While Luc Besson has had a long career as a director and producer, going all the way back to 1985’s Subway (starring a young Christopher Lambert), for many of us, his crowning achievement remains The Fifth Element. A respectable hit when it was released in the spring of 1997, its reputation has grown considerably in the years since its release, with it widely regarded as a classic. In it, Bruce Willis plays Korben Dallas, a futurist NYC cabbie, who crosses paths with Milla Jovovich’s Leeloo, the titular Fifth Element, and becomes embroiled in a quest to save the galaxy, with him opposed by Gary Oldman’s Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg.
While packed with show-stopping sequences, the movie is most famous for the extended opera house sequence. In it, Dallas, undercover for the government, attends an opera performance by Diva Plavalaguna, who performs the now iconic “Diva Dance”, with music by Eric Serra. This musical sequence turns into a giant running gun battle, which includes the largest indoor explosion ever film at the time of its release. Yet, some also argue that it’s marred by too much comic relief from Chris Tucker’s Ruby Rod.
In this video, our host Kier Gomes deconstructs the entire sequence, digging into how it was made, how the film overcame an initially mixed reaction to become a classic, and where it stands in the pantheon of great science fiction.
sponsored content
Do you remember The Fifth Element? Let us know in the comments!
Tags: The Fifth Element
Latest Movie News
Movie News
Posted 16 minutes ago
While The Final Reckoning's estimated gross may break a franchise record, Lilo & Stitch will be Memorial Day's big hit.
Movie News
Alexander Payne ready to Pick Flick with Election sequel
Posted 1 hour ago
Alexander Payne has provided an update on the status of his sequel to Election, saying he and Jim Taylor are actively working on it.
JoBlo Originals
Posted 4 hours ago
Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted...
Movie News
Scarlett Johansson would return to Marvel — to direct
Posted 4 hours ago
Scarlett Johansson insists that Black Widow is in fact dead, but isn’t ruling out a return to Marvel if she can get behind the lens.
Movie News
Aaron Taylor-Johnson signs deal with James Bond watchmakers Omega: Is this a sign he’s our next 007?
Posted 19 hours ago
Fans believe that Aaron Taylor-Johnson's recent partnership with Omega is a sure sign that he'll be our next James Bond.
Movie News
Negan as the Dark Knight? Jeffrey Dean Morgan confirms he was supposed to be Flashpoint Batman
Posted 20 hours ago
Jeffrey Dean Morgan played Thomas Wayne in Batman v Superman, and he confirms he was supposed to return as Flashpoint Batman.
Horror Movie News
Cast of horror thriller Oddities includes genre icon Adrienne Barbeau
Posted 21 hours ago
Genre icon Adrienne Barbeau has a prominent role in the recently wrapped horror thriller Oddities, based on the 2023 short
Movie News
Michael Jackson biopic anti-gravity leans to 22 days of additional photography to spread more blood on the dance floor
Posted 22 hours ago
The Michael Jackson biopic's producer, Graham King, says the movie will arrange a 22-day shoot for additional footage.
Movie News
Avatar: The Way of Water returns to IMAX theaters this October ahead of the anticipated arrival of Avatar: Fire and Ash
Posted 23 hours ago
James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water will return to IMAX theaters in October in anticipation of Avatar: Fire and Ash's December release.
Movie News
Our Last Resort: Blumhouse producing adaptation of new Clémence Michallon novel
Posted 23 hours ago
Blumhouse is working on an adaptation of Clémence Michallon's first novel and has acquired the rights to her second novel, Our Last Resort
Load more articles
