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SUPER 8 FILM REVIEW
 One of the most visually stunning films of recent years has now made an appearance on Super 8. This may only be an extract but thankfully it is the most stylish sequence of the whole film. It is also the sequence from which the film has gained its fame – the future Manhattan sequence. As a film, ‘The Fifth Element’ is a load of nonsense. There seem to be just two opinions; namely, you either love it or hate it. If you are unfortunate enough never to have seen it on a big screen you probably can’t grasp quite what makes this film so popular. Well now is your chance! Chosen to open the 50th Cannes Film Festival it was another month before The Empire Leicester Square was given its sumptuous West End print. I was swanning off on the QE2 at the time (snort!) so I attended for a slightly delayed cinematic treat at 18:00 on 4th July 1997 (seat R34) and in those days a ticket was only £7.50. I thought it a very strange film. But it was just so darned impressive to look at; a spectacle not to be missed. I decided I wanted a print. To this day I’ve not been able to watch it all the way through on a television – it just doesn’t work. This extract has succeeded in reminding me how good ‘The Fifth Element’ is on a big screen; the bigger, the better. The year is 2259. Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) is the Fifth Element. She is the supreme being destined to pass through eternity to be awoken every 500 years to combat the physical manifestation of pure evil and save all life on earth from extinction. Okay, the plot is a little thin… actually, it’s anorexic. But I couldn’t give a monkeys. It’s all served up with such verve and sophistication it is something to be immersed in and to suspend all reality for a couple of hours. Viewed from that perspective it works very effectively. Our extract begins with the Fifth Element/Leeloo being resurrected. A bit of nudity here but this can in no way be considered offensive. Leeloo is terrified. No one understands her and so she decides to run. When she escapes outside the building she finds she is about a mile up. The effects from here on are practically perfect. The colours are mezmerizing. Manhattan is a sea of enormous skyscrapers with streams of flying cars buzzing around in orderly processions everywhere. A police flying unit arrives so she dives off – in slow motion. An amazing scene. Fortunately she crashes through the roof of a flying yellow cab driven by Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis). Typically he sides with this beautiful girl and causes the police to give chase.  This is reel 2 from the feature; you can check this on the lead out (the lead in states ‘reel one’ presumably because of the Columbia introduction), all the information is there. As it appears to have no cuts during its running time it should prove an ideal candidate for sync’ pulse. So you’d better all attend the next BFCC, or else!!! Print is good, just a trace of grain which has in all likelihood come from the master material. Sharp with very nice colours. Also has a good stereo track with some Dolby Stereo decoding in evidence and the sub-woofer putting in a good thump, particularly to some of the bassy music track. There is a Columbia logo introduction on the front. Independent 8 put out the ‘Scope trailer a few years ago. Come on Barry, dig out that negative and re-release it. It’s ideal for the introduction to this reel. Print A Sound A
Budget approx. $92 million |
