I love this movie.

Rating: 10/10 (13 May 2020)

The Fifth Element is a movie I've watched without any big expectations, I honestly thought it would be the average sci-fi movie with a bit of action here and there. Turns out the movie actually is what I expected, but the execution is simply entrancing - it has good action, it has sci-fi elements and it somehow found a window to add comedy and romance, how can I not like this movie?
The story itself is quite simple. We know there is a evil that appears every 5000 years and threatens to destroy all life, but this very evil is repelled by a good force in the figure of a supreme being - a being that channels powers from four stones, each one representing one element, to create a light that disperses evil.
The whole plot revolves around securing the stones and executing the ritual that will destroy evil. The story really starts when Leeloo, the fifth element, is rescued by Korben, a cab driver with a dry sense of humor. At first he doesn't really understands what's going on, but decides to just jump on it against all possible logic. He takes her to a priest, the one who knows the whole scheme of things going on. However, the stones, that are necessary for unlocking the power to defeat the shadow that draws closer to the earth, are nowhere to be found. We're then introduced to Zorg, some sort of megalomaniacal minion working for the evil forces - he initially tried to steal the stones, but the mercenaries he hired retrieved only an empty package. Zorg apparently executes them for their failure - but they eventually come back to get their revenge. Meanwhile the government knowing the existence of the stones want to put Korben back into action because he's the last living member of an elite force. Once the locations of the stones is revealed, they all eventually set course to the same destination - Korben and Leeloo embark in a quest to save the world, while all the other characters find a way to fit in the action.
What really makes the dots connect are the characters, they're all so very satisfying to see in action - there's the tough guy who is a reluctant hero, there's the priest who serves as intellectual mentor when he's not in trouble, there's the comic relief guy who turns out to be more useful than initially thought, there's the evil guys and their mannerisms, and of course there's the being that brings them all together. It doesn't matter that the plot is simple, considering that it's explained right in the beginning , the experience is thrilling from the start to the end - you're never really sure when things are taking a turn for better or for worse, it's chaotic in a perfect manner. I really love the characters interactions, even the bad guys are charismatic in their own way; the twists are very well placed and never really break the logic or the atmosphere of the movie. Eventually the good ending is delivered, but until it gets to that point every moment is so entertaining - the pacing is just perfect, it's fast but it is rushed.
Korben (Bruce Willlis) is a good main character, his sully remarks are often funny and contrast well with the personalities of other characters - it's really funny to watch him and Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker) together. He's the action man, but he's quite sweet when he interacts with Leeloo - which builds the romance part of the story; the dynamic between them is really good, he's the one who seems to understand her better than the others and he knows what she must do and how he must help her, but I really appreciate the fact that this doesn't stand in the way for a subtle development of a love affair - and more than anything I'm glad the romance between them is not something forced. Zorg is the typical supervillain, from his arrogance to his appearance - but Gary Oldman plays him so very well, he surely has memorable moments. Ruby Rhod is so damn funny, whenever he says something I can't help but laugh - he's so over the top, but he fits so well - he's truly a memorable character. But my favourite character here gotta be Leeloo, she doesn't say too many lines we can understand, she mostly speaks in a broken english when she can put some words together, but she's so expressive - she's strong, she's the fifth element, but she really shines when she is expressing human emotions - gotta praise Milla Jovovich for playing her so well, she's gorgeous.
The way I see it the plot is imaginative, but simple. The simplicity adds a dimension for developing many other points that build a movie - the characters, the atmosphere, the execution; if anything, it is a take on sci-fi that is not much common. It's more than a sci-fi movie, there's good action, there's some really well placed funny scenes and there is emotional development that ends up in a satisfying manner - there is a good ending and it's satisfying. It's hard for a movie to do so much and succeed, but this movie does it and I honestly feel like it is a bit underrated. I like to see the clash between good and evil, I like when it's done well and more than anything I love happy endings. So much replay value, 10/10.
P.S. Éric Serra's score is just marvelous, it is a important part of the experience and it's really a gem. It functions so well in creating tension and helping dictate the pace of the action sequences. It's really a element of the movie that shines for me, I think without it the experience would be really affected.