RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
31 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:72

Fresh:22

Rotten:50

Average Rating:4.5/10

Consensus: The heavy-handed narrative collapses under its own weight.

Runtime: 2 hrs 38 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Action master Besson takes on French history in this ambitious look at the legendary saint and martyr. Beginning with a young Joan witnessing her sister's rape and murder at the hands of brutal... Action master Besson takes on French history in this ambitious look at the legendary saint and martyr. Beginning with a young Joan witnessing her sister's rape and murder at the hands of brutal English soldiers, the film picks up years later when Joan (Jovovich) appears at the court of the French Dauphin (Malkovich), who is making little progress against his enemies. Joan's self-confidence and charisma induce the Dauphin to take a gamble by allowing her to lead troops, resulting in an upset victory at Orleans. However, Joan eventually outlives her usefulness to the French throne and is sold out to the English, who burn her for heresy. All the while, Joan struggles with her faith, exasperating the experienced French generals and having impassioned arguments with her imaginary "Conscience" (Hoffman). Features several exciting medieval battle scenes. [More]

Starring: Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman

Starring: Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman, Pascal Greggory, Vincent Cassel, Tcheky Karyo, Richard Ridings, Timothy West, Desmond Harrington, Andrew Birkin

Director: Luc Besson

Director: Luc Besson
Screenwriter: Luc Besson, Andrew Birkin
Producer: Patrice Ledoux
Composer: Eric Serra

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Dec 2, 2008

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • The year is 1429. France is in political and religious turmoil as members of the royal family battle for rule. But one peasant girl from a remote village gave her country the miracle it was looking for. Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, Dazed and Confused) is Joan of Arc, a young woman who would inspire and lead her countrymen until her execution at the age of nineteen. Raised in a religious family, Joan witnessed her sister's rape and death at the hands of an invading army. Years later, as the same war raged on, Joan stood before her king with a message she claimed came from God: give her an army, and in God's name she would reclaim his diminished kingdom. But was the message real, or thedelusion of a girl whose life had been shattered? This startling epic drama by Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) explores the life of Joan of Arc, her amazing victories, relationship with God, and tragic death. Co-starring John Malkovich and Academy Award(r) winners Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway, THE MESSENGER is a modern take on a medieval saint who enthralls people even today.
  • Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/08/02
    Film Threat

    The battles and scenes of medieval mayhem and beauty are brilliant.

    Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    E! Online

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: CinemaSense.Com | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Cornell & Petricelli
    Cornell & Petricelli
    CinemaSense.Com

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cinemaphile.org | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    David Keyes
    David Keyes
    Cinemaphile.org

    Besson gives intensely vivid battle sequences and haunting interior moments the same muscular certainty.

    Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Duane Dudek
    Duane Dudek
    Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Thierry Arbogast's cinematography is extraordinary.

    Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Eric Lurio
    Eric Lurio
    Greenwich Village Gazette

    An intelligent film with intelligent ideas.

    Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Eugene Novikov
    Eugene Novikov
    Film Blather

    This unusual French interpretation of Joan of Arc sees her as a radical zealot like John Brown.

    Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
    03/04/02
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice

    Breathtaking.

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Gary Thompson
    Gary Thompson
    Philadelphia Daily News

    An entertaining, grand-scale historical drama.

    Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    George Meyer
    George Meyer
    Orlando Weekly

    Does not have the grandeur, the poetry, the range of Lawrence of Arabia but makes up for its shortcomings by being eminently user-friendly.

    Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Harvey S. Karten
    Harvey S. Karten
    Compuserve

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    JoBlo
    JoBlo
    JoBlo's Movie Emporium

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
    02/08/03
    John R. McEwen
    John R. McEwen
    Film Quips Online

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Movie Habit | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Marty Mapes
    Marty Mapes
    Movie Habit

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    MaryAnn Johanson
    MaryAnn Johanson
    Flick Filosopher

    If all history lessons were this stylish, elementary school would have been a better place.

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Matt Kelsey
    Matt Kelsey
    TNT's Rough Cut

    Marvelously shot.

    Full Review Source: Mr. Showbiz | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Michael Atkinson
    Michael Atkinson
    Mr. Showbiz
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Jovovich brings an intensity to the role well-matched to Besson's stylistic energy, though this comic-bookish take on Jeanne D'Arc won't be winning any historical-society awards. [Blu-ray]

    Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
    01/20/09
    Peter Canavese
    Peter Canavese
    Groucho Reviews

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Rob Blackwelder
    Rob Blackwelder
    SPLICEDWire
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
    all

    Latest News for The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

    January 11, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Can Sony "Stomp" the "Museum?"
    Can Ben Stiller and his living artifacts four-peat at the top of the North American box office, or will one of the new releases take the crown over the four-day Dr. Martin... More...

    May 25, 2006: Sony Buys Besson's "Angel"
    French filmmaker Luc Besson, who produces tons of flicks but hasn't directed one since "The Messenger," has directed a new movie. It's a comedy called... More...

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    66% 66% Public Enemies
    83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
    44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
    75% 75% Julie & Julia
    32% 32% Terminator Salvation

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    90% 90% District 9
    86% 86% 500 Days of Summer
    63% 63% Extract
    06% 06% All About Steve
    78% 78% It Might Get Loud

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    Sherlock Holmes

    Sherlock Holmes

    New clips from the detective reboot!

    Iron Man 2

    Iron Man 2

    Watch the brand new trailer now!

    Clash of the Titans

    Clash of the Titans

    Prepare to Clash with Titans in this trailer!

    Total Recall

    Total Recall

    RT looks back on Jude Law's best movies!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
    14
    • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
    16
    • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
    102
    • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
    1
    • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
    19
    • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
    32
    • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
    28
    • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
    9
    • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
    4
    • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
    61
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
    312
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
    260
    • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
    115
    • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
    90
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    58
    • Weekly Ketchup: Bryan Singer Teaches X-Men: First Class
    44
    • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
    43
    • Total Recall: Jude Law's Best Movies
    36
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
    31
    • Friday Harvest: Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and more!
    14
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    58
    • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
    21
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    2
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    12
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    23
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    16
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    24
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    9
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    MSN's Year in Review
    MSN's Year in Review External Link

    Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

    Moviefone's Year End Poll
    Moviefone's Year End Poll External Link

    What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

    Tarantino's Characters
    Tarantino's Characters External Link

    Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

    Top 10 Movies of 2009
    Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

    TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

    Top 20 of the Decade
    Top 20 of the Decade External Link

    Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo
    About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
    IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
    By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
    IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.