Clevercell Very disappointing...

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Dice_Man Considering that 'The Messenger' was deeply flawed, I took the vast majority of positive comments here to mean I would be in for a treat watching 'Joan of Arc' - particularly as I have a soft spot for Ms. Sobieski.Unfortunately, post-viewing, I feel I must redress the balance on the comments board here because it is plainly not as good as many here are making it out to be. I was hardly impressed by the title at the beginning suggesting we were in the Dark Ages......in 1412. Was Joan of Arc really prophesised by Merlin? Why, after telling us seven years had passed on screen, did JOA tell her priest it had been six? Was she really ennobled? Did her peasant brother really come to fight with her - suddenly acquiring the trappings of knighthood (especially a horse?) and die just as quickly as he had arrived? We know all about the 'voices' - but did they really forewarn her of Charles's treachery? Were there really drinking glasses in 1430? ...And the clincher of course, is how did a 'rescuing' French army get all the way through occupied territory to camp outside the walls of Rouen (to make a charge against stone walls on horseback....which is pretty pointless) without anybody knowing about it?The production was generally good, and some effort had been made on the sets, costumes and armour. The battle scenes were poor, however - never achieving anything approaching realism. When JOA is hit by an English arrow at Orleans, she recovers and rides back to the walls of the Tourelle (where, conveniently, the English foot soldiers have largely disappeared and helpfully left the French ladders against the walls of the Tourelle from the first attack. How kind!)As for the performances, there are far too many lapses into American accents for the characterisations of any except Peter O'Toole and Shirley MacLaine to be truly convincing (though those two stalwarts truly shine when on screen.) Leelee - though I admire her so, is stilted and too uncharismatic in the lead role - a pre-requisite one would think?The script, on the whole, is curiously un-engaging. It feels as if the writers were going through the motions. There is little in the way of memorable quotes.As a piece of television entertainment, it fits the 'passing time' bill only. It is in no way a standout piece of television production, nor should it be treated as such. After watching this, I found myself reappraising 'The Messenger' with slightly more favour.DICE MAN

richtxn What can I say ? Many, many inaccuracies; oh, let's just call it "historical fiction". The basic storyline is complete, just overlook the fictional parts. E.g. : Neither Baudricourt nor the Dauphin ever saw Joan on her first attempt to gain an audience with either of them. I will list all the mistakes I have found, so far, on a 'movie mistake' web site.Leelee does okay, but the best actor is, by far, Peter O'Toole, of course. Certainly, Peter Strauss does very well, as does Neil Patrick Harris.Be sure to buy the CD from a dealer. The rental is cut down and some minor parts are left out.

ihavenoidea wow, this is a really great epic film. i loved the maker's attention to details. it was greatly acted as well. the amazing leelee sobieski did a PERFECT job as joan of arc. i loved it and could watch it over and over again. there are great shots and even better action scenes. leelee did a great job all around. it is a TV movie, too! it just blew me away. the story of the amazing joan of arc truly comes alive in this movie. it's a very inspirational film and its story couldn't have been told any better. the acting, the detail, the action, the backgrounds, the historic representation, even the extras are all excellent. sorry to sound redundant, but this is the best it can get. it is so touching and you will learn things about joan of arc you never knew. it teaches you and gives you so much to take in. GREAT FILM!!

matjag This is a riveting presentation of the life of St. Joan of Arc that will bring tears to the eye and a deep appreciation of the faith of this farm girl from Lorraine, France. From a lowly child that almost didn't get to live past her day of birth to the single-most significant solidifying force of a woefully divided France under a weak King Charles, this emotionally charged, suspenseful film will pull the viewer deeply into the difficult, driven life of this 19 year old heroine who was both executed for heresy and canonized as a saint by the Church. The film is blessed with an excellent cast, fantastic scenery, great directing, and very believable script. The characterization is very round, with Joan herself portrayed as a holy and tortured soul in love with her faith and her Church. This dichotomy of simple faith and torturous self-doubt makes this film so palpable as to render the viewer more as a cast member than as a movie watcher. Beautiful!