The Fifth Element (1997)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers (WGA):

Luc Besson (story)
Luc Besson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

It Mu5t Be Found.

Plot:

In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr Zorg at bay.

Plot Keywords:

Evil | Future | Weapon | 1910s | Cab Driver

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 17 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 1	11:30 AM	MAX
Wed. Dec. 2	1:50 AM	MAX
Sun. Dec. 6	10:00 PM	MAX

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Korben Dallas
Gary Oldman	...	Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
Ian Holm	...	Father Vito Cornelius
Milla Jovovich	...	Leeloo
Chris Tucker	...	Ruby Rhod
Luke Perry	...	Billy
Brion James	...	General Munro
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	President Lindberg (as Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr.)
Lee Evans	...	Fog
Charlie Creed-Miles	...	David (as Charlie Creed Miles)
Tricky	...	Right Arm
John Neville	...	General Staedert
John Bluthal	...	Professor Pacoli
Mathieu Kassovitz	...	Mugger
Christopher Fairbank	...	Mactilburgh

Also Known As:

Le cinquième élément (France)
The 5th Element (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi violence, some sexuality and brief nudity.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

France

Language:

English | Swedish | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34794) | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:12 | Israel:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Korben's termination notice reads, in part, "Notice of termination of your contract, effective as of today. Due to violation of codes, HFGY56, 74HVB, 00JGHY, MNH356585, MCNH485757, 0478N - your engagement with this company finishes immediately. For, and on behalf of, ZORG." So it turns out Korben Dallas worked for Zorg when he drove his taxi, though this would have been implied anyway, as in the previous scene, Zorg gave the order for 1 million of his workers to be fired.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In Zorg's office, when he is interrogating Vito Cornelius, near the end of the scene, a boom mic moves slightly in and out of the top left of the frame.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Omar: [whispers to sleeping Aziz] Aziz! Aziz!
Professor Pacoli: [shouts] Aziz! Light!
[Aziz wakes up with a start]
Billy: "Aziz! Light!"

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Starz Inside: Fashion in Film (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Diva Dance

Another Fine Luc Besson Film.

The Fifth Element is another fine example of the filmmaking talents of Luc Besson. Luc Besson, a creative genius and the director of classic films such as The Big Blue, Nikita and Leon (The Professional) has returned to the genre that started his filmmaking career, sci-fi. In The Fifth Element Luc Besson realises his life long ambition to make a film based on a story he thought of while still at school, Zaltman Bleros. Writing and directing the film, he skillfully mixes humour with action and amazing visual effects that put The Fifth Element in a class of it's own. Stunning performances are put forward by Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker and Gary Oldman, who returns to work with Luc Besson after playing Norman Stansfield in Leon. The Fifth Element show us how well comedy, action and romance can be put together. Overlooked at the Academy Awards, Luc Besson won the Cesar for Best Director at Cannes in 1998 for The Fifth Element. Simply, an excellent film, 10/10.