Rats...I gotta save the world again??

The Fifth Element is one of those movies that is so under appreciated. I remember when it was first in theaters and the commercials on tv about it. These commercials made me think this movie was something it wasn't. Which is to say I thought it was just another shoot 'em up, brainless action flick.

My husband and I often would go to our local $1.50 movie theater and see things we wouldn't normally have been interested in seeing. Most times we would just show up and see what was playing. Well that night it was The Fifth Element.

This movie was so much more than I expected it to be. There was sci-fi, there was romance, beautiful sets and gorgeous costumes, brilliant actors, side-aching laughter and of course, edge-of-your-seat action. I can safely say there was never a dull moment in this movie. The soundtrack was even fresh, stimulating and appropriate.

One of my favorite parts of this movie was Chris Tucker. When I first saw the movie, I wasn't very familiar with who he was (Rush Hour had not been released yet). I found him hysterical! He plays a very flamboyant radio personality who comes into contact with the stars of the film, Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich, and becomes an unwilling accomplice in their mission to save the earth.

I'll give you a little plot synopsis so you can get an idea of just what this movie is about. Its about five hundred years in the future. Every six hundred years, Evil returns to the earth, hoping to destroy it. There is a weapon against this evil, the five elements. Water, Air, Fire, Earth (in the form of ceremonial stones) and the Perfect Being (in the beginning, looks like a mere statue). So far, these weapons have done a wonderful job protection human kind. After the last attempt by Evil to destroy the earth, the caretakers of the elements (a powerful but kind alien race) comes to earth to take the elements with them. They are no longer safe on earth. They promise to return when Evil does.

Evil returns and so does the alien race with the elements in tow. However, someone (Gary Oldman) doesn't want this race to save the earth. They shoot down the alien spaceship and at first, it seems as if no one survived. But there is a living cell found at the crash site. This cell is taken to a regneration chamber (this is the future, remember) and the being is reconstructed. The being is human and it is female. And the scientists realise that this is no ordinary human. This human is, for lack of a better word, perfect. Theres more to it, but I suggest you watch the movie because it explains it much better than I ever could.

Bruce Willis is a former military officer, now a cab driver who rescues this mysterious female as she is running from the authorities after the escaping the regneration chamber. Willis is dragged into the drama that ensues, mostly because he is enchanted by the mysterious woman. Evil is getting closer and a race to secure the elements ensues. The alien race hid the elements well and the woman knows where to find them. But can they find them and activate them in time? And will this woman, the all-important Fifth Element, even want to save the earth when its all said and done?

This is a great movie and I recommend it to everyone out there. Naturally if you enjoy Sci-Fi and Action it may appeal to you more but I believe this film has something for everyone. Do yourself a favor and rent this today!