... They deploy a battle cruiser to go and fire missiles at it. Unfortunately, the entity seems only to absorb the energy from the explosions and then sends it hurtling back towards the ship. The last thing that the crew of the cruiser sees is a huge fireball in the shape of an enormous skull ... Read review
In the year 2257, a planet-sized sphere of supreme evil is approaching the earth at ... more
relentless speed, threatening to exterminate every living organism unless four ancient stones, representing the elements of earth, wind, fire and water are united with ...
Ancient curses, all-powerful monsters, shape-changing assassins, scantily-clad ... more
stewardesses, laser battles, huge explosions, a perfect woman, a malcontent hero--what more can you ask of a big-budget science fiction movie? Luc Besson's high-octane filmT...
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In the year 2257, a planet-sized sphere of supreme evil is approaching the earth at ... more
relentless speed, threatening to exterminate every living organism unless four ancient stones, representing the elements of earth, wind, fire and water are united with the mysterious 'fifth element'.From Luc Besson, the acclaimed director of 'Leon' and 'Nikita', comes the film that turns science fiction inside out. Starring Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman and Milla Jovovich, 'The Fifth Element' takes you on an adrenalin-filled journey to a new dimension of sumptuous visuals, stunt-packed set-pieces and spectacular explosions.
Little Light Of Love Mondoshawan Timecrash Korben Dallas Koolen Akta Leeloo Five Millenia ... more
Later Plavalaguna Ruby Rap Heat Badaboom Mangalores Lucia Di Lammermoor The Diva Dance Leeloominai A Bomb In The Hotel Mina Hinoo No Cash No Trash Radiowaves Human Nature Pictures Of War Lakta Ligunai Protect Life Little Light Of Love [End Titles Version] Aknot! Wot? (Bonus Track)
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: Funky, fresh, fast Disadvantages: Verges on being silly
It is several centuries into the future. When a strange entity is spotted moving on its way towards Earth, the authorities do exactly what any self-respecting authority would do. They deploy a battle cruiser to go and fire missiles at it. Unfortunately, the entity seems only to absorb the energy from the explosions and then sends it hurtling back towards the ship. The last thing that the crew of the cruiser sees is a huge fireball in the shape of ... ...horrified by what has happened, the authorities then turn their attention to the ramblings of a priest who has sought counsel with the President. The priest claims that the entity is the physical manifestation of the greatest evil that man has ever known. For centuries, the priest and his forefathers have know that this day would come and that there is only one way to save the planet. A strange alien race has in its possession four elements or stones, ... more
It is several centuries into the future. When a strange entity is spotted moving on its way towards Earth, the authorities do exactly what any self-respecting authority would do. They deploy a battle cruiser to go and fire missiles at it. Unfortunately, the entity seems only to absorb the energy from the explosions and then sends it hurtling back towards the ship. The last thing that the crew of the cruiser sees is a huge fireball in the shape of an enormous skull that opens its mouth and engulfs them.
Dumbfounded and horrified by what has happened, the authorities then turn their attention to the ramblings of a priest who has sought counsel with the President. The priest claims that the entity is the physical manifestation of the greatest evil that man has ever known. For centuries, the priest and his forefathers have know that this day would come and that there is only one way to save the planet. A strange alien race has in its possession four elements or stones, that when arranged in a sacred temple will form a powerful unit. The unit only becomes immensely powerful when a fifth element is added to the centre of the other four. If the fifth element is a creature of goodness, then the elements will be able to defeat any evil. But if the fifth element is a creature of evil, then the universe is doomed.
Almost as soon as the priest has told his tale, the communications desk announces that an alien craft seeks passage onto Earth. It is the alien race described by the priest, and they have brought with them the four elements. But somebody else has their eye on the sacred stones and before long the aliens’ ship lies in ruins. There are no survivors, only a small piece of one of the aliens’ bodies. Using revolutionary new technology, Earth’s medics are able to reconstruct a body from the small piece of debris. The creatures’ DNA is remarkably similar to that of a human and the finished product is that of a young human female. The scientists marvel at their work and gather round the containment chamber where they intend to hold her for further studies. But the young woman has other ideas…….
The Fifth Element is one of the most unusual science fiction films that I can think of. It is, without a doubt, completely and utterly mad, combining hi-tech visuals with camp action, outlandish costumes and humour that result in a wild concoction unlike anything I have ever seen before. With The Fifth Element, every scene really is a complete surprise.
The Fifth Element is, of course, a classic tale of good versus evil. It isn’t particularly complicated, either and with hindsight you could probably predict much of what happens without really straining the grey matter. The Fifth Element isn’t good because of what it does – it is good because of the way it does it. From the outset, the film is stylish and unusual, with lavishes of creativity so sadly lacking in many of its competitors. In many ways, it is the film’s style that helps it avoid some of the criticism that would otherwise be heaped upon some of the more clichéd plot elements. For a start, the films’ makers took the very bold step of asking Jean-Paul Gaultier to design all of the costumes, which means that everyone is dressed in the most outlandish garb you could possibly imagine. Gaultier’s inimitable style challenges every normal preconception and throws gender into turmoil. Seemingly macho taxi drivers find themselves in skintight orange, backless vests. Huge burly bodyguards are dressed in black PVC shorts and skintight Lycra vests, with lashings of make-up and lipstick on. It actually sounds like an alternate version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show but it is done in such a way that it complements the plot, rather than dominating it. The colours are bold and bright rather in contrast to the gloomy story that unfolds.
To keep things nice and complicated, the story is weaved around an eclectic mixture of bizarre and outlandish characters. Our hero is Korben Dallas, a retired army major who now drives a taxi and becomes involved in things when a strange cargo drops through his roof. The chief villain is a maniacal businessman named Zorg, who has a bad haircut, a strange limp and a penchant for death and disaster. Things are further complicated by a band of alien mercenaries who, double-crossed by Zorg, decide to beat him at his own game. The action takes place aboard a huge intergalactic cruise ship, where Korben finds himself pursued by a camp radio presenter called Ruby Rhod who likes giving head and never stops talking. As if that weren’t enough, tottering around in the background is a slightly eccentric monk named Vito Cornelius who tries to keep the stones out of the hands of the bad guy. See, I did tell you that this film was completely and utterly mad.
The special effects are competent and impressive even though the film is already six years old. The city scenes involving a seemingly endless number of sky scrapers and airborne vehicles are very effective, even in comparison to George Lucas’s version from Attack of The Clones. The space scenes all look pretty realistic and the weaponry resembles something you might find in a PS2 game. There is plenty of action to keep you going, although about a quarter of the way into the film things do seem to fall into something of a lull, and the audience will be quite relieved when things get going again. Although the opening sequences are epic, and very dark, the rest of the film tends to be much more light-hearted and has a very comical feel to it. For some people, this will be quite disappointing, because the film’s opening can feel rather at odds with the rest of the movie. Others have argued that the film becomes just a bit too silly, but I think you have to approach it with a sense of fun to really enjoy it. This is NOT a dark, very serious piece of science fiction.
The film boasts a fairly impressive cast that seem to work well with the strange visuals and wacky humour. Bruce Willis is perfect as Korben Dallas, if only because he is so straight and normal that he seems all the more at odds with his surroundings. Gary Oldman’s Zorg is extremely effective, as Oldman always is when playing the bad guy, although to look at you may find him rather too comical to take seriously as an arch-villain. The English actor Ian Holm gets a good part as Priest Vito Cornelius, although I have to say that his doddering erratic nature became rather irritating after a while. Perhaps the most mentioned appearance, however, is that of Milla Jovovich, who shows lots of flesh as Leeloo, the genetically created human being. Jovovich was nominated for a number of awards after the film was released, and none of them were very complementary (Worst Supporting Actress being one of them.) Personally, I’m not really sure what all the fuss was about as she seems perfectly OK to me, albeit with a fairly undemanding role. My favourite character was the DJ, Ruby Rhod. Rhod is verbally unstoppable and I can’t think of anyone other than Chris Rock who could have carried the part off so well. For most of the time, I couldn’t decide whether I found him very funny or very irritating, but either way he was certainly very memorable.
The Fifth Element is a fairly lengthy film, running in at over two hours. I can’t help thinking that this could have been shortened somewhat, but things draw to a close just before it starts to wear thin. The film carries a PG certificate and apart from a mildly sexual scene, some semi-nudity and some fantasy violence, there is very little that could offend or disturb.
The film was written and directed by Luc Besson, whose other movies include Leon. Although the film is unlike Besson’s normal material, there are some unmistakeable Besson touches. The combination of Leeloo and Korben is very reminiscent of Leon. Besson clearly enjoys stories that combine innocence with experience. Oldman’s performance in Leon clearly secured him a part in this film and Besson clearly also liked Jovovich, as he went on to work with her on Joan of Arc. Leon is still, by far, Besson’s greatest work, but The Fifth Element is certainly one of his most unusual films.
I enjoyed this film. It was fresh and unusual in 1997 and even watching it again now it feels different. It is an acquired taste, though. Fans of science fiction may find this a bit too outlandish and after two hours plus, it might have you screaming and running for the door.
Advantages: Fantastic to look at - very classy sci-fi Disadvantages: None for me
As I was flicking through the television channels before I was about to turn my light out and go to sleep last night, I saw the unmistakable beginning of The Fifth Element on ITV2. "How many times has this film been on the television in the last year?" I asked myself and "how many times have I watched it when it has been on?" Well the answer to both is - I've lost count! And did I watch it last night - simple answer yes.
Luc Besson's The Fifth Element ... ...film I have seen. The overall plot is simple enough to understand and to say anymore will give it away so I shall stick to this small overview - our hero Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis with a bit of hair!) is a taxi driver and ex special forces, who both stumbles across and is put into the middle of a plan to protect and retrieve the ultimate weapon against evil - four stones representing earth, wind, fire and water and the mysterious fifth element ...
Suzela 19.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)
Advantages: Great picture and sound quality Disadvantages: Lacking in extra features
...is more a review of the quality of the DVD than of the plot and movie itself, while I will give a brief mention of the film to familiarise people with the film, I won't go into details. Set in the year 2257, a planet-sized 'force of evil' is heading towards Earth and if it reaches it no living organism will survive. Any force used against this evil will only make it stronger and the only possible way to stop it is unification of four stones (the ... ...a living being). The film mixes action, comedy and science-fiction, directed by Luc Besson (The Professional) & starring Bruce Willis (Die Hard trilogy, Sixth Sense), Milla Jovovich (The Messenger), Gary Oldman (Lost In Space, Air Force One), Chris Tucker (Rush Hour, Money Talks) & various other actors. The acting is generally good and the film is very enjoyable to watch. The film is presented in anormorphic widescreen, with a 2:35:1 aspect ratio. ...
Defiler 03.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)
Advantages: Oozes flamboyant visuals Disadvantages: Storyline rather silly
Introduction
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The fifth element is a visually stunning film where many (excuse the pun) elements of how we think today that the future will look like is mixed in with something approaching a retro-style future vision in terms of outrageously camp, thoroughly useless-in-the-real-world costume design courtsey of Jean-Paul Gautier. The storyline is blatantly silly to the point that you wonder who the hell wrote it. Well, the person ... ...chance at all of making the whole project work - Luc Besson. The only other directors that could have also pulled it off would have been Jean-Pierre Jeunet or possibly Christopher Gans. Guess what? They're all French. Whether this is a good thing or not, I leave to you to decide - personally when I look at modern day hacks like George Lucas or Roland Emmerich, I think it is.
Storyline
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Every 5,000 years the ultimate evil enters our ...
dancomp 08.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)
Advantages: It's a fantastic film on DVD Disadvantages: Not enough new feature
...on this page) one of the most original pieces of Sci-fi ever to be produced. I’ve just watched it; I wasn’t disappointed, totally justified. I like to think I have a good imagination (I am thin, good looking, and rich. Told you it was a good one), I love fantasy stories, Sc-Fi and some horror (though it has to be done well). When fifth element was released, I almost dismissed it, starring ‘Bruce Willis, a ‘Hollywood hero type’ (love Bruce), Milla ... ...gave it a miss at the cinema. I wish I hadn’t because the sheer scale of some of the scenes is gob-smacking and the film is an extraordinary piece of imaginative comic-art. If you have seen the film skip to Comparison, if not this is a quick outline, you can find much better descriptions of the film elsewhere, if you want them, but my advice is watch the film, don’t spoil it for yourself. This op is more about the feature and quality difference of ...
Dardalius 06.01.2003 (21.01.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)
Advantages: Deliciously different Disadvantages: 'Comedy'
The Fifth Element, great film, watch it now. Can we get on with the next film now please? Err Neil, we need a little bit more than just one sentence. Do you? Oh well...alright then.
When a mysterious space anomaly is detected, the Earth authorities react in the usual way: They shoot it. But this is no mere natural phenomenon, rather it is a pre-ordained evil entity intent on destroying the Earth. Foretold by alien visitors, the Earth has been given ... ...stones representing the four accepted elements (Earth, wind, fire, and water) and a mysterious fifth element who takes the form of a beautiful woman, the evil force can be defeated. Not that this matters one iota to cab driver Korben Dallas but he gets dragged into it when the fifth element (Leeloo) literally falls into his cab. Can Dallas help to fulfil the prophecy and save the Earth, or will the forces of evil triumph...
The Fifth Element can ...
TheNeil 08.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)
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Advantages: Good story, Great acting and effects Disadvantages: Aliens looked out of place and Zorg was annoying
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The DVD which we have does have some bonus material which includes:-
Original Theatrical Trailer
Searching for the FifthElement
Cast and Crew Biographies
Interactive Moving Menus.
I am not a fan of bonus features so have not watched any of these so I am not able to make comment.
The running time of this film is 121 minutes but it did move at a good pace and I did not find I was getting bored or loosing interest at any point. The certificate on this film is a PG but I was slightly surprised by this as there is some violence and sexual references and also Leeloo does show her breasts in one part so I would advise caution if young children are viewing this. We bought this DVD many months ago and I cannot remember what price we paid but as it is a fairly old one it should be available for just a few pound on sites such as Amazon ...
Advantages: Colourful, wacky and amusing Disadvantages: A bit too wacky, way too loooooong
(nothing unusual there then). And there is Ian Holm as Father Cornelius, who plays it straight most of the time and so is less memorable, but has an eccentric air about him which is rather endearing.
The genre is science fiction, which I must admit is not in my comfort zone. I much prefer my films to be a bit closer to reality. The FifthElement is made slightly more palatable for me because of the humour. It really doesn't take itself too seriously at all; in fact it is almost comic-like and I believe that many ideas were taken from French comics. This makes the film very wacky and very colourful - visually a delight. It does also make the film very busy - there is so much going on that at times it is easy to forget that the plot is basically a story of good versus evil.
The film was made back in 1997 - hard to believe that it is over ten ...
Advantages: Good action sequences and comedy value Disadvantages: Story is quite linear
element on the forces of good side it makes the storyline a little less linear than first imagined. This while needed is a good and positive thing for the movie.
Special Features of the DVD
An audio commentary with Mark Stetson, Karen E. Goulekas, Bill Neil and Ron Gress ontop of the film is funny and incitive.
'Discovering The FifthElement': a 'making of' documentary is the usual how things were made kind of thing.
Also the other less important fill out sort of things that are added on a special edition DVD are listed below:
'Imagining The FifthElement': a SFX featurette
'The Art Of The FifthElement With Jean-Claude Mezieres' featurette
'Elements Of Style With Jean-Paul Gaultier' featurette
'Launching The FifthElement': the Cannes opening night party
'An Audience With Diva Plavalaguna' featurette
Storyboard ...
Original Theatrical Trailer, Searching For The Fifth Element, Cast And Crew Biographies, Interactive Moving Menus
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen, 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...Mr. Besson directs with ceaseless flamboyance and with an obvious enthusiasm for his film's comic book conceits..." (New York Times, p.C3, 09/05/1997)
"...Besson's comic irreverence is welcome..." (Sight and Sound, p.39-40, 01/07/1997)
DVD Description
A visual feast combining ancient mysticism, cyberpunk sensibilities, flamboyant entertainment personalities, and gun-toting alien mercenaries. In the 23rd century, Korben Dallas, an ex-special forces agent who now practices as a down-and-out cabbie, finds himself caught in a struggle to defy a prophesied Evil from destroying the Earth when a mysterious woman falls into the back seat of his cab. Pursued by both the government and a powerful magnate enlisted by the forces of Evil, the woman is the key to Earth's salvation, known only as the Fifth Element. Auteur Besson's first offering with Hollywood backing.
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