Plot: What’s it about?
Like so many other stories in Hollywood, this one has been told time and time again. And until I watched “The Messenger” my closest association with the legendary “Joan of Arc” was one of the group of historical figures that traveled with Bill and Ted (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure). Of couse, there is much more to Joan or Arc than doing jumping jacks at a mall! It’s also noteworthy that this film is directed by none other than Luc Besson. I personally love his work. He has a “vision” and is one of the best at putting it directly onto film, so if you haven’t seen such visually moving films like “La Femme Nikita”, “The Professional” or “The Fifth Element” check at least one of those out, as you’re missing out on some great films. It seems that a common theme in his films is to focus on the “underdog”, someone who must overcome impossible odds to accomplish their goal, is this true in The Messenger as well?
Giving a bit of history to Joan of Arc (Jeanne D’Arc) the film starts in her childhood where she is a mere peasant girl, fleeing soldiers. She travels home where she finds her sister in a hiding place. In what is probably the most gruesome scene of the film, her sister gives up her safety and is found by the soldiers; then killed and raped. Joan is beside herself with guilt and despair and travels to the local church seeking a rational explanation for what has just transpired. Joan is a devout Catholic, she goes to Mass three or four times a day, enough to make even the priests annoyed, but her explanation is that maybe God has another higher purpose for her. We then travel ahead and meet the soon to be King, Charles VII (John Malkovich) who has been receiving strange, cryptic letters from a peasant girl who wants a meeting with him. Not knowing what to do, he begrudgingly accepts the invitation, only to try and trick her by replacing himself with one of his noble aides. His logic is that if she truly is from God, she will know the true King, and if she is an assassin, then she will kill the wrong person. Unusual logic, but it made sense back in the Middle Ages during wartime, I’m sure.
Video: How does it look?
Jennifer 8 is presented in an anamorphic 1.85:1 image that looks great, but has some setbacks. The movie is very dark, and not just in subject matter (though it’s dark there as well). There are some scenes that look almost too dark, and I’ve seen some other sites comment on this as well. I saw the movie in theaters so long ago, I’m not sure if that was the director’s intent of not. Considering that the film is enhanced for 16:9 TV’s, that means a new digital transfer was done for the DVD, so you have to assume that this is the closest thing to what was meant to be seen. Still, all the rest of the video is amazing and it’s another, in what is fastly becoming, my favorite studio for DVD’s.
Audio: How does it sound?
A remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 track is used and there is also an option for a Dolby Surround track as well. The sound is very, very good. The opening scene with the rain sounds great and the directional effects throughout the movie are very well placed and do the job. For a soundtrack that’s 8 years old, this one sounds pretty darn good.
Supplements: What are the extras?
There is a theatrical trailer included.
