The Fifth Element

[Brandonv]

I was wondering what everyone's opinion on this movie is.

I just watched it last night and I still think that it is a good movie. If you expect a serious or realistic sci-fi movie I think you will most likely be disappointed, but if you can embrace the movies silliness I think it is a fun ride. I also enjoy the movies visuals and find some of it be very imaginative - for example the cruise ship was a cool idea, and I liked how the planet was in the background during the opera.

I get the impression that the future as portrayed in The Fifth Element is partly meant to be a parody of the present day. It is not a future that I could imagine existing one day, but it works for the movie.

I would give the movie a B+ letter grade.

 

[coolghoul]

I'm actually surprised by the popularity of this movie. I didn't really like it when I originally watched the movie. Since that time, I have seen it a couple of times on TV and kinda like bits and portions of it but still don't like the movie.

Was it that big a hit? Or is it a DVD hit? Cos they are always making new releases for this...

 

[nx1701g]

The film has been and remains fairly popular from what I've read. I know that we average a Fifth Element topic on this board about once a month.

 

[Starbreaker]

I really enjoy the movie. It's actually pretty funny. I hate Chris Tucker though.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I love The Fifth Element. It's one of my favourite movies. The design of the future seems pretty intentional and I was reading on wikipedia that Luc Besson wanted it to reflect 1996/1997 but on a extended level if that makes sense. Have no problem with Chris Tucker's performance in this movie. Intergalactic radio star Ruby Rod is an awesome role for him haha. Think he plays off Bruce Willis well in the movie during the scenes that he's with him.

 

[Lindley]

I found Chris Tucker incredibly annoying at first, but upon more recent viewings I've decided he doesn't really hurt the film. It's a lot of fun.

 

[amdmiami]

Leelo Dallas Mulitpass!

Lol, I just watched this movie for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I loved it. I know Chris Tucker is a bit obnoxious, but everything else in the movie from the sfx, the characters, the sets, the humor, is great.

I really loved how the future was portrayed in this one. Especially with the McDonalds and the airport scene. Can't wait for stewardesses to start dressing like that!

 

[Admiral_Young]

The score is one of the most beautiful movie scores for a sci fi film ever! Espeically the opera picked for the Diva to sing, it's an actual real movement but I can't remember the piece.

 

[Harvey]

I remember when this movie came out, the only good review it had was some guy who said, "it's Star Wars of the 90s!" That line was on absolutely every piece of advertising for the movie, which didn't bode well at the time.

It ends up being the sort of movie that I enjoy tuning into when its on television. There are parts that are wonderful solely as visual spectacle. And, in a pulpy, B-movie way, its a lot of fun--when it's not taking itself too seriously (which the movie does a little too much).

 

[Klaus]

I remember that tagline! It was Star Wars if GL had taken drugs at a Don Imus kind of rate... which, as the PT turned out, might not have been a bad idea!

I found it entertaining if very bizarre in the theaters, and have only seen bits since then... but coincidentally I just got it on DVD for $5 in a bin at Wal-Mart [along with PJ's Kong and Superman Returns lol] so I'll have to give it a another look from the beginning.

I did like Tucker, it was an appropriate role for him... Oldman's accent was one thing I recall being annoyed with.

 

[Trubinator]

Terrible movie.

 

[nx1701g]

I found Chris Tucker incredibly annoying at first, but upon more recent viewings I've decided he doesn't really hurt the film. It's a lot of fun.

Something that I always wondered:

When he's ranting at the end of the film and screams "I'm going to my trailer!" I always wondered if that was ad-libbed or an actual rant that escaped them.

 

[Mr Light]

First time I saw it, 'WTF is this?'. But with time I grew to love it and it's one of my favorite movies. Once I got over the humor/camp factor. It's just about my all time favorite soundtrack. Back in college whenever I was working I would play that score.

 

[Worf2DS9]

I enjoy the movie a lot as well. Chris Tucker still annoys me, but not as much as he originally did. I love the sound and visuals in the movie and the cast is pretty good all around, with extra kudos going to Ian Holm, who was hilarious.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Great movie! Fun and imaginative...

"Leeloo multipass!"

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I thought it was really cool. One of my favorite movies ever. Really interesting depiction of 23rd century New York City, with the flying cars and all that. And it's the closest I ever got to enjoying anything related to opera, I know that. Although I must say, Tiny Lister plays a Klingon a lot better than he does a human...

"Sir, are you classified as human?"
"Negative. I am a meat popsicle."

About the soundtrack, though: My favorite part was the song that was playing when Korben's taxi is being chased by the NYC police. I heard that this song isn't on the soundtrack though. Can anyone confirm?

 

[Rackon]

I dislike this movie.

It's so...I was going to say "juvenile"...but I don't want to offend the folks who enjoy it, and I like plenty of non-serious SF myself.

The Fifth Element is like a 14 year old boy's movie fantasy, albeit with a humongous budget. The cast is great, there's some visually interesting or fun stuff every now and then - but the movie itself just breathlessly hurtles from one childish episode after another, like a little kid excited about relating a story -and then- and then - and then - none of it holding together very well, an awkward structure, busy as hell, but ultimately not very interesting.

Besson is slick and kinetic, but like a kid with ADD. I think he's generally overrated.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ I think that's the point, really. TFE is supposed to be fun, goofy, and childlike. There's far too little of that here lately. Everything is so damned serious. This film is a breath of fresh air in the midst of so much gloom and darkness.

 

[Trent Roman]

I saw this film for the first time renting it on video after it came out, and I downright hated it. Ridiculous, I thought. Chaotic. Garish.

And yet--scenes stuck in my head. Leeloo multipass. The opera fight scene. Various other gags. By the time it worked its way to television broadcast and I saw it in the listings, I though, "sure, what the hell", if only for those scenes alone, and I quite enjoyed it the second time through. I think it marketed itself poorly, from what I recall, aiming for a more typical sci-fi epic instead of playing up the quirky humour that ties the mindless violence, the garishness, and the rest together. It's a good movie to toss on when doing things around the apart, I find. Certainly not conventional--not that many movies where the hero and antagonist never even met--but once you know what to expect, quite fun.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Mr Light]

Besson actually came up with the story as a kid, which explains a lot about the story It certainly has its dramatic flaws, for example Korben never meets the bad guy in the entire movie! Of course, Luke doesn't really meet Vader in New Hope, but he does have a dogfight with him...