The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)

Featured Audience Ratings

• moon r

  
  When Joan walks into the royal court for the first time to plead her cause, to free France of English poachers, they are already whispering about the peasant girl some claim as a saint. Except for not seeing how she came to be whispered about I really enjoyed Besson's tale… More
  When Joan walks into the royal court for the first time to plead her cause, to free France of English poachers, they are already whispering about the peasant girl some claim as a saint. Except for not seeing how she came to be whispered about I really enjoyed Besson's tale (pro-French and anti-Catholic) that underlines how any act of faith is ultimately a dance with self doubt. It may is may not be of importance that Besson and Jovovich were divorcing as this filmed, so you decide.

• Tim S

  
  Luc Besson's mad tale is more of a visual experience than a story.

• Leigh R

  
  I think they did a pretty good job of telling the true story. Milla did a great job and the cast was phenominal.

• Curtis L

  
  Not bad. Seems to check out historically, and there was plenty of good action and decapitation for the whole family. The only parts that I don't really follow are the whole creepy voiced under-eye-skin Jesus and the Dustin Hoffman imaginary friend. I guess they threw those in… More
  Not bad. Seems to check out historically, and there was plenty of good action and decapitation for the whole family. The only parts that I don't really follow are the whole creepy voiced under-eye-skin Jesus and the Dustin Hoffman imaginary friend. I guess they threw those in to remind us that God didn't really send her on the mission? Aside from that, great actors and acting. This was back when Milla Jovovich was hot, before she started to only do roles where she is an action star. I especially liked her completely freaking out and screaming like a mad woman in the first few battles. The army captains were clad in great costumes, and they were all very likable. However, they didn't do what all great war movies do, and that's kill off the likable captains in interesting ways. Oh well.

• Anthony L

  
  With a great cast and a great script, Besson's adaptation of the classic story is faithfully brought to life in what is, an unfairly underrated film.

• Lady D

  
  This amazing epic length tale of Joan of Arc requires patience and concentration. For those of you who like battle sense there are a fair few to enjoy. Historians, I?m sure you?ll find this film facsincating and to top it off an incredible performance from Milla Jovovich.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Go watch Dreye's version, if this doesn't confirm to anyone that Besson is a hack, nothing will.

• Candy R

  
  Well known cast but the accents are poor, the battle scenes not convincing and the long dragged out scenes put me to sleep.

• Tim S

  
  Milla should be naked more.

• Michael S

  
  I really liked this one.

• Jason S

  
  I liked it and thought the cast did a great job. They really let you decide if she was really getting messages from God or if she was just nuts. The production value of the movie was great.

• Steve K

  
  Underappreciated. Only derails when Dustin Hoffman shows up like a giant anachronism.

• Sylvester K

  
  It made it seems as if Joan of Arc is insane... But I love the battle scenes and monologues, it's a nice epic film.

• R?o?d?r?i?g?o? R

  
  It is an interesting movie with good battle scenes, and a story that I personally like it, but the constant allusions are upset and bad.

• Matthew A

  
  An interesting movie about a heroine in a war between the French and the English. Although there were several battle scenes in the movie, it didn't feel like an epic to me, but more like a drama (just like the Robin Hood remake). Milla Jovovich shows a rather insane, but… More
  An interesting movie about a heroine in a war between the French and the English. Although there were several battle scenes in the movie, it didn't feel like an epic to me, but more like a drama (just like the Robin Hood remake). Milla Jovovich shows a rather insane, but extremely determined, strong-willed and believable Joan of Arc. From what I've seen her in, this was perhaps her best effort so far. There were a few good battle scenes, though I was hoping to see Joan of Arc fight a bit rather than just running and screaming to the troops. Also, the movie's ending wasn't really a surprise if you know the story of Joan of Arc. So the movie started to drag on a bit towards the end. Overall an OK movie, but not as good as I thought it would be.

• Brett W

  
  Lackluster pageantry, Dick Tracy style English villainy and mish-mash of nationalities aside, Besson's narrative emphasis is so broad in its sweep, and his use of religious symbolism so literal, that Joan of Arc is nothing more than an unattainably pious figure in an empty,… More
  Lackluster pageantry, Dick Tracy style English villainy and mish-mash of nationalities aside, Besson's narrative emphasis is so broad in its sweep, and his use of religious symbolism so literal, that Joan of Arc is nothing more than an unattainably pious figure in an empty, victimless, medieval landscape. If there was any significant meaning or depth to the persona of Joan it certainly isn't seen in this glorified Renaissance fair, played over-zealously by Milla Jovovich. When in the final eight minutes we do see something resembling her human side it only feels tacked on and obligatory. It's as if to remind us (or the screenwriters reminding themselves) that she was not France's virgin Mary, but indeed a person living a life and trying to fight a war while remaining true to her beliefs. Trivia: The French probably got their asses kicked for so long due in part to their bowl shaped haircuts, which I assume are historically accurate given their hideousness.

• Constanza B

  
  The production is extraordinary. Besson definitely has an eye for the epic. The horror and spectacle of medieval battle has never been re-created on film before with such terrible beauty. In fact, the whole movie comes wonderfully alive in its sweeping battle scenes.

• Marcus W

  
  This film certainly isn't bad and the 2+ hours pass pretty quickly. The problem is that it's directed by a Frenchman. Now, in the hands of an American, the explosions may be bigger but at least the subject matter would be taken a bit more seriously, as this film is… More
  This film certainly isn't bad and the 2+ hours pass pretty quickly. The problem is that it's directed by a Frenchman. Now, in the hands of an American, the explosions may be bigger but at least the subject matter would be taken a bit more seriously, as this film is frequently hilarious. The battle scenes in particular are so light-hearted there's no real sense of triumph, not helped by the highly creative defences on the enemy castle that make it look like the French are trying to invade Disneyland. Luc Besson should stick to what he's best at: fantasy.

• Miriam K

  
  This chick just plain CAN NOT act!

• Mr. C

  
  would have been much better if they went into more detail. It left you wanting to learn more, but it didnt explain any of it.

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