The Fifth Element (1997)

The piece celebrates the film as a thrillingly overblown, pop-art masterwork and one of the craziest and most pleasurable sci-fi films, whose inventive style influenced later fantasy cinema; the critic has loved it since first viewing and sees it as pure blockbuster fun.

The critic calls Besson’s film a riotously daft, fun sci-fi adventure that is light-years ahead in entertainment value compared to more serious entries like The Matrix, drawing on camp traditions like Flash Gordon with its flamboyant European style and strong supporting cast.

The critic praises the film's groundbreaking visuals as unlike anything seen before, with a bright, comic-strip-inspired future that could redefine sci-fi imagery. They note some conceptual overload and uneven comedy in the third act but conclude that the stunning look makes up for minor story issues.

The critic celebrates the film's enduring off-kilter charm and visual inventiveness twenty years on. They single out its unique world-building and comic tone as setting the template for playful, idiosyncratic big-budget sci-fi.

The critic praises the film as a warmer, more fun, and campy sci-fi extravaganza with some of the most sophisticated and witty production and costume design imaginable. He singles out Bruce Willis as the true fifth element who holds everything together with smarts, style, humor, and humanity.

The critic hails the film as a superb, socially conscious sci-fi adventure with slick satire, unusual visuals and futuristic thrills. They single out Gary Oldman's villain and the camp resort-planet sequence for particular praise.

The review finds enjoyment in the lead performance, production design, costumes and effects. It criticises the messy narrative overloaded with eccentric characters and the film's hypocritical delight in violence.

The critic views the film as a gaudy, big-budget French effort to play the Hollywood cartoon blockbuster game that prioritizes hot design and hollow excitement over plot coherence. She notes that Bruce Willis provides some much-needed ballast but that the film is pitched at a teen audience and has already lost its way.

The critic calls the film a largely misfired European attempt at an American-style sci-fi spectacular consisting of a hodgepodge of elements that do not coalesce. He singles out Bruce Willis as the only solid, recognizable presence amid the mishmash while criticizing the narrative, effects, and overall execution.

The review finds the film a dimwitted, chaotic sci-fi mess lacking a coherent story amid its noise, costumes, effects and production design. It criticizes the generic plot, soulless techno elements and dopey design choices while noting the cast is reduced to spouting bad dialogue or wearing funny hairstyles.