THE FIFTH ELEMENT

OUT 24 AUGUST / CERT 12 / 126 MINS

Imagine Blade Runner without the angst and bathed in a lot more sunshine, or 2001 with a sense of the ridiculous, and you begin to approach this singular Luc Besson sci-fi extravaganza. Honestly, the story of a supreme being – Milla Jovovich’s delightful, deadly Leeloo – trying to save the world from an all-encompassing evil would be ridiculous if it weren’t so much fun. And so gorgeous! The future environment comes from artist Chris Foss via French comics genius Moebius; the costumes were literally designed by Jean-paul Gaultier. The drama just about works, too, with Bruce Willis’ parodically straight-faced tough guy holding the centre while Chris Tucker’s camp sex god Ruby Rhod simpers behind him – though Gary Oldman’s preening villain, Zorg, comes close to stealing the whole show. There were smarter sci-fi films in the ’90s, but few were ever so dizzily enjoyable.