The movie picks up Joan's story when she is a pre-teen and witnessed the rape and murder of her older sister at the hands of English invaders (shown in disturbingly graphic fashion). However, that violent act actually strengthens her belief in God and her resolve to help her country repel English forces.

Flash forward a few years, by which time Joan has become an underground legend of sorts. The charismatic teen offers to aid the Dauphin, Charles VII (John Malkovich), become the rightful leader of France — if only he'll give her an army.

To the surprise of those in his court, Charles agrees to do just that. And what's more, she leads his army to victory at Orleans, ending the long English occupation of that village.

But as her legend grows, so does her support and her resolve. Though she wearies of bloodshed, Joan continues to fight and even begins losing some of the battles. Unbeknownst to her, the newly crowned Charles is pushing for a "diplomatic" solution to the warfare, and Joan is becoming an obstacle.

Besson, who co-wrote the script with Andrew Birkin, plays fast and loose with "historical" fact, as intrigue takes a backseat to bloody battle re-creations. (A clumsy scroll of explanatory information, written in hard-to-read Old English typeface, doesn't help).

Ditto the film's over-the-top performances. Jovovich makes the title character a cipher, while conflicting accents sported by her fellow castmates (including Malkovich, Vincent Cassel and Dustin Hoffman) are simply ludicrous.

"The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc" is rated R for violent, gruesome warfare (sword battles and arrow fire), considerable gore, profanity, simulated rape and use of some crude slang.