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Twenty years ago, French director Luc Besson (Nikita, Leon: The Professional) gave us The Fifth Element, which was actually a good sci-fi film not made in Hollywood. On July 21, 2017, he'll give us Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, a theatrical adaptation of the popular French sci-fi comic book series Valérian and Laureline (which was one of the inspirations for The Fifth Element). The film stars Dane DeHaan (Andrew in Chronicle, Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2), Carla Delevingne (Enchantress in Suicide Squad), Clive Owen (Dwight in Sin City, Mr. Smith in Shoot 'Em Up), Rihanna (overrated pop singer who helped sink Battleship), Kris Wu (some Chinese singer, as these films must somehow appeal to the Chinese market), John Goodman (Hound in Transformers: Age of Extinction, Fred in The Flintstones), Ethan Hawke (Vincent/Jerome in Gattaca, Jesse in Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight), and Rutger Hauer (Roy Batty in Blade Runner, Cardinal Roark in Sin City). Will it be as good as The Fifth Element, or will it be Jupiter Ascending bad? Only time will tell. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets @ IMDb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkX7dHjL-aY The Fifth Element Gaumont/Columbia Pictures, 1997 Columbia Tri-Star Home Video, 2005 Directed by Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional) Written by Luc Besson (The Transporter trilogy, the Taken trilogy) and Robert Mark Kamen (The Karate Kid, Kiss of the Dragon) Running Time: 126 minutes Rated PG-13 for violence, nudity, suggestive sexual situations and strong language. Cast Bruce Willis (David Addison in Moonlighting, Mikey in Look Who's Talking) as Korben Dallas Milla Jovovich (Katinka in Zoolander, Maya in Kuffs) as Leeloo Minai Lekarariba-Laminai-Tchai Ekbat De Sebat. Gary Oldman (Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, Drexl Spivey in True Romance) as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg Ian Holm (Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings, Mr. Kurtzmann in Brazil) as Priest Vito Cornelius Chris Tucker (Smokey in Friday, Det. James Carter in Rush Hour) as DJ Ruby Rhod Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr. as President Lindberg Brion James (1945-1999) (Leon in Blade Runner, Ben in 48 Hours) as General Munro Maïwenn Le Besco as Diva Plavalaguna Luke Perry (Dylan in Beverly Hills 90210, Oliver in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Billy Masterson Synopsis Heavily inspired by bandes dessinees (that's "comics" in French) artists Jean-Claude Mezieres (Valerian) and Jean "Moebius" Giraud (Blueberry, Metal Hurlant), renowned French director Luc Besson collaborated with the two in 1992 to develop an ambitious sci-fi project tentatively titled Zaltman Bleros. While character and production sketches were being developed, the project was put on hold, pending support from a Hollywood company. But when Besson's 1993 film Léon: The Professional became a worldwide hit, he reunited with Mezieres and Moebius and resumed production of their project, now renamed The Fifth Element. Released in 1997, The Fifth Element tells the tale of Korben Dallas, a New York cab driver in the 23rd century who encounters a mysterious girl named Leeloo. He later on ends up having to protect Leeloo, as she holds the key to the five elements that will protect Earth from all evil, not to mention a corrupt industrialist named Zorg who wants the elements for his own profit. If the five elements are not joined within 48 hours, all life on Earth will cease to exist. Korben Dallas: "Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages: English and bad English." [Leeloo continues to talk in divine language] Korben Dallas: "Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for conversation, but maybe you could just shut up for a minute?" Lowdown Imagine Blade Runner mixed with Star Wars, with a little European style to it. You have The Fifth Element. Yes, the story leaves much to be desired, but The Fifth Element is pure eye candy with breathtaking set designs, dazzling visual effects and Milla Jovovich half-naked in the first half of the film. Bruce Willis, as usual, plays a scrawny, gun-toting S.O.B. Gary Oldman, on the other hand, does a good job playing the neurotic Zorg. (Of course, it pales in comparison to his role as Stansfield in Léon.) And while this film launched Jovovich's career, nothing else she's done afterwards has been worthwhile. But the one who steals the show is Chris Tucker, who plays the gender-challenged DJ Ruby Rhod. In many of his scenes, you'll either laugh or just tell him to shut up. The music by Eric Serra (GoldenEye, Bulletproof Monk) is a mix of orchestra and techno, but the highlight of the soundtrack is the Diva's captivating performance. Definitely worth buying the OST. If you're a sci-fi freak or just a casual movie buff, check out The Fifth Element. Proof that the French can also produce a great sci-fi epic. Police: "Are you classified as human?" Korben Dallas: "Negative, I am a meat popsicle." Rating: A- "Anybody else want to negotiate?" - Korben Dallas DVD Extras: A+ If you have a previous version of The Fifth Element on DVD (regular or Superbit), trade it in, as this two-disc edition is loaded with everything you wanted to know about the movie, and then some: Check-in Attendant: "Mr. Rhod, you are going to have to assume your individual position." DJ Ruby Rhod: "I don't want one position, I want all positions!" Disc 1Film feature available in DTS 6.1 or Dolby Digital 5.1 English. Fact Track. Liner notes that flash during the film. Disc 2 The Visual Element. Interviews with Mezieres and Moebius, plus test shots of the film's set designs. The Digital Element. A look at the film's dazzling visual effects, plus interviews with the staff of Digital Domain. The Star Element. Interviews with Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Chris Tucker. The Alien Element. Information on the Mondoshawans, the Mangalores, Zorg's pet Picasso and other races that didn't make it in the final cut. The Fashion Element. A look at the wardrobe of 23rd century Earth, plus screen tests of Korben and Leeloo's outfits. The Diva. An interview with the actress behind the blue makeup and prosthetics, plus test shots and outtakes of her concert performance. Poster Gallery. Pics of theatrical posters from all over the world. Too bad none of these features are available on Blu-ray. Speaking of which, Sony screwed up on the Blu-ray release of this film not once, but twice. The first in 2006 being a really bad video transfer, and while the second release in 2007 featured an improved picture, that's all it had. References The Internet Movie Database