The Fifth Element was written and directed by Luc Besson, who is responsible for such works of art as The Professional and La Femme Nikita. I, as usual, had really high expectations for this movie. The odd thing is, that The Fifth Element actually lived up to them.

Starring Bruce Willis (Mercury Rising, The Kid) and Milla Jovovich (The Story of Joan of Arc), this movie brings some outstanding talent to the party. Also starring Chris Tucker, Gary Oldman, and Ian Holm, The Fifth Element is the one of the finest sci-fi flicks this side of Star Wars.

The story is set with an archaeological excavation somewhere in Egypt in 1914. Then it jumps to the year 2259, where we meet Korben Dallas (Willis). Korben is an irritable, distressed New York City cab driver. On the way to bring his cab in for an overhaul, Leeloo (Jovovich) falls right through the roof of his cab and he is drug into what will become a battle to save the world.

The absolutely beautiful Milla Jovovich was perfect for the role of Leeloo. She portrays a supreme entity, created for the sole purpose of protecting life. She proves to be more than a match for those who would stand in the way of her goal. Together with Korben, and Father Cornelius (Holm), they strive to bring together the five elements to save the world from death.

There were a few annoying moments in The Fifth Element though. Ruby Rhod (Tucker) was probably the most annoying character in the history of film; and the opera, oh Lord, don't get me started. The opera lasted for about ten minutes, and was little more than a lot of high pitched noises and a silly looking woman in a blue costume. You may want to fast forward through that part.

The Fifth Element really is quite a remarkable movie. The action keeps you on the edge of your seat, with lots of explosions, gun fights, and some pretty awesome looking martial arts. The special effects are rather exceptional, and the sets are beautiful. The suspense is a little on the week side, but the action, special effects, and terrific acting more than make up for it; not to mention Milla Jovovich gracing the screen.

The DVD includes Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which features a separate 2-channel Dolby Surround soundtrack for those of us with Dolby Pro-Logic systems. The sound is clear and complete, with deep bass and clear highs, the sound goes well with the beautiful picture.

There is an exceptional Letterbox widescreen transfer on one side, framed at 2.35:1, and a full-screen pan & scan version on the other side. The Fifth Element runs 126 minutes long and contains 36 chapters. Besides that the DVD is pretty basic; menu features language, soundtrack, and scene access. You can watch this film in English or Spanish (including sub-titles, for the hearing impaired).



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older