Fifth Element is the fifth element

Rating: 9/10 (22 August 2016)

Comprising and enhancing the very best of the sci-fi genre, the Fifth Element does so exactly by standing out as more than such. This is achieved in a grand extension by detailing, and full embodiment of characters by their actors. Starting with detailing, soundtracks as a whole, although not the best, were perfectly suited for the plot points and scenarios, however, the opera scene stands out with a pitch perfect assignment in both the tone and the parallel development of the story. Costume detail, mannerisms (all hail Chris Tucker), scenario construction and civilization assembling, which sometimes, in sci-fi movies, sins for lacking, and others for overextending, was developed properly, sometimes with funny quirks, others with deep universe-implying concepts, all these features generate a rich, fascinating, self- sustained, and, at times, distracting from the plot. Which leads us to the reason why the 9 was not the ten, although detailing and acting made this movie stand out, the plot was rather generic and didn't bring something particularly new. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing, since it also enhances the typical "save the universe with love", "naive girl with rebel ex-military super boyfriend", "some aliens are good, some are bad, but really, we use them just as a representation of themselves", "if we learned whole our lives and culture in one minute we would be disgusted", to a point where, sarcasm aside, it genuinely makes it one this classic plot points cinematographic representations, and pretty much makes the viewer unable to dislike the characters, and the movie. Onward to the acting. Bruce Willis delivers a proper protagonist performance, which, by itself, by its linearity, leads to lack of space for improvement or admiration; still, the action scenes, the sarcastic remarks and universe level confidence make it worthy of the movie and fit perfectly on point. Mila Jovanovich, that usually excels as an action actress, also shows an astonishing performance as a more deeply emotional, acting centered Leeloo, while retaining Mila's skills, as the godly beautiful, inhumanly perfect Supreme Being. Gary Oldman, with a solid performance in a cast type that, as usual, is different than any other previously performed by the actor, constitutes a strong, credible, ruthless enemy, leaving the audience pitying him for not being the main villain, that however, would probably not have been as much "Universe extinction eminent" like. Chris Tucker, however, brings himself to another level, as a comic relief to a movie that was already not exactly a drama, jumping up to the clouds in all his fabulous "Greeness" and leaving the audience thinking what kind of alien was picked to act Ruby Rhod quirky character. Without a darker tone that some movies need to brand emotions in audiences, with laughable moments and action sequences, with amazing performances and detailing attention, fifth element truly transcends itself and the genre, supporting a classic hero love story until it is capable of becoming a classic.