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From Amazon.co.uk
Over the years, many film directors have attempted to tell the story of legendary 15th-century heroine Joan of Arc, a simple country girl who claimed she was inspired by God to lead the French troops in a victorious assault on the mighty English army. Luc Besson's 1999 epic might not be the best version of her life, but it's certainly the biggest. The movie cost a reported $60 million. Even if you are terminally unimpressed by the scale of such recent blockbusters as Gladiator, your eyes will pop out at the sheer number of bodies (living and dead) that Besson has assembled for the dynamic battle scenes. The lavish sets and costumes are almost equally gobsmacking, though neither will show to maximum advantage on the small screen. That's a pity because size is the only thing Joan of Arc really has going for it--as a human drama, it falls completely flat.
The historical Joan was eventually made a saint by the Catholic Church, and earlier biopics tended to treat her celestial visions as literal fact. It was probably a mistake for Besson and his co-screenwriter Andrew Birkin to take a more psychological approach and present them as figments of her hysterical imagination. It makes it hard to work up the necessary empathy when the spectacle revolves around a confused and neurotic babe who couldn't organise a Tupperware party, let alone a vast military campaign. Milla Jovovich (the star of Besson's previous The Fifth Element and formerly his wife) doesn't help matters with her shrill and amateurish performance. But a couple of the supporting players are passably amusing--John Malkovich camps it up energetically as Charles, the dispossessed French king whom Joan reinstates, while Faye Dunaway wears outlandish headgear and carries on like a science-fiction creation in the role of his scheming mother-in-law. (The less said the better about Dustin Hoffman's pompous turn as Joan's personified conscience.) Besson keeps to the same glossy visual style even when the Maid is burning at the stake, but it isn't enough to prevent this empty shell of a movie from being a colossal yawn. --Peter Matthews
Product Description
Tormented by visions, young Joan (Milla Jovovich) leaves her country home, seeks out the heir to the French throne, and tells him that God has charged her with the task of freeing France from the English. Granted an army, Joan fulfils her promise, but is later betrayed and tried as a witch. Director Luc Besson combines the vivid clarity of Jacques Rivette's earlier 'Jeanne La Pucelle' with a fast-moving storyline and comes up with one of the boldest versions of the Joan of Arc legend yet produced.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Jay
Format:DVD
Luc Besson has a reputation for spectacular movies such as Taxi, Leon, The Fifth Element, etc. Joan of Arc is no exception. It details the life of Jeanne, the maiden of Lorraine, who in and around the year 1431, helped France defeat England, and win a war that has lasted for almost an entire century. The plot is great, and paced well. The performances that impressed me the most, however, were those of Milla Jovovich and Dustin Hoffman, as Jeanne and her conscience, respectively. They never cease to amaze me. The characters were well-written and credible. I liked the way the film seems to question Jeanne's sanity; whereas most believe that she *was* in fact, sent by God, this film sits down and asks the question, if she really was, or if the signs and miracles weren't all in her head, and caused by everyone wanting to believe it. The very last scenes especially puts doubt in the viewer. It was quite a gutsy move by Besson, to question his own country's hero. I will admit, the film does really make it seem more like she is crazy rather than sent by God, but it doesn't feel like Besson is pushing his view onto us, telling us that that's the way it was; it feels more like he tries to make us question it. The action and the war scenes were very well done, very chaotic and disturbing, very intense and bloody.
All in all, a very enjoyable war-drama, with an authentic story and some well-done battle sequences. I recommend it to fans of the actors, of Luc Besson's other work and of war movies/dramas in general. Just don't expect a full-out war movie; it's two hours and thirty minutes long, and I don't think more than forty-five minutes in total are spent fighting.
All in all, a very enjoyable war-drama, with an authentic story and some well-done battle sequences. I recommend it to fans of the actors, of Luc Besson's other work and of war movies/dramas in general. Just don't expect a full-out war movie; it's two hours and thirty minutes long, and I don't think more than forty-five minutes in total are spent fighting.
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
I really enjoyed this film. Contrary to Amazon's review, I felt that Milla gave a riveting performance as Joan, making her a sympathetic, but real, warts and all, character. The portrayal of her God given messages are suited to today's more sceptic audiences. The film never really answers the question were they real or not, which is a positive point, as no one really knows. It's nice not to be offered simple answers. On a personal level it's the interaction between Joan and the generals that interested me most, and which gives the film a human aspect. I know very little about the real Joan of Arc, but this film makes me want to find out more, which is what historic films should do. The battle sequences were honestly brutal - making Gladiator look tame by comparison. Not a film for the faint hearted but fascinating for anyone who wants to watch a complex film that doesn't insult the audience by offering a lame, cliched solution.!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Gibson
Format:Blu-ray
My wife and I enjoyed this movie. Joan's behaviour is a bit bizarre, but seeing the other down to earth characters and their humorous bewilderment in her wake, it seems obvious that Joan acts exactly as the Director intended.
The battle scenes, costumes and sets are great, this is no b-rated movie. The dialogue makes sense and flows through well. Its true Dustin Hoffman's cameo appearance at the end is drawn out, tedious and confusing, but this should not put you off getting the film as, on the whole, it is well worth viewing.
The Blu-ray quality is fantastic; crystal clear full 1920x1080p video and perfect audio makes this a great blu-ray for trying out your new home cinema system.
The battle scenes, costumes and sets are great, this is no b-rated movie. The dialogue makes sense and flows through well. Its true Dustin Hoffman's cameo appearance at the end is drawn out, tedious and confusing, but this should not put you off getting the film as, on the whole, it is well worth viewing.
The Blu-ray quality is fantastic; crystal clear full 1920x1080p video and perfect audio makes this a great blu-ray for trying out your new home cinema system.
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3.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good.
It was grate. High quality version of this film. Even the fact there was no lector version of a labguage I was looking for had any significant influance on my satisfaction with the... Read more
Published 20 days ago by MR MA BORON
4.0 out of 5 stars
A classic
I know the movie well and it is worth to have it in your library. The ending is some what odd with Dustin Hofmann as god but worth watching.
Published 5 months ago by GSW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not to confuse the messenger with the message
I liked this film. The end maybe the real beginning for Joan - just a pity she didn't get there earlier: all the heroism shown to be tainted with vanity and yet the Dauphin was on... Read more
Published 8 months ago by .
4.0 out of 5 stars
Original and spectacular
This film has a rather original - and perhaps not always convincing - take on the character of Joan of Arc, played here by Milla Jovovich as being somewhat shrill, or even... Read more
Published 11 months ago by JPS
4.0 out of 5 stars
A GOOD HISTORICAL FILM LET DOWN BY NO SPECIAL FEATURES!
In 1429 the Hundred Years War is not going well for France. English soldiers are freely roaming French soil and the Duke of Burgundy (MICHAEL JENN) has allianced himself with the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Napoleon
2.0 out of 5 stars
Tons of eye-candy but not much else
Positive: Spectacular, well-choreographed battle scenes; Milla Jovovitch puts in a decent enough performance and looks the part; blu-ray image quality is highly impressive; Dolby... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Cartimand
5.0 out of 5 stars
AUDIO Y SUBTITULOS CASTELLANOS
ESTE BLU-RAY EDICION UK CONTIENE AUDIO Y SUBTITULOS EN CASTELLANO TANTO EN LA PELICULA COMO EN LOS EXTRAS.ESPERO HABEROS SERVIDO DE AYUDA
Published 15 months ago by Pirujo
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lot better than 'Braveheart'
...as a visual spectacle, with a realistically professional looking enemy. Although, like 'Braveheart' also historically highly flawed. Read more
Published 16 months ago by P. F. Darlington
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Visually Impressive Unworthy Romp
Whatever may be the truth behind the mystery of the real Joan of Ark, this film fails to carry any conviction. Read more
Published 17 months ago by R. C. Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jeanne, the maiden of Lorraine, on film by Besson
Luc Besson tackled a difficult subject when he decided to film Joan of Arc, an enigmatic historical character, despite the information we have. Read more
Published 17 months ago by RR Waller
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