The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
for strong graphic battles, a rape and language.
Reviewed by: Maggi
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Extremely Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Length: | 2 hr. 38 min. |
| Year of Release: | 1999 |
| USA Release: |
November 12, 1999 |
Atrocities
About murder
Rape
What is the Biblical perspective on war?
About supernatural visions in the Bible
About Roman Catholicism
What does the Bible say about hypocrites?
About lying and deception
What is truth?
What is a true Biblical Christian?
Learn about spiritual darkness versus light
About the actual miracles of the Bible, with comprehensive list
Is it logical to believe that the biblical miracles really happened? Answer
FILM VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer
What is a saint according to the Bible?
The scene in which Joan witnesses her sister's murder and posthumous rape by English soldiers in their village is entirely a fictional construction.
Joan and her family fled their village before it was attacked, and it was actually attacked by the Burgundians, not the English.
In the film, Joan is seen experiencing visions as a young child; in actuality, Joan claimed that these visions began around age 13.
Joan is also seen finding her sword in a field as a child, whereas, historically, it was uncovered many years later on her journey to Chinon, France.
Philip the Good is portrayed as irreligious, whereas he was actually a devout Roman Catholic.
| Featuring |
Milla Jovovich … Joan of Arc Toby Jones … English Judge Dustin Hoffman … The Conscience John Malkovich … Charles VII Faye Dunaway … Yolande of Aragon Vincent Cassel … Gilles de Rais Desmond Harrington … Aulon Jemima West … Girl Vincent Regan … Buck Tchéky Karyo (Tcheky Karyo) … Dunois See all » |
| Director |
Luc Besson |
| Producer |
Patrice Ledoux Gaumont [France] Okko Productions [Czech Republic] |
| Distributor |
 Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures |
Don’t miss Ronald F. Maxwell’s in-depth historical commentary on this film
Six months has been my waiting period to eagerly view “The Messenger”. I was so excited to finally see a recent feature film created around Joan of Arc. I was even more excited to here that cast members included John Malcovich and Dustin Hoffman (two very fine actors). After several long months of high expectations, I was sorely disappointed in this attempt seen in “The Messenger”. I feel as if I just wasted six months of my life waiting to see a lie, and one that mocks the Christian faith as well.
Firstly, “The Messenger” included unnecessary violence. For example, Joan’s sister is murdered and then raped. I have read and seen many documentaries about Joan of Arc and never heard of any rape taking place, which leads me to believe that this did not happen. The movie also has war-related violence, but that is understandable as war is indeed violent and gruesome. There are also some odd visions of Joan that include winds blowing as packs of wolves. Don’t ask me to explain that vision, though. I’m still trying to figure out the significance of it.
Not once is Joan of Arc shown as being visited by specific saints, nor does “The Messenger” concentrate on Joan’s strong faith in Christ. Some other offensive language includes an army member using profanity, including the off-color “f” exclamation. Joan is also referred to as a “b*tch” several times.
She is portrayed as a psychotic nut case, instead of the young woman of God that she was. In many scenes she looks and acts as if she should be in a mental institution. History says that when Joan was burned, she didn’t move at all. It was as if she didn’t feel the fire. Right before she died, she yelled out the name of Jesus. At that time, one of her executioners states “My God, we just killed a saint.” Sadly, all of this was conveniently ignored.
Confusion reigns during much of the film. Dustin Hoffman’s character makes it hard to distinguish whether he is an angel of the Lord of Satan himself. Joan of Arc appears in one scene as a woman of God, and in the next as a mental patient. Further, the acting was terrible. Why was Milla Jovovich chosen to portray Joan? She simply failed. Joan Malcovich and Dustin Hoffman give semi-decent performances, but their characters are so unbelievable that one could care less about their acting ability.
As a Christian, who was raised as a Catholic, I was highly offended. “The Messenger” is nothing but a pack of lies. I am just pleased that I did not take any of my non-Christian friends along on this one. They may be left with the impression that Joan is a pawn of Satan rather than of God. Of much higher recommendation would be the TV miniseries, now available on video.
Don’t miss Ronald F. Maxwell’s in-depth historical commentary on “The Messenger”
It left us feeling sick to our stomachs and relieved that we hadn’t gone to this movie with any of our non-Christian friends. Christ was portrayed as a cold and unloving person and not all there psychologically. No wonder some of my friends aren’t interested in getting saved or knowing God.
There was a scene in it where Joan says she wants to be one with Christ, now, and goes back to the local church, where she proceeds to drink what looks like blood. It trails down her face and makes her look insane.
I also remember the scene where she witnesses her sister being murdered then raped. It was very graphic and unnecessary. The war scenes were very graphic, also. I will say one thing for it though (after really searching the movie for good things) I really liked the parts where Joan kept telling one of the men not to swear and take God’s name in vain.
It also didn’t show her as a perfect person, like I think of some highly remembered Christians in the past, she had problems with anger and authorities.
One last thing, it is much more satisfying to watch the TV mini-series, which was more accurate, historically and 10X’s cleaner. [1/1]
The visions and the background music were those of horror movies having nothing to do with the peace Jesus gives. What about the actor of Jesus they chose! They are trying to distort the true beauty of Jesus’s face.
And the surrender of Joan to Satan was the climax of blasphemy to God that this movie offers. While on the contrary our God and Savior is a God of peace, He never leaves us and the Holy Spirit counsels us and gives us courage.
I personally am sure that St. Joan of Arc had this faith with her and died happily to be in reunion with Christ. May no one try to blur this image. Amen! [1/3]
Furthermore, the images of Jesus Christ actually scared me. Instead of depicting him as the loving Savior that he is, the movie depicted him as being hardened, freaky, and evil-looking, as if he were possessed by demons!
Moreover, in this version, Joan showed herself to be more deranged than chosen by God. She acted as though she were on the verge of insanity, or closer. I’m not surprised at this manifestation of society’s feelings about supernatural happenings.
Rather than the title referring to a messenger of God, I’d have to interpret it as the media sending out the message that Christians are delusional liars. Overall, this movie made me sick, and I was ashamed to watch it with two of my non-Christian friends. I do not recommend this to anyone wishing to view an accurate portrayal of a beautiful history. [1/2]
Joan of Arc may or may not have had a true Christian faith, but the visions she “saw” and voices she “heard” were not likely of Divine origin—never, with the notable exception of pre-exilic Israel, is God ever shown in Scripture to take an audible stand for one nation over another.
In the New Testament, when God does speak through visions or dreams, it is ALWAYS for the furtherance of the Gospel and not for a political victory of a Godless nation.
And well, two points on the upside: the cinematography was sweepingly gorgeous and Dustin Hoffman’s angel of the Lord (whether from God or Joan’s own fritzed mind) did work miraculously to demonstrate to Joan her own false piety and sinfulness. [2½/3½]
Though the film did raise some worthwhile questions about how a person discerns God’s will and how He chooses to work His will through people, it wasn’t worth seeing the disturbing images in the movie. I felt unclean after watching it and hope you spend your money on another film. I wish I had. [1½/1½]
At best this movie was a slanted commentary on political intrigue between the 15th century church and government. The only message it carries regarding the Christian faith is devotion should be considered excessive religiousness and a danger to both person and community. [2/3]
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
This version left me asking the question, why would this Joan have gone to the stake?
Go rent the CBS television version starring Leelee Sobieski
One last thought on this movie: “A miracle is an event which creates faith. That is the purpose and nature of miracles—frauds deceive. An event which creates faith does not deceive: therefore it is not a fraud, but a miracle.” —George Bernard Shaw.
“The Messenger” doesn’t create faith, and so if you’re looking to be inspired, steer clear of this stinker. My Ratings: [2/3]