The Fifth Element

A movie by Luc Besson

With Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm, Gary Oldman

Monika says:

For millenia four stones that symbolize the four elements were stored in an egyptian pyramid, safe from human intervention. Only one priest knows about the power they represent. In the year 1914 archaeologists discover the secret of stones. A huge alien spaceship lands in the egyptian desert whose peaceful passengers take the stones with them. The priest who knows that every 5000 years Evil tries to squeeze through a crack in the universe to visit Earth promises to hand the knowledge about the stones down to coming generations. When the time has come the aliens will return with the stones to save the Earth.

300 years later the time has come. A gigantic fireball - the incarnation of Evil - races towards Earth and threatens to destroy it. The priest Vitus Cornelius (Ian Holm) who alone knows how to prevent this shares his knowledge with the American president (Tiny Lister Jr.). The four stones must be united with a fifth element in the pyramid to fend off Evil for another 5000 years. But the spaceship that brings the Guardian of the stones back to Earth is destroyed by the enemy. The scientists are only able to save a hand that is used to clone a new being. The result is a creature with supernatural powers named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), the incarnation of the fifth element and mankind's only hope. Leeloo runs away and jumps off a skyscraper, only to land in the airtaxi driven by Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis). The pair and Cornelius try to ward off the approaching doom. But they have to deal with Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman) who wants to get a hold of the stones.

Right from the beginning you feel like you've already seen this movie. Luc Besson borrowed from a number of science fiction flicks. The beginning comes straight out of Stargate by Roland Emmerich, and as the movie goes on the audience is frequently reminded of the Star Wars Trilogy. What may be a tribute to fans of the series is nothing but a nuisance to the rest of the world. At first the sets of 23rd century New York with its air traffic and the special effects are quite impressive, but the positive impression wears thin as the movie continues.

The 5th Element looks like a filmed-off comic strip. Luc Besson is well known for his stylish decor that raise his movies to cult status in and out of France. He has a distinct handwriting that can be recognized in the 5th Element as well. Only that he shows here how to go over the edge. There are faint memories of his earlier movies like Subway or La Femme Nikita evoked, but this movie never attains their quality. Everything is sacrificed for the visual element. This strange mixture of French and Hollywood-style movie making could have been fascinating but ends up being merely obnoxious. Luc Besson claimed to have lived his dream to make a movie like Star Wars. The elements taken from the Trilogy clash with the rest of the sets, e. g. the New York police looks like Darth Vader's troops and the evil aliens are familiar as well. 1977 the aliens were creative. 1997 it's like watching the Muppet Show.

There's another thing Star Wars and The 5th Element have in common: the way women are depicted. In George Lucas' fairy tale almost the only woman in sight was Princess Leia who had to be saved from Darth Vader. The few women appearing in The 5th Element are styled like mannequins and work at MacDonalds or as stewardess at the airport. Some people may find comfort in the thought that MacDonalds will still be there in the 23rd century. Others will be offended by the pushy advertising. Absolutely superfluous.

For bad guy Zorg Luc Besson reached deeply into the box of cliche and made him look like a future Hitler. Well, Monsieur Besson, a little more imagination, please. Gary Oldman hasn't done himself a favor in accepting this part. A villain straight out of German history in spite of his French name. A cliche worthy of Hollywood. Ridiculous and inappropriate.

The much lauded costumes designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier of course must be mentioned. One can safely assume that a large part of the immense costs of production of no less than 90 million US dollars was pocketed by the exclusive designer. There's no accounting for taste. Gaultier's excentric designs may not find everybody's approval. This time he has exceeded the boundaries of good taste quite a few times. Leeloo's outfit certainly appeals to the male element of the audience. As a woman one has only one wish: that this may not become the hottest trend in lingery. How much do you think was paid for this exclusive design? A few strips of gauze would have done the trick. The trendy color orange, that doesn't look good on too many people anyway, was used to the excess. Bruce Willis' undershirt matches Leeloo's orange hair, but it doesn't look good on him. It doesn't go with his hydrogen peroxide blonde hair. He earned himself a reputation with his brilliant performance in 12 Monkeys, but now marred it with his appearance in The 5th Element. Too bad, Mr. Willis, I was just beginning to believe that you are in fact a good actor. In this movie you just weren't allowed to act.

One of the few positive aspects of the movie is the soundtrack by Besson's favorite composer Eric Serra. The ultra modern music provides an atmosphere many similar Hollywood flicks lack. The French influence in the movie is bigger than it seems at first sight, but still it's not a very convincing effort. Even the special effects are at times crude and not very professional.

Pubertal attempt to make a modern French version of Star Wars. Embarrassing and superfluous.

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Monika Hübner