interesting view of the far future

Rating: 9/10 (10 June 2004)

My wife and I love this movie. It's not your usual dark moody sci-fi picture, and it has a very unique view of the far future... at times the look is stylized and comic-book-like. At times it is grungy and filled with endless details of the daily drudgery that the denizens face... muggings, garbage disposal, pollution, corruption, security, and overcrowding are all touched upon in ways that make you cringe and giggle at the same time.
The parts of the film where multiple conversations and actions are all happening simultaneously (phone booth conversation, ship launch and Ruby's make-out session for example) are particularly well done... the weaving together of different event happening at different locations is seamlessly executed and keeps the action moving without any lulls. Costuming, set, and soundtrack all work together to keep your senses flooded with detail during all of this. The Gaultier costuming... wow... I hope the world never comes to that, but it fit right into the movie and really added to the futuristic feel.
Bruce Willis is... well... er.. he's the Die Hard guy transplanted into the future. I guess you can't have it all. I guess they wanted a big star to headline such an expensive production. Milla is great until she starts to speak English... the "divine language" she babbles in the first part of the movie is amazing. Chris Tucker's role as DJ Ruby Rhod is worth the price of admission alone though.