Thanks for checking out our new feature, Forgotten Fridays. This is something we want to try out to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. I have done some of these reviews in the past called Forgotten Gems, but now we want to try and bring you something on a more regular basis.
Today’s review is The Fifth Element
THE GENERAL IDEA
The survival of humanity, becomes the duty of a taxicab driver (and former Special Forces member) named Korben Dallas (Willis) when a young woman named Leeloo (Jovovich) falls into his taxicab. She is the Fifth Element, whose appearance was prophesied by Father Vito Cornelius (Holm). Korben’s mission is to gather the other four elements (represented by four stones) before a dark planet that represents pure evil collides with Earth. Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg (Oldman), under the payroll of the Great Evil, hires the Mangalores, a slow-witted, shape-shifting, warrior-like alien race, who are also seeking out the four stones.
THE GOOD
Lets start with the obvious. The characters. Each and every person in this film just rocks. From the core cast of Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich, to the supporting core of Chris Tucker Gary Oldman and Ian Holm.
Bruno is basicly a futuristic John McLean with less German bank robbers after him. Which is fine. We love that version of Bruce. Milla is sexy and adorable, and her command over a language that doesn’t exist flows seamlessly from her lips.
Gary Oldman plays Zorg, the greedy mega corporate opportunist set on acquiring the stones which sets the task of fulfilling the phrophecy against ultimate evil astray. An awesome character driven by greed and his own ego.
Chris Tucker is amazing in this movie. Yeah, you heard me. Amazing. His DJ Radio Show host character “Ruby Rhod” is so over the top in personality and worshiping his own celebrity that you cant help but laugh at him when he squeals like a girl and is the most panic stricken character in the crisis.
Other characters like Zeus (Tom Lister Jr) from the WWF Wrestling film No Holds Barred as the Galactic President. Kim Chan once again plays an overly stereotyped Asian character selling noodles in his flying flotilla boat. As well as a number of known supermodels as flight attendants, McDonalds girl, etc.
The setting is cool. A futuristic New York has layered itself into a Coruscant of cityscape, with flying cars and wonderful technological advances, but life itself seems to mostly be the same. People sludge through their 9 to 5 ratrace just as they do today. It offered some cool and colourful costumes while still maintaining a state of familiarity.
The music is also pretty amazing. Very techno, and VERY much a part of the mood and feel. The music punctuates every step and motion without being so blatant about it. In one particular scene we get a tie in of The diva, Plavalaguna giving her techno opera performance which synchs perfectly with LeeLoo’s combat scene against the Mangalores.
Which also brings me to the editing and direction. There is a LOT going on in this film. To keep that all together and still tell a story with good pacing and delivery is a task on its own. Luc Besson makes this seem effortless and has multiple story angles running at the same time flipping back and forth between two scenes that are describing the same events from two different points of view. Incredible.
THE BAD
The scene where LeeLoo is “genetically reconstructed” always bothered me. Fascinating technology that we forgive because its the future but the idea that she was rebuilt based on some surviving cells and retains her memory and even hairstyle irks me. But that is just over analysing. It also bugged me that they had to toss in the moral dilemma “Why should I save the human race if you only seek to destroy each other” bit. Really not required, but I guess they felt that they should offer up a tiny bit of social commentary in an otherwise light adventure action sci-fi film.
I have heard other criticisms that the Mondoshawans created this supreme perfect being that couldn’t speak english, and knew nothing of Earth culture, but I recognize that as planned. Her purpose was to show up, meet the Priest, get the stones and perform the ritual at the pyramid in Egypt. She had no need to learn language (Her contact could understand the Divine language) and she wasn not required to interact with society as a whole. So I wasn’t bothered by that at all.
OVERALL
This is a perfect blend of action, adventure, comedy, and Sci-fi. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but its not so campy and silly that you don’t feel the tension of the combat scenes either.
Visually stunning, a fun adventure, and lovable characters. This is the only film I can say I liked Chris Tucker in (I tolerate him in Rush Hour, I like the movie and his interactions with Chan but not him on his own).
This also ranks high on my repeat viewers list. Some films I can watch over and over without getting tired of them and this is one of them.
Typically this is where we would write a “Out of 10″ rating, but since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I have made my own rating system.
TV – Make a point of watching it if you see it listed on TV.
Rent – Good enough to go out of your way to see it, but not enough to buy it.
Buy – So good. You will watch it again and again. Buy it!
So on a scale of TV, Rent or Buy I suggest BUY!
