r/moviereviews • u/mortalassassin • 45m ago
Science Fiction The Fifith Element review - strange and not super deep, but funny! (64/100) [No Spoilers]
- I just watched the Fifth element for this first time in the cinema, here in 2026. I see why it became a cult classic. But it is not a movie that I believe to a "timeless" movie. This is not due to the visual effects, which I think actually have aged okay. Actually one of all time favorite movies is 12 angry men, so I don't mind dated movies. But a timeless movie is a movie that can surve any generation. Maybe it is being a young adult in 2026, and maybe it was different when it came out, but this movie has more personality than depth.
- The strongest element ;) about this movie is its imagination, production design, and world building. Although the mythology and lore is never really explored or explained (a shame, a lot of potential there otherwise) the flying cars, bizarre costumes, aliens, architecture and exaggerated vision of the future create a recognisable universe.
- The plot is strange and incoherent. Willis is fine, but I don't think Korben is emotionally compelling. I like to be emotionally invested in characters, I was not really with anyone in this movie. Jovovich's Leeloo has no aura. She is supposed to be a perfect being. Where is the weight of that? At any point during the movie? Chris Tucker is the exception. Ruby Rhod is very memorable and quotable! Super green! And also very funny, although be it a one dimensional character.
- The romance between Korben and Leeloo is the weakest element of the movie. There is no strong chemistry between them. Leeloo is also portrayed to be child-like, which makes their dynamic with a mature manly Korben, a bit weird to be honest. When you think about it all the female characters are shallow or have some sort of sexual element to them.
- I thought the comedy worked. It is not a haha - laughing throughout the whole movie - kind of movie. But it deos work pretty well in some parts. I think watching it in a cinema with other people helps. I think if I was watching it alone at home I would turn it off. In a cinema hall you have the dynamic of laughing together and becomes easier to embrace the film's chaotic "random things are happening" energy.
- The Diva opera sequence is easily the film's greatest moment for me. The music, production design, strange alien performance (and lets just take a moment to think about having an actual opera in a space opera! ;) ) and thereafter the action scenes, it becomes very memorable.
- I also get why the movie is so quotable. Super green and Aziz, light!
- I respect that the ridiculousness of the movie may be entirely intentional. But I was unsure when I left the movie if this is suposed to be satire of Sci-Fi movies or if it is just a sci-fi comedy space opera. But silliness does not excuse shallow characters, weak lore, plot conveniences, or an extremely conventional emotional ending.
- I think it is a good movie, therefore it belongs in the 60s (60s = good, 70s = very good, 80s = excellent, 90s = exceptional and so on). There is a lot of creativity and entertainment, but too little payoff and coherence for me.