I liked it more than you Cas (and the more I think about it, the more I'm warming to it), but I too had major problems including those you mention. Half an hour -we both know which half hour- could be cut out of the film without harming the narrative at all. And I also felt that the two leads had 'attitudes' rather than personalities, which compounded their miscasting (especially Dehaan). The least involving love match since Anakin and Padme...
However the visual and conceptual imagination is hard to deny (although you can spot the similarities to other films eg the Avatar people), and that opening sequence to Bowie's Space Oddity is one of the year's best moments for me.
It's a mess though isn't it.
I think, at home, with the freedom to swear at the screen, and the ability to take a break in the middle (without pausing), I would have enjoyed it more.
There are some great ideas. The marketplace, the helmet ramming sequence Juggernaut-style, the gun that shoots energy shields you can jump on - and glimpses of stuff I just wanted more of, like the portals in the space battle that allowed you to dump missiles on the other side of the field of battle, as well as Valerian's undeveloped link to Alex, the ship "give me everything you've got" before going into a gunfight.
But it's actually drowned out by the rest of it. And that dialogue just killed it for me. The two leads would have fared better just giving each other knowing looks rather than bantering on about marriage in a way that would have had Archer saying "Said No One. Ever." every five seconds.
And yes I read and was (unsurprisingly) influenced by your good points/bad points summary just as I was finishing off my review. I hope I'll warm to it more at home though because all the venom I'm spitting is leaving a bad taste.
Same situation as me, was planning on seeing this at cinema months ago but totally gone off that idea now, I'll wait until on Sky Cinema.I probably visit the cinema two or three times a year and this won't be one of those times. It'll look great if nothing else.
Same situation as me, was planning on seeing this at cinema months ago but totally gone off that idea now, I'll wait until on Sky Cinema.
I understand that, but for a mediocre film and limited opportunities to get to the cinema (family commitments) I'd rather save my trips out for films I know I'll really love.If you do that you will miss out on the film's one saving grace: on the big screen it looks fantastic. On the small screen you will lose that but still have all its minuses. But then you can always go off and do something else whilst it's still running or just hit the stop button.
I understand that, but for a mediocre film and limited opportunities to get to the cinema (family commitments) I'd rather save my trips out for films I know I'll really love.
Yeah, if I still had an unlimited card, more spare time or even a cinema in my town (closest is a 30 min drive away) I'd more than likely go for the eye watering visuals, but 'twas not to be!Makes perfect sense. As Cas has written, apart from the visuals there is no reason to make any effort to see this film, especially as it will come to a channel near you one day.
Luc Besson is I think, a spent force. I'd argue he was spent after Leon. He was always a hack, but somehow he managed to make a few genre movies which ended up being better than his talents would normally allow. (Leon an Nikita)
I dont agree. I think he needs help with his writing, and (like George Lucas) a few people around him to help him out and rein him in. New casting agents would be top of the list...
However he's still got some freshness and vitality that may be lacking in the Hollywood blockbuster scene.
What was the last good Besson movie? I'd argue it was Leon, which is what...20 years old? If that's not the definition of a spent force I don't know what is!
Forgot about Angel-A, I adored that film!5th Element, (1997) was great. (that is 20 years old however, Leon is actually 23!)
Angel-A was pretty good (2005)
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2010) was absolutely brilliant.
I also quite liked Lucy (2014) but mainly because my love for ScarJo blinds me to the movie beneath - the whole ending of that film was pretty pants.
I think he may still pull another stunner out of the bag one day.
What was the last good Besson movie? I'd argue it was Leon, which is what...20 years old? If that's not the definition of a spent force I don't know what is!
Disappointed to hear this is a mess, but not in the least bit surprised.
The fifth element didn't flop at all in the US, it debuted at number one during its opening weekend, but yes the film was more successful in Europe than in the US. Edit: I've just seen the numbers on IMDb, and Valerian did the same number of entries as the Fifth Element in the US, around 17 millions. So, is it really a flop or is it just that we got used to seeing film like this making huge numbers on the opening weekend?Apart from my now unshakeable conviction that you and I really do need that DNA test, Cas, I'm in full agreement. Visually, the film is eyeball-meltingly beautiful, but is still best watched on fast forward with the sound off. In business terms it has flopped massively in the US, as did The Fifth Element (Is anybody except Besson surprised?), is doing well in France (Is anybody surprised?) and is turning in a resounding 'meh' everywhere else. Besson claims that the budget is all but covered with presales and other commitments, which would leave little in the way of backend for him anyway. More importantly is that his company, Europacorp, is in deep financial difficulty and any hope that Valerian would rescue it is now clutching at straws. If anything, this film is more like Besson's last grab for majorly big budget, "What the hell" screen glory because nobody is going to invest in any of his big ventures anymore and certainly not where he is writer-director-producer with final cut approval. That said, I still admire the man as a filmmaker. Let us never forget what he has given us (Fifth Element, Leon, Lucy) and, by keeping it small and beautiful this time, will doubtlessly come up with again.