Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
2017 · Directed by Luc Besson
Original language: English
- adventure
- science fiction
- action
The story
In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throughout the human territories. On assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two undertake a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where species from across the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence, and cultures. At the center of Alpha is a mysterious dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated and overstuffed: the look is Besson's comic-book sci-fi at full volume, with vast digital vistas of Alpha's stacked towers, sunlit coral-blue oceans and crowded alien markets rendered in glossy, hyper-clean CGI that rarely settles into a single frame. Palettes run from candy pinks and electric teals to bleached desert gold, and the camera swoops, spins and tracks through crowds with a restless energy that suits a playful, shapeshifting world. The score is a bouncy, orchestral pop-sci-fi mix with plenty of bold cues, and the sound design makes every creature and hovering craft feel busy. The tone is whimsical and earnest, a kind of sun-drenched space-operetta vibe that works for a lazy weekend afternoon or a long flight when you want spectacle rather than sustained tension. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with a partnership between two fast-talking operatives who bicker and gradually warm to each other. Intensity is moderate: frequent action set-pieces with gunfire and explosions, some peril and a sombre genocide backstory, but no gore and little real menace. It suits fans of colourful blockbuster sci-fi and comic-book adventure who enjoy lush worldbuilding more than tight plotting.
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