Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

[RAMA]

Is must be difficult for them to work with so much blue screen. And for you too.
Honestly for me, no. When I started to write this at 13 years old, I was living in the country of cheese, and I wanted to make movies. But when I open my windows I see cows, so believe me, that pushes your imagination.

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/25/valerian-first-look-luc-besson

 

[AvBaur]

This looks pretty cool! I really hope it's as cool and fun as The 5th Element, and not dumb and derivative like some of Besson's other recent movies.

I'm a little annoyed that they took the name of the female protagonist out of the title, though. The comics are called "Valerian & Laureline". Is Laureline not an important character in the movie? Did they think international audiences would have trouble pronouncing her name? Are they afraid boys won't go see it if it has a girl's name in the title?

 

[JD]

I'd never heard of the comics before, but I like Luc Besson, so this has my interest. If he brings the same kind of creativity that he brought to The Fifth Element to this, with the addition of modern special effects, this could be great.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

This looks pretty cool! I really hope it's as cool and fun as The 5th Element, and not dumb and derivative like some of Besson's other recent movies.

I'm a little annoyed that they took the name of the female protagonist out of the title, though. The comics are called "Valerian & Laureline". Is Laureline not an important character in the movie? Did they think international audiences would have trouble pronouncing her name? Are they afraid boys won't go see it if it has a girl's name in the title?

Here's the list of comics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Valérian_and_Laureline_books

Neither Valerian nor Laureline are in the actual titles and Laureline is not mentioned on the cover at all until the last two books (judging by the shots on Wikipedia). There is a cartoon (anime?) called Valerian and Laureline (see it on Crunchyroll) so maybe it was to avoid confusion? Or maybe there is some sexism involved but I wouldn't say that's definitive at this point.

 

[AvBaur]

^ Ah, apparently the French editions didn't always have her in the title like the German ones did. (although she was renamed "Veronique" in the German translation)

 

[publiusr]

Very slick.

 

[JD]

If anybody is interested, Comixology has added the first five Valerian and Laureline comics. I might have to check these out eventually since I've never read these before.

 

[fireproof78]

This has interested me since Besson announced it. However, I feel the need to read the comics to understand this scene.

 

[JD]

CBR has posted an article describing some footage Besson showed at SDCC. Sounds good, I really hope this footage makes it's way online.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

The actor playing Valérian (Dane DeHaan) doesn't look as square-jawed and mature as the character in the comics but I have an open mind as I'm not familiar with them. He looks bit like a young Leonardo DiCaprio, which presumably might be good for the box office.

 

[Mr Light]

Fifth Element is one of my all time favs so I'm really looking forward to this. Looks like the next Jupiter Ascending. (that was a compliment, honest!)