The Fifth Element
Image From IMDB
The Fifth Element (1997)
I always remember just not really getting this film when it first came out, before a year or two later it quickly becoming one of my favourite movies. I can’t even really remember why I didn’t like it to begin with (other than Chris Tuckers annoying character who everyone else loves) but I can easily list all the reasons it’s brilliant now.
Fifth Element is bonkers from the word go. Every single character in the movie is absurd. Every set piece is just insane. The screen is constantly full of colour, world building, and hilarious dialogue. Best of all, everyone seems in all on the joke. There’s no straight character in the film. Everyone knows it’s nuts, and they all go with it,
The story follows the unlikely pairing of a futuristic taxi driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) and a supreme being who can save the world, Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) Together they need to gather the elemental stones and bring them to an ancient temple in order for Leeloo to destroy an evil entity hellbent on exterminating life.
Along the way we have endless McDonalds adverts, flying everything, Gary Oldman being the most outrageous he’s been since True Romance, every kind of fashion possible, incredibly opera singing aliens, Chris Tucker as the universe’s most annoying DJ, Bruce kicking ass, Milla kicking ass, and multipasses.
Every shot is colourful. Every line of dialogue is funny or moves the story forward. Every character has their moment no matter how big or small their role. The world building is stunning as we get to see an enormous busy city, a simple futuristic apartment (and the subtleties within that) a huge spaceship cruise liner and some insane advanced weaponry. I love the design of all the different aliens with each one being unique, and everything everywhere just feels thought out. The movie doesn’t sit on its hands at any point.
All the world building and colour is brought together brilliantly by Luc Besson who is hellbent on having a fast paced action flick, within his sci-fi comedy, and once again it somehow works. I could see how it could give people a headache, it did me the first time round, but when you let yourself get lost in this world, it’s spectacular.
Both Bruce and Milla nail their roles. Bruce playing a more cynical marine whose life hasn’t gone to plan but is looking for one last chance at happiness, and Milla as a wide-eyed alien learning about love and war. Their on screen chemistry is great, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Leeloo. I, like many many others could listen to her saying multi-pass on loop.
Fifth Element is just an extremely fun movie. It has some of the best world building you’ll ever see, amazing design and costumes. Outrageous characters and haircuts (I'm looking at you Zorg) The set pieces are all so well put together, and not a moment is wasted. I’m not a fan of Ruby Rhod (Tucker) but I know plenty are, and he does fit in with the craziness going on around them. There’s few films as creative as Fifth Element, and it’s a movie I'll forever rewatch and recommend.
