3. The Fifth Element
Luc Besson's 1997 science fiction film The Fifth Element is an exciting futuristic action piece, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman. Set in the 23rd Century, the English-language French film has the distinction of being one of the most financially successful European films in terms of global outreach. The financial success of the The Fifth Element, a cool $263million, was garnered through an interesting plot, strong performances from the cast and an appealing filming style unique to director Luc Besson. The story sees a cab driver, Korben Dallas (played by Bruce Willis), unwittingly inherit the responsibility of Earth's future as he takes care of the character of Leeloo, (played by Milla Jovovich). The complex storyline is essentially a fight between good and evil, and Leeloo's character is the key to success in defeating evil, as she represents the sought-after and powerful 'Fifth Element'. The film is a brilliant tale woven into stunning visuals and graphics. The futuristic setting of New York City is a crowded, hover-car filled, towering metropolis and serves as an intricately detailed backdrop to the plot. The science fiction of the film is outstanding, and its portrayal of the urban cityscape can be seen reflected in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, among others. The characters of the film are strong, and the casting of Bruce Willis in the lead, Milla Jovovich as Leeloo, and Gary Oldman as the main antagonist Zorg, are all brilliant decisions by Luc Besson. The concept of The Fifth Element was literally dreamt up by Luc Besson, as he constructed the world seen in the film whilst he was younger purely out of boredom. His creativity and imagination were held back by his relative inexperience in the film industry, and the film was not produced until 1997, by which time he had refined and polished the concept to the high standard it is known for. The film divided critics' opinions, with the majority agreeing upon its unique aesthetic style, whilst criticising its 'goofiness' and lack of finesse. Overall, the film portrays a mixed bag of meanings, and the coupling of action and drama with comedy and sci-fi is what makes The Fifth Element such a great, dynamic film.