's a great match for an incredibly beautiful and moving film. "The Messenger" with Milla Jovovich isn't even in the same galaxy as this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Stark and stunning
Review: I don't even remember where I heard about this film, but I bought it on impulse one day and never looked back.This film is stunning. S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G. That movies like this are no longer made is a travesty. Falconetti's performance as Jeanne floored me (and every person whom I've forced to watch). The cinematography is well ahead of its time (panning shots, tons of closeups). (I will admit that the "Voices of Light" oratorio is a bit distracing and doesn't always fit the action onscreen, but luckily one has the option of watching the film in glorious silence). This is the best silent film ever made (and I've seen quite a few of them) and rivals the greatest of the "talkies." Even the extras on the DVD are awesome--the commentary of Casper Tybjerg adds a level of intellectual depth that isn't present for those of us who arrived knowing little about the way the film was made or the history of Jeanne's persecution. In conclusion, an incredible, inspired film (the existence of which is in itself miraculous).
Rating:
Summary: Simply one of the greatest movies of all time!
Review: There's really not much I can say about "The Passion of Joan of Arc" that hasn't been said already, but I had to pitch in my 2 cents worth. This movie (although I would admit it starts a bit slowly, at least in my opinion) gains in intensity, power and emotion all the way through until it's gut-wrenching conclusion. Falconetti's performance is initially understated, then evolves into one of the greatest ever put to film. We see her Joan verbally tie her persecutors into knots with her wisdom and faith; then see her growing desperation as the severity of her situation becomes clear to her. When Joan recants a confession of heresy that would have saved her life, she seals her fate. As her execution is being prepared, Joan asks in prayer that she not be allowed to suffer to long...has there ever been any other moment of such honesty and anguish in cinema history? I don't think so. This movie is beautifully photographed, with most shots being facial close-ups in front of a blank white set...allowing the viewer to focus on the faces and characters. Much has been written in reviews about the musical score for this film...personally, I don't even notice the music when I watch "The Passion of Joan of Arc," I just get too wrapped up in the film itself to care either way. To the reviewer below who says he/she watched this film because of an interest in Joan of Arc and thought it was too complicated...I could hardly follow my first silent film myself. It does take some experience to get the hang of watching a silent. The same reviewer said the movie told nothing of Joan, but just showed her trial...this movie had many scenes that exhibited Joan's immeasurable faith and devotion to her God...what more is there to know about her? Finally, let me quote the first line in the review of "The Passion of Joan of Arc" from the "Video Movie Guide 2000": "This is simply one of the greatest films ever made." I wholeheartedly agree. See it!
Rating:
Summary: The Passion of Joan of Arc
Review: This is a great movie. What a brave and faithful woman. The woman who plays her, Falconetti, plays her perfectly. I read a review that said this movie was as erotic as it was spiritual. That's wrong. That's a horrible thing to say about this movie. Falconetti portrays an angel. She's innocent and sincere. Her expressions look like a child's. Some reviews said this movie was sad. It's not sad. I wasn't "haunted" by Falconetti's face for days afterwards. She dies a good death. To see anyone die courageously is a great thing. I recommend this movie to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as I expected...
Review: Most people put 5 stars on this movie...
I only purchased this movie because I am
very into Joan of Arc and it had quite a reputation on review
I would say it is pretty good for made in 20s
but somehow it's too complicated and even boring to watch
. Has no story about Joan of arc but just showing her trial
the whole time
Rating:
Summary: mind-blowing
Review: I never knew someone could make a film like this one. Watch it without sound or music. This movie is amazing. That's all I have to say about it.
Rating:
Summary: Best Silent Film Ever Made
Review: The best silent film ever made, and in my opinion one of the top 5 or 10 films of all-time. There are very few films that I can watch repeatedly, and this is one of them. A masterpiece. Totally original.
Rating:
Summary: astonishing
Review: To be honest, I'm not generally a fan of silent movies. The comedy depends too much on slapstick. The drama is over emoted. Prints tend to be in fairly shoddy shape--often way too dark. And everything seems to run at warp speed, as if the projectionist couldn't slow it down. There are of course a few I've enjoyed, but even with them, much of the enjoyment lies in the very fact that they are so old-fashioned, that they carry with them that whiff of nostalgia, a quaint creakiness. Carl Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc, on the other hand, is not only a great silent film, maybe even the greatest, it is also a seemingly timeless film, one where the fact that it's silent doesn't matter a bit, might almost be nothing more than the director's preference. If it were being released today, for the first time, it would still look fresh, original, innovative, and technically accomplished. Now part of this may just be a fluke. For years it was thought that the only prints of the film had been destroyed. Fire consumed the original and a newer version that Dreyer painstakingly reconstructed. After the second fire, he gave up and moved on to his next movie, Vampyr. Thereafter The Passion was apparently shown in pretty dubious versions, until in 1981 a pristine copy of the original was found in a closet of a sanitarium in Oslo, Norway. Whether it's a function of this unique preservation technique or wholly owing to Dreyer's vision, the film is much brighter and crisper than just about any other silent you'll ever see. Another great benefit that this recently restored version enjoys is the exceptional accompanying music, Voices of Light, composed by Richard Einhorn specifically for this purpose, though it is a fine oratorio in its own right. Dreyer used the actual transcripts of Joan's trial for the dialogue, but condensed the action down to one harrowing day. He used various camera angles, so for instance, when the inquisitors are questioning Joan we look up at them; when she answers we look down. Much is done in extreme close-up and the camera lingers over every wrinkle, mole, and fleck of spittle on these men. Nor does it spare Joan--the nineteen year old girl, whose very style of dress (in men's clothing), was a threat to established authority. She's played with bug-eyed intensity by Maria Falconetti who ends up looking like she's truly been tortured--ashen, gaunt, and hollow-eyed. Apparently by the end of the scene where they cut Joan's hair, Ms Falconetti and some of the crew were so emotionally distraught that they had to stop shooting while folks recovered. And, of course, in Joan's story, Carl Dreyer started out with remarkable material. From trial, to prison cell, to torture chamber, to confession to sudden retraction and execution, he follows every step of the way. Because the camera is always drawn in so tight and because he collapsed the time frame, we are allowed no room to breathe, no respite from the march of fate. By the final horrific shots of the bonfire (May 30, 1431) consuming what is by then Joan's corpse, the viewer feels like they've come as close as they would ever want to experiencing martyrdom. That's no small achievement on Dreyer's part and makes this one of the most memorable films of all time. It is astonishing. GRADE : A+
Rating:
Summary: The Best Joan of Arc
Review: A historical film was found in 1981 in a Danish mental institution after being lost for decades. Now we can engross ourselves in a fantastic silent film experience about the inquiry of Joan of Arc. The trial is revealed to be distorted with arrogant theologians and deceptive judges that are motivated by their own beliefs and causes. This is illustrated silently with brilliant cinematography, directing, editing, and acting, which leaves us with the amazing experience of Joan of Arc's conviction.
Rating:
Summary: The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)
Review: This film is amazing to watch! Renee-Maria Falconetti is truly breathtaking and believable as Joan Of Arc! This movie deserves 5 stars for being truly original and unforgettable! Don't let this film's old age scare you, it's a true masterpiece and classic of it's time! Highly Recommended!!!!
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