View Poll Results: What did you think of this film?
There's no redemption here. Pure, unadulterated crap.
16
34.78%
Plagued by some serious problems, but otherwise it's decent.
9
19.57%
Enjoyable movie, well-made and involving.
13
28.26%
Terrific movie, incredibly underrated!
8
17.39%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll
Revisited: "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc"
08-08-04, 04:08 PM
#1
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Revisited: "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc"
When this movie came out, it got mixed reviews. Some said it was a great movie, others slammed it for various reasons.
Five years later, what do you all think of it?
Five years later, what do you all think of it?
08-08-04, 04:32 PM
#2
DVD Talk God
Not good at all. Especially considering Luc Besson directed it.
08-08-04, 06:33 PM
#3
Moderator
Pure garbage... I still like the TV Miniseries that Leelee Solbeski and Peter O'Toole did.
(... and this is coming from a guy who's favorite movie is The Fifth Element, so don't call me a Luc Besson hater.)
(... and this is coming from a guy who's favorite movie is The Fifth Element, so don't call me a Luc Besson hater.)
08-08-04, 08:03 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Everytime I try to watch it I wind up turning the channel as I find Ms. Jevovich's acting unbearable. I caught the last half hour once and thought the stake burning would never arrive, felt like an eternity.
08-08-04, 10:23 PM
#6
Moderator
This was actually on Bravo today and I watched a few minutes of it. This was the first time I had seen it since it came out and at the time I thought it was decent -- though a let-down considering Besson directed it. Felt the same way today...
08-08-04, 11:31 PM
#8
DVD Talk Hero
Mila Jovovich can't act and the fact that they turned her character into a raving lunatic made it worse. The only redeeming value/character in this film is the one played by Dustin Hoffman.
08-09-04, 01:39 AM
#11
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I love this movie. I recall being amused when it was out, and it seemed like the critics were not only polarized by whether or not the movie was good, but whether it was anti- or pro-religious belief. To me, the fact that it incited such divergent opinions just reinforced my own belief that it's a good, thought-provoking movie. Try to please everyone and you'll please no one, as the saying goes.
08-09-04, 01:51 AM
#12
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they turned her character into a raving lunatic
The modern day appeal of the Joan of Arc legend is rooted in the wonderment of never knowing with absolute proof if she really talked to God or not. Making her crazy ruins this, and now she's nothing more than a lunatic kid with no war experience who got extremely lucky in battles- and the divine power of God no longer enters into it.
I love Milla, but this movie is terribly flawed.
And I feel I must add that the 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc is still to this day the best film on this subject.
08-09-04, 07:03 AM
#13
Moderator
Well, I liked it. Besson's got a compelling style, which is enough to make up for the (obvious) deficiencies of the movie.
08-09-04, 07:31 AM
#14
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Originally posted by Numanoid
Love Milla, love the movie.
Love Milla, love the movie.
me too.
08-09-04, 08:43 AM
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My issue with it is this:
Alot of people decimate the movie solely because it is a Besson work. Yes, I'd expect something more from Besson - but - looking at the movie without factoring in his name, it's really not all that bad.
I thought that Joan as a raving lunatic (as I've always thought she was) fit well. Joan could have been three things (well, more than three, but these are the main three as I see it):
1) A girl who was/was not communicating with God, but regardless she fought for her religious beliefs and with conviction until the end.
2) A girl who was/was not insane, and was driven by an insatiable drive to win France for France.
3) A girl so maniacally evil that she used her countrymen's undoubting belief in God to fuel her own quest for glory.
This movie toggles all three repeatedlt - I think it's a deeper movie than people give it credit for. Milla did a great job at portraying this version of Joan. Virtue, pride, insanity, nationalism all tangled into one mess.
Alot of people decimate the movie solely because it is a Besson work. Yes, I'd expect something more from Besson - but - looking at the movie without factoring in his name, it's really not all that bad.
I thought that Joan as a raving lunatic (as I've always thought she was) fit well. Joan could have been three things (well, more than three, but these are the main three as I see it):
1) A girl who was/was not communicating with God, but regardless she fought for her religious beliefs and with conviction until the end.
2) A girl who was/was not insane, and was driven by an insatiable drive to win France for France.
3) A girl so maniacally evil that she used her countrymen's undoubting belief in God to fuel her own quest for glory.
This movie toggles all three repeatedlt - I think it's a deeper movie than people give it credit for. Milla did a great job at portraying this version of Joan. Virtue, pride, insanity, nationalism all tangled into one mess.
08-10-04, 07:33 AM
#24
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by eXcentris
Mila Jovovich can't act
Mila Jovovich can't act
