Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 1.0
The "Mess"...
I decided to intentionally not watch this movie on the big screen, after hearing reviews from several people. I then wasn't sure if I wanted see the movie at all, but I broke down and rented it anyway, as I am a big fan of Joan of Arc.From the moment I read about her sister's rape on the cover, I knew I'd have a difficult time watching this movie, since that event never happened. After watching the whole thing, I found that my initial impressions were correct. This movie was just a movie, _not_ a historical documentary, which is something to definitely keep in mind. It would've been nice if Besson had referenced the trial transcripts for a better idea of how Joan actually lived, but alas.I (generously) give a rating of one star, only because this work has spread a little more awareness of the life and death of Joan of Arc. I would also give this movie two enthusiastic thumbs down, except for the battle scenes, and Besson didn't even get all of those right, so a somewhat shaky one thumb up for the battle scenes. The reason for this rating is quite simple - Monty Python and the Holy Grail was much more historically accurate than easily at least half of this hellishly awful piece-of-... movie that rotted sea monkeys could've done better with. It's much more entertaining, as well.The beginning did not impress me at all. I found the scrolling white text to be rather small, and I had to pause to read what was trying to be conveyed. Also, Joan did not find her sword as it was portrayed in this movie. (Why a small shepherdess would need a huge sword to tend sheep is still beyond me.) I didn't really care for the hooked-on-drugs vision in the forest, either.The scene in which Joan's sister was raped may have been appropriate if the event had actually happened. I found it to be distasteful, especially as there were so many things in Joan's life that Besson could have chosen to emphasize. The invention of a falsity to "enhance" an already miraculous story just strikes me as ridiculous.The scene where Joan rushes in to drink from the communion chalice is not accurate at all. Speaking as a Catholic liturgist, the Blood of Christ (communion wine after consecration) was and still is never stored in the tabernacle (where the extra consecrated bread goes after communion), which would have been locked anyway. Joan also would not have had access to drinking the wine to begin with. She was not full of manufactured rage, as Besson would like us to think. Lisa Simpson from television's "The Simpsons" was more accurately portrayed, as far as young Joans go. "Who, me? But I'm just a little girl!"Joan also never said anything about God being angry with the English... the trial records clearly state that she didn't know if God was against the English, but he wanted them out of France. The scene with the arrow in her chest was very touching, but she went straight back to the battle, and the battle was won that same day, NOT the next day as shown. The more exciting storyline in this section lies in actual fact - how amazing!I do like how Milla plays Jehanne, except for the unnecessary hysterics. (I liked Milla in "The Fifth Element" and in "Zoolander", too.) I also liked the concept of Dustin Hoffman's role. This was a nice spin on things, along with the symbolic meaning of Joan's hair turning from lightness to darkness through the course of the movie. I also liked how John Malkovich played Charles, and appreciated that Besson was accurate in the "Find the Dauphin" game.History records Joan wearing male clothing during the trial, and with her head shaved for the burning. The miter Joan wore on "stake day" was noticeably absent. A cross was not held up as Joan's body burned; it was a crucifix (amazing what difference a little body makes).I am now wondering about how many other things I've missed, since I was too bewildered at Besson's storytelling approach to write most of my thoughts down. Factual accuracy aside, this movie could have been made into so much more. It's highly disappointing, yet somewhat pretty to look at if you aren't aware of "the real story".Bleaach. See "The Passion of Joan of Arc" by Carl Dreyer instead! At least that made Ebert's top 100 great movies list.