![]() The enclosed Blu-ray houses the remaining eight featurettes, all carried over from previous editions. “He was the most talented actor on Earth,” Besson says, admitting he was so taken by one of Oldman’s performances, he kept asking for more takes even though the actor had already nailed it.īesson also reveals how his older sister’s homework on Plato and the fifth element was the inspiration that got his script off the ground after two previous false starts. Gary Oldman, who co-starred as psychotic detective Stansfied in “Léon: The Professional,” was cast as the sinister Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg. “She was much more relaxed we had a drink and talked.” She agreed to do one more screen test.īesson developed a 400-word vocabulary using Greek and Latin for Leeloo’s ancient language, which Jovovich and Besson used to communicate with during production, leaving the rest of the crew and cast in the dark. He felt the Ukrainian born supermodel was “too nervous and wore too much makeup.” A month later Besson spotted her at a hotel in a T-shirt, jeans, no makeup and ponytail. “He got the script he read it right away and he said, ‘I’m in,'” Besson recalls.īesson wasn’t particularly impressed with Milla Jovovich’s original screen test for the role of flame-haired Leeloo, who holds the keys to save the universe. If the actor turned it down, the project was more likely dead. 1 box-office star, and Besson was worried, since he only envisioned Willis for the role. It quickly jumps to the mid-23rd century world of Brooklyn cab driver Korben Dallas, a former military officer played by Bruce Willis. ![]() Serra has written all the music for Besson’s films.īesson spent $90 million to create the sights and sounds of flying cars, spaceships, villains, marvelous stunts and one amazing heroine, honing shades of Fritz Lang’s German “Metropolis” (1927) and Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” (1982). The only ding is the old school special effects, composited from two film elements, which produce a slightly softer image.Īudio on the 4K and Blu-ray both include the all-expansive Dolby Atmos track that fully encompasses the listening environment, with the Oscar nominated sound effects and the fabulous score from French composer Eric Serra. Plus, the natural facial toning, wider spectrum of colors and the boost in contrast, with its deep, detailed shadows and brilliant and controlled highlights, give it a complete WOW factor. It easily leaps past the Blu-ray, also sourced from the same 4K master. Sharpness is superb, evident during the opening scene set in Egypt 1914, where the four stones representing the elements (earth, air, fire and water) are stored. The natural film grain (sourced from the Super 35 technique – 2.40:1 aspect ratio) is completely intact, creating a slightly larger grain. There’s also the added bonus of High Dynamic Range (HDR), which makes it even better. And let’s face it, 4K is perfect for this ahead-of-its time flick.įilmed on 35mm, then scanned and mastered in 4K, the picture captures every single component within the film structure and texture. It was as if a veil had been removed and I was watching “The Fifth Element” with fresh eyes. I popped the disc into the player and, once past the opening credits, I became engaged with the storyline and visuals. Still, when the 4K disc arrived for review, I was apprehensive about how I would perceive the film. Over the two decades, the worldwide box office has nearly topped $240 million. Earlier this year, the Taste of Cinema website ranked the film the best of Besson’s earliest works – even topping “Léon: The Professional” and “La Femme Nikita.” They call it “relentless and manic inventiveness.”īesson, who crafted his first draft as a teenager, credits the Internet and the global community, with making it more accessible. Today, “The Fifth Element” has aged like a bottle of fine French wine, and is highly praised within the sci-fi genre. Besson directs with ceaseless flamboyance.” New York Times’ critic Janet Maslin wrote, “Mr. Then, when it opened in the U.S., “The Fifth Element” was considered too European, and received mixed reviews. ![]() It took the young French director by surprise, since it had been filmed at the famed 007 soundstage at Pinewood Studios in England. The French press also wasn’t kind, calling the movie an American Film. E-Pilot Evening Edition Home Page Close Menu
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