Besson Contemplates Post-"Fifth Element" Return to Sci-Fi

"The Fifth Element" was Luc Besson's only foray into science fiction. Though praised by many fans and critics, the experience was so frustrating for the filmmaker that he has never tried the genre again. But now that technology would make such films easier, he's got ideas.

"I think of it," said Besson. "Not before two or three years [but] I got an idea I think."

Besson cannot share much of his idea, because he's started from the back forward and wouldn't want to spoil it. "I start to have the ending which is good. Let?s not blow the flame."

"The Fifth Element" was made just before the techno-revolution that allowed CGI to become a common practice in any kind of film. Thus, it was much more difficult than it would have been only one year later.

"I did 'The Fifth Element' at probably the wrong moment because I was so frustrated to see that a year after that, the tools that we had to do special effects went from five to 50. For me it was a nightmare. I have to work 12 hours to do one still shot with the blue screen and the thing. I was so frustrated to see two or three years later how easy it was. So that frustrated me and I really would love to do another sci-fi where I can be much more free with the special effects."

Now, time and money won't limit Besson's vision. "It?s new tools, you can really do anything you want now. It?s not so much a question of money. It?s a question of imagination and how to be able to do it. You have an idea but before, you can?t do it. The Fifth Element was a nightmare. Some shots, just her jumping with the cars, you do that now like this [snaps fingers.] It was a nightmare."

Comments

PunkJr

Jason Burrows

The Fifth Element is one of my all time favorite movies, so if he's able to do something on the same level with the tools he has available now, I'd definately be first in line to see it! =)

Mar 14 - 10:39 AM

nardoguz

Bernardo Guzman

[b]6th[/b]
i love the fifth element, so bring on the sci-fi

Mar 14 - 10:59 AM

elziard

elzeard bouffier

one of my top 25 films. i loved the visuals and the tone. when set next to 'Leon', it has such a vivid imagination and humor that it's hard to believe the two were from the same mind.
fantastic.

Mar 14 - 11:21 AM

Unbreakable Samurai

Unbreakable Samurai

Very good movie, I would love to see another Sci-Fi film from Besson.

Mar 14 - 11:26 AM

murray84

kyle murray

didnt besson say he was "retired" after that kids movie?

Mar 14 - 11:49 AM

TheIceGhost

Harry Myland

RottenTomatoes DEFINITELY reported a couple months back that he did retire (or that Besson said he was going to). I was sad over it because Leon (or The Professional) is one of my all time favorite flicks. Now apparantly, he's back...some retirement. I won't complain though.

Mar 14 - 09:01 PM

stevegilpin

Steven Gilpin

[b]CGI may be easy, but often lame as well[/b]
I really liked the Fifth Element as well. On special effects, though, I would have to say that CGI is often tedious and doesn't look as good as something that took forever and was painstakingly built.....make-up effects, miniatures, models, all these things have real "weight" onscreen, whereas giant CGI armies heading towards a giant CGI castle doesn't really do anything for me.
I think filmmakers are getting lazier as technology progresses. I think a hybrid of computer technology and more practical special effects should be used for these big Sci-Fi action films that we (and, admittedly, I) love going to see.
In any case, a new Sci-Fi from Luc Besson could be really excellent. I hope he does it.

Mar 14 - 11:54 AM

narfellus

narfellus parfellus

I agree, going the CGI would make me say, "oh, that looks like a cartoon effect." It's exactly what i thought of every inch of the new SW trilogy. don't get me wrong, i loved the 5th Element, i just don't want to see it go the route of most other supposedly "better" computer effects.

Mar 15 - 10:20 AM

timov

bob jones

awesome. Besson is fantastic and the fifth element is one of my top 5 of all time. he just needs to bring moebius along for the second round as well.

Mar 14 - 01:52 PM

PhreazerBurn

Drew NoneAhYoBidness

[b]I hope not...[/b]
I hope he isn't retired because he is one of my favorite directors.

Mar 14 - 03:50 PM

Meow Skywalker

Tim Rosenberger

Lord, I seriously doubt he could possibly make anything worse than Arthur and the Invisibles.

But yeah, after some of the effects in The Fifth Element, cg effects would be a bit of a let down.

Mar 14 - 07:41 PM

wilkiedriver

Aaron Wilkins

I appreciate "The Fifth Element" even more, but this was deja vu for me.

I saw it on TNT last week (I only have the crappy original DVD, so I prefer even the full-screen version), and I got to thinking, "This movie came out when Episode I was only in pre-production...so how in the hell does it still look great before the real CGI revolution started?"

Episode I sucked ass, but the tools and technology changed so much for the movie industry as whole, that you would have to sit down and amaze about how far we come...and how good "The Fifth Element" still looks after 10 years later.

Mar 14 - 09:59 PM

RussRuss467913

Russell Brown

if le dernier combat wasnt sci fi what was it?

Mar 15 - 09:05 AM

Kid_Ikarus

Josh Thornton

The Fifth Element is one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever, and i ADORE Eric Serra's score.

Mar 15 - 09:59 AM

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