Randomizer2600 This is not a movie I would have chosen, but Director Luc Besson has "Valerian" coming out soon, and this movie was mentioned in a review. There are reviews written by people with far greater knowledge. I have a casual understanding of the story of Joan of Arc, and know less about the events of the time. As a movie, I enjoyed this immensely. This movie gets the people right.Milla Javovich hits it perfectly. She is vulnerable while unstoppable. She is full of doubt, but completely certain. And during the trial, she can do "caged animal" with just her eyes. I can't imagine anyone else pulling this off. Milla does unapologetically devote better than anyone since Audrey Hepburn in "The Nun's Story".The supporting cast did a stellar job. There are a lot of medieval movies and TV shows, and most of them aren't believable because people aren't stern or earnest all the time. "Game of Thrones" is fun to watch because sometimes people laugh, and sometimes they fight. If you ever saw a medieval movie, and wondered what the guard standing next to the door does when the camera and the king aren't there, this movie has it. Some reviews called that filler, but it was fun and humanized the soldiers.I gave it a 10 because it showed people in a way different than other medieval movies. Again, I don't know if the historical facts are correct, but I would not be surprised if the people acted just like they are portrayed.

roystephen-81252 I love epic historical movies, both old and new (although I must admit I lean towards the latter - the more realistic, more visceral ones, like Braveheart or Gladiator). The story of Joan of Arc has been put on the silver screen countless times, and most versions are good. With such a captivating story, you cannot really go wrong.In Luc Besson's take, however, it's not Joan's trial that takes centre stage, as in, for example, Carl Theodor Dreyer's classic (The Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928), but Joan, the self-proclaimed godsend, the driven, suffering, obsessed warrior, and the very human core of her actions. The film remains wonderfully ambiguous throughout and leaves it to the audience to decide which of the different interpretations they believe to be true.But it is Milla Jovovich's riveting performance that truly makes this movie. She's literally possessed in her role, playing with such fervour, such delirious passion that you cannot but believe and follow her. It is indeed one of the most visceral performances ever in the history of cinema.

Python Hyena The Messenger: Story of Joan of Arc (1999): Dir: Luc Besson / Cast: Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman, Vincent Cassel: Epic spectacle about mixed translations and emotions. Milla Jovovich plays Joan and she leads France in their battle against the English. She is guided by a voice that she assumes is God but it is never explained how that sword got in the field. The King of France is played with vast confusion by John Malkovich who is unsure whether Joan is a messenger from god or just plain crazy. Director Luc Besson lavishes in production as indicated in his previous film The Fifth Element. He creates menacing battles that become repetitious and predictable before bowing out to corny details in the climax. Jovovich conveys bewilderment after witnessing the destruction of her home and her quest for justice through violence. Whether she is nuts is played out in long sequences before she is torched in the famous ending. Malkovich is well cast as the King of France who attempts to make sense of it all yet seems pulled in two directions and at a loss to the outcome. The real let down is the limited screen time for veterans Faye Dunaway and Dustin Hoffman who are unfortunately underused and are capable of superior work. It presents the aged doom of Joan as it asks viewers questions regarding sanity and betrayal. Score: 6 / 10

harleylbennett Historical records conflict with this presentation. All scenes concerning her family and childhood are completely fictional. Joan was depicted as weepy and fearful. She was not. Nor did she ever at any time show disrespect to Charles. I have the impression that the intention here was to portray Joan as a hysteric or as a schizophrenic. In real life she claimed to hear voices, but tried to keep that private as much as possible. She did not display any of the other symptoms of a person who was schizophrenic. Of course many movie producers think that fiction is more interesting than fact. The result here is that there are very few facts in this movie. However, the quotes from Joan's letters were accurate as was the historical time line. Leelee Sobieski's portrayal in Joan of Arc (also 1999) is more realistic.