Rating of
3/4
"The Fifth Element" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 04/29/12
Subtlety is most definitely not the order of the day in Luc Besson's high camp space opera, and it's scattershot approach does mean there are a few things about it I don't appreciate. The soundtrack is occasionally horrendous, Jean Paul Gaultier's insistence (as usual) on dressing half the male cast up as the off Broadway chapter of the Erasure fan club, and most of all, Chris Tucker who is so irritating it makes my teeth hurt. What makes the film work is it's sense of humour which permeates the entire proceedings and it's breakneck pace that means it never dwells too long on any particular aspect of the story. There are some great action sequences, cool Gilliam-esque production design, and loads of funny moments, mostly supplied by Gary Oldman who steals every scene he is in as a kind of psychotic southern sci fi version of Terry-Thomas. Silly, tongue in cheek and hugely entertaining.
