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Things In The Fifth Element You Didn't Notice The First Time

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Things In The Fifth Element You Didn't Notice The First Time Was That Luke Perry? Wardrobe that was too outlandish for Prince, communicating in a secret language, and a cameo from a "90210" icon. There's a lot to process with Luc Besson's cult classic, "The Fifth Element," so forgive yourself for not noticing a few things on your first viewing. "The Fifth Element" has a truly star-studded cast. It's not every day you see people like Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm, and Gary Oldman all sharing the screen. Even the movie's smaller characters are played by excellent actors like Brion James and Tom Lister Jr. — and then of course there's Chris Tucker's character, Ruby Rhod. The first time you watch the movie, it's easy to be so starstruck that you actually miss one or two big stars who get featured. On a second pass, though, you'll notice that even extremely minor characters are played by recognizable actors. There's a reason, for instance, why Billy looks so familiar in the beginning of the movie. Billy is a research assistant who witnesses aliens landing on Earth in 1914. He's got a very small part to play in the movie, which is a little strange considering he's played by Luke Perry. By 1997, Perry was an established star, with seven years of "Beverly Hills 90210" and plenty of other roles under his belt. Perry is the kind of actor who regularly showed up in unexpected places, but even when he doesn't have that much to do in a movie, he brings a certain level of charm to a character. At its heart, "The Fifth Element" is an adventure story. Korben's chance encounter with Leeloo sends his life spiraling in a new direction, and the two of them end up racing across deep space to save the universe from evil. 2263 Desperately Needs Police Reform The movie introduces some dazzling locations and sci-fi concepts, but it doesn't spend nearly as much time developing them as it does rushing through the plot. That's why every time you rewatch the movie, you'll notice new small details about the world — and sometimes they're a little concerning. By the end of the movie, we don't know all that much about New York City circa 2263, but we've gotten enough details to learn that the city is a borderline dystopia. Korben's life as a taxi driver gives us a glimpse into the capitalist nightmare that seems to have taken over this version of the future, and his chase with the police lets us know that New York really needs to consider some drastic reform measures. As Korben's taxi races past a police hover car early in the movie, we see that the NYPD of 2263 wears full metal body armor at all times, even if they're at a fast food drive-thru. When the police start to pursue Korben, it quickly becomes clear that collateral damage isn't a concern for them. They all but tear apart the city trying to get Korben, and they don't even succeed. Not Just Gibberish When Leeloo lands in the back of Korben's taxi, she doesn't know where she is, and she definitely doesn't know how to speak English. "Boom." "Boom, yeah, I understand boom." Considering that she's just been essentially resurrected and brought into the future from thousands of years in the past, she learns how to communicate remarkably quickly. Though she picks up more and more English as the movie progresses, most of the time Leeloo speaks a language beyond anyone's comprehension. In reality, the words that Leeloo speaks were created by director Luc Besson just for this movie. Besson spent 15 years developing the world of "The Fifth Element," and in all that time he also spent some effort creating a dictionary for the Divine Language. Besson invented around 400 words so that Leeloo could, in theory, say everything she needs to say through the entire movie in a real language. Besson and Milla Jovovich both became so fluent in the Divine Language that they even used it to communicate with each other while filming. "The Fifth Element" gets more mileage than most movies out of playing with tropes and character archetypes. The story has a traditional big evil and a chosen one destined to defeat it. Did Korben Work For Zorg? Leeloo and Korben both get to play out different takes on the hero archetype, while Gary Oldman's Zorg stands in for the movie's real villain. The movie sets up a story that's initially familiar, but it subverts the usual formula whenever it can. One of the oddest parts about "The Fifth Element" is that the heroes and the villains never actually see each other face to face. Obviously the big space evil is a kind of amorphous entity that would probably have trouble standing on the surface of Earth, but Korben never even meets Zorg, the evil's human representative, while Leeloo only runs into him briefly. But that doesn't mean they have no connection to him whatsoever. The first time they watch the movie, most people probably miss a small detail on Korben's termination notice after he loses his job. Zorg owns the company that fires Korben, so even though the two never directly meet, their conflict is still personal. According to "The Fifth Element," by 2263 humanity will have spread out to the stars and made contact with alien civilizations. The future looks and sounds amazing, but when you really think about the people who are in charge of the planet, you might have second thoughts about that. "My philosophy Mr. President is shoot first and ask questions later. In Need Of Better Leadership I don't like uninvited guests." Earth's military has a big role to play in "The Fifth Element." They're the ones who make first contact with the great evil that employs Zorg, and they eventually help send Korben and Leeloo on their journey to save the world. It might be fair to say all's well that ends well, but the movie shows us over and over again how incompetent the future leadership of Earth really is. The President, played by Tom "Tiny" Lister Jr., never seems to have any idea what's really going on. He's willing to take advice from Ian Holm's Cornelius, despite having very little evidence that the priest knows what he's talking about when it comes to epic space evils. The military, on the other hand, is represented by Brion James' character General Munro. You'd want a general to have a sound tactical mind, but Korben manages to outsmart Munro, leaving him trapped in a freezer in his apartment while he escapes with Leeloo. The movie is definitely saying something about people in power, but it's also depicting a future we'd all be better off avoiding. "The Fifth Element" is filled with great performances, but Chris Tucker's appearance as Ruby Rhod is one of the most memorable parts of the entire movie. A Deep, Deep Character From clothing to hair, Ruby's sense of style is something that you won't forget after seeing it. Tucker brings a tremendous amount of energy to the role, helping Ruby steal scenes so thoroughly that even the characters in the movie seem to be a bit stunned by Tucker's performance. It turns out that everyone on set probably was just as surprised by Tucker as anyone who's ever watched "The Fifth Element." Tucker told EW that when he took the part, hardly anyone knew what the role was supposed to be, including himself. All he knew was that Prince was supposed to play the role, but he passed it up because the costumes were too outlandish. Tucker didn't know what to think, until he saw the costume for himself. He said-"I was kind of like 'Whoof, this is a deep, deep character.' But all that stuff really helped me get into character." Gary Oldman is one of the greatest character actors of his generation. He's played some heroic characters, but Oldman really shines as a villain. Whether he's playing a shapeshifting vampire in "Bram Stoker's Dracula" or the crazed mayor of a post-apocalyptic town in "The Book of Eli," Oldman brings a chilling energy to all his baddies. The Wacky World Amidst all the aliens and shiny scenery, it can be easy to lose track of Oldman's character Zorg in "The Fifth Element," but the second time through you'll realize how terrifying he really is. What makes Zorg so scary isn't that he's working for a terrible evil, but that communicating with his evil boss seems to shake Zorg to his very core. On the phone with the evil entity, Zorg's head spontaneously starts bleeding, and his own terror is very apparent. Despite his fear, he keeps trying to help the evil grow in power. Oldman's performance in the movie is even more impressive if you know the context surrounding it. In an interview with Role Recall, the actor admitted that he only took the role as a favor to Luc Besson. He didn't even read the script before agreeing to be in the movie, and it doesn't sound like he's a huge fan of the finished product. When told that "The Fifth Element" has become a cult classic, Oldman just laughed and said-"That's the wacky world we live in." As a character, Leeloo is obviously based on "chosen one" tropes that are as old as time itself. The movie repeatedly says that she's supposed to be a perfect being. The Inspiration For Neo? It's not just that Leeloo is destined to save the world, but also that she has some borderline magical abilities. She's an incredibly fast learner, and all but a champion fighter with little to no training whatsoever. Korben plays a central role in the story, but it's really Leeloo who's the hero of "The Fifth Element." As much as she's based on mythological heroes from stories that came before her, Leeloo has also gone on to inspire other sci-fi heroes. Her influence can easily be seen in characters like River from "Firefly" and "Serenity," but she has a very particular similarity with another major '90s sci-fi "chosen one." In the movie Leeloo learns how to fight by watching video feeds on a small screen. She basically downloads the knowledge into her head. Two years after the debut of "The Fifth Element," Neo learns his own fighting techniques using a very similar method in "The Matrix." "I know kung fu." There are plenty of '90s sci-fi movies that don't hold up visually today. CGI has come a long way in the past three decades, and movies that went all in on the technology back then are really starting to show their age. As Practical As Possible "The Fifth Element" has no shortage of special effects, but the movie still looks fantastic today because so much of what happens on screen was created practically. Luc Besson knew that his movie was going to demand an excessive amount of visual effects — it took more than 160 people to create the 220 shots that made it into the movie, and the team filmed plenty more that didn't survive the editing room. Besson employed model makers and artists to make his world as realistic as possible. The spaceships shown in the movie are real models. So is Korben's taxi, and even some of the New York City streets that he flies it down. A second viewing gives one plenty of time to really appreciate the level of effort that went into making "The Fifth Element" as visually engaging as it is. Plagued By Stereotypes Unfortunately, not everything that you notice about "The Fifth Element" when watching it again is good. There are plenty of things to praise about the movie, from the performances to the music to the visual effects, but decades later it also stands out for being filled to the brim with misogynist stereotypes. There's no way around it: "The Fifth Element" does a terrible job depicting women. Leeloo is basically the only human woman on screen the entire movie, and even though she's a hardcore action hero, she still ends up falling into the damsel in distress role more than once. As badass as Leeloo may be on her own, the movie doesn't let her be a hero without the help of Korben. "But she's more fragile than she seems. She needs your help… and your love." She's also wearing little more than some strategically placed bandages for the first third of the film. It's the other women in the movie that get a really problematic portrayal. Korben's mother and ex-wife, heard only as voices talking to Korben over the phone, are depicted as greedy nags who won't let Korben live his life in peace. The movie plays these moments for laughs as Korben rolls his eyes and desperately tries to avoid interacting with them as much as possible. Those cringe-worthy moments don't ruin the film by any means, but they may tarnish your memories of it on that second viewing.
Date: 2024-01-08

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Comments and reviews: 20

jessetorres8738
Is Leeloo the 1st MTF transgender protagonist/love interest in a film? It's implied that her original form was a male, but when they reconstructed her body they made her into an attractive female. As the Priest says He's a she? , implying that even he thought that she was supposed to be a male. & while it's not brought up in the film, does Leloo know that originally she was male but prefers being female given that she falls in love with Corbin Dallas & saves the world because he loves her as a female? So many questions are brought up by the implications of this idea that they just gloss over or completely ignore in this film from this concept.
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Sarappreciates
Prince coulda really revived his insane fame apex had he agreed to do The Fifth Element. I can only begin to grasp the vision that woulda been. That said, Chris Tucker really made Ruby Rhod his own. It's hard to imagine anyone else (Even Prince) knocking it this far outta the field. However much I wish Prince had put his own pride aside for this one role, I'm glad Chris Tucker was able to step up and transform a relatively small role into the epic icon he came to be.
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gankuverymuch
At the opening Corben Dallas scene, the thief, with the very nice hat, who tries to rob Corben, is also on Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, also by Luc Besson. On Valerian, Laureline (Cara Delevigne) also tells thief guy nice hat when she first meets him on the bus scene. I don t know if they re the same character, but both are played by the same actor Mathieu Kassovitz
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bloodwolfgurl
Wasn't the whole point of the fifth element, love? Like. Leeloo and Corbin compliment each other, like a man and a woman should. It makes sense she would need him, just as much as he needs her. He finds purpose and strength in her. As for the other women, ah, whatever, it's not supposed to be taken so seriously.
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LilRedDog
I think you 'missed' a couple:
Leeloo is said to be 'perfect'.
So, what is the hair color for a 'perfect' woman? Red, with blond roots.
And the Diva who sings an impossible song, literally 'has pipes'.
A phrase that is usually reserved for singers that can belt out songs in a wide range of notes.
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johnashton4776
I dint have a problem with damsel in distress, just dont expect fans to like an 9 stobe female taking on a man of 16 - 18 stones in a fight The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Double Jeapordy, Terminator, Strange Days, The Punisher 1989 depicted women very well.
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antonsimmons8519
There is ZERO merit to your final point. It is the dumbest and wokest thing I've heard all day, and is entirely wrong. Your interpretation of the entire point of the film(love) is being subverted by indoctrination. Step back. Try a different angle.
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KaosKrusher
Leelo is a way better (and stronger) character than Captain Marvel.
the fifth element is literrally love so of course they'll fall in love
and yes she needs the help of Corben but without Leelo, Corben is just a random taxi driver.
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looper
Here's another, Ruby rhod 's first name is rubidium, it's the fifth element on the left column down on the periodic table, so Ruby is ALSO a fifth element! (last name Rhodium is an element, too)
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chookiemunster
There is literally no reason why Leeloo has to be a woman, even having a female apparience. For now on, Leeloo is a non-binary trans person, AFAC (assigned fenale at creation.
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SkinShandeler
5th element was a masterpiece. LILU was bad a. But the problem to looper is she wasn't strong woman enough? Bet looper was a fan of captain Marvel cause she don't need no man.
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lightningandcloud
this movie, rush hour, demolition man, the last action hero, the mummy, independence day, total recall the list goes on was my childhood. just dumb fun action romps
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SgtLube818
was gonna give your video a thumbs up until you decided to show you have no idea what the movie is actually about with that last 2 minutes of video. try again.
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Grnfinger
Why did you have to wreck the clip in the last few mins with the crap?
It's a movie. Put your pitchfork down and enjoy it for what it is. entertainment
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user-zb6lw3ik4v
The fifth element is one of the worst movies I ve ever seen. I ve only seen it once and I ll never see it again and I am a big fan fiction fan.
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JTCNEE
Stereotypes? I don t think so, jees only one woman as the main character and supreme being to boot, leave the woke bull out of it please! .Mutlipass
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arsenalblinkybill
Who on Earth didn't recognise Luke Perry if you knew who he was? I mean he's not under heavy make up. What a truly bizarre thing to claim
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looper
I'm so glad ideology hadn't invaded our films when this was made or Corbin Dallas would have had to be saved instead of them needing each other.
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icsdigital2702
This movie is one of my all time favorites.
So speak for yourself
Yes, it's a modern classic and it will outlive you all imho
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RyanC232
We've officially arrived at the point in time where idiots call 5th Element misogynistic. Believable and yet unbelievable
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