Rating: 15/20
Plot: A cab driver tries to reunite the titular babe with some rocks in order to stop something evil.
I always think this movie is much older than it actually is. It was just a couple years before The Phantom Menace which, along with the other two prequels, reminds me of this movie, at least in scope and tone. It just feels like an 80's movie with a Luc Besson indulging and so obviously making something that he knows he'd enjoy seeing. Or something he would have enjoyed seeing when he was 10 years old with some added parts (mostly Milla Jovovich's parts) added for his 15 year old self. Yes, there's a lot of humor that doesn't really work at all, definitely not as well as the action sequences or the science fiction imagery, but it's still a good mash-up of a whole bunch of (no pun intended) elements. As silly as this often gets, it's never ever boring. And I can't explain what Chris Tucker is doing with his talk show host character. It's like he blended James Brown and Prince, accidentally spilled the mix on the floor, and tried to salvage as much as possible by scooping it up with his hands. As cool as the imagery is in this--and it is very cool--the music is even better. Eric Serra did the score, and he should probably go ahead and just score all science fiction movies. This stuff is that good. Apparently, his score for Goldeneye is heavily criticized by Bondphiles, but I'll have to check that one out soon. Here, it's squibbly electronic music to operatic bombast and big action movie stuff. There's Middle Eastern tinge, reggae, futuristic pop, collage stuff, murky ambiance. The eclectic score perfectly matches the eclectic ideas in the movie. Other stuff I like about this movie:
--This has to break some kind of record for characters saying the title of the movie the most times.
--Camel close-up!
--Crotch flashlights and a guy in Zubaz trying to rob Bruce Willis. You don't rob somebody like Bruce Willis unless you're wearing pants like Zubaz.
--Love the totally impractical Mondos, especially when they're showing their prowess by busting through gold tinfoil walls.
--I want my very own Milla Jovovich in a glass cage. She was nominated for a Razzie for this performance (so was Chris Tucker), but I don't see it. She's great with that made-up language, and there's a scene where she does this Woody Woodpecker laugh that arguably should have won her an Oscar nomination.
--Leeloo's outfits. Oh, man. How many times do you think Jovovich looked at Besson and said, "Seriously? That?"
--Major Iceborg with swooshing sound effect head nods and buns that are an obvious nod to Princess Leia.
--Sibyl Buck, Zorg's secretary. Do you think anybody's ever dressed up like her for one of those conventions? I want to put Sibyl Buck in my Anne Frank sequel. Maybe she can play Edith Frank.
--"Negative. I am a meat popsicle." Say what you want about Bruce Willis. Accuse him of playing the same guy in every movie. But can you replace him with anybody else in this movie? I didn't think so.
--Such great effects and an attention to detail. It makes you feel like you should watch this again to see what little details you missed. Coruscant looks great in the daytime, maybe a little more cartoonish but still a wonder. Luc Besson, his imagination running wild in an infinite sandbox.
--Zorg might be one of the most ridiculous villains in science fiction, but I love how Oldman can make his eyelid twitch. And that voice! What the hell is going on there? He's playing it so hammy, also having a blast after playing Lee Harvey Oswald and Stansfield in The Professional. Watch how much fun he's having showing off that weapon.
--Aren't flight attendant outfits great in the future?
--Space Hawaii! I want to go. Sully from Monsters Inc. is on the floor of Bruce Willis's hotel room, by the way.
--That opera scene is so good. I don't know how they found somebody who could both sing opera that well and who happened to be blue. They must have lucked into Inva Mula. Space opera is where it's at in the future, folks. Remember the cool opera Palpatine takes Anakin to in Revenge of the Sith? This is nearly straight opera, too, except for the Smurf with head tentacles singing the thing. And when that scene morphs into a mashed-up soundtrack to a kung-fu action sequence with aliens about as special as ones you'd see in your typical Doctor Who episode? With an added Wilhelm Scream? Fresh!
--Yes, that is "Tiny" Lister as the president. Somebody watched No Holds Barred and thought, "That guy would make a good president!" and somebody else said, "Who? Hulk Hogan?" and was answered with a dirty look and, "No, not Hulk Hogan! That black guy with the lazy eye."
--McDonalds and Coca Cola product placement. Maybe that's something else that makes this stink of the 1980's. In 400 years, when this movie is supposed to be taking place, archaeologists are going to pop in VHS tapes of ours and think all these red cans are some kind of secret code. And who knows? They might be! There will be anthropology classes in the future where students analyze movies like this and Mac and Me to try to find secret messages to future peoples.
This movie is pretty popular, isn't it? I'm confused about who the audience is supposed to be. Wouldn't it annoy most science fiction fans? And isn't it too weird for the mainstream? Far from perfect, but the flaws are what helps make it so memorable and fun.
I remember really liking this when it came out, though I have a feeling I would like it less now. Also a 15 from memory.
ReplyDeleteI liked this movie, too. It's been a while, but I remember thinking that there's a lot going on and it would benefit a slower pacing and a sequel to tie things up.
ReplyDeleteTake Gary Oldman's character "Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg." There's a lot going on with this character. Why is his name so interesting? What brought him to his seemingly powerful and high placement? His accent. His clothing/hairdo. Every piece of characterization is so mysterious that it deserves time in order to dive deeper and answer the audience's questions.
There are more and more questions that this movie presents rather than answers...I'll quit with this one: why do the characters sweat blood? Jesus did that in the Garden of Gethsemane...seems like there would be a connection, but there's absolutely no explanation.
This is a clear example of how dissed that audience is when a movie is based on a book. Obviously, I need to read the book because if the movie is still that good, then the book has to be great.