The Fifth Element

One of my favourite movies is the science fiction cult classic, The Fifth Element.  The movie first hit the big screens in 1997, giving it the longevity required for the moniker, cult classic. 

The Fifth Element has stayed with me over the last 25 years because of its imagery, future based science fiction, striking characters, innovative special effects and age old story lines of good versus evil and “Love Conquers All”.

The fantastical story line is simple and focused, mainstays of successful story telling.

 The Fifth Element contains the conflict, climax and resolution requirements of a story as follows:

1. Every 5000 years, the Great Evil, from somewhere far away, attempts to destroy earth
2. Only the Fifth Element, Leeloo, also from somewhere far away, can eliminate the threat
3. Hero, Korben Dallas and Leeloo successfully navigate every obstacle and treachery in their path
4. Leeloo learns of the atrocities humans have committed towards each other and the human penchant for war. Overwhelmed, Leeloo shuts down, unable to defend Earth against impending doom
5. Korben Dallas declares his love for Leeloo. She is revived and understands that because they love, humans must be saved. Leeloo miraculously rallies and decimates the Great Evil.

Find a more robust Story Spine, prepared by yours truly, here.

The uncomplicated story line of the Fifth Element is easy to appreciate and comforting in its predictability.  The characters are straight up, forthright, single natured. There is no “dark side” in the good guys.  There is no “goodness” in the bad guys.  They are who they are, hero or villain.  Throughout the movie they portray single minded focus on their goals – either to save or destroy. 

As noted by Ashley Fell in her You Tube presentation demonstrating the Visual Mind, digital stories should also have the three components of color, picture and movement.

The Fifth Element contains all the ingredients of a good story while being a visual delight.

The cinematography is exceptional. 

The Fifth Element does not incorporate the dark, gloomy, ominous atmosphere of most science fiction movies. Apart from the deep space scenes that are naturally dark, the movie is well lit, even bright.  No evil lurking in shadows waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting. 

The world of the future is presented as over-populated, high density yet somehow orderly (apart from the techno garbage heap at the airport to remind us we are a consumer driven throw away society). It is clean and unpolluted, like how we want our world to be. Another universal principal engrained in the message of the film.

The Fifth Element is a feel good movie.  The classic battle of good versus evil plays out with victorious heroes and defeated villians. 

And the Fifth Element ends with the principal of “Love Conquers All”.  Hopeless romantic or not, “happily ever after” stories are memorable. They reinforce our belief in basic goodness, giving cause for optimism and hopefulness.

For me, The Fifth Element is escapism at its best, fun, entertaining, memorable.