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List Price: $14.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 4161
Released: December 10, 1997 |
| Our Price: $3.99 |
| Used Price: $0.88 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
New York City in the 23rd century is a madhouse of flying taxis, street gangs and media overload in director Luc Bessons science fiction inspired vision of a tomorrow that seems to have all the right elements. Cabbie Bruce Willis is a regular guy and the universes last hope for survival as he helps the embodiment of love and life (Milla Jovovich) fight the darkness unleashed by the crazed Zorg (Gary Oldman).
Description of The Fifth Element:
Ancient curses, all-powerful monsters, shape-changing assassins, scantily-clad 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 film incorporates presidents, rock stars, and cab drivers into its peculiar plot, traversing worlds and encountering some pretty wild aliens. Bruce Willis stars as a down-and-out cabbie who must win the love of Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) to save Earth from destruction by Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman) and a dark, unearthly force that makes Darth Vader look like an Ewok. --Geoff Riley
The Fifth Element Reviews:
MISTEP AFTER MISSTEP 
2009-11-05 - SHPPIED WRONG ITEM. WANTED BLU-RAY VERSION. WROTE E-MAIL, YOU SHIPPED SAME VERSION AGAIN. STILL WAITING FOR CREDITS ON BOTH DVD THAT WERE RETURNED.
funny sci-fi 
2009-10-30 - This is the funniest, dumbest sci-fi kitsch ever. The actors are superb and the story creative.
The Perfect Film
2009-10-28 - This is one of the movies I've never gotten tired of watching. I don't really know why, but after seeing this film probably 75 or more times--I didn't see it in the theater, sadly--and knowing most of its dialog by heart, I just love to keep watching every single minute of it.
Thumbnail synopsis: In 2263, Evil returns to threaten Earth and all existence, necessitating the intervention of the Fifth Element, a "perfect" being, who we eventually learn lacks only one thing. A priest, the global government, an evil corporate strongman, both Samaritan and mercenary aliens, henchmen, and a former intergalactic special forces officer now a NYC cab driver all participate in the adventure to save the day.
Simply, this is a perfect film, in that it has just about everything that any moviegoer would want to see: clearly defined good and bad guys, explosions, shoot `em up, physical and subtle comedy, interesting characters, fun music, outstanding special effects, the standard Good vs. Evil, unexpected plot twists, space battles, engaging mysteries, memorable lines, aliens, ancient prophecy, sci-fi, very straightforward characters, fantastic costuming, a subtle little hint of sex, some minor yet tasteful T&A, and love as the ultimate plot device. You get all this and more, with no profanity, no blood and guts, and no torture.
I consider this a family film, and both my kids (13/11) love this film as much as I do. But at PG-13, for a couple of scenes of bad guys gunning down policemen, I caution that parents will have to decide on their own. The plot has some subtleties that an attentive adult viewer will get and enjoy, but the storyline is clear, direct and straightforward, and young kids can easily follow it.
Now, I'm no Academy(tm) voter, but I've always thought Milla Jovovich acted her butt off in this film. It's a difficult role, that of a genetically tuned supreme being who is reborn on a DNA reconstruction table and minutes later has to escape to carry out her mission to save Earth and all existence. I think she does a masterful job all the way through; I don't get the criticisms of her performance. Bruce Willis is basically the same smooth guy you know and love, same as in Moonlighting, Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, Sin City, Tears of the Sun, etc.--the same quiet yet powerful, determined, normal, inescapably masculine action hero he's always been, with an orange shirt and different hair color.
One of the things I like best about this film is that the characters are not stock, but it's clear who they are and what role they play. Good and bad are clearly discernable from the outset. The best example of these unexpected characters is Chris Tucker's seriously divergent Ruby Rhod, a hyperpopular intergalactic radio host with a penchant for bad drag feminine makeup and hair, but also unmistakably manly when the moments come (think a 23rd century Prince). He is both foil and comedy relief, playing a sliver of the trite female sidekick role, but in a new and seriously refreshing manner.
The costuming is fantastic throughout, different from the usual Hollywood glop, designed to make all the good guys look fabulous and glamorous and the bad guys as dirty, evil and fashion-challenged. As all costumes are Gaultier, they are way interesting, from Zorg's iridescent tunic to Leloo's mini white T and orange body halter/sling, with scientists and technicians in dumpy yet engaging scrubs.
The music is great, too, also different but in keeping with the film. There is a great deal of European influence and feel to the score, very French, and also very North African. I recommend the soundtrack recording, and even have bought one of the Khaled albums used in the film (but not featured on the soundtrack).
The production is highly Euro, specifically French, which may have been why it didn't really do that well at the box office. During the totally cool car chase, the music is a North African/Mediterranean rai mix, which is very cool, but not the kind of thing that most Americans are used to hearing on a daily basis. Plavalaguna's performance at Phloston Paradise begins with pure opera, and slides into an electronically enhanced hip-hop voice mix.
The F/X are top-notch throughout, not the least bit cheezy. In fact, the film was nominated for a best visual effects Oscar, as well as for its sound effects editing (check out the awesome sound of Zorg's weapon when he unloads on Leeloo in the hotel suite). It was nominated for and won many more awards for cinematography, direction, costuming and effects, production design, and more.
There is lots of trivia and lots of fun facts about this film; [...]. One of my favorites is that the big Phloston Paradise explosion to cap off the fight with the Mangalores remains the biggest indoor Hollywood movie explosion of all time, and that it just about got away from them.
The ethnic/cultural range is amazing in this film; dare I interpret an intentional effort to show a future of seamless integration and race neutrality? Good guys and bad guys are all races, colors, and there are no pathetic stereotypes. You've got all manner of wonderfully unexplained characters, a goofy son, a bad but dimwitted henchman, expendable police officers, shapeshifting punks (one in a transparent mini-skirt!), a clueless robber, a radiological Rasta, Indian pilots, Polynesian dancers and musicians, an idiot German actor, black, white, yellow, even blue, and throughout both black and white playing prominent roles. It's refreshing.
Bottom Line: This isn't Citizen Kane, or even Blade Runner (although the influence is obvious). But, this is an immensely fun film depicting the classic Good vs. Evil struggle, but told in a different context, with blessedly new characters, costumes and situations. It's no saccharine-sweet Disney glopfest, but at the same time it is most definitely not ugly, cynical, cruel or gory. I recommend it completely.
Must Have Blu-Ray for a SCIFI Fan!
2009-10-25 - This has long been one of my favorite SCIFI movies! The incredible characters, performances, beautiful scenes, action, and storyline all make this a great movie. Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich are reasons enough to buy this movie, but Chris Tucker steals the show! His performance is hilarious! It was also the first Blu-Ray movie I ever saw. I decided that once I invested in a Blu-ray player, I had to have this movie in Blu-Ray. Viewing and hearing it in Blu-ray is incredible! It becomes so real, you will think you were on the set!
Bruce Willis, Taxi Driver, Saves the planet
2009-10-24 - 5 of 5 stars for the sci-fi movie Fifth Element. OK, how do you summarize this movie? Sigh. OK, take three stone symbols which are a key to a protective weapon useable to keep away some nasty aliens who want to take the world, add in sexy girl (Milla Jovovich) who is a guardian of the weapon, a taxi driver (Bruce Willis), more aliens, some priests who know the secrets, an evil traitor working with the bad aliens and you have a really wild sci-fi story. Oh, it all takes place on the Earth in the dstant future. Did I mention the taxi moves in all 3 dimensions?
An expansive vision of a whole different Earth with many different types of beings. Bruce Willis does a great job in the Sci-Fi movie. Really good story and well executed. Extensive special effects and really wild sets. This is a must see sci-fi movie!
