The Fifth Element

Rating:
Summary: "A perfect replica of the old opera house! But who cares?"
Review: In 1997, French director Luc Besson (who directed "La Femme Nikita" in 1990) wrote and directed an unusual sci-fi film entitled "The Fifth Element". (Also known as "Le Cinquième élément" in French.) The film begins with a scene that takes place around 1900 in Egypt, when an archeologist, Professor Pacoli (John Bluthal), and his assistant, Billy (Luke Perry), are studying pictograms and hieroglyphics in an ancient pyramid. Suddenly, an assortment of strange beings, the Mondoshawans, arrive to remove the contents of the pyramid (the five elements), but tell a priest (John Bennett) who guards the pyramid that they will one day return when the five elements are needed. The film then moves several hundred years into the future when the Earth is somewhat overpopulated and humanity is space-faring and technologically advanced. A lowly cab driver, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), who is a retired army major, begins his day in his tiny studio apartment; but deep in space, a strange planet appears and is headed for Earth. The Mondoshawans announce their return with the five elements to the delight of the current priest, Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm), but their ship is attacked. The Earth's President Lindberg (Tom 'Tiny' Lister Jr.) tells Vito that it's now a military matter, then finds out that there is one survivor from the Mondoshawan ship. From a few living cells, the survivor is clones back into existence and turns out to be a very strong, but beautiful woman (Milla Jovovich) that speaks a strange language. She escapes and ends up crashing into the cab driven by Korben Dallas. She is able to give Korben a name, Vito Cornelius, and he takes her to him. Korben is then able to get her name: Leeloo Minai Lekarariba-Laminai-Tchai Ekbat De Sebat, or Leeloo for short. Korben leaves Leeloo with Vito Cornelius and his assistant David (Charlie Creed-Miles), but is later enlisted to help find four missing stones that are four of the five elements.

"The Fifth Element" received a mixed response from American audiences when it opened in 1997 because many thought that it would be a typical Bruce Willis action film. Hence, it received no Oscar nominations, but it won three César Awards in France for Best Cinematography, Best Director (Luc Besson) and Best Production Design. The film's very colorful set and costume designs, techno music and unusual characters were not what many Americans expected; but its story, which is often humorous, is both engaging and compelling. One of the more unusual, but very funny characters in the film is the outrageous and famous D.J. Ruby Rod (Chris Tucker), who entertains millions with a wild radio show and gets to escort Korben during a cruise to the planet Flostin. There, Korben meets the famous alien Diva Plavalaguna (Maïwenn Le Besco). Other memorable characters from the huge cast include Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman), General Munro (Brion James) and Mr. Kim (Kim Chan).

Overall, I personally rate "The Fifth Element" with 5 out of 5 stars. Clearly, the film is not for everyone, but if you enjoy French cinema and sci-fi, then chances are very good that you will enjoy the film very much.

Rating:
Summary: I love this movie!
Review: It's great! I love these future movies. The plot is simple. The world is going to be destoryed and bruce Willis along with a supreme being, a funny tv host, and a preist must stop it. You have to see it, I know I don't make it sound like much but the movie is actually really good. Watch it and see for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Its strength is in its cliche
Review: "Irreverant" only begins to describe The Fifth Element. And this time, it actually totals out to something good.
A long while back, Eastman and Laird created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a parody of how dark and overserious comics of the time had become. Of course, few know this, since the franchise was very soon sold out, and from there turned into a cartoon, a comic, and from there into a seriously-intended movie that lacked the same sense of tongue-in-cheek that the original TMNT graphic novels had while still telling an interesting story.
Now, while it may seem as if I've done a different review entirely just now, I do have a point. The Fifth Element is indeed full of cliches about the sci-fi genre, but it is intentionally so. Bruce Willis is here kicking kitty litter in the face of not only the sci-fi that becomes so serious as to drag ("Event Horizon", anyone?), but part of his own genre of beat-'em-up as well, with Corbin Dallas being as much a parody of the lone hero rising from obscurity to display great tenacity and save the day. (I can't help but think that "the cab driver saving the world" is a subtle mockery of Seagal's cook character in Under Siege.)
The Fifth Element was never intended to be taken seriously. Comedy is in place in almost every scene, and it's rare that someone ISN'T doing something that's either overtly or more subtly a joke. The whining about cliches and lack of plot seems to indicate that the joke went over some peoples' heads.
Bruce Willis is here displaying the fact that he never takes himself too seriously, most ESPECIALLY when playing his "beaten-up off-the-streets tough guy" role to the hilt.

Rating:
Summary: Fun Adventure
Review: This is a great movie. Bruce and Milla do a great job acting as a hero and 'goddess'. Chris Tucker adds the humor and the special effects are stunning. A classic.

Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, but no extras
Review: The movie is fun to watch, but there are no extras included with this DVD. A "Making of" would of made this a better DVD or even something about the FX, but neither was included on the DVD and that was a great disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: A very silly movie.
Review: The movie seems to have a promising premise, with the dramatic scene at the beginning but suddenly it turns into a pile of cliches and nonsense...i mean come on, futuristic cab drivers? ...
Whats appealing about this movie is how talented Ian Holm is, and how little acting talent Bruce Willis has. The costuming and scenery is great...only a frenchman like Besson could come up with such outlandish themes. Chris Tucker is as annoying as ever though hilarious, and the whole movie is moderately enjoyable if you can simply sit back and revel in the silliness of it all.
The violence is a bit disconcerting and a tad pointless but it fills in the gaps, though they could have been cut out of the flick and it would have been a bit shorter and easier to tolerate.

Rating:
Summary: A guilty pleasure...
Review: Alot of people don't like this movie. I can understand that. It is a very irreverant look at Sci Fi movies. However, I think it is a very funny movie and has some good action sequences. Especially the cab chase at the beginning and the gun fight at the end. The gun fight at the end reminded me of some of the Shadow Run games we used to play. Gary Oldman was perfect as Zorg and Bruce Willis was perfect as Corbin Dallas.

Not one of the best movies out there, but certainly better than many others.

Rating:
Summary: What a stupid movie
Review: This is perhaps the worst sci fi movie I have ever seen. The plot is filled with holes and nonsense. The movie tries to be cute in the most stupid and insulting ways.

Rating:
Summary: The Fifth Element - An outstanding Sci-Fi/Comedy!
Review: The Fifth Element starring Bruce Willis and the ever beautiful and alluring Milla Jovovich is definitely among my most favorite films of all time. This is one of those rare films that I can watch over and over again, despite a good majority of it being based in comedy where you'd think it would get old but it doesn't. Bruce Willis's performance is up to par with his "hero" persona and right on with his comedic tendencies. Milla Jovovich, wow! She is incredibly beautiful and was extraordinarily well matched for this particular role. Gary Oldman also does an outstanding job as the "quasi" villain of the film as he's set as the comedic pawn of evil. Visually, director Luc Besson puts to screen an interesting futuristic earth.

The premise:

Set approximately three hundred years in the future, this outstanding film begins with a look into the past setting up the need for the "fifth" element. Cutting back to the future we meet Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) who is a retired Major from Earth's military! He's down on his luck and working as cab driver. We then have the privilege of seeing Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) being reconstructed! Through chance and circumstance Leeloo literally flings herself into Korben's cab. What follows from this point is nothing short of one of the most hilarious and intriguing Sci-Fi/comedy films to grace the silver screen and the home theater!

Special Features:

If you're into DVD's jam packed with all kinds of special features, "The Fifth Element" isn't for you! Normally, this is something I do not mind as the main reason I purchase DVD's is for the film itself, in this case though it would've been nice to at least thrown in a theatrical trailer or something, but alas there are no special features on this DVD.

I highly recommend this film to any and all fans of the genre or the stars that perform so admirably in this film! {ssintrepid}

Rating:
Summary: Dumb but entertaining...
Review: "The Fifth Element" has so many illogical plot holes that eventually your brain stops noticing them. It'sd a dumb scifi epic that knows how dumb it is, and as a result it doesn't take itself seriously. With some good acting, bad acting, and a lot of bright colors, this is an entertaining way to spend a weekend evening.

In 1914, in anticipation of war the alien Mondoshawi took four mystical stones from Earth. The four stones represent the four elements, and when centered around the perfect being (the Fifth Element) they become a weapon against the forces of darkness and evil, who show up every five thousand years. (No, don't ask why!) Their contact is always a priest of indeterminate religion, who has been given the "knowledge" from his predecessors. Three hundred years later, a dark planetoid is zooming toward Earth, increasing in size and swallowing warships. When the Mondoshawi attempt to return the stones to Earth, they're blown up by the thugs of Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman). Isn't that a great name?

All that's left is the hand of the Fifth Element, which the president's scientists clone into a beautiful young woman (Milla Jovovich) who speaks the "Divine Language" only. But the Fifth Element -- nicknamed Leeloo -- escapes and falls into the cab of a bitter-with-a-heart-of-gold ex-military cabbie, Corbin Dallas (Bruce Willis). He takes her to the priest who is supposed to help her, Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm). The problem is, the Evil will be there in a few days, and the stones are missing. With the help of Cornelius, Leeloo, and the unspeakably annoying Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), Dallas must stop the powers of darkness from destroying the universe. (I can't believe I just wrote that)

You can tell this is an unusual film just by the colors -- French director Luc Besson revels in bright blues and reds and yellows. And what other movie would have opera singing during a martial-arts sequence? It's a quirky vision of the future, with New York much as it is now (noisy, crowded, full of bad drivers in aircars), McDonald's, otherwordly resorts, annoying radio talk show hosts, and a little box that applies your makeup for you. (I want one of those)

Bruce Willis is okay as Corbin Dallas. Not great, not bad, just okay. He does have some really sparkling moments, such as when Corbin is at the opera, or when he describes Leeloo to a friend, but most of the time he seems very "Die Hard." Milla Jovovich uses her expressive face, eyes and body to best effect, especially since Leeloo speaks gibberish most of the time. (Her wild flailing when Leeloo is in the cloning tube is amazing, like a trapped animal) And she seems a lot like a baby in an adult body sometimes, repeating "autowash" and "multipass" and giggling with delight over chicken dinners. Ian Holm is, as always, wonderful as the kindly little priest, who manages to remain semi-dignified under very circumstances. He's cute. Gary Oldman revels weirdly in his role as the ultra-evil-for-no-reason Zorg. And Chris Tucker wins the prize for most annoying supporting character: An effeminate, loud, obnoxious, pointless-in-the-plot radio talk show host who will drive many viewers up the wall. (At least the hero despises him)

The dialogue ranges from very funny ("Too bad it's not loaded") to very, very corny ("We are lost!"); the soundtrack is very good as well, ranging from opera to pop. There's some sexual content (very weird and not at all sexy) and some nudity (brief and vague), nd not a lot of cursing. And in the age of CGI, it's nice to see that there are still movies that are unafraid to stick rather silly rubber masks on the actors. (The masks do, admittedly, fit the movie -- the special effects are less prominent than you'd expect)

Basically, "Fifth Element" is a good movie for when you don't want to use your brain. With the good (Holm and Jovovich) the bad (Tucker) and the REALLY ugly (all of Rhod's clothes, and the Mangalore thugs), it's entertaining if flawed brain fluff.