Creating the Futurescape for the Fifth Element (2019)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Article context and provenance

  • Several note the piece is a reprint of a 1997 American Cinematographer article, not a new 2019 writeup.
  • Some wish this were clearly labeled; others see it as a non-issue.

Affection for the film

  • Many express deep, long-term attachment to The Fifth Element, calling it a favorite and revisiting it often.
  • Praised for: vivid color, humor, “personality,” strong practical effects, memorable score, and standout performances (especially the leads and the main villain).
  • Viewers say it still plays well with new audiences and has aged better than a lot of CGI-heavy films.

Worldbuilding and futurescape

  • Strong appreciation for the dense, vertical city design and hover‑car traffic.
  • The brief 4K matte shot of future Manhattan is repeatedly highlighted as a worldbuilding masterpiece, rich in detail and implying a complex evolution of the city.
  • Some compare its atmosphere favorably to other sci‑fi classics and lament that such detailed matte work is rare now.

Practical vs digital effects

  • Many celebrate the heavy use of practical effects and miniatures, comparing them to modern examples that blend practical and CGI.
  • Debate over CGI:
    • One side argues digital effects still often feel artificial, especially when overused.
    • Another insists modern films are saturated with invisible CGI that viewers mistake for practical work, so it can be just as convincing.
  • Some criticize marketing that exaggerates “no CGI” claims and undervalues VFX artists.

Characters, tone, and themes

  • Ruby Rhod is polarizing: some find the character disruptive and over-the-top; many more argue he’s essential comic energy and perfectly cast.
  • Noted structural choice: hero and villain never directly meet on screen.
  • One thread critiques the “Born Sexy Yesterday” trope in the heroine and links it to the director’s personal life; others find that interpretation stretched and point to scenes showing clear agency and boundaries.

Sequels and related works

  • Some are glad it wasn’t turned into a franchise; others wish for at least one sequel but accept that leaving it standalone may be better.
  • Valerian is often framed as a looser, less successful spiritual sibling: visually impressive but hampered by weak story and casting.
  • A documentary about an unrealized sci‑fi project is recommended as context for shared visual influences across many genre films.

Props and memorabilia

  • One commenter shares photos of original taxi and police car props on display at a French industrial company’s HQ, appreciated as a fun link between transit tech and film design.

Milla Jovovich “MemPalace” side discussion

  • Off-topic branch about an AI “memory” project on GitHub under her name.
  • Some allege it’s a crypto-adjacent grift with cooked benchmarks and no real coding history.
  • Others provide social media and linktree evidence that she publicly claims involvement, describing herself as “architect,” with a partner doing the engineering.
  • Overall authenticity and depth of her technical role remain disputed and unclear.