Apparently Luc Besson dreamt up the story line when he was 16 and had in mind two famous French comic book artists for the visual style. One was Jean Giraud ('Moebius') and the other was Jean-Claude Mezieres who went to art school together. Moebius is best know for the Movie "Heavy Metal" (1981) whilst Mezieres is better know for the "Valerian" series. They started work on the film in the early 1990's and are responsible for much of the non-Jean Paul Gaultier look and feel of the vehicles, spacecraft, buildings and characters. Allegedly the story borrows heavily from 1960's graphic novel 'The Incal' by Moebius and Jodorowsky who, ironically, sued Luc Besson on this basis. Quite how Moebius sued his employer for a movie he worked on is a mystery. Needless to say, they lost this case. Jodorowsky later claimed that he considered it to be an honour to have his ideas stolen! It was a high for the actors too. Bruce Willis has never done anything quite this wacky before or since. His line "Whoa lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English" was an ad lib. It was pretty much downhill all the way for Milla too. She pretty much ended her career right there. I mean "Resident Evil" 1, 2 and 3?! C'mon! Ian Holm comes out with his head held high. He is a rock - the corner stone of many a great sci-fi epic such as 'Alien' and 'The Day After Tomorrow". And if you only ever see one movie with Gary Oldman in make it this one.. "If you want something doing - do it yourself!" There is also a quite kooky bunch of support characters. It is great to see a link to the 'Bladerunner' with the appearance of Brion James as 'General Munro'. We also have Tricky as 'Right Arm' - sure, no Oscar winning performance but he does look suitably anxious all the time. Then there is Lee Evans as 'Fog' who just about plays it as himself and is perfect in the role. For some reason Luke Perry gets a high listing in the caste of characters (as 'Billy') but this is based purely on his Hollywood fame than any genuine contribution to this movie. Blink and you miss him. He is only the first ten minutes. In criticism of the movie (if there can be any) then there is the creaking corniness of the ending. Leeloo becomes so disenchanted with mankind's capability for War that she loses the will to fight evil. Hence Korben has to step in and love her. He is her inspiration. He gives her something to live for. Ooooh. Slightly naff. However, there is great poetry and humour elsewhere in the plot that we can forgive this awkwardness. Of course there are those out there who just don't 'get' this movie. Thankfully they are a minority. Then there is equal minority who are so scarily into this movie that they dye their hair orange. Cool. As for the rest of us mortals... We thought it was great. We'll happy slap this in the DVD player on a wet Sunday afternoon and get lost in the thrill and fantasy of it all. To be honest, work like this is few and far between, so relish what we have. | 
