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The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, a review by addicted2dvd

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
The year is 1429. France is in political and religious turmoil as members of the royal family battle for rule. But one peasant girl from a remote village gave her country the miracle it was waiting for. Milla Jovovich ('The Fifth Element', 'Dazed and Confused') is Joan of Arc, a young woman who would inspire and lead her countrymen until her execution at the age of nineteen. Raised in a religious family, Joan witnessed her sister's rape and death at the hands of an invading army. Years later, as the same war raged on, Joan stood before her king with a message she claimed came from God: give her an army, and in God's name she would reclaim his diminished kingdom.

But was the message real, or the delusion of a girl whose life had been shattered? This startling epic drama by Luc Besson ('The Fifth Element') explores the life of Joan of Arc, her amazing victories, relationship with God, and tragic death. Co-starring John Malkovich and Academy Award® winners Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway, 'THE MESSENGER' is a modern take on a medieval saint who enthralls people even today.

My Thoughts:
This was a complete bind buy for me... as before I ordered it I never even seen the trailer for this movie. But I have always liked the story of Joan of Arc. I also been a fan of Milla Jovovich for a while now... who stars in the title role. Thinking back this may be the first movie on Joan of Arc that I ever seen... at least as far as I can remember. Because of that... I can not compare this movie to any other... but I can say I enjoyed every minute of it. This movie clocks in at 2hrs. and 38min. but I enjoyed it so much it felt like a fraction of that time. I feel this movie was definitely worth the $5 I paid for it.

Rating:

NOTE TO JON:
Hey Jon... let me say if for you! Watching this movie I got to see plenty of blood... arms and legs getting cut off... and more then one beheading! With a movie like this... who needs horror! 

(From Movie Marathon: 8/14 - 8/17 on August 16th, 2008)

Love Actually, a review by Danae Cassandra

Love Actually

Multiple different stories about love intersect around the Christmas season: people discovering love, sacrificing for love, holding love in, letting love out, being thrilled by love, being devastated by love. 

First off, thanks to Sam for recommending this one, I enjoyed it a lot.  I thought it was mostly very well done, with an appropriate mixture of realism and fantasy, as well as joy and pain.  I enjoyed all of the characters and their stories - except the farce that was Colin's story.  Those sequences could have been cut and there would have been no loss. 

However, the rest of the film more than makes up for those parts.  I love Alan Rickman, and he makes his character somewhat sympathetic even when you don't want to sympathize with him.  I loved Bill Nighy's parody of an aging rock star, and the relationship between Daniel (Liam Neeson) and his stepson. 

Yes, some of the stories are stronger than others, and it doesn't delve into any real depth (but if you expect that in a rom-com, I don't know what to tell you), but I thought it was a decent, enjoyable film

Overall: 3/5

(From Yuletide 2011 on December 27th, 2011)

Veronica Mars Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

13. Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough
When all of the proceeds for the senior class trip disappear while in her possession during the Neptune High Winter Carnival, Veronica must identify the clever thief among them and surprisingly finds herself defending Jackie as accusations fly.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good episode... I enjoyed it a lot! Of course I knew what happen when I watched it this time... but I do remember the mystery on this episode kept me guessing all the way through it when it originally aired. I would have to say this is one of my favorites of the season... if not the series.

14. Versatile Toppings
Neptune High's closeted gay teens, including cheerleader Kylie (guest star Kristin Cavallari), turn to Veronica for help when a blackmailer cracks into a private online bulletin board and threatens to publicly out everyone associated with the site unless they pay $5,000 apiece.

My Thoughts:
This was a good episode... had a decent single episode mystery.... but what I really enjoyed on this episode was how far they went on the season long mystery.

15. The Quick and the Wed
Wallace's new girlfriend Jane enlists Veronica's help when her older sister Heidi appears to be a "runaway bride," but the clues suggest something possibly more disturbing happened on the way to the altar.

My Thoughts:
This was a decent episode... though nothing really special about it. I found the single episode mystery only mildly entertaining.

16. The Rapes of Graff
While checking out Hearst College with Wallace, Veronica is stunned to run into her shady ex-boyfriend Troy Vandergraff during the tour, but the real surprise comes when Troy gets accused of date rape on campus and calls Veronica for help.

My Thoughts:
This episode was really good... had a great single episode mystery which sets up the third season very well... and it also works on the season long mystery quite a lot. Even though it is the third time I saw it... I was still glued to the TV for this episode!

(From Veronica Mars Marathon on August 31st, 2007)