Starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman
Rating:  5 Stars (out of 5)
Rated for viewers PG-13 (for violence, some sexuality, brief nudity)

Movie Review by Susan Hanniford Crowley

Classic sci-fi at its best! Bruce Willis plays Korben Dallas, a cab driver, in 23rd century New York City. His life goes from bad to worse. As he’s about to lose his cab and job, Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) falls through the taxi’s roof. Pulled over by a cop, he’s ordered to give up his new passenger. But how can he turn down her sweet plea, “Please, help!” His decision in that moment to help changes his life and saves the world. Leeloo is actually the Fifth Element, a genetically superior being, designed to save the Earth from extinction. Priest Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm) has foreseen her coming and will do anything to help her. Not only does he know the legend of the gift the aliens left on Earth that the Fifth Element must use to save the planet, but the sacred key was passed down to him. Evil in the form of a black planet is hurdling through space at Earth. Leeloo must find the other four elements, bring them to the sacred temple, and find a reason for saving Earth.

Villainous characters trail Leeloo every step of the way, trying to kill her, and gain the four elements. Gary Oldman puts in an incredible performance as the wealthy industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg, whose deal with evil may be his undoing. This movie is amazing with special effects, costumes, and music. One of the most impressive effects was the creation of the dim-witted but dangerous Mangalores. The morphing between their human masks and their actual alien forms was brilliant. The other effect has to do with the costume of the diva, Plavalaguna, played by Maiwenn Le Besco. Not only is her singing an exotic pleasure but you can’t help admire how she moves wearing that fantastic costume.

This movie has everything, a great story, great acting, great special effects, adventures, shootouts, and romance. I highly recommend you go out and buy it to add to your collection, as you’ll be watching it over and over again.