The Fifth Element

Bruce Willis, as a 23rd century cab driver, takes a back seat to director Luc Besson's eye-boggling vision of the future (he first conceived the story 21 years ago when he was 16!). In essence, a big ball of evil is coming. Now, it's Milla time! Supermodel Milla Jovovich, that is, who, as the prophesized Supreme Being, holds the fate of humanity in her hands. Gary Oldman puts another fresh spin on over-the-top villainy as Zorg, who is in the service of evil, although I'm not sure why. Fast forward through any scene with Chris Tucker as an annoying androgynous DJ (I have seen the future and it looks like Dennis Rodman). The Fifth Element may not be as profound as Blade Runner, but it is a lot more fun. It must have looked awesome on the big screen, but video does not diminish the artistry and imagination that went into it. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)[DVD Review--January 25, 2005--Columbia TriStar, 2 discs, 126 min., PG-13, $24.98--Making its third appearance on DVD, 1997's The Fifth Element:Ultimate Edition is presented on a double-disc edition in a beautiful anamorphic widescreen transfer rivaling the "Superbit" release of the film. DVD extras include a fact-track with real-time onscreen trivia, the production segments “The Visual Element” (including an 18-minute featurette and seven set tests), and “The Digital Element” (10 min.), “The Star Element” interviews (with costars Bruce Willis [4 min.], Chris Tucker [4 min.], and Milla Jovovich [12-minute interview segment and four screen tests]), “The Alien Element” (four creature segments with featurettes and camera tests), “The Fashion Element” (including a seven-minute featurette and four costume tests), and “The Diva” (a 16-minute featurette with a makeup test and three segments of outtakes), a poster gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: offering loads of in-depth behind-the-scenes info, this is recommended.][Blu-ray Review—Nov. 3, 2015—Sony, 126 min., PG-13, $19.99—Making its latest appearance on Blu-ray, 1997's The Fifth Element boasts a fine 4K transfer and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Extras include the production featurettes “The Star Element” (32 min.), “The Alien Element” (31 min.), “The Visual Element” (24 min.), “The Diva” (24 min.), “The Fashion Element” (13 min.), “The Digital Element” (10 min.), “Elements of Style” (5 min.), and “Imagining The Fifth Element” (5 min.), and a fact track. Bottom line: this popular Besson film looks and sounds better than ever.]