Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 4.0
Stunning and outstanding
Before viewing this movie I'd recommend spending 24 minutes watching the documentary on the making of the movie. The background given will greatly improve the appreciation of the movie itself. We are taken around the parts of France where Joan herself lived, and shown the buildings she lived in and where the events shown in the movie actually happened. We are shown a document signed by Joan that is 570 years old - WOW! For myself, it was fascinating to see these ancient buildings and relics which without a doubt helped me to better appreciate the actual movie. There is also info on the 100s of suits of armour and 1000s of costumes made that were as true to the originals of that era as possible. They did this by taking the designs and patterns for the costumes and armour from old tapestries and paintings.The performance of Milla Jovovich as Joan of Arc was brilliant except near the end of the film where she perhaps overdid the "poor, nervous and bewildered Joan" bit! I'd have given the movie five stars if it wasn't for this. One point that I found inspiring is the way the film showed how just one simple young peasant girl, deeply pious and obedient to the call of God on her life could change the history of France, and perhaps ultimately that of Europe itself. I don't know how intentional it was, but what struck me was the way Joan feared disobeying God far more than she feared offending the pompous and arrogant civil and religious powers of her day. What wasn't made clear (perhaps because no-one really knows for certain) is exactly how Joan heard the voices which told her what to do, so we are treated to spooky wind noises, cloud scenes, bangs of thunder and some guy in a stone chair in a wood! Surely there must have been a better way of showing her hearing "The Voices?"I titled this review as Stunning and outstanding - and so it was. The picture quality is superb as is the Dolby 5.1 Surround which is very powerful and rich in low frequencies. Seldom have I enjoyed and been so deeply touched by any movie as this one! This DVD is a must for any serious collector IMO.