Night At The Movies

The Fifth Element (1997) (Columbia Tristar)

Synopsis:

    Three hundred years in the future, evil is coming to destroy the earth.  The only hope for saving the earth is the fifth element, a woman named Leeloo who has been genetically altered to stop the evil.  Through a course of events, she meets Corben Dallas, a cab driver who used to be one of the most decorated soldiers.  They must travel across the galaxy to stop the evil from consuming the earth, as well as find a reason that the earth should be saved.

Availability:
    Two VHS versions:  Regular and Widescreen
    DVD

Cast/Crew:
Luc Besson                                    Director
        The Professional

Bruce Willis                                  Corben Dallas
        Armageddon
        Last Man Standing
        Die Hard Triolgy
        Death Becomes Her
        Moonlighting (television)

Milla Jovovich                              Leeloo
        Return to the Blue Lagoon

Gary Oldman                                Zorg
        Lost in Space
        The Professional
        Bram Stoker's Dracula
        Air Force One

Chris Tucker                                 Ruby Rod
        Money Talks
        Rush Hour
        Friday

Miscellaneous:
    Luke Perry of 90210 fame is given some high billing, even though his total screen time is around ten minutes.
    Much of the style of the film was designed by Moebius, a legendary comic book artist.

MPAA Rating:
    PG-13 for language, violence, fighting, brief nudity, adult situations

My Rating:
       This is one of those films where you say "huh?" after watching it.  Almost every one I have spoken with has had the same feeling, so if you do not understand what is going on the first time, that's okay.  I've grown accustomed to the action and thought it was a good movie around the third time I saw it.  As for DVD, it does a great job with the transfer, and the chase through New York, as well as Leeloo's fight at Folston Paradise is great in surround sound.
***1/2
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