I wanted to like this more than I did. I mean, what could go wrong with a prog-rock/heavy metal musical based on the life of pre-Orleans Joan of Arc? More than a few things, actually. The acting was stiff, and the voices were occasionally off-key. But what killed it for me was the choreography, both amateurish and poorly executed, about what you'd expect from a high school production of Hair. The best performance(s) were by twin sisters playing a single role...simultaneously. Now that's innovative! The settings and cinematography were splendid, making it a wonderful film to look at, but not enough for me to recommend.

As much as I love this film, it gets irksome to only hear others talk about its visual beauty, and hardly ever about it being a deeply engaging character study and cautionary tale. Jean-Louis Trintignant’s cold austere performance is frighteningly brilliant. Yes, it’s a cinematic treat for the eye, but what the film tells us about the depths of the human psyche is thought-provoking and just as frightening.

How many movies can you watch with a great fat silly grin on your face throughout?