The Fifth Element
1997 · Directed by Luc Besson
Original language: French
- science fiction
- action
- adventure
The story
In 2257, a taxi driver is unintentionally given the task of saving a young girl who is part of the key that will ensure the survival of humanity.
What it’s like
Saturated, comic-book colour dominates: hot pinks, acid yellows and electric blues against a towering, grimy New York of 2257, where flying traffic streaks between glassy spires and the air seems to hum. The camera moves constantly, swooping through crowded streets and cluttered flats with a restless, energetic kinetic drive, and the production design is dense with jokey, lived-in detail: alien tourists, pulp-cover costumes, gaudy neon signage. Interludes of ancient Egyptian desert stillness and dim, bluish spacecraft interiors break up the chaos. Eric Serra's score leans on synth pulses and bright orchestral swells. The vibe is playful, candy-bright and chaotic, with a sly self-awareness that keeps things light even as the stakes escalate. Violence is frequent and cartoonish, with gunfights, explosions and a few bloody moments, but nothing lingers in a grim way. It suits a weekend escapism night, a fun group watch, or a comfort rewatch for people who want a noisy, colourful space romp with warmth and a lot of heart. It is not gentle, quiet or slow.
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