The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc, arguably history's most famous peasant girl, gets a monster-budget makeover in this appropriately over-produced, grandiose epic biography. From director Luc Besson's trademark lack of subtlety (which helped make The Fifth Element such a opulent and enjoyable exercise in sci-fi excess) to the babe-casting of Milla Jovovich in the lead, The Messenger is a feast of bloody, ferocious battles and lavish filmmaking that turns France's 15th century virgin warrior into a pious, ardent action figure who would fit just as readily into a video game as she would into a confessional. A momentous effort, the picture hinges on Jovovich's spirited but uneven performance, so while some moments are overwhelming, others are just over-acted. Optional. (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray Review—Jan. 6, 2009—Sony, 158 min., not rated, $28.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1999's The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc boasts a fine transfer and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are limited to trailers and the BD Live function. Bottom line: a disappointing extras package for a beautiful-looking but uneven historical epic.]