The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
"A Gorgeous Epic...Easily The Best...Since "Braveheart". - Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The year is 1429. France is in political and religious turmoil as members of the royal family battle for rule. But one peasant girl from a remote village gave her country the miracle it was looking for. Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, Dazed and Confused) is Joan of Arc, a young woman who would inspire and lead her countrymen until her execution at the age of nineteen. Raised in a religious family, Joan witnessed her sister's rape and death at the hands of an invading army. Years later, as the same war raged on, Joan stood before her king with a message she claimed came from God: give her an army, and in God's name she would reclaim his diminished kingdom.
But was the message real, or the delusion of a girl whose life had been shattered? This startling epic drama by Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) explores the life of Joan of Arc, her amazing victories, relationship with God, and tragic death. Co-starring John Malkovich and Academy Award winners Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway, The Messenger is a modern take on a medieval saint who enthralls people even today.
Member Reviews
Messenger Joan - Mike21
Great movie and better Blu Ray 'The Messenger' attempts to tell the story of the Maid of Orléans as a sweeping epic. As we start, young Jeanne (Jane Valentine) survives a raid on her village of Domrémy by English soldiers (depicted as cartoonishly filthy, rotten-teethed monsters), who rape and murder her older sister right in front of the girl's eyes. Left nearly catatonic for a time, Jeanne becomes convinced that the ecstatic visions she's been experiencing are messages from God instructing her to drive the English out of France. A few years later, a now-teenaged Jeanne (Jovovich) petitions Charles VII, the Dauphin of France (John Malkovich), to let her lead an army to rescue Orléans from English attack. The girl sounds crazy and has no military experience whatsoever, but her passion and determination have made her a folk hero among the peasants and common rabble that the Dauphin needs to win over if he wishes to become king. Heeding counsel from his conniving, witch-like mother-in-law Yolande D'Aragon (Faye Dunaway), Charles grants Jeanne her army.4 stars - Torsty
Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans, who put some bone into the backs of the French armies and helped kick the English back to England.
After waging an extraordinary campaign against the invaders, the illiterate peasant girl was finally captured, tortured, tried and then burnt at the stake as a witch.
Now, many people want to do that to Luc Besson for his production of Joan of Arc but, it has to be said, the bad reports (rabid, from some) are going way over the top.
Okay, the dialogue does lapse and the feel of the film is that the voices Joan heard were all from not taking enough medication, but it is a lavish, bloody look at a legendary historical figure.
Milla Jovovich makes an interesting Maid of Orleans, whether she be twitchily mad or just running about like a loon high on God's will. She's wide eyed, frantic and it's hard to pick a better actress to put in her place who would have given so much manic energy to the role.
One replacement, we suppose, could have been Wynona Rider but that would have resulted in a more subdued, traditional haunted style. No, as an action gal - Milla does well.
John Malkovich and Faye Dunaway don't get a huge amount of leeway with their roles as the Dauphin and his mother in law and while a group of very fine French actors have strong support roles, Timothy West stands out as the trial judge.
The imagery in Joan of Arc is outstanding, with beautiful country landscapes and fields of gently waving lavender being interlaced with scenes of utter brutality and destruction on the battlefields of France.
It's grim, gritty and the hardcore, ultra realism of the battles contrasts well with mystic goings on around (or inside) Joan's head.
Joan of Arc is a long movie but, if you find yourself shifting about from cheek to cheek, is one that is well worth persevering with.Gives back hope... - Prince_des_Ours
As a French, i really believe this movie is magnificient, because considering the state in which France is nowadays, it gives us hope and heroes, shows us that once everything was worst but that miracles do happened. I don't know if people will get my point of view, since you really have to live in France to understand, but it is a great movie, Milla Jovovich is brilliant, as well as the other actors. Lots of action and battles. Great portrait of her relationship with God.
Member Reviews
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Messenger Joan - Mike21
Great movie and better Blu Ray 'The Messenger' attempts to tell the story of the Maid of Orléans as a sweeping epic. As we start, young Jeanne (Jane Valentine) survives a raid on her village of Domrémy by English soldiers (depicted as cartoonishly filthy, ...4 stars - Torsty
Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans, who put some bone into the backs of the French armies and helped kick the English back to England.
After waging an extraordinary campaign against the invaders, the illiterate peasant girl was finally captured, tortured, ...Gives back hope... - Prince_des_Ours
As a French, i really believe this movie is magnificient, because considering the state in which France is nowadays, it gives us hope and heroes, shows us that once everything was worst but that miracles do happened. I don't know if people will get my point ...