The Fifth Element [Blu-ray]

The Fifth Element is a movie full of contradiction. It is all at once loud, dark, funny, frightening, and clumsy, while at the same time is full of hypnotic and carefully rendered detail. Though the basic plot of the movie is about a massive evil that threatens all life as we know it, on a deeper level it’s about good versus evil, light versus dark, creation versus destruction, love versus hate. With its stunningly gorgeous futuristic graphics and a story that focuses on a heroine who must overcome the atrocities of death and war to fully experience love and life, it’s clear that The Fifth Element is a symbol of life, love, and art.The Fifth Element is a sci-fi action film that was created by Luc Besson and released in May 1997. Its sub-genres include fantasy, action, romance, and comedy. Reviews have declared it both the best and worst sci-fi movie of all times, having been nominated for prestigious award as well as Golden Raspberries. Though the story is full of plot holes and underdeveloped characters, the mesmerizing visuals and details are simply too gorgeous to ignore. It’s the amazingly detailed effort that Besson put into world-building that allows the audience to believe that the film takes place in a real world that’s in danger.The Fifth Element takes place on Earth in the year 2263. The story focuses on Korben Dallas, an ex-military cab driver, who unwittingly becomes the main protagonist who must search for and protect five legendary cosmic elements to save the world from destruction. Unbeknownst to him, the fifth element is a perfect being that was created for the sole purpose of saving humanity. As the embodiment of the fifth element, Leeloo must combine the power of the other four into a divine light capable of defeating the Great Evil. However, having witnessed and researched so much war and death, Leeloo loses hope in humanity and refuses to cooperate. It’s only after Dallas confesses his love to Leeloo that she can release the divine light and save the world.The Fifth Element offers a variety of design aspects to enhance a moment in a scene. For example, the scenes featured in the trailer offer insight into the darkness of the presence that is threatening the Earth. As the object of evil approaches, the darkness that is descending upon the Earth begins to fall in the form of cut scenes, first in space and then upon the Egyptian tomb. The costumes and make-up in the film are made up of both futuristic and traditional items. In one scene with Dallas, there is a modern fish tank, as well as a modified fold-a-way bed. In the ending scene, the director uses light from the four elements to focus onto Leeloo, creating a cross and turning Leeloo into a symbol of new beginnings, hope and salvation. Each aspect here adds to the viewer’s believability of the movie.As mentioned previously, the director took careful consideration with every detail of the film. What is chosen in each shot and how these elements are arranged in each frame helps in creating a certain reality for the viewer. For example, in almost every scene with Zorg, there is a circle behind him, signifying him as the villain. Dallas, on the other hand, almost always has a rectangle behind him. Furthermore, triangles are used to represent the elements and planetary alignment. In one particular scene, Dallas is running from the police and as he speeds around a corner, the camera reveals that six more cars are waiting for him. In the far background, viewers can see another chase taking place between another police car and a long black car. These compositions of figures and backgrounds helps create a truly believable world.The lighting throughout the movie is kept low-key to better establish a mood of imminent danger. Even during the scenes involving both Dallas and Leeloo, their background is darkened. The movement of the film shows how Dallas becomes drawn to Leeloo. The more he comes to care for her, the more frenzied his actions become. For example, in the scene where Dallas is drying Leeloo off, the camera rarely moves. It gradually pans closer to the couple in a slow process to make the scene more intimate. Later, when Dallas is fighting the Mangalores, the camera moves frantically, the shots are faster, and the mise-en-scene is messier. The lighting is a constant reminder of the lurking danger, whereas the movement helps the viewer to realize how important Leeloo will become to Dallas.The Fifth Element combines a vibrant color scheme with classic neutrals to create a perfect blend of a futuristic feel and everyday reality. In Leeloo’s introduction, the color gold is used to set her apart as the supreme being. She later is seen wearing golden disco pants combined with a cream crop top and orange suspenders. Both Leeloo and Dallas dress in orange, which is used to express the developing relationship between them. The color purple is given to the president to acknowledge his higher, almost royal-like, status.Along with the movement, the camera distance also adds to the relationship of Dallas and Leeloo. When the camera is zoomed out, not only are viewers able to see stunning visuals of the city and planets, but the actions and event are more hectic. In the scene where Leeloo has escaped the lab and is walking on a building perch, the camera pans out to show the hustle and bustle of a busy city. However, in the intimate scenes involving Leeloo and Dallas, the camera zooms in and the events around them become calmer.The editing used in The Fifth Element are a perfect example of parallel editing. For example, in the opera scene, Plavalaguna first begins a soft acapella aria. During this time, the shots switch between her and Leeloo, who is patiently waiting quietly. As the song becomes more intense, so do the events surrounding Leeloo. As she beings fighting the Mangalores, the film cuts back and forth between the singer’s intense song and Leeloo’s fight. As the music climaxes and the fighting intensifies, the beat of the song matching the actions of the fight and ends with both women taking a bow. This scene is edited in an artistic and creative way to help the viewers focus on two important events that happen at the same time.In conclusion, The Fifth Element represents a story of love and life. Had Dallas not expressed his love for Leeloo, then she would never had found the power to save mankind. From her rebirth to releasing the divine light, Leeloo embodies all that is pure and holy, while the great evil symbolizes death and destruction. Furthermore, it’s no wonder that The Fifth Element was the 9th highest grossing film of that year worldwide, earning more than $263 million. The stunning visuals and world-building that were put into the film help the viewer overlook the plot holes, unnecessary characters, and continuity mistakes. Everything from the view of the city to the lavish bedrooms and opera hall on Flostan Paradise are works of art.

Bruce Willis is at his best! He & the wonderful cast make this a crack-up and have a stirring drama movie. Loved this pic since it first came out and still watch and love it more. Great special effects and just a very good movie to settle into. Only problem for me was the widescreen showing (it was stretched too tight and only filled 1/3 of my screen --- don't know why but some widescreen shows are perfect and others are like this). I highly recommend the movie, though! Delivered very fast.

One of my all time favorite Bruce Willis movies. 4k really is great and added to my enjoyment of watching this movie for the 20th or so time.

Fantastic movie, stands the test of time.

Easily one of my favorite movies…EVER! It’s a zany, exhilarating, sci-fi adventure movie about hope, love and overcoming evil to save the Universe. Featuring a slew of highly memorable and quotable characters, I can happily watch it any time.Director Luc Besson (Leon: The Professional, La Femme Nikita) is an artist, and bonkers characters fill his pallet. From the zany opening scenes we find a strangely divine character dynamic in Egypt, an evil planet attack loaded with sci-fi zest, and our graphic novel-esque antihero starts his day to one of the most cosmically cool soundtracks to emerge from the 90s.Corbin (Bruce Willis; A Good Day to Die Hard) is a has-been decorated military officer who now struggles to keep his cat fed and license to drive his hover-cab valid. He awakens like a washed up John McClane after a rough night, expresses that he wishes he had a woman in his life, and dodges calls from his pestilent boss and mother.Despite the massive amount of looney transpiring on screen, we meet numerous memorable and substantial characters and all of them will make you smile. Tiny “Zeus” Lister (Friday, No Holds Barred) is an intergalactic President. Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm; Lord of the Rings, Alien) informs him that they have only 48 hours to stop a cosmic force of ancient evil which will wipe out all life in the Universe and only one thing can stop it: a mystical supreme being.After an attack, remnants of an engineered lifeform are recovered and reconstituted into a genetically “perfect” orange-haired woman. Clothed in the thermal bandages so beloved by Comic Con cosplayers around the world, Leeloo (Milla Jovavich; Resident Evil 1-7, Faces in the Crowd) escapes into a world that she clearly doesn’t understand and falls into Corbin’s cab babbling a dead language and being all sorts of indescribably adorable.When she asks Corbin for help, hardly understanding her own tear-soaked words, no one with a heart could say no. Although Corbin almost does. But in helping her, he earns her trust and becomes her antihero protector and the co-savior of the Universe.Peppering more crazy into the cast, Gary Oldman (Leon: The Professional, The Dark Knight) serves up his villainy deliciously as Zorg. Despite being a super-rich evil mastermind, he makes a lot of poor decisions. Rounding out all manner of plays and players, Chris Tucker (Rush Hour 1-3, Friday) is brilliantly idiosyncratic as the manic sex-addict Radio Host Ruby Rod, and Maïwenn (High Tension, Leon: The Professional) plays the mystical operatic Diva.The favorite scene of mine would have to be the Diva’s concert. The Diva’s song is unlike anything you’ve heard, and its high notes score and punctuate the action of Leeloo’s awesome fight sequence on the Floston Paradise cruise ship. There is nothing technically wowing about the fight choreography, which is clearly meant to be more amusingly dynamic than a demonstration of martial prowess, but with the music and Besson’s humorous approach I could watch it all day. This scene steamrolls into a bigger, longer, more explosive action sequence full of Corbin’s cynicism, Ruby’s hysteria, and Leeloo’s endangerment.Now almost 20 years old, The Fifth Element’s special effects will not wow you. And whereas I feel they hold up more than well enough on their own, when combined with the score the scenes remain highly entertaining. The music alone will ignite your attention. This is especially evident during the taxi-police chase scene, during which I completely forgive the dated CGI as I watch Leeloo pinballing around the back seat to Cheb Khaled’s “Alech Taadi.”Most entertaining for me is how Leeloo (the supreme being) speeds through the internet learning 5000 years of history, culture and language, along with mastering Kung Fu in order to save all humanity much as Neo (“the one”) did in The Matrix (1999)…two years later, and now apparently less original. Of course, The Fifth Element isn’t 100% original either—in fact, Ug in Critters (1986) did the same thing. You’ll find parallels and homages to loads of other sci-fi. Many ships look like Empire Star Destroyers, there’s the Dark Side of the Force and Mr. Shadow coming to bring darkness to the Universe, and the Diva appears to be a cross between the Xenomorph and Jabba’s Twi’lek slave girl dancer Oola. Oh, and Bruce Willis is basically playing Die Hard in Space—but in the best way possible!For all its awesome fun, it’s Leeloo that breathes life into this film. Leeloo is among the most beloved characters in the Sci-Fi genre—making the ranks of Yoda, Luke and Han. When Leeloo smiles it’s sincere emotion, naïve to the workings of the world around her, and she will infect your heart. There is such purity to her goodness. And when she says “multipass” it will brighten your day.I recommend this movie to everyone. EVERYONE. I was 16 when I saw it in theaters so I know this movie carries a lot of nostalgia for me. But watching this just makes me feel good, satisfied, happy, hopeful, warm-fuzzy, awesome…all that. I expect it to affect you the same. Enjoy!

One of the best movies ever... Now, I have a brand new copy to enjoy for many years to come, thanks

I own it. When this came out- it was well received. It holds up ok considering it's 35 years-ish old. It seems slightly campy and cheesy, but it's in a good way. I'm sure everyone's seen it and no one is going to read a review of it as it's been on TV a ton of times. Bruce is fun to watch in any movie, even if it isn't very good. I always felt like he should've gotten better material over the years, especially serious roles as he's a great actor. Always the caveat of action stars- they seem to forget you can also act, if ya can, he can.

We loved it!

La película es muy buena, es excelente para pasar un momento muy entretenido, estoy conforme con el envío, antes de adquirir esta edición hay que mencionar que no tiene doblaje al español latino pero si cuenta con subtitulos y suficiente material extra.

Excellent film! Je le recommande fortement! Je suis très satisfaite!Dans Le Cinquième Élément, un extra-terrestre mystérieux nommé "L'Homme le Plus Dangereux du Monde" réveille et commence à semer la destruction sur la planète. Le militaire Korben Dallas est chargé de retrouver le "Cinquième Élément" - une divinité féminine nommée Leeloo, dont la présence est essentielle pour vaincre le monstre. Il se retrouve impliqué dans une course contre la montre pour protéger Leeloo et empêcher l'extermination de l'humanité. Alors qu'ils sont poursuivis par les forces de l'ordre, les agents du FBI et les mercenaires, ils parviennent à s'échapper et à se rendre à Fhloston, une station spatiale ancienne, pour y affronter l'Homme le Plus Dangereux du Monde. Leeloo se transforme en guerrière et affronte le monstre, tandis que Korben, aidé de ses nouveaux amis, tente de protéger la jeune femme. Finalement, Leeloo parvient à vaincre le monstre et à restaurer l'équilibre sur Terre, sauvant l'humanité. Le film se termine sur une scène romantique entre Korben et Leeloo, qui s'embrassent en l'air, à bord d'un vaisseau spatial.

Embora meio maluca, a história é bem conduzida e divertida.Bons efeitos especiais.

Ich habe diesen Film mindestens zwanzig Mal gesehen und sehe ihn mir heute Abend noch einmal an. Er macht Spaß! Er macht Freude! Er macht gute Laune! Dieses Meisterwerk von Luc Besson war Frankreichs teuerster und umsatzstärkster Film seit sage und schreibe 15 Jahren.Die Handlung ist ein weiteres Szenario, in dem die Welt vor dem Bösewicht gerettet wird, mit einer Wendung. Da ist dieser tödliche Planet, der die Erde angreift und wie ein Asteroid aussieht, aber anscheinend spricht der Planet, weil er außerirdisch ist, und die Hauptgruppe der Helden muss alle Steine ​​sammeln, die in einem Tempel in Ägypten platziert werden sollen, um den bevorstehenden Angriff auf die Erde zu stoppen. Da ist eine Bande von söldnerartigen Außerirdischen, die sich in Menschen verwandeln und jedes Mittel der Gewalt anwenden können, um ihre Ziele zu erreichen.Dieser Film hat definitiv Kultstatus! In diesem Film sind mehrere Top Schauspieler zu sehen, insbesondere ein sehr vielseitiger Bösewicht, gespielt von Gary Oldman, eine absolut umwerfende Heldin, die meiner Meinung nach die Revolution der weiblichen Helden eingeleitet hat, und nicht die „Jungfrau in Nöten“, die wir seit vielen Jahren sehen, gespielt von Milla Jovovich, und ein wirklich antiheldenhafter Held, gespielt von Bruce Willis.Von Anfang bis Ende hat mich der Film richtig gefesselt. Er ist voller Komik und Action und hört nie auf, unterhaltsam zu sein.

There are too many titles before you get to the menu. My player almost didn't play the disc. When it finally started to play, the picture quality is excellent. The ATMOS is fantastic. Great movie