This movie has everything a person could possibly want in a fun cinematic experience! Good job, mr. Besson.
This movie will never age. I really appreciate it being remastered to newer video formats. Since its release in 1997, I have watched this movie in VHS, VCD, DVD, Blu-ray and now 4K HDR. It keeps getting visually stunning with every single technology iteration. A true cult classic.
I have no idea why this movie has 80+ rating!! Plus, the genres are all wrong, this NOT a thriller.
Thoroughly entertaining film, with a well-crafted plot and premise, that's unexpectedly funny and action-packed.
Now now..you boys stop having unnatural thoughts about Milla
Talk about love at first sight.
This is one of those movies where if you were lucky enough to see it first-run, you did not really appreciate it at the time.
It holds up very well. And gets better with subsequent viewings (As does MS. Jovovich who went on to do a string of very memorable sci fi flicks, and one drama where, believe it or not, she played an aspiring wedding singer) Massive (truly massive) talent in front of and behind the camera. Luc Besson in front (crazy as a loon but boy can he write scripts) and Willis/Oldman in front.
For the day, the special effects were top notch.
There a joyful innocence about the film which was rare at the time, and even rarer today.
See it once. See it often. It'll make you smile.
I hope the future is like this some day, just looks so much more interesting
The Fifth Element is probably one of those Sci-Fi movies that will never really leave me. No matter how long it has been since the last time I watched it…
I love this, and should really take it off the shelf more often. Maybe even upgrade my copy to 4k. The Fifth Element really is good enough to warrant that.
I remember liking this more than I did on this rewatch. It's fine but we have had better scifi.
I think the only thing that didn't work for me is the relationship development of the 2 main characters. There wasn't even a chemistry. Yeah, they're both good looling, but there's nothing there.. anyway the entirety of the movie, is okay.
Re-visiting Luc Besson's science fiction film, The Fifth Element, from 1997 was a weird experience. I had memories that I loved the film. However, when I queried my brain database all that would return was some vague fragments of the visual style. Watching it again, I can understand why that was all I remembered as that's really the only strengths for me. Visually it is stunning. There are some really neat music choices too. However, the story takes you all over the place and it's ultimately just too silly to be considered a great film. I had fun when I'd turn off my brain and just enjoy the performances and the vision of this future.
The visuals in the beginning are too India-Jones-ish and too Star-Wars-ish. The rest is a unique sci-fi movie. It's perhaps a bit on the crazy or cartoon-ish side, but this make this movie also very unique and watchable. It's different from anything I have ever seen in a Hollywood production. I guess it needed a Frenchman to turn such a crazy idea into a movie.
Willis is great. I can only remember him only in Die Hard that good. He's made for such roles. Essentially parts of this movie are Die Hard in space. (The fifth Element is an action movie disguised as sci-fi while Die Hard is a Christmas movie disguised as an action movie) Jovovich is even better.
Stage design is awesome. It aged very well. It's 25 years and tech in this movie is still as futuristic as it used to be. It's an impossible mix of Star Wars, Robocop, Independence Day, cyberpunk aesthetics and Barbarella.
The soundtrack is great. An eclectic mix of electronic music, opera and even some rai and reggae.
My highlight of this production is Jean Paul Gaultier. His costume design is just incredible. It's like watching a runway show of his.
The story is not good. It's not complex. There's no morale or philosophical core often related to Sci-Fi stories. It's not even coherent or w/o plot holes. Even the love story ain't credible (other than the fact that Milla is gorgeous). You better not watch this movie for the story. It's all about the visuals. This is why the movie can't be better than a 7/10. But it's very entertaining and you should watch this at least once if you like sci-fi (or - even better - if you like Jean Paul Gaultier).
Filled with cool Sci-Fi concepts mixed with awesome characters portrayed by great actors, this film will forever be one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies. The Fifth Element has action that is Pure fun and amusement paired with awesome music to match the futuristic vibes. Bruce Willis plays the uptight badass hero he always is, Milla Jovovich is a great "confused" love interest and Gary Oldman plays quite a cool and unique villain. This is one of those "before its time great Sci-fi action movies of the 90s" that will always provide a super fun and entertaining experience. They don't make futuristic Sci-fi movies like they used to.
A cult classic with Bruce Willis and Chris Rock? A great movie for a a few good watching sessions.
You can watch this film in one of two ways. Either you are expecting a good all-around movie or you have a nice home theater and you want something filled with action and booms. As you may have guessed, the film falls short with the former but isn't bad with the latter expectation. The major surprise for me was just how good of an actress Milla Jovovich is. I had always assumed that she was just another former model. (review written when the movie came out)
I watched the movie a long time ago. Today i watched it again and it's still a f***ing great movie. Some Martial-Art-Jovovitch-Stuff and some very flat jokes are annoying. But the very most rest of the movie are just great.
Anyway. Overall a 9/10
Didn't hold up as well as I remembered but it was still a decent watch. As an action sci-fi it isn't very impressive, we've had much better. The story isn't very original or interesting. Where it excels is in the futuristic sets, silly costumes, weird aliens and especially absurd comedy, that creates something along the lines of Austin Powers meets Star Wars (some Indiana Jones moments too). Definitely has B-movie vibes at times. Good pacing that keeps moving, I never got bored. Watched it in 4K and the colors are so vibrant.
My favorite moments are whenever Zorg or Ruby Rhod are on-screen, I can't help but laugh. Bruce Willis isn't particularly bad but I don't like his character, he's so pretencious and kinda bland. Milla Jovovich is just there to appease the eyes, she doesn't talk much. I was dying to see her have a conversation with Willis' character but most of what we get are childish sounds. Because of that the romance aspect felt unearned and maybe even innapropriate.
Watched this purely because of the visuals and fashions showcased and I’d say visual wise it’s a 7/10 but the story itself wasn’t engaging enough for me to actually enjoy it
Such a downer ending for a great film in the first half. This film had everything right: the unique scifi aesthetics, the quirky characters, the comedy, the music. But the second half, especially in the last 45 minutes was just, in Zorg's word, disappointment.
The climax is the worst offender. The end of the world as we know it was just such a hurried, nonsense mess. If the planet can go to Earth instantly in the first place, why bother waiting and making some weird deal with Zorg? What the hell? What was the reason for that? The hunt for the ulimate weapon and the quest to activate it was resolved in less than 5 minutes (3 minutes per movie time) through some kindergarten puzzle.
Before the climax, the beatdown with the two big vllains (the mercs and Zorg) was disappointing. The big setup for the big showdown with the mercs was resolved by Bruce Willis being the unstoppable force Bruce Willis instead of impactful action like Die Hard. Zorg went down with the most cliche way a 90s villain can do: because of dumb stupidity.
Other than though, the film is great as everyone has said. The unique non-sleek non-white asthetics give unique touch to the imagination of retrofuturism. The funky crazy costume the characters wear paint a future that looks nothing like a cold, damp techy stuff we see in popular imagination, nor did it look like the gruffy grunge hard-boiled grit like in Dredd, but more like an embrace to the DIY and cyberpunk culture of the 80s. I like it.
Plot was unpredictable and very entertaining, taking you in an adventerous journey - up to the last 45 minutes. It went downhill so fast when the writers decided to just wrap up every plot point in one or two big bang bada boom.
Watch it once just for the experience, maybe revisit if you like the aesthetics.
I found it surprisingly immersive. Characters and environments are well designed. It was enjoyable to experience Korben’s life for a few hours.
After Leon, this might be my second favourite film from director Luc Besson, this film takes place far in the future in a very different world and I will say the world-building in this film is the best part as immediately you understand and buy the world/universe this film is based in. The entire cast in this film is amazing as they all have fun with their roles (I should mention this is a very fun film) with standouts being Bruce Willis (Korben Dallas), Milla Jovovich (Leeloo) who I usually am not a big fan of and of course I have to mention Gary Oldman (Zorg) who steals every scene he is in.
The movie is filled with sci-fi cliches but it is so well made that you can see how it helped to inspire a lot of the sci-fi films that came after, especially the Star Wars Prequels which after watching this you will notice how much they copied this film and badly for that matter. I love this film and I urge all cinema watchers to watch this film.
Added: I want to add that all of the visual effects hold up in this film and I know that is probably down to the fact that it doesn't rely on CGI and more practical effects.
I just saw it at theater. Great, great movie!
THE FIFTH ELEMENT
Nailed it, bailed it or failed it?
Let’s play!
Writing: BAILED IT!
Luc Besson’s science fiction classic is a unique fairytale with a bizarre, deep and oftentimes difficult-to-grasp story. The film opens with some bizarre and memorable moments, almost like a Guillermo del Toro movie. Besson’s vision is not the easiest to follow and the script is somewhat incomprehensible due to it’s bizarre tone, colorful action and tongue-in-cheek approach to science fiction.
Characters and Acting: BAILED IT!
Bruce Willis could never be anything more than just good old Bruce Willis, and The Fifth Element is no exception. Milla Jovovich, however, absolutely steals the show with her wonderfully expressive part. Another memorable performance is given by Gary Oldman as the villain, even if his part in the film is shamefully small. The same could be said by veteran Ian Holm, who just isn’t given enough material to truly shine. And while Chris Tucker is admittedly great at what he does, his part is terribly annoying and could have been left on the cutting room floor.
Direction: NAILED IT!
There’s no denying it: Luc Besson has a clear artistic vision for his story, his characters and his world and he follows that vision throughout the entire film. Every little detail is carefully mapped out and Besson makes sure the audience is allowed to enjoy the colorful world he has created in almost every scene.
Visuals: NAILED IT!
The visual side of the film is its strongest asset. The entire film is visually stunning, colorful and playful. The action set piece at the climax is particularly spectacular and most of the special effects hold up 20 years later.
Sound: NAILED IT!
A beautiful and magical score by Éric Serra adds to the colorful fairytale atmosphere of the film.
Pacing: FAILED IT!
Most of the film is fast-paced action with a hint of humor thrown in, but otherwise it seems the film struggles to decide whether it wants to be a Bruce Willis-led action flick or a more sophisticated fantasy movie - or something else entirely. The tempo is sometimes so fast it’s actually difficult to understand what’s going on and why the characters do what they do.
Themes: FAILED IT!
I actually had a hard time grasping the deeper tones of this film and therefore I couldn’t identify any themes.
Atmosphere: BAILED IT!
It’s surprisingly warm and jovial, with a very lighthearted take on science fiction. This is not a gritty tale of death and despair. The bizarreness of the world makes many things annoyingly over-the-top, which is why the atmosphere falls flat at times.
Rewatchability: FAILED IT!
One could argue that by rewatching this film, one could understand it’s different layers better. I didnät enjoy this one enough for me to actually go back and watch it another time. If I’m frustrated by a movie, it’s not very rewatchable.
Expectations: FAILED IT!
I expected to see an original take on the genre by one of our more artistic directors, and while that is what I got, I also got a bizarre and frustrating experience that left a sour taste in my mouth.
Bottom line: BAILED IT!
The colorful visuals and the mostly magnificent cast help make this original science fiction film memorable, but the bizarre undertones, the frustrating story and Luc Besson’s artistic vision also make it a difficult film to enjoy.
Bruce Willis was never able to shake his square-peg-square-slot role as a cynical, anti-authoritarian action hero, despite getting cast outside the type in movies such as The Sixth Sense and, to a lesser extent, 12 Monkeys.. But perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing, as in two particular movies his basic, archetypal example of such an action hero contributed to one of the most complete action films of all time: One of those films was Die Hard, the oft-besequeled cop film which watched like a slasher with villain and hero reversed. The other was the sprawling, operatic The Fifth Element, where he mimics the effortless coolness of the Captain Kirk archetype and crosses through a gorgeous, often hilarious version of a sci-fi future.
Notably, the fact that Zorg represents Gary Oldman's second-most iconic villain role must be a testament to his ability with such characters.
Simply an amazing film.
I own too many copies of this, yet won't stop buying it for every new platform.
This movie aged so horribly...
This movie is literally anime. It's incredible. I'm not an anime fan, but seriously, the few titles I saw seem to have a lot in common with this movie.
The fifth element and the five senses. Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. The overload was beautiful. The visuals were breathtaking, the soundtrack was roasting, and the acting was boasting. I mean, Bruce, Milla, Chris, and Gary acted themselves into production. They became set peices. Talking of set pieces, the design and production quality was bewildindering. Tied up together with some hidden eastereggs and a heartwarming story. I stopped caring for the plot holes as soon as I realised how good the quick-witted comedy was. Not only comedy but horror, romance, thrill, action, and sci-fi.
Don’t know why i never seen this movie until now but it’s better then most new movies.:popcorn:
this movie is so wacky and so out there and wild! how did anyone think that movie was like the "future" or that we could fully reconstruct a human from part of an arm like Adam and Eve type of stuff. Just such a wild movie I tell you that. Its very at times maybe on edge? there's just ever so much cringe but its not bad at all, maybe I would call it corny? its hard to define. I have probably seen this movie like 5 times over many years I keep forgetting how many wacky moments there are each time I watch it.
I even remember at one time seeing it being played at chucky cheese for some odd reason.
This movie is super green.
I Love It, My Favourite Movie Ever
"The Fifth Element," directed by Luc Besson and released in 1997, is a vibrant and imaginative combination of science fiction and action. This futuristic film features Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas, a taxi driver and former military operative who finds himself in the midst of a galactic battle to save the world. Besson creates a richly detailed universe, filled with stunning futuristic settings, extravagant costumes, and intriguing alien creatures. The cinematography is spectacular, and the captivating soundtrack, composed by Eric Serra, enhances the film's adventurous atmosphere.
The performances are charismatic, with Bruce Willis delivering a strong and reliable performance, and Milla Jovovich, as Leeloo, displaying a mix of innocence and breathtaking strength. Gary Oldman, as the villain Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, brings a level of theatricality that adds to the film's quirky charm.
The script, although occasionally exaggerated, is a fun blend of humor, action, and romance. The narrative moves at a fast pace, keeping the audience engaged and entertained from beginning to end.
"The Fifth Element" is an explosion of creative energy, striking a perfect balance between action, comedy, and emotion. A gem in science fiction cinema, it continues to delight and impress decades after its release. If you enjoy films packed with action, imagination, and color, this is definitely a movie you must see.
A legendary science fiction masterpiece. It does so much world building while also being a mix of comedy and action. It's the best. Saw it this time around in 4K DoVi.
The Firth Element - la Ruby Rhod
Milla Jovovich Tells the Story Behind 'The Fifth Element' Costume | Vogue (12:27) May 11, 2022
https://youtu.be/rgRUraJK_iw
Ruby Rhod: What was that honey? It was bad! It had no fire, no energy, no nothing! So tomorrow from five to seven will you please act like you have more than a two word vo-cab-u-lar-yee! It must be green!
Korben Dallas: Can I talk to you for a second? (pushes Ruby up against the wall) I didn't come here to play pumbaa on the radio. So tomorrow from five to seven your gonna give yourself a hand, green?
Korben Dallas: Can I talk to you for a second? [pushes Ruby up against the wall] I didn't come here to play pumbaa on the radio. So tomorrow from five to seven your gonna give yourself a hand, green?
Ruby Rhod: (high-pitched) Supergreen!
Ruby Rhod: [high-pitched] Supergreen!
Fxasss dsd eesf ewcgtr gedcv
Multipass!! Fun fun film. Remember sawing it for the first time and had to re screen again to fully appreciate it. Loony screen, fun, interesting characters and good acting. Action, drama, soundtracks, moral values, the greater good. Idiot and violent aliens, a big evil and the good guys. saw it again the other day and it still holds its own. Of course the special effects suffer a bit while aging but still fun. Multipass!
Still such a fun sci-fi/adventure. It's over-the-top, goofy and rather vapid, but none of that matters because it's such a blast. That opera sequence still makes me cringe though...
A wonderful action movie to see over and over again.
Amazing visual style to this film and while the storyline is fairly conventional, it is told with real flair.
El quinto elemento fue una idea muy original puesta únicamente para argumentar la experiencia cinemática. Es un argumento vacío que no logra tener sentido más alla de funcionar como el lado "sci-fi". Porque incluso con lo futurista que se ve, nunca propuso nada.
Pero no se lo tomen a mal, todavía dudo si había más intención en eso ya que lo que más sobresale en la película y la hace estupenda es el lado humano actuando en ese Universo. Cómica, romántica, sobrecogedora. Los personajes son simplemente geniales y gracias al manejo técnico de Luc Besson The Fifth Element entra entre las más espectaculares de su tiempo.
A very epic movie for its time!
Shout by SheepieVIP 9BlockedParent2020-02-06T23:31:05Z
A true cult classic.
This movie is over the top from start to finish, and it knows it. A lot of movies that try to do this, the level to which they are over the top ebbs and flows. It jumps all over the place. This movie keeps it persistent, consistent, and that's what really keeps it flowing and makes me love it so much. Just the right amount and not too much.
The right amount of comedy to take what really is a pretty crap story, and just make it truly enjoyable to watch. They went above and beyond making all the scenes as artistic as they could. The cinematography really draws you in and can be enjoyed even if the movie isn't for you. I can watch this time and time again, and not grow bored.