The Fifth Element

The movie is pretty trashy and naive in its fun, but honestly, that moment when Leeloo realizes just how messed up humanity and life can be—spiraling into that existential crisis—didn't feel shallow to me at all. I actually find myself thinking back to that scene whenever I’m wrestling with some heavy stuff. It feels like most Hollywood movies tend to steer clear of those kinds of themes. American culture, in general, seems obsessed with escapism and this frantic, underlying fear of death.

Btw, my favorite quote from the flick is when Zorg says, 'If you want to do it right, you have to do it yourself!' Or even that part where he just loses it and yells, 'I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!' 🤣

Honestly, this is easily one of the best movies ever made

I just love this movie. I honestly can't find a single thing to complain about. It’s the perfect mix of a great story, killer characters, and those totally wild, original aliens. The dialogue, the effects—everything just works. Every little detail feels right. I've lost count of how many times I've watched it, and I'd happily watch it again. It just never gets old.

Brian Vaughn5 said:The movie is pretty trashy and naive in its fun, but honestly, that moment when Leeloo realizes just how messed up humanity and life can be—spiraling into that existential crisis—didn't feel shallow to me at all. I actually find myself thinking back to that scene whenever I’m wrestling with some heavy stuff. It feels like most Hollywood movies tend to steer clear of those kinds of themes. American culture, in general, seems obsessed with escapism and this frantic, underlying fear of death.

Btw, my favorite quote from the flick is when Zorg says, 'If you want to do it right, you have to do it yourself!' Or even that part where he just loses it and yells, 'I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!' 🤣

That version of Gary Oldman—the energy he brings to roles like those in Leon or True Romance—is easily his best work. I can't quite think of any other character where he's played someone that unhinged.

I popped this one on Blu-ray a few months back—honestly, it’s easily one of the better sci-fi flicks out there.

I was just scrolling through Wikipedia and ended up reading a bunch of funny quotes from the movie. 🤣 I mean, I can't argue with anyone who says Gary Oldman is a fantastic actor. 👍 By the way, has anyone else noticed that The Fifth Element is one of those rare movies where the President is Black? It feels a little weird when you think about how Barack Obama became president. You’d think there would have been more foreshadowing for a political scenario like that. Anyway, most critics gave the film a thumbs up and it actually made like 200% of its budget back, but it didn't really blow up here in the States. I guess Americans just didn't quite get it. Or maybe it just got overshadowed by Titanic. James Cameron is definitely a bigger household name than Luc Besson, and he probably understands the American mindset a bit better. It's pretty wild that Titanic and The Fifth Element actually have the same rating on IMDb.

I honestly think it’s a great flick. It’s just this fun, chaotic ride that manages to feel fresh even though you've seen its tropes a thousand times before. Plus, having Dina Dvornik in there is a nice touch.

electriccanyon26 said:That version of Gary Oldman—the energy he brings to roles like those in Leon or True Romance—is easily his best work. I can't quite think of any other character where he's played someone that unhinged.

You should really check out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100519/...it was actually filmed right here in the States, and both actors (Gary Oldman and Tim Roth) seemed to be constantly high or totally wasted during production; honestly, watching it feels a bit like seeing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas happen in real life...😬

The movie is actually great—or, you know, the polar opposite of pure trash!

wanderingbison9 said:You should really check out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100519/...it was actually filmed right here in the States, and both actors (Gary Oldman and Tim Roth) seemed to be constantly high or totally wasted during production; honestly, watching it feels a bit like seeing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas happen in real life...😬

Thanks, I haven't seen it yet.

nimblescout50, look, The Fifth Element definitely leans into that campy, sci-fi trash aesthetic, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it literal garbage. I mean, maybe it's a bit much for some people, but Quentin Tarantino basically built his entire career on that kind of vibe. He even has a movie called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hell's Sound.

Brian Vaughn5 said:nimblescout50, look, The Fifth Element definitely leans into that campy, sci-fi trash aesthetic, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it literal garbage. I mean, maybe it's a bit much for some people, but Quentin Tarantino basically built his entire career on that kind of vibe. He even has a movie called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hell's Sound.

The thing is, when we talk about "pulp" in American pop culture, it doesn't carry that connotation of being "trash" or "garbage"... so translating it that way feels like a pretty nonsensical and overly pretentious mistake, don't you think?

Brian Vaughn5 said:nimblescout50, look, The Fifth Element definitely leans into that campy, sci-fi trash aesthetic, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it literal garbage. I mean, maybe it's a bit much for some people, but Quentin Tarantino basically built his entire career on that kind of vibe. He even has a movie called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hell's Sound.

Yeah, you're getting hung up on the "elements" part!

Police Officer: Sir, are you classified as human?
Korben Dallas: Negative, I am a meat popsicle.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I caught a screening once, but honestly? It didn't really blow me away.

Such an awesome movie. I think this was actually the first original DVD I ever received as a gift. It does a great job balancing different genres, blending them all into a sci-fi spectacle that never feels tiring. The cast is fantastic too, and the dialogue is just top-notch.

I actually sat down to rewatch it yesterday—it’s been probably ten years—and it still holds up beautifully. It was funny when I suggested it to my middle school students; they all claimed it was "boring" because there wasn't enough non-stop action. I don't know... maybe? But honestly, today's movies just don't seem to measure up to the classics. To me, this is still a far better film than most modern blockbusters.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sat through this movie, but honestly, the last time was probably almost a decade ago—so I finally gave it a proper, full-on rewatch last night...

...and of course, my brain decided to serve up these weirdly vivid dreams where some British tourist is lecturing me about all the signs that aliens are about to invade Earth! 🤦

But anyway, what I love most about this flick is just how it blends that high-concept futurism with that specific kind of "90s trash" aesthetic. There were a few times where I found myself totally locked into a serious scene, only to realize there's a song playing in the background that—I mean, seriously?—has absolutely zero business being in a movie like this... and then, bam, you can't unsee it! 😁 The 90s 😍

When Mr. Shadow asks what that liquid dripping down from the top of Zorg's head, right through the middle of his forehead, actually represents...

darkbadger46 said:When Mr. Shadow asks what that liquid dripping down from the top of Zorg's head, right through the middle of his forehead, actually represents...

Hair dye.