The Messenger - The Story of Joan of Arc

Review - What would it be like to speak to God?  What if God gave you a mission?  What if, during the performance of that mission, God abandoned you?  What if the voice you'd heard was not God's after all?  What if God's word was no more than your mistaken desire?

Would you confess?

Luc Besson, the (acclaimed) director of La Femme Nikita, The Professional, & The Fifth Element, has re-teamed with Milla Jovovich to bring to life the most celebrated of French heroes, Joan of Arc. And the pair have done a rather remarkable job of brining not only the woman but also her story to life.

Born in France in the 1420s Joan was a witness to the slaughter and rape of her family and village at a very young age.  She chose at that young age to become one with God and vow vengeance on the whole of England.  She believed at that very young age that God had spoken to her and it wasn't until many years later, when God spoke to her again, that she got "The Message" that she should be the one to lead France, in battle, against the English tyranny.

Luc has created a wild platform for Milla to act across and she doesso in amazing fashion.  Constantly flippant, Milla is mesmerizing as she changes from pious woman, to the "whale hunter of the arctic north", hell bent on savagely devouring the English, to a confused girl abandoned by her god.

Visually stunning and humorous, The Messenger offers a little something for allot of people and a virtual roller coaster ride for the eccentric.  I can't tell you that you'll love or even like The Messenger but it'll be hard for you not to enjoy it.  Especially that guy and his catapult.

 P.S. Dustin Hoffman is a total waste as Jiminy Cricket.

-m-