The Fifth Element is a loud, silly movie about a taxi driver who saves the world. It is also one of the strangest blockbusters ever made, and it mostly earns that reputation. Directed by Luc Besson, the film stars Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas, a New York City cab driver who becomes the unlikely hero of a galactic war when a powerful alien artifact lands in his vehicle. Milla Jovovich plays Leeloo, a mysterious warrior who must be resurrected by touch; Ian Holm plays a scientist named Professor Kipple; and Téa Leoni plays a United Nations official named President Lindbergen.
The plot moves fast and rarely explains itself. A race of aliens called the Mangalores attack Earth to release a cosmic evil called the Great Evil. Korben Dallas is chosen by chance to deliver a magical stone that can stop the Great Evil. Along the way, he falls for Leeloo, who speaks no human language but understands everyone perfectly. The movie asks you to accept that a cab driver is the only man alive who can save humanity, and it never bothers to justify why.
Trailer, via TNT.
Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich
Willis plays Dallas as a gruff, sarcastic man out of his depth. He is not a natural action star, and the film knows it. His jokes land sometimes and miss often, but the performance has a charm that carries the middle stretch of the movie. Jovovich, meanwhile, is a physical marvel. She spends much of the film nude or half-naked, and she moves through fight scenes with a grace that makes her character feel genuinely dangerous.
The chemistry between the two leads is the heart of the film. Their scenes together are warm and funny, and the romance feels earned even when the script does not bother to explain it.
The Look of the Film
Besson’s direction is theatrical and over-the-top. The production design is extraordinary. The city of New York is covered in billboards and neon signs. The spaceship interiors are sleek and metallic. The costumes are bright and flamboyant. The film looks expensive, and it is.
The special effects hold up surprisingly well. The creature designs are grotesque and memorable, especially the Mangalores, who look like giant bugs with wings. The action sequences are kinetic and chaotic, and the film trusts its audience to follow the chaos rather than explain it.
Where It Falls Short
The Fifth Element is not subtle, and it does not pretend to be. That is both its strength and its weakness. The film is at its best when it commits fully to its own logic, but it stumbles whenever it tries to explain itself. The villain’s plan is convoluted, and the film’s ending is rushed. The final act feels like a collection of set pieces rather than a coherent story.
The supporting cast is wasted. Holm and Leoni have little to do beyond delivering exposition. The film’s attempt to be political — the United Nations is corrupt, the rich ignore the poor — is stated plainly and then dropped.
What Works Best
- The visual style — the strongest element of the film.
- The performances of Willis and Jovovich — the emotional core.
- The action sequences — kinetic and exciting.
- The plot — confusing and rushed.
- The pacing — uneven and occasionally slow.
A Rough Sketch of the Film
| Scene | Time |
|---|---|
| Dallas picks up Leeloo | Early in the film |
| The artifact lands in the cab | Early in the film |
| The Mangalores attack | Midway through |
| Dallas and Leeloo fall in love | Through the middle stretch |
| The final battle | Near the end |
The Fifth Element is a flawed masterpiece. It is a movie that demands to be seen on a big screen, and it rewards patience with some of the most visually inventive sequences in cinema history. It is also a movie that will confuse you at times and leave you wanting more at others. The ending is abrupt, and the film’s themes are never fully resolved.
But the ride is worth it. The performances are strong, the visuals are unforgettable, and the spirit of the film is infectious. It is a movie that celebrates excess and absurdity, and it does not apologize for either.
The Fifth Element is a movie you will not forget. It is a strange, beautiful, and occasionally baffling experience. It is not a perfect film, but it is a great one.
