Creating the Futurescape for the Fifth Element (2019)
Fans revisit Luc Besson’s 1997 sci‑fi film *The Fifth Element*, praising its exuberant worldbuilding, practical effects, and memorable performances, and contrasting its tactile, imaginative futurescape with today’s heavier reliance on CGI. Commenters highlight specific visual achievements such as detailed matte paintings of a transformed Manhattan, drawing parallels to works like *Blade Runner*, *Valerian*, and Moebius’s comics. A side thread examines Milla Jovovich’s promotion of an open-source “MemPalace” AI project, prompting skepticism about celebrity-led tech ventures and their ties to crypto-style marketing.
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.