I think only few people would be ignorant of the name of Joan of Arc. Historically, it's a superb story with all the elements of the best fiction writing - great characters, dirty politics, heroics, betrayal, tragedy etc.
I'm a follower of Luc Besson movies, ever since I saw his early one, La Femme Nikita, one that still admire greatly. I wish I could say the same about this outing, one that I tried to watch ten years ago, but was so disappointed I stopped after15 minutes.
However, I came back to it recently because I decided I hadn't given it a fair go. Well, after the two hours plus of careful watching and listening, I have to say it's still probably Besson's worst effort I've seen.
To be sure, it provides bloody messy and muddy battle scenes sufficiently violent for most viewers; and settings and costumes that are suitably realistic. It suffers, however, from slow pacing in the first half; but that's overshadowed by the second half which can only be assessed, I think, as confusing excess.
At very least that's a contrast, I guess.
The acting from the main actors - John Malkovich and Milla Jovovich - was generally adequate. And it was passably interesting to see Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway turn up for some cameos.
However, not only do modern accents and verbal expressions intrude to ruin the dialog, Besson - or somebody - should have checked to avoid any language anachronisms. A stand-out is the F word and its derivatives, all being fairly often used during battle and elsewhere. That word, however, originated only in early 16th century Germany, yet all the history of Joan occurred in the early 15th. And only in France. To bad, eh....
So for my money, the best this deserves is a solid four out of ten.
Overall I'd recommend, instead, seeing the 1948 version with Ingrid Bergman or the very best version from 1928, if you can find either. But don't take your kiddies to see any.
I'm a follower of Luc Besson movies, ever since I saw his early one, La Femme Nikita, one that still admire greatly. I wish I could say the same about this outing, one that I tried to watch ten years ago, but was so disappointed I stopped after15 minutes.
However, I came back to it recently because I decided I hadn't given it a fair go. Well, after the two hours plus of careful watching and listening, I have to say it's still probably Besson's worst effort I've seen.
To be sure, it provides bloody messy and muddy battle scenes sufficiently violent for most viewers; and settings and costumes that are suitably realistic. It suffers, however, from slow pacing in the first half; but that's overshadowed by the second half which can only be assessed, I think, as confusing excess.
At very least that's a contrast, I guess.
The acting from the main actors - John Malkovich and Milla Jovovich - was generally adequate. And it was passably interesting to see Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway turn up for some cameos.
However, not only do modern accents and verbal expressions intrude to ruin the dialog, Besson - or somebody - should have checked to avoid any language anachronisms. A stand-out is the F word and its derivatives, all being fairly often used during battle and elsewhere. That word, however, originated only in early 16th century Germany, yet all the history of Joan occurred in the early 15th. And only in France. To bad, eh....
So for my money, the best this deserves is a solid four out of ten.
Overall I'd recommend, instead, seeing the 1948 version with Ingrid Bergman or the very best version from 1928, if you can find either. But don't take your kiddies to see any.