THE FIFTH ELEMENT

My mate Dick told me that everybody and everything will be dead by the 23rd Century, due to the fact that movies will be so bad, the whole planet will commit suicide on mass. Or else the 23rd Century will be this film Directed by Luc Besson; and Starring: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, and Chris Tucker. It was made in 1997, and lasts for 127-minutes.

The Fifth Element

THE STORY:
Now if it wasn't bad enough that 23rd Century Earth is under threat from an ancient force from beyond the stars, to make matters even worse, roguish cab-driver, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), isn't having a very good time of it at the moment either.

You see, for a start, Korben's taxi is wrecked when a half-naked regenerated female-hybrid, named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), plummets into it whilst she is escaping from the authorities. Next, he is shunned by Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm), when he takes Leeloo to him for safe keeping. Plus, on top of that, Korben is forced to go to 'Paradise' and retrieve the 'four elemental stones' from an opera singer called Diva, so that the 'powers that be' can save the Earth.

All on a Tuesday no less!!!!

Well, just so you know, just prior to Korben's prodding, a smarmy arms dealer called Jean-Baptiste Zorg (Gary Oldman), plus his ugly looking accomplices (a race called the Mangalores), both thought that they had these powerful artifacts in their possession. However, when they eventually find out that this was not the case, the race is now on to get these little beauties back any which way they can.

But still, do you honestly think that is an easy thing for Korben, Zorg, or the Mangalores to do? Especially with all in sundry after them?

No - afraid not.

Korban has to ally himself with Leeloo, whilst suffering the presence of popular radio talk-show host, Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker). Zorg on the other hand has to shot, slide, banter, and hide his way into view, whilst avoiding the police in the processes. And as for the Mangalores? Errr. They do OK. Even if they do have a bit of bother getting past passport control.

Now as time ticks on, and shit happens, eventually all three of these factions collide just as the opera singer, Diva, is harmonizing on stage. Though that is most probably why what next transpires is a right floob in the wagga-wagga all in all. As bad-guys go bang - aliens speak slang - everyone can spot the elephant - and when is it time for the fifth element?

Or something like that anyway.

THE REVIEW:

OK, so before I jabba-jabba my mo-mo about this great flick-flick, please allow me to spangle my yamma-yamma trivia style.

Or in other words, it's trivia time!!! (1) The director of 'The Fifth Element', Luc Besson, wrote the original screenplay for this movie when he was in high school. (2) The parasites which were being disinfected from the landing gear of the airplane are actually Boglins - the 1980s puppet toys. (3) The Friedrich Nietzsche quote "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" which was recited by Gary Oldman at the beginning of this film, was also quoted 11 years later by Gary's co-star in 'The Dark Knight', Heath Ledger. (4) The original name for Chris Tucker's character, Ruby Rhod, was actually Loc Rhod, and its creation was inspired by the musicians Prince and Lenny Kravitz. (5) For it's time, 1996/97, this movie was the most expensive production in Gaumont's history, plus it had the highest special effects budget too, $80 million, give or take a cent. (6) This movie opened the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. (7) The crowd populating the backgrounds during the visual effects sequences were the artists and employees at Digital Domain whom worked on this film. (8) Two French comic book artists aided in the visual style of this film - Jean Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières of 'Moebius' fame. (9) The language spoken by Leeloo was invented and innovated by both Luc Besson and by Milla Jovovich on the set. By the end of the film they were able to have full conversations in it. (10) Gary Oldmans' character and Bruce Willis' character never meet, and are subliminally framed in each scene by either a circle or a rectangle respectively. And (11) Milla's hair was initially damaged due to the harsh color changes made, and she had to wear a wig for most of the film.

Well, now that I have pistil-frayed the snob-gland with my trivia-spurge - 'The Fifth Element' - wonk or cronk? Errr. I really do like it. If that helps?

You see, in retrospect, this flick does a number of great things on a number of different levels. For example, it takes the basic 'the world is going to die by an unknown hand' ploy, and then garnishes it with a touch of 'Blade Runner' type sci-fi (click here for review), whilst simultaneously adding a spattering of 'dark humor' and 'Dr Who' like villains. Moreover, what it also does, it add an extra edge to this movie too, which comes in the form of manga-esque undertones and a jovial and over the top acting style.

Please note, this is not a slur by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, I just love this type of stuff. Especially when it is carried out by a mixture of America's finest stars and England's most stalwart performers. Well - come on - lets face it - it is not everyday that you see Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and Lee Evans in a scene together! Also, its not every day that you get to see silly scenes like this either...

Class, right? And this is exactly the type of thing that you'll see in a movie as good as this one. Heck, personally speaking, I cannot fault it. The whole cast is great. The art direction is very Terry Gilliam in tone. The story if simple and funny in flavor. Plus in addition to this you get to see Milla Jovovich half naked!