The Fifth Element Reviews

An absurd, visually spectacular, totally goofy sci-fi good vs. evil tale that takes place in a futuristic society where a taxi cab driver (Bruce Willis) is compelled to assist an alien (Milla Jovovich) in bringing down the evil planet that is threatening to destroy earth. It's a ridiculously nerdy script of the highest order, but the film's ability to come across as totally self-aware of it's insanity is a nice surprise, as sometimes you will see sci-fi films go with the pretentious "this is important" approach. It's a hard movie to recommend because it is so stupid and totally goofy in a campy way, but I have to say I enjoyed it. Sure it is a little over-long, but any time you have Gary Oldman sporting a southern accent and being in total villain mode, how can you not help but watch? The visuals are very impressive for its day and age, and Willis's workmanlike performance is a nice move. Not everyone's cup of tea by a large stretch, but for fans of sci-fi, it has to be respected.

The Fifth Element is like Spaceballs that takes itself serious. Director Besson is clearly in love with his own future-vision, but it just feels like something that 7-year old boy could write while daydreaming.
Even the crazy costumes by Gaultier and Eric Serra's corny if adventurous soundtrack cannot save this one from being nothing else but a expensive camp.
It seems to me that Besson was not aiming for pure camp but that is what this film is and not in a good way.
All the manic set pieces, horrible performances, Chris Tucker's screaming (which isannoying as hell), candy colours and far out plot, The Fifth Element cannot rise to be nothing more than a ridicilous attempt to create something new in the science fiction.
Besson has ideas, maybe even too many ideas for his film. Now evertyhing just goes out of the hand and ends up being a messy affair.
For science fiction fans this film offers nothing that special or worth to see. Not one of Besson's brightest moments.

The Fifth Element simply dazzles in all aspects. Congratulations Luc Besson.The plot is easy to pickup and follow, even for a picture heavy on the science fiction. Most of the high tech and futuristic elements are left to the imagination with very little explanations to back them up; however, the film easily makes up for it with its characters, visuals, and 120 minute story. One in which the lead hero and villain never cross paths.The settings and costumes are highly eccentric, yet somehow mesh right into the nature of the film. The use of CG is employed at the right times in good combination with a fitting soundtrack.Bruce Willis is a fine selection for the lead; able to dish out the pain and the humor in balanced quantities. Milla Jovovich is a scene stealer with her outlandish character. Gary Oldman is just superb as Zorg.Coming from all directions The Fifth Element is excellent. There is so much memorable pieces which makes it a highly recommendable picture.

Utterly loopy plot is what makes this French/American space adventure story so intoxicating. Apparently, writer/director Luc Besson began the script for The Fifth Element when he was only 16 years old. The naïve perspective benefits the material; the refreshingly straightforward conflict between good and evil is explored in a most satisfying way. Besson was influenced by the French comic books he read as a teenager and the production features all of the attributes of their stylish color and composition. Any frame of film could easily be frozen as a panel, completed with dialogue bubbles and the tableau would make a fine publication. The production is ridiculously over the top. The incredibly detailed sets are visually stunning. From the futuristic 3-D highways of Brooklyn New York to the backdrop of planet Earth during the opera concert on Planet Fhloston, every scene is a feast for the eyes. But even that clichéd phrase simply does not do this display justice.

For me, The Fifth Element embodies the phrase "cinematically dazzling" more than any other picture. Production design, fashion, music, an international cast, all of it integrated to form a shining model of a sensory celebration. There have certainly been flicks that have been equally stylish, but none to surpass it. French director Luc Besson has been a highly successful force in movie making. One of the most "Hollywood" of all French filmmakers, he has perhaps grown somewhat more mainstream and predictable as time has passed. The Fifth Element remains his transcendent combination of artistry and commerce. Besson's delightful rumination on good vs. evil creates excitement. It's uplifting in it's naïveté, the triumph of love. Naturally these positives wouldn't matter if we didn't have individuals we actually cared about. There's a palpable joie de vivre here, rarely this tangible in big budget science fiction. That feeling is underscored throughout the film concluding with the final shot.

Quite a side-step to Bruce's usual action films, an 'okay' structured film, but could be improved in most parts of the film.

A fun movie. A little different and a little silly...but in a good way. A interesting plot. Solid performence by Willis. And great performence by Milla. That language she's talking feels so natural. Overall....a good movie. But uagh!...That is just a god awful haircut on Gary Oldman. Didn't really think the movie needed Chris Tucker though.

A really good Sci-Fi film, but after a recent viewing, I realized that it's not as good as I once it thought it was. Too many weak performances, poor writing, and cliche futuristic scenes keep this one in a lower category than classics like Blade Runner, The Matrix, or Dark City.

Perhaps Besson's most popular film, a futuristic battle of good and evil that's highly engaging and loads of fun. Nice performances from the cast.

A good futuristic movie starring Bruce Willis. It's visually awesome and the story is good too. If you like sci-fi movies you should check it out.

You know, I may worship films like "Brazil" and other films that are considered elitist, but "The Fifth Element" is something very rare: A dumb film that works.
Let me explain: You know how Transformers has a problem with the fact that in spite of having masturbation jokes and Bumblebee relieving himself on a government agent, it still wants to be taken seriously? The Fifth Element doesn't have this problem. This movie knows that its plot isn't dense and that it's insanely unhinged/over-the-top and it rolls with that fact. It only tries to shove a little seriousness down your throat towards the end, but this is (thankfully) negated by some good gags towards the end. In total, I adore this movie, it's just kind of awesome in the dumbest way possible.

Talking about scifi extravaganza. I really enjoy Luc Besson movies, and this one is not an exception. It's a constatnt bombarding of gags, action scenes and amazing art concept (in my opinion). The main character Korben Dallas received a prize from the sky. Literally. That makes this taxi driver to follow a serie of events that will enroll him in a great adventure to save the universe. Gary Oldman plays a very funny and crazy villain here. Its a classic. Popcorn ready.

It's the weirdest, coolest futuristic movie I've ever seen. The story is pretty cool and Gary Oldman is especially cool as the arch-villain. It's rare to find a sci-fi movie like this anymore. Bruce Willis is of course the go-to action king of films.

A staple in comic-book-like SciFi movie making, Fifth element has it all; awesome world-concepts, bizarre futuristic pop culture, over the top elements of grander.

Call it a shallow story, call it formulaic, hell even call it cliche. In the end it's a well directed hero-lead-action-adventure. Very Indiana Jones if you ask me.

I believe there are two kinds of people out there: people who enjoyed The Fifth Element and those who did not. There are many reasons why this is. Most people were on board with the solid cast, special effects, and futuristic premise. I truly believe they could get behind all that using suspension of disbelief and a taste for epic explosions. Then there are the movie lovers who saw all the glaring flaws and annoyances. For example: Chris Tucker. Do I really need to say more? They may also have been weirded out by all the mystery of this so-called Fifth Element, the cartoonish future, and Gay Oldman's costume. Seriously, he looks like a Lady Gaga wannbe with half a plastic helmet on his head. Is this supposed to be menacing, or an error they just overlooked? Yeah its annoying on many levels, but looking past them, there are grains of enjoyable film. The chemistry between Jovovich and Willis sizzles, Jovovich is perfectly cast for the part of a strange and innocent weapon for mankind's salvation, and it was at least somewhat intriguing. Goofy sometimes results in really enjoyable films.

I grew up with this movie and have a blast everytime I watch it! Bruce Willis delivers a cool performance and Milla Jovovich does the same. The visuals are amazing and the action is great! One of my favorite sci-fi films. Once you see it, one character from the movie will always stay in your heads...Leeloo.

"Aziz! Light!"

A good concept ruined by a bad script and story. Plus Chris Tucker has a role in this film. That just tells you what your in for. Dcent action is ruined by his whinning and screaching. A film with nothing going for it, The Fifth Element is a bad Sci Fi action film.

This movie brings every level of sci-fi films to the table and completely shatters the records held by them all. It was a perfect film that had a really good scene to conclude the movie. The way they lit up the elements and how it was put together, was simply astonishing. This film rocked my socks off in ways that I cannot explain!

B

One of my favorite movies of all time. Plenty of action, comedy, and fun. Costume and set design compete with Chris Tucker's performance as the best part of the movie, but Gary Oldman's Zorg is the best movie bad guy out of any movie I've seen.

Oh yeah, and then there's the Blue Diva.

Seriously a must-see if you have any inclination towards Sci-Fi or Comedy.