Could have been a contender

Rating: 3/10 (17 December 2019)

Targeted to lovers of Sci-Fi action comics, this could have been a decent film even if the plot is just an average good vs. evil story. However, the visuals are exuberant, with lots of shiny costumes, gadgets and interesting CGI. Besson started writing this script when he was 16, and it is easy to see it had massive appeal to the above mentioned public (young male).
In a distant future, Earth is about to be destroyed by evil forces and only the four elements, reunited by a Fifth can save the planet. The Fifth element takes the shape of a female teenage, very sexy despite - or because - her extreme naivety. The Fifth element, under the name of Leeloo is played by Jovovich, at the time a mere 22 yo. Bruce Willis, 20 years older, is Korben Dallas, her "love interest".
Therein lies one of the movie's problems, cleverly identified as the "Born Sexy Yesterday" (BSY). The term describes young women, totally naive in the ways of the world, but sexually mature. Missing experience, the first man they meet is irresistible and perfect, because they cannot compare him to anybody else. It is a slightly disturbing fantasy, bordering to pathological territory. In Besson's case, he also likes his BSY extremely skinny, almost anorexic and - obviously - half naked throughout the whole movie.
Therefore, half-naked Leeloo and Korben run against the clock to save Earth, pursued by assorted enemies, inclusive of a campy Gary Oldman (evil industrialist Zorg) and evil aliens Mangalores. The camp takes a huge overdrive with the entrance of Ruby Rhod, possibly one of the most annoying (and basically useless) characters of the last 50 years. With the entrance of Rhod, what was a half-way decent adventure, turns into an insufferable, shrilly, silly movie.
Not for nothing, both Jovovich and Tucker (playing Rhod) were both nominated for Golden Raspberries. Disappointingly, though, Tucker did not win, even if the award would have been well deserved.