Rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi violence, some sexuality and brief nudity.
126 Minutes
Written and Directed By: Luc Besson
Staring: Bruce Willis, Ian Holm, Gary Oldman, Chris Tucker, Milla Jovovich, Luke Perry, Brion James, and Tommy “Tiny” Lister
Leeloo: Everything you create, you use to destroy.
Korben Dallas: Yeah, we call it human nature.
Synopsis
In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr Zorg at bay.
Review
Welcome to a world filled with over the top Science Fiction, exaggerated special effects and cartoonish character’s embellished to the max. This is the universe that was created for The Fifth Element. Even with paper thin content, and underdeveloped character’s, this is a film where the melodrama, cinematography, costume design, and special effects saved a movie.
The story involves a planet Earth that has taken a sentient race of aliens on as allies against some impending darkness in the future. The dark prediction jumps three hundred years into the future when these mythical stones, a supposed “Fifth Element” and other ideals past down from priest to priest in the generations comes to light. Somehow the race of aliens is destroyed with only a few cells left alive that are re-integrated into a super human form, the perfect man, except the man is human. Next is a race of strange coincidences that bring unlikely character’s together to save life on earth.
My first viewing of The Fifth Element left me less than impressed. Nearly a decade later I find myself remarkably more impressed than I was with my initial viewing. Perhaps it is my affection for the little known cornball Science Fiction show,Farscape , that made me able to like this over-worked visual extravaganza, but I found myself enjoying it more than not. A lot of the plot is less than challenging and some of the costumes too close to drag and less futuristic, but it was fun and exciting, and never bored you. Some of the jokes were spot on, like the woman soldier with Princess Leia buns. That’s walking a fine line, and one it managed well.
It is actually considerable in length, but it flies by so quickly at moments it seems some of the main character’s have just came on screen. Constant action, and face paced events don’t give the film any time to really reflect who their character’s are or what their motivations are, or even who or what the alpha villain of “evil” in the story is. It’s quickly acknowledged as the opponent, and the good guys are quickly pinned against them, and the superficial battle to save humanity begins.
Because The Fifth Element does focus mostly on visual stimulation, there is no real connection with the characters or the plot itself, so happens is a fun movie that’s all for strictly entertainment and ignores anyunnecessary substance. I found it to be enjoyable, funny at times, and decent action. This isn’t one of the best science fiction movies I’ve ever seen, but it was definitely a pleasurable escapade into a strange universe. The Verdict? Super Sci-Fi action and visuals.
i couldn’t stand this movie. it made no sense, and it’s action wasn’t even that great.
I agree with Brad