Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 5.0
My take on this version
This will never compare to the Ingrid Bergman one, nor will the Ingrid Bergman one ever dipict the horror of war as well as this one did.Lets get a few things straight about this... 'it was far out on the speculation side.'The scene she fell asleep on.1. Her Sister Catherine must of been 'Saint Catherine' in a different war, and it was her training, and that is how she got to hate the English so much. What child would not be terorized by such an event! Heck I was terrified, and felt the same feelings. Who wouldn't? Comrade? English didn't say those kinds of terms in the 15th century. It was another time. Call it another dimension. It was told she had special training from St Catherine. I told you its far out there.The horror of war...2. The film making was so surreal it puts you right into the battles like nobody else could ever do. She even had visions of Jesus and her after they retook the Tourelles saying 'what are you doing to me Joan'..and she was horrified about that. The one thing that the original did not show was the Miracle at Patay!!!!!!!!!! Brilliantly done. She was on her white horse alone in front of the whole English Army and she scared them away!!!! An amazing bit of history for the English. Maybe the most embarrassing.Joan finally understood that faith in God will move those mountains at Patay and no killing needed to be done.And there you shall see the miracle I was sent to make.OOOHHHH I loved every minute.3. Dustin Hoffman is Jesus in her cell. More Speculation that I enjoyed. Bottom line is she has to be forgiven. Who isn't afraid of death? Even though she was actually tricked, she was told she would "be saved". She was later told in the original version with Ingrid that she did a very bad thing but the difference was they forgave her. Her insisting to be confessed before the fire was great. And who else to do it but the High Priest himself: Our Savior Jesus Christ.