Joan of Arc

Starring:Leelee Sobieski, Jacqueline Bisset, Powers Boothe, Neil Patrick Harris, Maury Chaykin, Olympia Dukakis, Jonathan Hyde, Robert Loggia, Shirley MacLaine, Peter O'Toole, Maximilian Schell, Peter Strauss, Chad Willett, Ron White, Jaimz Woolvett, Ted Atherton, Chandra Engstrom, Jaroslav Fricek, Robert Haley, Matt Hoffman
Director: Christian Duguay
Studio: Lions Gate
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
A strong cast, impressive production values, and astute direction distinguish this generally successful dramatization of the tumultuous life of the 15th-century French heroine whose military victories were eclipsed by her martyrdom. At the heart of the story is the conflict between the teenager's simple but fierce faith and the more complex political and theological issues that influence her downfall, a theme fleshed out through the portrayals of the young warrior's liege, the Dauphin (later King) Charles, and the Bishop Cauchon.

The 140-minute feature follows Joan D'Arc's odyssey from peasant obscurity to notoriety as the "Maid of Orleans," spiritual fulcrum for the beleaguered French forces struggling to halt English invaders. As played by Leelee Sobieski (Eyes Wide Shut), her evolution from naive farm girl to seasoned soldier is convincing, as is her gradual awakening to the underlying agendas of church and state. Most critically, Sobieski radiates the young girl's fervent spiritual devotion.

Amazon.com

1999 may be remembered as the year of Joan of Arc: NBC created a miniseries in her honor, Carl Dreyer's long-lost The Passion of Joan of Arc was discovered in a mental hospital, and Facets re-released Jacques Rivette's Joan the Maid. Luc Besson rounds out the corpus with his stylistic and vaguely heretical grand-scale feature, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.

Besson (La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element) challenges established notions about the Maid of Orleans as he creates a decidedly more human heroine than have previous biopics. The story line is the same--a young, illiterate peasant girl convinces the dauphin of France to give her an army, and she leads them to victory in Orleans, only to be burned at the stake for heresy--but Milla Jovovich, in the title role, is a woman possessed. Her influences are less than heavenly; as a child she witnesses the murder of her sister by the English, a death caused by the sister's giving her hiding place to young Joan, which causes an intense desire for revenge. Yes, God still speaks to Joan, but even this is undermined, as Dustin Hoffman, playing The Conscience, questions her motives.

Cinematically, The Messenger is stunning, with fantastical sequences of Joan in communication with higher powers. Yet the graphic violence (scenes include random decapitation and a dog gnawing on a body); the uneven accents, which make it difficult to tell who is fighting on which side; and the rewriting of lore may make this version of Joan of Arc appeal only to Besson fans. Jovovich is convincing, and while at times the film may drag (at times you wish they'd hurry up and burn her), it is a remarkable and insightful retelling of a well-known piece of history. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Religous Based Thriller - Demonstrating Fear of Church.......2007-06-22

I found this movie EXCELLENT! I cannot comment on the historical religious facts - however, I was moved by Joan of Arc's passion to pursue her vision(s) from God to reclaim the Kings crown to France (From England).

Throughout her life, Joan of Arc was haunted by "visions from God" that lead her to believe that she had the religious power to force Englands Army to surrender territory in France rather than face the rath of God. Mila Jovovich does a spectacular job at playing an unbelievable role of a young lady leading a powerful army.

Dustin Hoffman is introduced as her conscience in the later half of the movie - and is haunting! In addition, I believe that this movie does a great job at demonstrating how religion was "Feared" during this period of history!

Strongly recommended as a very entertaining movie.

History Coming to Life.......2007-05-19

For those who love history coming to life, this is the film for them. Milla Jovovich is fabulous in this role and portrays the passion and zeal of a true believer in the Middle Ages. The costumes and the props are superb and the battle scenes are so realistic that you feel that you are participating in real history in progress.

My favourite film of all times.

very satisfied.......2007-03-31

Showed up sooner than expected and very satisfied would recomend for any one to purchase from this individual

A medieval peplum film.......2006-11-22

This is not the best film by Besson. In fact it is in many ways incredibly naive and superficial, even in its desire to look and sound profound. Profundity is not only political gibberish diplomatic slang. And it is that kind of language that reduces the attitude of the French king to be and then king to opportunism. And it is that kind of language that reduces the attitude of bishop Cochon to servile non-commitment. And it is that kind of language that reduces the attitude of the English to vengeful cruelty. It is also very superficial to reduce simple people to blind believers of anything that sounds iffy, godlike and slightly insane, like a girl leading an army or hearing and listening to divine voices. But all that must please many simple minds indeed. It is a shame because the subject deserves a serious film, a serious approach. Shakespeare forgot to write this play. He could have written a masterpiece on the subject. Besson just writes an average action film, some kind of medieval peplum film.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

This film should be sent to the stake!.......2006-11-22

As a St. Jeanne d'Arc devotee, I have read quite a bit on my favorite Saint, as well as seen my share of movies. Some were well done, none have been definitive, and others are, well, like this one. I usually try to be a bit more intelligent, but the first word that comes to mind when I think of this particular version is CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Historically innacurate, spiritually unfaithful, this film stinks. It is downright heretical, portraying our beloved Jeanne as having made a pact with the devil. She is shown as a proud, haughty girl at odds with her Church. What a bunch of bull. The ONLY two bits of this film I appreciated were the attention given to her ring (given her by her brother), as well as the scene when she brings a child back to life (I am unaware of any other films on her that portray this true story). Other than these, it took a lot not to walk out of the theatre when I went to see it. In other words, BLAHHHHHHHH! Don't waste your time, money, or soul on such non-sense.

Average customer rating:

The Most Fantastic Joan of Arc Ever Made!
I prefer...
The Maid of Lorraine
An Emotional Journey
Incredible cast - Excellent script - A very powerful and wonderful film!

Joan of Arc
Starring: Leelee Sobieski , Jacqueline Bisset , Powers Boothe , Neil Patrick Harris , and Maury Chaykin
Director: Christian Duguay
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
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ASIN: B00005QCVQ
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com essential video

A strong cast, impressive production values, and astute direction distinguish this generally successful dramatization of the tumultuous life of the 15th-century French heroine whose military victories were eclipsed by her martyrdom. At the heart of the story is the conflict between the teenager's simple but fierce faith and the more complex political and theological issues that influence her downfall, a theme fleshed out through the portrayals of the young warrior's liege, the Dauphin (later King) Charles, and the Bishop Cauchon.

The 140-minute feature follows Joan D'Arc's odyssey from peasant obscurity to notoriety as the "Maid of Orleans," spiritual fulcrum for the beleaguered French forces struggling to halt English invaders. As played by Leelee Sobieski (Eyes Wide Shut), her evolution from naive farm girl to seasoned soldier is convincing, as is her gradual awakening to the underlying agendas of church and state. Most critically, Sobieski radiates the young girl's fervent spiritual devotion.

Framing Sobieski's focal performance are two equally fine turns from Neil Patrick Harris, who erases his legacy as TV's Doogie Howser, M.D. with a neatly shaded, steely Charles, and Peter O'Toole, who balances his signature reserve and present physical frailty to make Cauchon a moral compass for the story. Having opposed Joan as a threat to orthodoxy, the Bishop recognizes her purity too late; O'Toole turns this moment into a dreadful epiphany that resonates through the story's inevitable, fiery denouement. Fine supporting performances from Peter Strauss, Shirley MacLaine, and Maximillian Schell, plus evocative medieval locations in the Czech Republic, further buttress the story. French-Canadian director Christian Duguay handles the large-scale battle sequences with fluid blocking and smart camera work. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

The Most Fantastic Joan of Arc Ever Made!.......2007-03-08

The music of Charlotte Church brings out the emotions of religion and patriotism in this rendition of Joan's life. LeeLee Sobieski is fenominal in this role. This will be her unforgettable role of a lifetime. The rest of the cast is perfectly placed to enhance her adventures. This is the most realistic view of the times and the events surrounding the miracles of Saint Joan of Arc.

I prefer..........2007-03-01

This movie was ok. I do prefer The Messenger starring Milla Jovovich. Milla is exceptional in that version.

The Maid of Lorraine.......2007-01-14

"Joan of Arc" with Leelee Sobieski is the best Joan of Arc movie. The story is a great re-telling of the story of Joan's calling by God, her work for the crown of France, and her trial for witchcraft. Her mission is to unite France under King Charles. He uses her, as the embodiment of the mythical Maid of Lorraine, to raise an army, and he sends her to the rescue of Orléans. After Charles is crowned, she's captured in Burgundy, sold to the English, examined, found a heretic by the Inquisition, and burned at the stake. I love that the movie included the Maid of Lorraine aspect of the story.

An Emotional Journey.......2006-12-29

I have no words to describe how this movie touched me. One girl's faith, passion for truth and justice, determination to follow a calling, and great love for her people changed everything. How pleased we should be that such a story was given the portrayel it deserves on this magnifiscent film. I highly reccomend.

Incredible cast - Excellent script - A very powerful and wonderful film!.......2006-09-01

In 1999 "Joan of arc" received two updated film adaptions. One was a big budget motion picture titled "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc" which starred singer/actress Milla Jovovich. The other was a simple made for TV movie called "Joan of Arc" starring Leelee Sobieski. Hollywood's sudden renewed interest in the character of Joan was basically an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the TV series XENA (about a warrior princess).

The film "The Messenger" took the "warrior princess" approach, concentrating on action over substance. The finished product actually displayed none of the qualities that made Xena a hit TV show and played like a low-grade "Braveheart meets Conan meets Red Sonja". Simply put, it's a horrible film.

The writers and producers of the made for TV movie "Joan of Arc" decided to take the high road. Instead of churning out just another throw-away "action flick", they assembled an incredible cast and then backed them up with an amazing script. The result is perhaps the best film version of the "Joan of Arc" story and a movie that anyone can enjoy regardless of religious beliefs.

Leelee Sobieski is perfect as Joan, I cannot imagine anyone bringing more to this role than she does. Peter Strauss proves once again that he's a very underated actor. Peter O'Toole delivers an incredible performance, certainly one of his all time best! Shirley MaClaine, Maximillian Schell, and yes, even Neil Patrick Harris deliver fine performances!

The last half hour of this film will have you riveted to the screen. Not by showcasing mindless action, but by the sheer power of the script and the incredible performances by O'toole and Sobieski. I highly recommend this wonderful film!

-JM

The Passion of Joan of Arc - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Ultimate cinema
The Passion of Joan of Arc
The passion of Joan of Arc - The face of Renee Maria Falconetti
Passionate Silent Film
GREAT !!!!!

The Passion of Joan of Arc - Criterion Collection
Starring: Maria Falconetti , Eugene Silvain , André Berley , Maurice Schutz , and Antonin Artaud
Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0780022343
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Amazon.com essential video

Carl Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc is as truly mythic as any film ever shot, its artistic achievement rivaled by its turbulent history. The focal point of controversy when released in 1928, the original film was lost for a half-century until an intact copy of Dreyer's original version was recovered in the early '80s.

Seeing Joan of Arc today remains a cinematic revelation, its approach to storytelling, set design, editing, and especially cinematography (by Rudolph Maté, who also shot Dreyer's visionary Vampyr) radical then, and still strikingly modern many decades later. Influenced by both German expressionist film and the French avant-garde, Dreyer's huge set was designed with asymmetrical doors, windows, and arches, through which Maté's camera moves along equally off-centered, even vertiginous, but fluid trajectories. Although the story is epic in its implications, the film is composed primarily of extreme close-ups, especially of Joan and her principal interrogator, Bishop Cauchon, and medium shots of small groups, often shot from low angles. Dreyer and Maté shot their cast in bright light, without makeup, giving each wrinkle, blemish, or tuft of hair sculptural detail.

For all its visual invention, however, Dreyer's film is most devastating in its central performance by Falconetti (née Renee Falconetti), a French stage actress who made her only screen appearance here--one critic Pauline Kael has suggested "may be the finest performance ever recorded on film." Through Falconetti, Joan's spiritual devotion, simple dignity, and suffering become utterly real; even without a dialogue track and only sparse inter-titles, the film achieves a fevered eloquence.

This meticulous restoration also includes composer Richard Einhorn's beautiful oratorio, Voices of Light, inspired by Dreyer's film and set to texts by women mystics from medieval and early-Renaissance Europe. A luminous work on its own, Einhorn's oratorio matches both the dramatic arcs and tremulous emotions of Dreyer's film, while its juxtaposition of choral and solo voices (with early-music vocal quartet Anonymous 4 evoking Joan herself) echoes the martyr's confrontation with the court. --Sam Sutherland

Description

With its stunning camerawork and striking compositions, Carl Th. Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc convinced the world that movies could be art. Renée Falconetti gives one of the greatest performances ever recorded on film, as the young maiden who died for God and France. Long thought to have been lost to fire, the original version was miraculously found in perfect condition in 1981-in a Norwegian mental institution. Criterion is proud to present this milestone of silent cinema in a new special edition featuring composer Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light, an original opera/oratorio inspired by the film.

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate cinema.......2007-07-04

Dreyer's masterpiece is a work of total commitment. Sheer modernist technique, effacing establishing shots, the exterior world of baubles and parades in favour of the strict claustrophobic logic of people's faces in close up. A film starved of distraction. No backgrounds except for white walls: no original music survives, but none is needed. Watch it silent and be embarrassed at being put face to face with a sense of anguish that has never been equalled in cinema. It's the ultimate film because any more emotion and it would be unbearable: to go "beyond" "The Passion..." would mean the film could never be shown to a civilised audience.

Falconetti "is" Joan Of Arc to an extent that surpasses conventions of actorly involvement in the role: she never acted again on screen because she never acted in the first place.

If great art can be defined simply as that which demands total emotional involvement from its audience, Dreyer's "Passion" is the greatest film of them all.

The Passion of Joan of Arc.......2007-06-20

Dreyer's sensational, groundbreaking depiction of the trial of 15th-century Christian martyr St. Joan of Arc was one of the first on-screen realizations of the principle that film is "the seventh art." Though Dreyer's print was lost for 50 years, its eventual recovery and restoration guaranteed that others would finally be able to appreciate its sublimely expressionistic qualities. Mobile camerawork, unconventional angles, and inspired direction of the entire cast are its legacy, as are hauntingly scrutinous close-ups of Falconetti's noble visage. Suffering never looked this good.

The passion of Joan of Arc - The face of Renee Maria Falconetti.......2007-04-16

"The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928) by Carl Theodor Dreyer is simply one of the greatest films ever - silent or no silent and what considered by many critics, the greatest performance by any actress on the screen. Renee Maria Falconetti, a French stage performer, was persuaded by Dreyer to play the Maid of Orleans even though she had no film experience. From her very first shot, we can understand what a visionary Dreyer was. The director asked the actress to crop her hair and to strip her face of any makeup. Filmed mostly in close-up, the agonized face of Falconetti's Jean, free of all cosmetic artifice, appears more moving and human, and expresses so many emotions that it literally stays in a viewer's soul.

A German designer Herman Warm ("The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and "The Tree Lights") constructed the austere sets for the film; the photography of Rudolph Mater also contributed to the films universal power. The composer Richard Einhorn wrote in 1989 the composition "Voices of Light" which is included in DVD that I saw and effectively enhances Dreyer's impressive images. With all that said, I couldn't help quoting Ingmar Bergman who said once, "The human face is the great subject of the cinema. Everything is there". Faces tell the tale of the Maid of Orleans in this movie, and above all, one unforgettable face - that of Renee Falconetti in her only film appearance

Passionate Silent Film.......2007-03-31

'The Passion of Joan of Arc' differs from expectations of a silent film. Not having any reading material, I am going out on a limb and say it was innovative for its time. Maria Falconetti plays Joan with intensity, conveying courage, fear, and fragileness with expertise througout. The Inquisition are presented as smug and patronizing, making the drama even more realistic. Director Carl Theodor Dreyer skillfully interweves shots that broaden the film, and his attention to details is ground breaking. The close ups and editing are of the caliber that today we take for granted. The pace of the frames flows along like real life, unlike, say Charlie Chaplin's silent films do. Presenting a trial and the burning at the stake that never seem fake, 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' is a real triumph. Even as a silent film, the facial expressions say more than words. The film, which like Joan herself, was thought to be lost in a fire, has been resurrected for the benefit of all.

GREAT !!!!!.......2007-03-27

This is so very good that I am speechless. Yes, it is really that good !!! Run, do not walk, to obtain a copy.

Average customer rating:

A Fantastic Movie
a 35 year old swede plays an insipid little 17 year old frenchie: quelle masterpiece!
A Classic Joan
inspiring!
The Maid who was sent from Heaven to support her failing France...

Joan of Arc
Starring: Ingrid Bergman , Francis L. Sullivan , J. Carrol Naish , Ward Bond , and Shepperd Strudwick
Director: Victor Fleming
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001UZWMU
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Product Description

Academy Award-winner Ingrid Bergman (Casablanca) is spellbinding as the 15th century French peasant girl who rouses a nation and inspires the world with her faith and bravery. Fiercely believing that she is directed by God, Joan triumphantly leads an army into battle against the British, who are driven from France. When a new king (Jose Ferrer in a extraordinary film debut) is crowned, Joan's influence grows and makes him wary of her power, ultimately betraying her to martyrdom. This powerful, visually stunning epic of one of history's most fascinating heroines features spectacular action and unforgettable drama! Completely restored, original full-length version with footage not seen in the U.S.,from Victor Fleming, Director of Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Winner of three Academy Awards©: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Honorary Award to producer Walter Wanger with Five additional Academy Award©: nominations: Best Actress (Ingrid Bergman), Best Supporting Actor (Jose Ferrer), Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Score.

System Requirements:

Running Time 146 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The lavish 1948 production of Joan of Arc may not qualify as a great movie, but it scores a triumphant victory as a great DVD. Thanks to a stunning restoration by the renowned UCLA Film and Television Archive, this relic from Hollywood's golden age can now be appreciated in all its magnificent Technicolor glory, restored to its original theatrical length of 145 minutes after decades of truncated TV broadcasts. Under the direction of Victor Fleming (whose credits include Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz), this is a stodgily respectable mini-epic, adapted from Maxwell Anderson's acclaimed play Joan of Lorraine and giving 33-year-old Ingrid Bergman one of her quirkiest star turns as the 19-year-old "Maid of Lorraine," destined by divinely inspired fate to rescue imperiled France from British occupation, and face trial on charges of witchcraft. Winner of three Oscars (for cinematography and costumes, and an honorary award to Producer Walter Wanger for boosting Hollywood's "moral stature") and five nominations (including acting nods for Bergman and José Ferrer, making his screen debut as the French Dauphin), the film suffers from an abundance of talky exposition and stage-bound incident, but the battle scenes are still rousing, Bergman glowing beatifically in polished armor and surrounded by a seasoned cast of studio-era character players in a rampant case of Hollywood anachronism (somehow, Ward Bond just doesn't belong in medieval France!). If you get bored during the slow parts, you can always marvel at the pristine restoration, full of heavenly sunbeams, masterful matte paintings, and enough colorful detail to make most 1948-vintage films pale by comparison. Frame by gorgeous frame, martyrdom never had a classier showcase. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Fantastic Movie.......2007-05-27

Wow! This movie is truely awesome. A movie this good needs to be experienced more than once, and so will remain in my collection. Saint Joan of Arc, a "Child of God," who made no mistakes, save only one, which she was forgiven for. This is truely a heavy movie about a woman of great faith and love for God. Enough said. Take care and have a nice forever.
Ed.

a 35 year old swede plays an insipid little 17 year old frenchie: quelle masterpiece!.......2007-05-12

ingrid bergman was way too old and way too pretty for this part, but they figured they had a smash hit, i guess. the tale of the late medieval schizophrenic girl who somehow won a couple of battles (amazing what group psychosis can do, isnt it?) is told here in full pomp and splendor, but everything -- even jose ferrer in the seemingly unmessable up part of the dauphin -- falls flat. the most overrated woman in history seems to get bad movies made about her life regularly, and while this isnt as abominable as jean seberg & otto "premature" violating bernard shaw a decade later, its pretty bad.

A Classic Joan.......2007-03-08

This is the first version of Joan of Arc I viewed as a young girl. It is well done for the time period. Ingrid Bergman is fantastic as usual. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

inspiring!.......2007-01-26

I love this movie. The difference you can make when your called by God to make it, even if you think your a nobody! This old classic is better then all the remakes.

The Maid who was sent from Heaven to support her failing France..........2007-01-03

We are in 1429, period of the "Hundred Years War" between France and England... The story follows the well-known outlines of the short life of the 15th century French saint, Joan of Arc...

Guided by divine Voices, the visionary daughter of a plowman, Joan (Ingrid Bergman), wearing men's clothes, leaves Domremy her village town in Lorraine and takes her long journey to Chinon to meet the Dauphin Charles VII (Jose Ferrer).

Inspired by God to free France from the ravages of the invading English, the peasant girl persuades the indecisive Dauphin to recruit an army and run out the ruthless invaders clearing the way for him to be crown King of France...

Joan leads the French Army to victory over the English forces at Orleans and stands proudly besides her king - as she promised - at his coronation in Rheims' Cathedral...

The Maid's followers believed that she came from God and the Burgundians and English were stricken with fear at her success... But Charles was tricky, ambition and deceitful in his goals... A counterplot was at work as a mean truce is suddenly signed with England, frustrating Joan's zeal to rid France of the enemy...

In an ironic twist of fate, the Maid of Lorraine becomes a political prisoner... She is closely guarded and kept in irons, and is tried as a witch by an English-dominated church court...

With no council to aid her, except her Voices, we see the intrigued illiterate girl, pitted against Bishop Pierre Cauchon (Francis L. Sullivan) trained in all the complexities of legal exhausting questioning...

We may ask ourselves how so many ideas and intuitions are to be found in a person so simple as she was saintly... Joan is, above all things else, the wisdom of a good people... She is the people of France, the plain people of the countryside of Lorraine which is sweet and clean through the courage and faith of the people as much as through the smell of woods and orchards...

Ingrid Bergman portrays with deep conviction her role as the delicate innocent virgin who raised the spirit of the French to hope for better times... She curbed savage England and stopped the spoiling and burning of France... Bergman's smiling face invoked spiritual revelation, the required light of a charismatic true heroine...

Average customer rating:

Absolute Garbage
Absolute Waste Of Film
Poor, heavily-edited DVD is a joke, see it uncut PLEASE!
a waist of money
BRING BACK BOBBY GUCCIONE!

Caligula - La Storia Mai Raccontata
Starring: David Brandon (II) , Laura Gemser , Oliver Finch , Charles Borromel , and Fabiola Toledo
Director: Joe D'Amato
Manufacturer: Intermedia Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Customer Reviews:

Absolute Garbage.......2003-10-12

Save your money,your time and your sanity!This movie is a waste of all of the above.

Absolute Waste Of Film.......2003-10-12

Poor quality,crap dubbing,totally out of synch.....I shall refrain from using expletives..Save your money!!

Poor, heavily-edited DVD is a joke, see it uncut PLEASE!.......2002-06-17

My low score is due mainly to the atrocious DVD release, not the film itself. Why does this DVD bite? Let me count the ways...
1.) Not widescreen
2.) Edited to pieces! The original was much more gory and had several HARDCORE ... scenes.
3.) Poor picture and sound.
The film itself isn't a classic by any means, but this release makes matters worse. Try to get a hold of an uncut version (available from many cult video dealers) and judge the film that way. Even the amazing Laura Gemser couldn't save this mess of a DVD, but I gave it one star just because she's in it. :)

a waist of money.......2001-10-09

having watched the original film before, i was shocked with all the cuts they have made to this movie. all the good sex has been slashed, don`t waist your money buying this movie.

BRING BACK BOBBY GUCCIONE!.......2001-05-16

This film takes a lot of its' substance from Tinto Brass' epic 'Caligula' (1980) but is rather more gratuitous and lacks the stylishness of Donati's set-design which for me makes the latter beautiful to look at. I know that now. Malcolm MacDowell played the emperor consumately and its hard to imagine Martine Stephano or Bruce Willis playing Caligula with such sangfroid. This is another auteur offering that attempts to be 'historicaloso' but has more in common with that horrible stream of cak that comes from America & that degenerate English ex-colony Hong Kong. If you are a fan of Joe D'Amato you will appreciate it on a better level; being a Tinto Brass fan I'm biased toward the first attempt to make a film about Caligula. Incidentally, he was no worse than Nero or Domitian. Domitian was as sadistic as the others and would laugh hysterically at the executions of his enemies, while making their families watch. If the families did'nt join in the laughter, he had them branded with hot irons and made them laugh as they were being tortured. If they screamed he'd have them killed. ...Julius Caesar was a cross-dresser with a love of wine ... It was thus common in these times for the ruling elite to act like raving [people]; as they do now. A terrible film about a terrible topic.

Joan of Arc - Child of War, Soldier of God

Average customer rating:

Secularized story just doesn't cut it - skip this one
Documentary of Joan of Arc
The Warrior and Saint
Joan of Arc: Peasant Girl, Child of War, Soldier of God

Joan of Arc - Child of War, Soldier of God

Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Joan of Arc
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Joan the Maid - The Battles / The Prisons
Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses

ASIN: B000EU1OXI
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Description

Joan Of Arc: Child Of War, Soldier Of God An illiterate peasant girl, Jeanne d'Arc emerged at 17 from an obscure corner of war-torn France, rallied a demoralized army and changed the course of history. Inspired by "her voices," she stunned the English invaders, brought about the coronation of the Dauphin and dazzled even her persecutors with her wit and grace. Now go beyond the image of this legendary heroine and discover a fascinating young woman struggling to achieve her own vision in a brutal and dangerous world. Running Time: Approx. 60 Minutes Color/NTSC/Stereo 05-51626

Customer Reviews:

Secularized story just doesn't cut it - skip this one.......2007-05-16

As a St. Jeanne d'Arc devotee, I was please to see a new dvd with positive reviews; one even claiming this was the best movie on St. Joan out there. WRONG!!!! I rated this documentary with two stars instead of one because it does cover many actual events in her life. Unfortunately, it does so from an entirely secular and skeptical point of view. No credit is given to God or the Faith; only to Jeanne herself and how her personal beliefs motivated her. Not THE Truth, but her own personal beliefs. It is quick to point out the miraculous nature of many events in her life, but portrays them as extraordinary human events, with certainly no credit to anything divine. Yeah right. Like a 16 year old peasant girl in male-ruled Europe just happened to get on a horse and lead her country to victory after victory. Nope, nothing special there! Anyway, another disturbing aspect of the documentary is several of the "experts" exhibit their own biases and beliefs when they interpret Joan's own words for themselves. For example, they claimed that Joan's visions were not actually Saints; she simply said they were later on during her trial to avoid persecution. Poppycock!

So skip this biased film. It isn't worth the money, and it certainly is not worthy of the Saint herself.

Documentary of Joan of Arc.......2007-03-08

Interesting documentary of Joan's life. It is very much like the Movie by LeeLee Sobieski. For those interested in the subject, it is a comfortable viewing and informational.

The Warrior and Saint.......2006-08-19

Based on the actual testimony of Jeanne d'Arc, this marvelous film is part re-enactment and part documentary, combining quality acting and cinematography, and interviews with people like Siobhan Nash-Marshall, author of "Joan of Arc: A Spiritual Biography," and Kelly DeVries, author of "Joan of Arc: A military Leader." It also shows paintings from the era, and the resemblance of the actors to some of the artwork, especially Michal Havelka, who plays the Dauphin Charles, is remarkable. Lucie Vondrackova's portrayal of Joan is moving and believable, and Tomas Karger is excellent as Alencon. Anna Paquin does the voice over as Joan, and Alfred Molina pulls the story together with his narration.

Producer/director Pamela Mason Wagner has brought the many dimensions of this account into a cohesive one-hour docudrama, which was presented by Faith and Values Media for the Hallmark Channel, and filmed in France and the Czech Republic. If you know nothing about Joan of Arc, you will learn a lot, and if you are familiar with the life of this incredible saint, whose strength was her submission to God's will, you will appreciate how well her story has been told.

Joan was only 13 when she started to hear voices guide her, and 17 when she became a warrior for France. This illiterate teenager led an army, stood her ground against Bishop Cauchon's difficult questions for weeks, and changed history. In a closing statement, the narrator states "Joan's story is an inspiration to anyone who believes in following your Voice, even if it consumes you."

The DVD Special Features include a biography, timeline, and "Important People and Events," but you need a PC capable of playing DVD-ROM to access them, which I do not have, so cannot comment on them.

Also highly recommended for further viewing is Carl Dreyer's silent masterpiece "The Passion of Joan of Arc."

Joan of Arc: Peasant Girl, Child of War, Soldier of God.......2006-06-14

I'm a major fan of Joan of Arc or as she was once called Jeanne d' Arc. Jeanne was a mere peasant girl who lived in War torn France; but at age 17, she rallied a demoralized nation and changed the course of history forever. There have been many excellent movies and plays about the life of Jeanne; but, in my opinion, this one is the best. It is based upon Jeanne's writing and also upon the historical records of the time. It doesn't take the liberties that many other presentations have in the past.

This presentation stars Lucie Vondrackova as Jeanne and she does a masterful job at capturing this historical heroine's quest to stop the English invaders, coronate the Dauphin, and save France from invaders; while helping the viewer to discover a fascinating, idealistic and innocent young woman. One of my favorite actors, Alfred Molina, provides the historical narration for this 56 minute presentation; while Anna Paquin gives provides Jeanne's voice.

Inspired by "her voices", young Jeanne struggles to achieve her own vision in a brutal and dangerous world. Many scholars offer their insights about this young woman's quest. I highly recommend this movie.

Average customer rating:

The Most Fantastic Joan of Arc Ever Made!
I prefer...
The Maid of Lorraine
An Emotional Journey
Incredible cast - Excellent script - A very powerful and wonderful film!

Joan of Arc
Starring: Leelee Sobieski , Jacqueline Bisset , Powers Boothe , Neil Patrick Harris , and Maury Chaykin
Director: Christian Duguay
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc - Child of War, Soldier of God
Joan of Arc
Francis of Assisi

ASIN: B00000JS6F
Release Date: 2001-02-20

Amazon.com essential video

The 140-minute feature follows Joan D'Arc's odyssey from peasant obscurity to notoriety as the "Maid of Orleans," spiritual fulcrum for the beleaguered French forces struggling to halt English invaders. As played by Leelee Sobieski (Eyes Wide Shut), her evolution from naive farm girl to seasoned soldier is convincing, as is her gradual awakening to the underlying agendas of church and state. Most critically, Sobieski radiates the young girl's fervent spiritual devotion.

Customer Reviews:

The Most Fantastic Joan of Arc Ever Made!.......2007-03-08

I prefer..........2007-03-01

This movie was ok. I do prefer The Messenger starring Milla Jovovich. Milla is exceptional in that version.

The Maid of Lorraine.......2007-01-14

An Emotional Journey.......2006-12-29

Incredible cast - Excellent script - A very powerful and wonderful film!.......2006-09-01

Trial of Joan of Arc (Procès de Jeanne d'Arc) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Australia ]

Average customer rating:

Trial of Joan of Arc (Procès de Jeanne d'Arc) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Australia ]
Director: Robert Bresson
Manufacturer: Accent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Mouchette - Criterion Collection
Lancelot of the Lake
Muriel
Pickpocket - Criterion Collection
Notes on the Cinematographer (Sun and Moon Classics)

ASIN: B000HKH0WY

Product Description

Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN (1.66:1), SYNOPSIS: Characteristically breaking with tradition, director Robert Bresson presents a realistic, unique view of the life and death of Joan of Arc. Using a script based on the actual transcript notes taken during her trial, Bresson focuses on the psychological and physical torture that Joan had to endure, showing how these techniques were used to break her resolve and cause her to eventually recant her faith. With impeccable historical accuracy Bresson re-creates the story of the peasant girl who, after leading an unsuccessful revolt against the government, was brought to trial, convicted of heresy, and burned as a witch. However, Bresson shows Joan (Florence Carrez) as a woman more sophisticated and calculating and less naive than she has normally been represented. His Joan, while more real, is no less heroic than the traditional Joan. This unusual approach is characteristic of this unique director who defies classification as either a traditional or "new wave" filmmaker while being highly respected for pursuing his own individual style and vision. Robert Bresson has been called a poet and philosopher with a camera, preoccupied with the idea of predestination and spiritual grace. In Proces de Jeanne d'Arc, as with all of his films, Bresson imprints his own personal signature. The film is tightly constructed and stripped to the bare essence of the material. Bresson has made only a handful of feature films, yet he is one of the most discussed and revered figures in cinema, creative, original and unique. SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Interactive Menu, Featurette, Documentary, Cast/Crew Interview(s),

Biography - Joan of Arc: Virgin Warrior (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

Formulaic "A&E Biography"; not as good as earlier version & misleading
A well-made documentary on the remarkable Lady of Orleans

Biography - Joan of Arc: Virgin Warrior (A&E DVD Archives)
Starring: Joan of Arc , and Biography
Manufacturer: A & E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Amazon.com

Joan of Arc's treatment in A&E's Biography, like that of the others in the "Legendary Women" series, is true to the formula that works so well: lush photography of medieval and later historical images, intelligent and provocative interviews with leading scholars, and just a touch of dramatization to enliven the film and make it accessible to both the adult history buff and the junior high school student.

Jeanne d'Arc, known in English as Joan, lived just before the dawn of the Renaissance in France. England and France had been engaged in the Hundred Years War--a war the English were slowly winning. Crown Prince Charles, whose father had abdicated the throne in favor of the British monarch, was living a secluded life at Chinon in the Loire Valley, far away from the travails of occupied Paris. Visited one day by the peasant girl Joan--who was being guided by angelic voices toward the restoration of France--Charles was somehow convinced to let the 19-year-old girl in men's clothing lead an army in his name. Much to everyone's surprise, the girl won dozens of battles and soon made it possible for Charles to be crowned king of France at Reims. Later caught by the English, Joan was held as a prisoner suspected of witchcraft for a year before she was finally put to death at the stake.

Joan's legend lived on, much as the angels' voices told her it would, but she was not beatified by the Roman Catholic Church until 1920. This thoroughly researched, well-written, and visually exciting historical Biography documents not only her life per se, but also includes input from various scholars and writers about the nature of Joan's supernatural experience, from Freudian to Christian analysis. --Erik J. Macki

Customer Reviews:

Formulaic "A&E Biography"; not as good as earlier version & misleading.......2005-06-23

I was disappointed when I viewed this disc. I'd been expecting a nice DVD copy of the A&E Biography episode on Joan of Arc aired in the mid-1990s (my TV taping is from 1994 and is fading rapidly). That was a British-produced film that A&E obviously bought the rights to, slapped their usual intro over, and broadcast under their "Biography" aegis. It was better assembled, more wide-ranging in its scope, more honest, and vastly more engrossing than this tedious new program (copyright 1997). "Virgin Warrior" falls into the usual contemporary American documentary formula of being static and lifeless and more than a little dishonest. It relies heavily on panning over medieval (or later) illustrations -- often having little to do with this period or the events described by the narrator -- a few cheap and poorly photographed reenactors, the usual academic talking heads in full pontificating mode (although to her credit Dr. Bonnie Wheeler does come across as informed and enthusiastic), and a lot of generic travelogue footage taken of entirely different locations than what is ostensibly being discussed! I have been to many of the places in France associated with Joan's career and I can tell when what I'm being shown is the genuine location and when it's not, and in this program, we are very rarely shown the actual sites Joan visited.

There are numerous errors of fact in the narrative as well, plus some puzzling mispronunciation of French names and places. But the main sin of this documentary, in my view, is the crime of taking one of the most lively women in history and making her story dull as dishwater. I don't think the viewer will gain much of a picture of this remarkable French saint from this program, and I recommend seeking out the earlier Biography film (if it is available anywhere), a different documentary altogether, or even watching some of the better and more truthful movies made about the Maid of Orleans: Ingrid Bergman's newly restored "Joan of Arc" and Sandrine Bonnaire's "Jeanne la Pucelle" are the most valuable in this respect, and even Leelee Sobieski's "Joan of Arc" (full length version) has its moments.

A well-made documentary on the remarkable Lady of Orleans.......2004-06-27

As far as I'm concerned, Joan of Arc is the most fascinating woman to ever live - or I should say young lady, since - in a travesty of justice and a striking show of cowardice on the part of the man she basically crowned the king of a newly restored France two years earlier - she was burned at the stake as a heretic at the age of 19. Twenty-four years later, her conviction was overturned by the Church, then in 1920 she was officially canonized; for centuries now, she has been looked upon as a national hero among the French people and a source of inspiration to innumerable admirers. Ironically, the farce of her trial provides us with much historical documentation we would not otherwise have, and the manner in which she handled herself during her days of captivity served only to reinforce and perpetuate the fascination and admiration she continues to draw worldwide. As usual, A&E Biography produced an impressive documentary of the young girl's remarkable life, telling her story against a backdrop of mediaeval works of art and alongside the insightful observations of several Joan of Arc scholars. The true source of her visions and extraordinary abilities will never be known, nor will the debate of those issues ever end. Heretic or martyr? Witch or wise beyond her years? Sent by God or by Satan? These questions and others like them will keep Joan of Arc in the public heart and mind for as long as men and women exist on this planet.

Joan of Arc's story is almost impossible to believe. Keep in mind that France was facing an ultimate defeat at the hands of the English as The Hundred Years' War drew to a close. Joan grew up in northern France, in one of only a few villages still faithful to the French king (it should come as no surprise, since we are talking about France here, that large numbers of the population of northern France were collaborating with the enemy at this time). Here was Joan of Arc, a teenaged female peasant, illiterate and ignorant of military strategy, leaving home at the age of 17 in response to angelic voices she had first heard four years earlier, traveling across two hundred miles of enemy territory to reach the Dauphin, and within two years saving her nation from complete military defeat and restoring the crown price of France to the throne. This was the early 15th century, mind you - women, especially young girls, would never dream of cutting their hair, dressing in man's clothing and armor, and riding off to war with an army of men, and no one really cared what a peasant thought in the first place. Somehow, though, Joan of Arc convinced the future king to give her an army, and she led her troops in battle dressed in the full armor of a king's soldier. She claimed her authority came from God Himself, that He communicated with her in mysterious voices and instructed her to do all these impossible things - and she delivered what she promised. Can you imagine what the English troops based in the fortress of Orleans thought when they received an ultimatum from this seventeen-year-old girl to withdraw their forces? Many of them did not live to regret their dismissal of her demands.

Having fulfilled her promises to save the nation and restore the French monarchy, Joan's young life quickly took a series of dramatically tragic turns. Certain elements of the king's court stirred up trouble for her out of jealousy, she herself became more demanding and forceful, and eventually her military campaigns began to meet with disaster rather than glorious victory over the odds. Many began to surmise that she had fallen out of favor with the Deity - or if luck and determination rather than heavenly assistance had led to her early successes. Attempts to retake Paris by force, a move the king was always reluctant to follow, were failures, and on the third such mission Joan of Arc was captured. The video gives the impression she was captured by the English, but actually she was captured by Burgundian collaborators and then sold to their English allies. She languished in prison for more than a year, defended herself nobly and admirably at her "trial," and faced the most awful of deaths with courage and unnatural calm. She did, after a solid year of imprisonment and torture, sign a confession to the effect that her voices never came from God and that she was, in essence, a heretic, but she soon recanted these claims. There is no written record of what took place during the three days between her "confession" and her disavowal of that confession and swift execution. Almost surely, as the video suggests, she was raped during that time, a horrible enough event in its own right, but sickeningly appalling for someone who had dedicated her mind and body to the work of God and drew sustenance from her cherished virginity.

Product Description

VERY RARE

Customer Reviews:

Passionate Silent Film.......2007-03-26

Excellent restoration.......2007-02-11

This 1928 movie is the best work on the life of Joan of Arc in my opinion, much better than later films.
The above official restored imported version that I watched is perfect, with Dolby stereo sound, full-screen 4:3 format and English subtitles.

It treats the highly dramatic events in a restrained way, which only makes them more dramatic. Maria Falconetti's Joan is absolutely searing in her youth and idealism.

A great movie.......2005-07-27

I saw this on cable last Oct. it is a truly great movie.

I think that this is the best movie on the life of Joan of Arc ever made.

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