New post - THE FIFTH ELEMENT – A Visual Retrospective – Edited by PATRICE GIROD and ARNAUD GRUNBERG

[SFFWorld]

In my latest “OMG – how-old-am-I?” revelation, the arrival of this book reminds me that Luc Besson’s film was released 29 years ago, with its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 7 1997. Watching it at the time, there was a lot I loved – Bruce Willis doing his usual Bruce Willis impression,…

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[Stanley Steamboy]

I like how they cast famous faces from previous SF films, and often had what felt like design references to older SF, like the Brit shuttle pilots with their skull caps. The film feels like an ode to SF in general.

"You want some more?"

 

[Hobbit]

often had what felt like design references to older SF,

Think that's partly due to the production artists. For decades before Mobius drew for Metal Hurlant magazine, and Mezieres had been drawing Valerian and Laureline (which Besson later made into a film) since the 60's. Besson clearly wanted to keep their style in his film.

It may also be that the script was based on an idea Besson had had when young. The homage to older SF is deliberate, I think.