The fifth elephant. (The Fifth Element (DVD))

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	The Fifth Element (DVD)
Date:	07/06/09 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fast and funny

Disadvantages: a wee bit dated now.

An ancient evil, once defeated, has come back to try and destroy the world again. It was prophecised that this evil would be defeated by an unknown quantity, called the fifth element, that would unite the four natural elements to create the divine light.

A race of aliens, called the mondoshawan, entrusted the knowledge of the fifth element to a human. The evil that had been defeated would come back in 5000 years, and the human race should be prepared. The knowledge was to be passed down through the generations, until it would be needed again.

As predicted, the evil arrived. The human race started by attacking it, but the attacks seemed only to make the evil stronger. It grew in size, and ferocity. But they are found by the current holder of 'the knowledge', who tells them that the mondoshawan were coming to use the fifth element to destroy the evil. But they are ambushed by the shape-shifting mangalores.

Part of the fifth element was removed from the crash site, and put into a machine to ressurect it, and the fifth element is born. A fragile, apparently human female called leeloo. she is scared, and talks only in her native 'devine language'. She is, however immensely strong, and escapes, jumping from the top of the building, only to fall into the taxi of one Korbin Dallas.

Can the human race combine the four elements, and the fifth element witout the guidance of the mondoshawan? Can they wield the divine light, and save the world, or will the evil Korg stop them?


I must confess that I am a huge fan of this film. It manages to combine action, comedy, adventure, and a love story. It also gives you a very interesting view of the future for earth. For example, the cigarettes are the opposite to how they are now. The butt is as long as the white bit is on todays smokes!

This film stars Bruce willis, as Korbin Dallas. He is typically crazy, as most of Willis's characters tend to be. Bruce manages to inject humour into his roles. Something, perhaps that a lot of the other major action stars lack the ability to do. He tries to act Korbin, in a 'loveable rogue' type of way. He gives the impression that he does not care, but he is a big softy at heart.

The role of Leeloo, is taken up by Milla Jovovich. If you have read any of my reviews before, you may know that I have a little crush on Milla, and in this film you see quite a bit of her. She plays the fragile character very well, and with a gentle side that we seldom see from her. Milla, actually wrote the 'divine language' that she speaks in. Together with director, Luc Besson, she helped create a dictionary. She felt that this added believability to the role.

The very evil, but also very funny role of Korg, is played amazingly by one of my favourite actors, Gary Oldman. He is barely recognisable in this film, but his quality still shines through. Seems to play bad roles very well, but it is the humour that he adds to the role of korg, that makes this film tick. Also his relationships with both the great evil, and the pirate lifeforms, the mangalores, are integral to the whole plot.

We have possibly one of the funniest performances I have seen, by Chris Tucker. He plays Ruby Rhod, and plays it perfectly. He is a loud mouth, womanising superstar of the future. but, when push comes to shove, he is a coward. Tuckers voice, and quick wittedness are great.

The costumes used in the film are notable, as well. The were created by Jean-Paul Gautier. He created almost 1000 individually styled costumes for the film, all of which are unmistakeable. typically over the top, it really adds to the flamboyancy of the film.

Overall, the film is a really good comedy action film. Plenty of thrills and spills, and the odd laugh too. All that combined with Milla's excellent performance as the lovable leeloo, and you are on to a winner. The version I own is the two disc special edition. I got it in Asda for three quid. It comes in a snazzy cardboard sleeve, that protects the dvd box. Running time is 121 mins, and it is rated PG.
Disc one is the film itself, with options for audio commentry, scene access and subtitles. Disc two contains documentaries, four little featurettes, trailers and tv spots, poster special, the sixth element essay and much much more. Not bad value at all!

Reccomended. G

P.S. the title refers to what my daughter accidentally called the film once! So funny!

Summary: Great film, with some great performances.