The Fifth Element was released back in 1997, and some claim it is one of the best sci-fi films to ever be released. It was different from other films of its day, and with Bruce Willis as the star, what's not to love? Others didn't see it this way as they have found quite a few things that knock this movie down a few notches.
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This list uncovers both the good and the bad of the film as it looks at the two sides of this argument. These are a matter of opinion, but fans have been open about their feelings toward this film. Keep reading to learn about five reasons The Fifth Element was one of the greatest sci-fi movies to be released, and five it wasn't!
Greatest: A Cheerful Glimpse Of The Future
Many sci-fi films choose to use monochromatic color schemes that focus on dingy hallways and lots of metal. This film decided to go in a different direction as it added color at every twist and turn. Even Leeloo was decked out in some strange orange suspenders, and Rhuby Rhod was in another dimension altogether. It has its own sense of flair that is unrivaled by any other in this era as the people behind the camera chose to think outside of the box.
Not So Great: The Costumes Are Subpar
It was fairly obvious where they spent their budget, and it wasn't to create epic alien costumes. The aliens in the film could have been done in a much cleaner fashion, but instead, they look like someone passed out a bunch of masks and that was the extent of their design. Part of the problem is that now fans have seen so many better aliens with personally constructed faces that the age of the film works against its points for creativity.
Greatest: It's Comedic
Humor is around every twist and turn in this film, which very few sci-fi films can boast they do well. It is seamlessly integrated into their words, but they also don't overdo it with so much to make it unwatchable. The film has a good balance and it works with several other exaggerated themes in their storyline that these tidbits of humor help to soften.
Not So Great: Some Parts Are Cheesy
This humor goes both ways as some parts are a bit cheesier than fans would have liked. Some loved the character of Rhuby Rhod, while others hated his attitude, outfit, and overall character.
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They thought he was a layer of stupidity that the film didn't need because there were so many other parts that would have been given more thought with his removal. The overall storyline itself was pretty cheesy as well since Bruce Willis saves the day and ends up with the girl in the end.
Greatest: The Hero And Villain Never Meet
A big part of a story is the moment where the hero and villain meet for the first time, but this never happens in The Fifth Element. Zorg narrowly misses meeting Korben Dallas on the cruise shuttle and even dies apart from the main protagonist when the aliens blow up the ship. This is unheard of in the sci-fi genre, but it is a change that makes it one of the greatest as it is set apart from other films like it.
Not So Great: Too ManyClichés
Clichés can be a good thing when used in moderation, but this film went through several of them. Korben Dallas is a masculine man who can't be defeated and the villain wants to destroy but with no clear reason why. Fans also watched the typical flying cars and futuristic rooms where the beds fold up into walls, which seemed fairly basic for a film of this magnitude.
Greatest: The Special Effects
The film wasn't around when CGI existed as it does today, but for the times it had incredible special effects. They managed to bring a world of flying cars and spaceships to life through digital animation.
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Many people worked to build small-scale models that became the basis for these animations. A lot of work went into helping these special effects come to life to create a film, unlike anything the world had ever seen.
Not So Great: Diva's Song Wasn't Good
The film wanted fans to think that the Diva's voice was the best in the entire universe, but it was pretty terrible. Fans wanted to believe that her voice was that of an angel, and all they were left with was a disappointment. It was a strange mix of classical opera with some weird jams thrown into the ring to create a unique sound that was almost grating to fan's ears.
Greatest: Leeloo Was A Strong Feminine Character
Leeloo might have lacked the capacity to speak English at the beginning of the film, but it only adds to the essence of her character. She started out as frail and slowly grew into the weapon she was meant to be. Fans loved her small quirks and often quote her silly lines from the film, as well as her overly sexualized appearance.
Not So Great: The Plot Is Poor
It was already mentioned that the film had too many clichés, but part of that is due to the fact that the plot was poorly written. The storyline was as basic as they come with the masculine guy helping the girl and saving the day from the evil villain.
Yes, the hilarious dialogue helps to make up for some of this, although, fans felt it was still staring them in the face. There was so much more that could have been done with the film, but the storyline only worked to hinder its success.
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