The Fifth Element

The seasoned badass Corben Dallas, the fragile Leeloo, the confused mastermind Vito Cornelius and the charismatic bad guy Zorg, (not only) these characters make The Fifth Element a brisk and wacky spectacle that I like to watch from time to time. I must commend the production design, make-up effects and costumes, as there was no limit to the imagination in this respect. The breathtaking and unearthly performance of Plavalaguna interspersed with the action-packed duel between Leeloo and Mangalore always gets me, while on the other hand I am always annoyed by the antics of Ruby Rhodes, who is similarly likeable as Jar Jar Binks. In the end, it's a goofy romp, but in a good way. (03/08/2019)

For some time, I managed to avoid this film, but I finally decided it was time to watch it. I’d heard that it’s a bunch of nonsense, but the kind you genuinely enjoy. And, honestly, it’s no surprise. The chameleon Gary Oldman looks like he accidentally gave himself a lobotomy while putting on a toupee, and seeing a blond Bruce Willis isn’t something you encounter every day. Not to mention the tiny colorful elephants, the screaming Chris Tucker, and the stuttering Ian Holm. This film is truly a first-degree madness, especially when you look at what people are wearing. It’s the pinnacle of extravagance, something The Hunger Games didn’t even come close to. You’ll also laugh. Maybe not so much that you’ll be clutching your sides, but you’ll at least be smiling. This film is infectious. It’s absurd, but only to the extent that it doesn’t cross the line. And so, you can easily forgive its clichéd ending, which delivers the one truth: Love must triumph because only love can save the world. (16/02/2013)

A pastiche of boredom and grayness, despite being artfully wrapped in loud colors. I think I might even have liked The Fifth Element... If it weren’t for one detail. Constant attempts at unintentionally infantile “humor". And I didn’t swallow Besson’s game of pretending that this has a large, rich and chiseled mythology behind it. The Fifth Element has its moments, but, considering how long it is, there are too few of them. (29/01/2007)

The story, which takes us from 1914 to the 23rd century very quickly, has been waiting 20 years to be realized. It’s therefore not surprising that it is not accessible to everyone the first time they watch it. It's part parody of a parody and part celebration of fantasy. I am happy for Moebius and Maïwenn Le Besco. (12/12/2009)

It's a real pity that Chris Tucker is involved. As entertaining as he usually is, here he is more annoying and ruins an otherwise great movie with his performances. The same can be said about Luc Besson himself, who, despite having created a wonderfully fantastic world with a fascinating mythology, couldn't hold back his imagination in the middle part, making the storyline feel a bit cluttered and rushed (especially regarding Corben's development). The biggest strengths of the film are, of course, the adorable Milla Jovovich and the slimy Gary Oldman. (04/09/2006)