YMMV / The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Done intentionally. Jeanne could be a mentally ill girl driven over the edge by her sister's death, wanting to seek revenge. She could be just getting revenge by proxy on the English for her sister's murder. Or she could be genuinely interested in being a Messiah, but not realising what she's gotten herself into. Or she could really be receiving visions from God.
• Broken Base: Milla Jovovich's performance. Half the base finds her too hammy and over-the-top. The other half believes she did a good job, since she was portraying a Broken Bird, not a Lady of War.
• Ethnic Scrappy: All the English soldiers are portrayed as sadistic foul-mouthed monsters. An English soldier murders Jeanne's sister and then rapes her (which is an invention of the film - Jeanne's village was attacked by Burgundian soldiers, and her sister, like the rest of the family, had fled before the soldiers arrived), a recurring English soldier calls for Jeanne's torture and is seen laughing maniacally as she's burnt. They all have the bad teeth associated with British stereotypes.
• Fridge Brilliance: Jeanne's presentation in France was that of a savior, while in England it shifts to an insane woman - which generally matches the public perception of her in those respective countries.
• Narm: Some of Jeanne's rants and tantrums are just very random. Particularly when she first arrives at Orleans and she throws a hissy fit because "none of you will LISTEN TO ME!!!!"
• Nightmare Fuel:
  • The murder and rape (...In That Order) of Jeanne's sister. What's arguably scarier is the effect it has on the girl afterwards. The sweet little girl we just met is gone completely, to be replaced by...well, we're not sure.
  • The scene after the battle of Orleans. It's this in-universe too; Jeanne is initially caught up in the thrill of battle...and then she sees the bodies everywhere. She is horrified at what she's just taken part in.
  • Jeanne being burned. Rather than facing death with grace and dignity, it's horrifying.
  • Some of Jeanne's visions qualify, particularly those focusing on the older Christ. There's just something...off about how he looks. And that's before he starts screaming at Jeanne while bleeding from his forehead.
• Questionable Casting: Supermodel Milla Jovovich as Joan of Arc? Many people accused Luc Besson of casting her just because she was his wife at the time.
• Signature Scene: The "sword in the field explanation" scene, in which Jean's own Conscience questions the validity of her visions and claims to be God's messenger. Despite the obvious Mood Whiplash, it's easily the most recognisable scene of the whole movie, also standing out among other films about Joan d'Arc.
• Tear Jerker: At the end, as the clergy reads out her crimes, Jeanne quietly begs to God to not leave her and asks him if this is what he wants.
  Jeanne: [quietly, trying to not choke on her words] Where are you? Please... I-is this what you want? Is this what you want? You want me t-to burn... w-without being confessed?

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