Nice Candy, But No Nutritional Value

The Fifth Element was highly anticipated. Bruce Willis back on the big screen in what could be the second coming of Star Wars (Whoopsie, didn't that already happen?) Unlike Star Wars, The Fifth Element hasn't got any depth below the first layer of eye candy.

Oh, What Eye Candy!

The visual effects are second to none. New York of the 23rd Century is big, slightly recognizable and really works. You get the idea that a single person really is an ant compared to this city. Equally impressive is the monster makeup which, from time to time, morphs into other forms. This picture needs to be nominated for an Academy Award for special effects.

"Any Idea When You'll Be Making A Point?"

This line of Bruce Willis in the film sums up my feelings about this plot. There ain't much of one. We have to get all five elements in place to combat evil. We don't know where they are. Evil needs four of the elements; it doesn't know where they are. Lots of stuff gets blown up.

OK, contrast this with Star Wars, where the heroes are trying to save the galaxy from imperial tyranny. It sounds similar, but in Star Wars Lucas stops along the way to teach a little wisdom, and make a few points (the legacy of Luke's father, the fall of the Jedi, the coming of age of a young man, and the Force is in each of us). There is no point to The Fifth Element, and because of that, it doesn't work as a motion picture.

The stereotypes are very thick, (people in authority are idiots, military commanders are slobbering for war, and holy men have no courage), Willis' smartass remarks throughout the film can't dig it out of the fire.