Beg pardon...but it's NOT "science fiction"

Rating: 5/10 (15 January 2000)

Enough has been said about this movie to make clear that it's one of those love-it-or-hate-it type flics. I'll just note that though everyone calls The Fifth Element a "sci-fi" movie, it most certainly is not. Combine five elements to drive back some evil force? Where's the science in this premise? Or most anywhere else, for that matter?
2001: A Space Odyssey was science fiction, of the highest caliber. The entire plot was based on science, with a few extrascientific assumptions made. Likewise Blade Runner. Several notches down, but still passable as sci-fi, is Jurassic Park. In contrast with all these, TFE has nothing to do with science; better to call it mythology or fantasy. Even on those terms, though, it's rather uneven.
5/10 (mostly on the strength of humor and special effects)