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.
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.
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.
"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.
Review by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2023-02-10T20:36:28Z— updated 2023-06-10T19:23:18Z
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).