1,262 reviews
A good movie ruined by the ridiculous casting of Dane DeHaan asa swashbuckling, romantic lead. He ruins every scene with bad acting. He's neither heroic and the romantic chemistry between he and Cara Delvinge has all the sparks of a dripping sink.
The imagery is creative and the story inventive. A good story spoiled by one missed casting of the title character. Dane is not a romantic, nor a dashing heroic lead.
He's a little boy, playing toy soldiers.
DeHaan comes off like a prepubescent, nurtured 13 year old boy. He's less convincing as a "dangerous hero." His threatening stature has all the menace of Winnie The Poo.
The imagery is creative and the story inventive. A good story spoiled by one missed casting of the title character. Dane is not a romantic, nor a dashing heroic lead.
He's a little boy, playing toy soldiers.
DeHaan comes off like a prepubescent, nurtured 13 year old boy. He's less convincing as a "dangerous hero." His threatening stature has all the menace of Winnie The Poo.
- glen-hellman
- Apr 8, 2023
- Permalink
So many positives for the film - good, complex story, excellent world building and great effects, and even a nod to the Fifth Element for Besson fans.
And one negative - Dane DeHaan is not an action adventure leading man. What was Besson thinking? Sadly this is too big a negative to ignore and it completely ruins a film that could have been great.
I don't know DeHaan personally, he may be a great guy who is kind to puppies. But he simply does not have the on screen leading man charisma needed for a film like this. Instead of the cool, attractive, manly man with a hint of menace who can be relied on to battle the baddies and save the girl (like he is in the comics) DeHaan comes across like a slightly creepy looking entitled teenager who has decided that he's going to spend Daddy's money on being a space hero. You will hate him.
Unlike other reviewers, I actually think that Cara Delevingne is very good in this - her acting has vastly improved since Suicide Squad. That shame is that had she been opposite a better leading man it would have been far easier to spot
I don't know DeHaan personally, he may be a great guy who is kind to puppies. But he simply does not have the on screen leading man charisma needed for a film like this. Instead of the cool, attractive, manly man with a hint of menace who can be relied on to battle the baddies and save the girl (like he is in the comics) DeHaan comes across like a slightly creepy looking entitled teenager who has decided that he's going to spend Daddy's money on being a space hero. You will hate him.
Unlike other reviewers, I actually think that Cara Delevingne is very good in this - her acting has vastly improved since Suicide Squad. That shame is that had she been opposite a better leading man it would have been far easier to spot
- criticalmassbass
- Aug 28, 2020
- Permalink
When I heard Luc Besson was going to work on a space opera, I immediately hoped it would be like "The Fifth Element" but with a little bit more complexity that would turn into a franchise. Unfortunately, I was mislead by my own hopes and expectations.
For an international French movie, "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is a very ambitious project that was covered by an astonishing $200 million budget. Certainly, it has Luc Besson attached to write and direct and it is based on a famous long-running French comic-book series, so how can it go wrong? Well, many elements added to this dull but persistent aching after watching the whole film.
First of all, 6/10 is a high rating for it, but to my reason it had stunning visual effects for a non-Hollywood or British movie and that is a remarkable thing to accomplish. It's not always easy to face-up against giants when it comes to the CGI business. Secondly, you could sense Besson's sci-fi additions with many quirky technological advancements in terms of guns or gadgets and small things like that make a true science-fiction film to me.
"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" stars Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as two Special operatives who must stop evil-doers from destroying Alpha, the city of a thousand planets, and uncover the truth behind the extinction of an alien race. Right off the bat you could tell that the chemistry between DeHaan and Delevingne didn't exist and it stayed that way until the end of the picture. I personally think that Dane DeHaan has potential, but it was clear that this set was not suitable for him. The casting really missed this one. The script didn't help either, at times making me question how some parts of the dialogue were ever spoken out loud. With the right casting and script this movie could have been worth something.
This concludes another recent attempt at the space opera genre, after The Wachowskis' "Jupiter Ascending", and it turns out that a space opera needs time and preparation to do it right and not rush development.
For an international French movie, "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is a very ambitious project that was covered by an astonishing $200 million budget. Certainly, it has Luc Besson attached to write and direct and it is based on a famous long-running French comic-book series, so how can it go wrong? Well, many elements added to this dull but persistent aching after watching the whole film.
First of all, 6/10 is a high rating for it, but to my reason it had stunning visual effects for a non-Hollywood or British movie and that is a remarkable thing to accomplish. It's not always easy to face-up against giants when it comes to the CGI business. Secondly, you could sense Besson's sci-fi additions with many quirky technological advancements in terms of guns or gadgets and small things like that make a true science-fiction film to me.
"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" stars Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as two Special operatives who must stop evil-doers from destroying Alpha, the city of a thousand planets, and uncover the truth behind the extinction of an alien race. Right off the bat you could tell that the chemistry between DeHaan and Delevingne didn't exist and it stayed that way until the end of the picture. I personally think that Dane DeHaan has potential, but it was clear that this set was not suitable for him. The casting really missed this one. The script didn't help either, at times making me question how some parts of the dialogue were ever spoken out loud. With the right casting and script this movie could have been worth something.
This concludes another recent attempt at the space opera genre, after The Wachowskis' "Jupiter Ascending", and it turns out that a space opera needs time and preparation to do it right and not rush development.
The first thing I want to say about this movie is that the visuals are absolutely insane! It's really a joy to watch, the aliens are extremely well made and the first scene is just gorgeous!
The story is predictable, but can keep you interested for most of the time. The main problem was the way things are explained, it's like the movie think that the viewers are not intelligent enough, and many times I found myself saying "well that was obvious". There are some scenes that have zero impact on the story, and they give you nothing interesting. I really wanted to know more about this world, about the species, but sadly that didn't happen.
The dialog is good but nothing exiting, sometimes they say the same stuff over and over and you may find yourself thinking "we get it, move on", and it's really cheesy at some points.
The acting is very good, the chemistry between Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne is great, and overall all the cast delivers.
This movie wasn't something amazing as I thought it would be judging by the trailers, but I still enjoyed it very much, the actions scenes were great and the humor was on point most of the time. I won't recommend this for those who look for something clever with breathtaking twists, but for those who enjoy solid acting, nice story and amazing visuals, this movie is definitely recommended.
Overall 7/10
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The story is predictable, but can keep you interested for most of the time. The main problem was the way things are explained, it's like the movie think that the viewers are not intelligent enough, and many times I found myself saying "well that was obvious". There are some scenes that have zero impact on the story, and they give you nothing interesting. I really wanted to know more about this world, about the species, but sadly that didn't happen.
The dialog is good but nothing exiting, sometimes they say the same stuff over and over and you may find yourself thinking "we get it, move on", and it's really cheesy at some points.
The acting is very good, the chemistry between Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne is great, and overall all the cast delivers.
This movie wasn't something amazing as I thought it would be judging by the trailers, but I still enjoyed it very much, the actions scenes were great and the humor was on point most of the time. I won't recommend this for those who look for something clever with breathtaking twists, but for those who enjoy solid acting, nice story and amazing visuals, this movie is definitely recommended.
Overall 7/10
Thanks for reading!
Adapted from Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières long-running French sci-fi comics series Valérian And Laureline. Luc Besson creates a stunning visual feast. Besson's attention to detail is immaculate. And that along side the quirky dialog's between Laureline and Valerian are what keep this film afloat. I might be in the minority, but I prefer my films to be lengthy. However in this case, Valerian feels overstuffed trying to add more depth to the story at every turn. This film might have benefited from a shorter run time. The biggest surprise was Laureline(Delevingne), her character is what kept my interest throughout the film and her acting was actually on point. As someone who was skeptical about her casting, I'm glad to be proved wrong. Not saying it's her breakout performance, Just saying she's improving and perhaps she might have a future as an actress. Everyone deserves a second chance.
Grade: B-
Grade: B-
- Harun_Karali
- Jul 18, 2017
- Permalink
I expected much much more...especially from LB.
So much potential in the story but the actors, dialogs and main characters simply didnt do the job.
It could have been one of the best movies but in the end its nothing....such potential, such visuals, such story...all went down the drain.
So much potential in the story but the actors, dialogs and main characters simply didnt do the job.
It could have been one of the best movies but in the end its nothing....such potential, such visuals, such story...all went down the drain.
- feliks-semanjski
- Dec 26, 2017
- Permalink
I'm not going to lie, I was looking forward to Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The production team behind it, in combination with the history of the IP (not to mention the absolutely bonkers trailer) made it seem like Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) level intensity was the best case scenario. Worst case scenario, we were looking at a Jupiter Ascending (2015) a la, a movie with enough sheer lunacy to justify a watch despite being seriously flawed.
So it's to my surprise and partially to my chagrin that Valerian is neither of these things - not really. It is a painfully sincere movie that is positively aglow with its own ingenuity, like a toddler is with his own finger painting. And believe it or not, that kind of innocent hubris does save Valerian from quite of few scrapes and contrivances here and there. Yet when the day is done, there's no denying director Luc Besson's newest sci-fi space adventure is simultaneously too sloppy and too well made to enjoy.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is based on a series of French science fiction comics which chronicle the adventures of Valerian (DeHaan) a roguish space cop and his damsel-esque partner Laureline (Delevingne). After their latest mission inadvertently puts them in possession of the film's magical sci-fi maguffin, they make their way to the fabled space city of Alpha. Once they get there however, all hell breaks loose and our heroes find themselves scrabbling to rescue their superior, Commander Filitt (Owen) from an unknown group of aliens.
The highs of this movie are near euphoric with some of the most creative and convincing examples of world-building seen this side of blockbuster cinema. The technology, the habitats the creature design et al. are all so refreshingly fun with the city of Alpha being the clear standout of all the marvelous filigree. Alpha at times feels like an ever shifting character in the film, assimilating worthwhile ideas from Star Trek (1966-1969), "John Carter of Mars," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and all points in between. What's more, the worlds that are created here, you feel like you can come right out and touch them. They practically beg to be explored and thanks in part to the script, you get a decent if breezy tour of Alpha via Valerian and Laureline's fast-paced adventure.
Yet the lows in this movie are almost embarrassingly low, with every bad decision sticking out like Chris Tucker in cheetah print. The problems start almost immediately. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne for all their efforts are sorely miscast as our heroes; trying desperately to pull off a Han/Leia vibe with the chemistry of flat soda. Much of it can't be helped of course; partially due to their age they look less like grizzled space cops whom by their own admission "have seen it all," and more like children playing dress up. You can also just tell what little direction they were given was limited to them hitting their mark and reading their lines, never mind emoting or interacting with the space in any meaningful way.
There's also the issue of the plot, which on its own merits is fine and even a little illuminating on paper. Yet due to the way the story unfolds, we're given everything we need to piece together the themes very early on. Its clear Luc Besson (who also wrote the screenplay) doesn't want to bog the movie down too much with Avatar (2009) -level messaging. Gadgetry can be argued to be its own reward. But because the movie is in such a rush to whisk us to the next show-stopping set-piece, it all but ignores its problematic elements. Elements that include but are not limited to: a simple "noble savage" vs. militaristic boogeyman narrative, human (alien) trafficking being treated as a fumbled plot device, an alien race modeled after feudal Japanese stereotypes that actually eats people...
Yet despite big, big, BIG problems, Valerian still manages to eek out enough good ideas worthy of a tacit recommendation. The bustling city of Alpha, reminiscent of Venice during the Renaissance or Baghdad at the height of the Abbasids is certainly worth a look. Of course if the imagination inherent in a far-future sci-fi smorgasbord isn't enough to entice you, and you're more concerned with say story, plot etc. then I say read the graphic novels instead.
So it's to my surprise and partially to my chagrin that Valerian is neither of these things - not really. It is a painfully sincere movie that is positively aglow with its own ingenuity, like a toddler is with his own finger painting. And believe it or not, that kind of innocent hubris does save Valerian from quite of few scrapes and contrivances here and there. Yet when the day is done, there's no denying director Luc Besson's newest sci-fi space adventure is simultaneously too sloppy and too well made to enjoy.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is based on a series of French science fiction comics which chronicle the adventures of Valerian (DeHaan) a roguish space cop and his damsel-esque partner Laureline (Delevingne). After their latest mission inadvertently puts them in possession of the film's magical sci-fi maguffin, they make their way to the fabled space city of Alpha. Once they get there however, all hell breaks loose and our heroes find themselves scrabbling to rescue their superior, Commander Filitt (Owen) from an unknown group of aliens.
The highs of this movie are near euphoric with some of the most creative and convincing examples of world-building seen this side of blockbuster cinema. The technology, the habitats the creature design et al. are all so refreshingly fun with the city of Alpha being the clear standout of all the marvelous filigree. Alpha at times feels like an ever shifting character in the film, assimilating worthwhile ideas from Star Trek (1966-1969), "John Carter of Mars," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and all points in between. What's more, the worlds that are created here, you feel like you can come right out and touch them. They practically beg to be explored and thanks in part to the script, you get a decent if breezy tour of Alpha via Valerian and Laureline's fast-paced adventure.
Yet the lows in this movie are almost embarrassingly low, with every bad decision sticking out like Chris Tucker in cheetah print. The problems start almost immediately. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne for all their efforts are sorely miscast as our heroes; trying desperately to pull off a Han/Leia vibe with the chemistry of flat soda. Much of it can't be helped of course; partially due to their age they look less like grizzled space cops whom by their own admission "have seen it all," and more like children playing dress up. You can also just tell what little direction they were given was limited to them hitting their mark and reading their lines, never mind emoting or interacting with the space in any meaningful way.
There's also the issue of the plot, which on its own merits is fine and even a little illuminating on paper. Yet due to the way the story unfolds, we're given everything we need to piece together the themes very early on. Its clear Luc Besson (who also wrote the screenplay) doesn't want to bog the movie down too much with Avatar (2009) -level messaging. Gadgetry can be argued to be its own reward. But because the movie is in such a rush to whisk us to the next show-stopping set-piece, it all but ignores its problematic elements. Elements that include but are not limited to: a simple "noble savage" vs. militaristic boogeyman narrative, human (alien) trafficking being treated as a fumbled plot device, an alien race modeled after feudal Japanese stereotypes that actually eats people...
Yet despite big, big, BIG problems, Valerian still manages to eek out enough good ideas worthy of a tacit recommendation. The bustling city of Alpha, reminiscent of Venice during the Renaissance or Baghdad at the height of the Abbasids is certainly worth a look. Of course if the imagination inherent in a far-future sci-fi smorgasbord isn't enough to entice you, and you're more concerned with say story, plot etc. then I say read the graphic novels instead.
- bkrauser-81-311064
- Jul 23, 2017
- Permalink
A long time ago humankind left earth and went into space in a space station above the earth. The experiment was so successful that many from earth moved there to live in a perfect artificial atmosphere and in harmony all races and religions. When the ship through expansion got so big it was messing with the very gravitational forces on earth it was cut loose and sent into space. Where it attracted a whole lot of other civilizations and the place just expanded and satellites created making it practically a solar system unto itself. This then is the background of Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.
As for the plot of the film itself, when you've got a system of a thousand planets I guess it's kind of easy for one to slip in and not get noticed. This is what has happened to the survivors of a planetary massacre who just want to stay there unobserved and absorbing the technology and learning from a thousand or so cultures to resettle in a different planet.
There are in fact certain forces who don't want the massacre to come to light and therein is our story.
Based on a French science fiction comic strip Valerian has as its two adventurers Dane DeHaan as Valerian and as his female sidekick Cara Delavingne. Emphasis on the kick part because the woman kicks some serious butt in this film.
The two do a nice job here, but I think the leads should have been a bit older. As for DeHaan while I was watching Valerian I kept giving the screen a double take as I swore I was looking at Keanu Reeves. Maybe the producers had Reeves in mind originally.
One thing I did love about Valerian is the description of so many and so many different kinds of life forms. This is one of the few films that takes cognizance of the fact that there might be many kinds of life forms and not all of them will be humanoid and carbon based and oxygen breathing. In fact in the thousand planets only one quarter of them fill that description. Wonders in fact unheard of in Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe.
Valerian is a good science fiction film, not a great one that may rate an Oscar nod or three in the technical categories come next year.
As for the plot of the film itself, when you've got a system of a thousand planets I guess it's kind of easy for one to slip in and not get noticed. This is what has happened to the survivors of a planetary massacre who just want to stay there unobserved and absorbing the technology and learning from a thousand or so cultures to resettle in a different planet.
There are in fact certain forces who don't want the massacre to come to light and therein is our story.
Based on a French science fiction comic strip Valerian has as its two adventurers Dane DeHaan as Valerian and as his female sidekick Cara Delavingne. Emphasis on the kick part because the woman kicks some serious butt in this film.
The two do a nice job here, but I think the leads should have been a bit older. As for DeHaan while I was watching Valerian I kept giving the screen a double take as I swore I was looking at Keanu Reeves. Maybe the producers had Reeves in mind originally.
One thing I did love about Valerian is the description of so many and so many different kinds of life forms. This is one of the few films that takes cognizance of the fact that there might be many kinds of life forms and not all of them will be humanoid and carbon based and oxygen breathing. In fact in the thousand planets only one quarter of them fill that description. Wonders in fact unheard of in Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe.
Valerian is a good science fiction film, not a great one that may rate an Oscar nod or three in the technical categories come next year.
- bkoganbing
- Nov 25, 2017
- Permalink
- maxnexus-97144
- Dec 16, 2017
- Permalink
Way better than the last Star Wars and most other sci-fi films. Very imaginative, plus a lot of fun and action. Contrary to a few other opinions, I thought the actors fit the roles and did a great job. ALL of the characters, including the digital, behaved like real people, not just mechanically following a formula derived from preceding films. If you don't like the on-screen characters, that doesn't mean the acting was bad. Maybe it's just a reflection of your discomfort in seeing certain roles portrayed. There is a modest element of romance, which always makes some viewers uncomfortable in a shooting and chasing film. Bottom line: this movie is seriously under-rated.
The Hollywood line-up this year doesn't provide anything remotely interesting. So don't let a shaky story-line, unnecessary dialogue and slightly hammy acting dissuade you from watching the most stunning visuals since "Avatar".
Based on 60s French cult comic series "Valerian & Laureline" - mystery to me why didn't they keep that title -, the magnificent opening sequence sets the tone for a more esoteric approach to Sci-Fi than "Star Wars". I won't let on about the story too much so as not to ruin any element of surprise. Let's just say they really should have lost the romantic chitchat. It makes the film drag at inconvenient times. With real writers, this could have become a classic.
The draw is the eye candy and there's plenty of it. Again I cannot in good conscience divulge any details. Again let's just say that one gets treated to the most creative use of lemons in the history of film. I'll have to watch it again to catch all the pop art references. Aliens were never more beautiful, more sophisticated, more varied. And while the Rihanna scene cannot compete with the opera scene in "5th Element", it's the best use of a performance act in film in years.
Alas, when one thinks "5th Element", the main weaknesses of "Valerian" stands out clearly: mediocre acting and a terrible script. Bloodless DeHaan is the most dreadfully miscast lead since Tom Hiddleston in "Kong: Skull Island". Why didn't they cast the likes of Theo James with over $200 mil to burn? Cara Delevingne is cool but no Milla Jovovich - Besson loved Jovovich for real and the camera and editing really showed that. Delevingne's Laureline comes across as a run-of-the-mill heroine even though she's doing a solid job. Clive Owen cannot even remotely compare to Gary Oldman's Hitleresque splendor. Strangely enough, the CGI aliens do the best acting and have all the memorable lines. Besson's script-writing has always been shaky but seems to get progressively worse.
Still, compared to this year's Hollywood fare of sequels, yet another superhero franchise and musicals with thespians who cannot sing, "Valerian" is infinitely more entertaining.
Based on 60s French cult comic series "Valerian & Laureline" - mystery to me why didn't they keep that title -, the magnificent opening sequence sets the tone for a more esoteric approach to Sci-Fi than "Star Wars". I won't let on about the story too much so as not to ruin any element of surprise. Let's just say they really should have lost the romantic chitchat. It makes the film drag at inconvenient times. With real writers, this could have become a classic.
The draw is the eye candy and there's plenty of it. Again I cannot in good conscience divulge any details. Again let's just say that one gets treated to the most creative use of lemons in the history of film. I'll have to watch it again to catch all the pop art references. Aliens were never more beautiful, more sophisticated, more varied. And while the Rihanna scene cannot compete with the opera scene in "5th Element", it's the best use of a performance act in film in years.
Alas, when one thinks "5th Element", the main weaknesses of "Valerian" stands out clearly: mediocre acting and a terrible script. Bloodless DeHaan is the most dreadfully miscast lead since Tom Hiddleston in "Kong: Skull Island". Why didn't they cast the likes of Theo James with over $200 mil to burn? Cara Delevingne is cool but no Milla Jovovich - Besson loved Jovovich for real and the camera and editing really showed that. Delevingne's Laureline comes across as a run-of-the-mill heroine even though she's doing a solid job. Clive Owen cannot even remotely compare to Gary Oldman's Hitleresque splendor. Strangely enough, the CGI aliens do the best acting and have all the memorable lines. Besson's script-writing has always been shaky but seems to get progressively worse.
Still, compared to this year's Hollywood fare of sequels, yet another superhero franchise and musicals with thespians who cannot sing, "Valerian" is infinitely more entertaining.
Two scrawny kids are presented as two of the best in the military / secret service. A General and a Sergeant, who look more like they would be good at helping you use an app on your phone. Valerian wants to marry Laureline for no apparent reason, and maintains a somewhat bored routine of presumptuous courting throughout
Unfortunately I could not get past this huge miss-casting. It removes any potential tension throughout because as the viewer you feel more capable of whatever task needs to be done by the protagonists
The script is also throwaway, full of obvious plot developments and overused dialogue
What brings the rating up to a 5 is that the visuals are both very creative and abundant. There are enough fantastical monsters, weapons, architecture, worlds, space ships etc to fill a trilogy
If only Luc Besson had got a script writer and cast as good as he did for Fifth Element, he'd have another cult classic.
Unfortunately I could not get past this huge miss-casting. It removes any potential tension throughout because as the viewer you feel more capable of whatever task needs to be done by the protagonists
The script is also throwaway, full of obvious plot developments and overused dialogue
What brings the rating up to a 5 is that the visuals are both very creative and abundant. There are enough fantastical monsters, weapons, architecture, worlds, space ships etc to fill a trilogy
If only Luc Besson had got a script writer and cast as good as he did for Fifth Element, he'd have another cult classic.
- juicedrop-92952
- Jan 23, 2023
- Permalink
Most reviews have referred to the lead actress in physical terms...she is hot, but a horrible actress, in fact the acting was about B movie level overall...with the exception of Clive Owen.
I like the movie and all the visual effects. Storyline is good, but not that amazing. The reason why this movie is not that good and many people didn't enjoy it is the very bad cast. Cara delevingne and Dane DeHaan as the main characters were completely wrong here, they are the most wrong decision ever. They aren't good actors at all and didn't deliver any emotions or passion. You don't get why Valerian and Laureline are into each other, no connection. And Dane DeHaan looks like a teenager, he is not the type to deliver this romantic tension. They really should have think twice about these actor choices. Would like a second movie like this but with better actors who are able to show some really good acting skills and are able to create tension and the feeling of understanding their characters and where they are coming from.
- lindavoelker-87944
- Mar 29, 2023
- Permalink
In the Century XVIII, the space station Alpha is a city where beings from different planets live together exchanging their knowledge and culture. Peace is granted by a human force, including Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne). They are assigned by the Defence Minister (Herbie Hancock) to retrieve the last species of Converter in a dangerous mission. They succeed and back to Alpha, unknown humanoids abduct Commander Arun Filitt (Clive Owen) expecting to steal the converter. They head to a forbidden area that is infected but Valerian and Laureline follow them and disclose a hidden secret about the race and the infected area.
"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is an original and entertaining sci-fi action film directed by Luc Besson. The plot is supported by top-notch and visually stunning special effects. The lead cast show great chemistry and the idea of different dimensions and alien races is fantastic and fortunately there is technology to delight the viewer. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Valerian e a Cidade dos Mil Planetas" ("Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets")
"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is an original and entertaining sci-fi action film directed by Luc Besson. The plot is supported by top-notch and visually stunning special effects. The lead cast show great chemistry and the idea of different dimensions and alien races is fantastic and fortunately there is technology to delight the viewer. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Valerian e a Cidade dos Mil Planetas" ("Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets")
- claudio_carvalho
- Nov 4, 2017
- Permalink
I thought that the movie overall was okay. Good, but not Great. The cinematography looks great.
My biggest issue with the movie is the Chemistry, Acting, and Dialogue between the 2 main Protagonist.
1. There wasn't a lot of Chemistry between the 2 main characters. There wasn't enough personality to draw us into the movie, and to love the characters. I want to feel like I am rooting for the protagonists, but it is hard to do in this movie.
2. I did not like Dane DeHaan's acting. It looks like he is trying too hard to be the cool guy. Maybe that was the character that he was supposed to play. But I just dislike his character. One moment he is trying to act cool, another moment he is trying to act stubborn, and then he tries to play the hero.
I don't think it works. It might be his acting, but it might primarily be the role or character of the main protagonist.
3. The dialogue between the 2 main characters aren't great. It seems like the director just want them to argue back and forth the entire movie. I don't think it works. I don't think it builds enough of a chemistry between the 2 main characters. It doesn't make the 2 main characters lovable. I think making the protagonists lovable go a long way.
This movie was okay. It was good, but it was not great. It could have been better. They could have made the movie as good as "The Fifth Element" or "The Avatar" with a little more work and better writing.
My biggest issue with the movie is the Chemistry, Acting, and Dialogue between the 2 main Protagonist.
1. There wasn't a lot of Chemistry between the 2 main characters. There wasn't enough personality to draw us into the movie, and to love the characters. I want to feel like I am rooting for the protagonists, but it is hard to do in this movie.
2. I did not like Dane DeHaan's acting. It looks like he is trying too hard to be the cool guy. Maybe that was the character that he was supposed to play. But I just dislike his character. One moment he is trying to act cool, another moment he is trying to act stubborn, and then he tries to play the hero.
I don't think it works. It might be his acting, but it might primarily be the role or character of the main protagonist.
3. The dialogue between the 2 main characters aren't great. It seems like the director just want them to argue back and forth the entire movie. I don't think it works. I don't think it builds enough of a chemistry between the 2 main characters. It doesn't make the 2 main characters lovable. I think making the protagonists lovable go a long way.
This movie was okay. It was good, but it was not great. It could have been better. They could have made the movie as good as "The Fifth Element" or "The Avatar" with a little more work and better writing.
- sang-77830
- Nov 24, 2017
- Permalink
Orbiting Alpha Space Station accepts astronauts from around the globe. Then alien species start arriving forming an intergalatic society. It is endangered in low orbit and is sent into deep space. Centuries in the future, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are human Federal agents on Alpha. Valerian is infused with some unknown memories. The two are directed by their commander Filitt (Clive Owen) on a mission.
This is an all-out effort from filmmaker Luc Besson. It is wildly visual with Besson's exuberant style. The weakness comes from the script. It is relatively straight forward but it needs some cleaning up. For example, I question at first whether the two leads are actual federal agents. They could be thieves pretending to be federal police. It's an easy fix to start with more clarity. DeHaan is a perfectly fine actor although this role may more fit someone like Chris Pratt. I also notice a clear similar look between DeHaan and Delevingne. They could fit better as siblings which would allow them to drop the forced romantic story. I don't think either do well as romantic leads and it struggles to have a combative romance. All in all, the visual pizzazz outweights any shortcomings in the script or the story flow. Luc Besson continues to have his own visual style.
This is an all-out effort from filmmaker Luc Besson. It is wildly visual with Besson's exuberant style. The weakness comes from the script. It is relatively straight forward but it needs some cleaning up. For example, I question at first whether the two leads are actual federal agents. They could be thieves pretending to be federal police. It's an easy fix to start with more clarity. DeHaan is a perfectly fine actor although this role may more fit someone like Chris Pratt. I also notice a clear similar look between DeHaan and Delevingne. They could fit better as siblings which would allow them to drop the forced romantic story. I don't think either do well as romantic leads and it struggles to have a combative romance. All in all, the visual pizzazz outweights any shortcomings in the script or the story flow. Luc Besson continues to have his own visual style.
- SnoopyStyle
- Feb 21, 2018
- Permalink
Comic books, a lovable source of entertainment in many forms. While superheroes from the DC and Marvel universe shows take the cake, there are a few unique nuggets hidden in the colorful pages. Valerian is one such series, a sci-fi adventure that held a bounty of potential comic gold that would certainly make for a good movie. Turns out, Hollywood did its research and this weekend, the cinematic rendition of this tale hits theaters. With all the hype, I hope this film will be the movie of the summer! What is my verdict? Let's get started with another Robbie's movie review.
LIKES:
Part of the story: Science Fiction stories with fantasy can go either way in quality as seen in a wide variety of movies. Part of Valerian's story captures a sincere element that tugs at the heart strings concerning one of the races. While not the most complex of stories, this subplot has a nice dynamic to it as you learn of the race and their fight for survival. A few other tangent tales are decent as well, primarily one concerning Rihanna character Bubble the exotic shape shifter. This tale had a little heart to it, it just needed more to be complete.
The Graphics: The trailers weren't kidding when they hyped up the graphics of this movie. Valerian's strongest selling point is the beautiful visuals contained in its computer-generated setting. It starts with the creatures that inhabited the galaxy and expands beyond that to bring out some truly imaginative world building that this day and age can perfect. The cities themselves are polished with each level having its own sense of style, "class" and personality that was captured in the high definition graphics. One will certainly see the budget went into the design of this movie, and many of the scenes are certainly geared towards the 3-D ride they want to take you on, especially in those chase scenes. Is it as good as Avatar's visuals? While certainly imaginative, Valerian has some polishing to do to match the realism in that film. However, the creatures are certainly more diverse than those found in its blue cousin's world. Of note: I would have loved to see more costumes and makeup to offset the technology and add a little more realism to the mix.
DISLIKES:
The Story Overall: While there is one component that touched my heart, Valerian has issues in the story department overall. Much of the tale is a rather rushed mess, devoid of any sustenance that the trailers promised. The dark looming threat that threatened to collapse the artificial city is nothing what I expected. Truth be told, the big revelation was kind of lame and expected (I was able to decipher much of the mystery within the first hour.) There was little suspense in the tale, and the execution didn't add much "flare" to it. In regards to character development, that was also lacking, the two leads barely evolving past their superficial soldier roles from the beginning. The result were boring characters that I had difficulty attaching to. I can't say the acting or chemistry between the two was not the strongest, which did not help their case any further.
Action: Or should I say lack of action. Despite the promises by the trailers, Valerian is rather lax in regards to stunning action sequences. The blaster scenes hold some potential, but are rather bland and short-lived to get hyped up for. A few chase scenes manage to inject a little speed into the pace of this movie, but unfortunately you have seen the entire scene in the trailer, leaving little more to get hyped about. The close combat scenes weren't much improved, with many of them being overacted, forced, and somewhat sluggish. While certainly not absent, Valerian's visual style should have had more exciting action to compliment it, but sadly that was not the case.
Under use of creatures: With all the world building and alien design, you would think they would utilize it more. Unfortunately, much of the creatures and behemoths are shown off only in passing and have little relevance to the story. Ironically, most of the extras are just humans dressed in interesting outfits, while the rest of the CGi creatures remain isolated from our heroes. The lack of integration made for an underutilized cast, and the loss of creativity was difficult to see. Hopefully this will be rectified in future installments.
Editing: Perhaps the biggest dislike for me was some of the poor editing in this movie. Valerian has two sequences that were weak integrations into the plot, feeling irrelevant in the grand scheme. One of these scenes adds nearly 30 minutes to the movie, and if deleted would do little damage other than dropping one celebrity exotic dance. Why this was the start of the rescue I don't know, but it weakened the film by kinking up the pace of the film.
The Verdict:
It's true that Valerian has stunning looks, animation, and world building, but outside of that there isn't much to say wow too. I haven't read the comic book, but this movie did not feel as if it brought the story to life, nor the action the novel most likely held. Without these components, or better editing for that matter, the 137-minute run time is a bit of a snooze fest in regards to sci-fi operas. Still, the visual effects are certainly theater worthy, but I still heed caution in seeing this one on the silver screen.
My scores:
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi: 6.0 Movie Overall: 5.0
LIKES:
Part of the story: Science Fiction stories with fantasy can go either way in quality as seen in a wide variety of movies. Part of Valerian's story captures a sincere element that tugs at the heart strings concerning one of the races. While not the most complex of stories, this subplot has a nice dynamic to it as you learn of the race and their fight for survival. A few other tangent tales are decent as well, primarily one concerning Rihanna character Bubble the exotic shape shifter. This tale had a little heart to it, it just needed more to be complete.
The Graphics: The trailers weren't kidding when they hyped up the graphics of this movie. Valerian's strongest selling point is the beautiful visuals contained in its computer-generated setting. It starts with the creatures that inhabited the galaxy and expands beyond that to bring out some truly imaginative world building that this day and age can perfect. The cities themselves are polished with each level having its own sense of style, "class" and personality that was captured in the high definition graphics. One will certainly see the budget went into the design of this movie, and many of the scenes are certainly geared towards the 3-D ride they want to take you on, especially in those chase scenes. Is it as good as Avatar's visuals? While certainly imaginative, Valerian has some polishing to do to match the realism in that film. However, the creatures are certainly more diverse than those found in its blue cousin's world. Of note: I would have loved to see more costumes and makeup to offset the technology and add a little more realism to the mix.
DISLIKES:
The Story Overall: While there is one component that touched my heart, Valerian has issues in the story department overall. Much of the tale is a rather rushed mess, devoid of any sustenance that the trailers promised. The dark looming threat that threatened to collapse the artificial city is nothing what I expected. Truth be told, the big revelation was kind of lame and expected (I was able to decipher much of the mystery within the first hour.) There was little suspense in the tale, and the execution didn't add much "flare" to it. In regards to character development, that was also lacking, the two leads barely evolving past their superficial soldier roles from the beginning. The result were boring characters that I had difficulty attaching to. I can't say the acting or chemistry between the two was not the strongest, which did not help their case any further.
Action: Or should I say lack of action. Despite the promises by the trailers, Valerian is rather lax in regards to stunning action sequences. The blaster scenes hold some potential, but are rather bland and short-lived to get hyped up for. A few chase scenes manage to inject a little speed into the pace of this movie, but unfortunately you have seen the entire scene in the trailer, leaving little more to get hyped about. The close combat scenes weren't much improved, with many of them being overacted, forced, and somewhat sluggish. While certainly not absent, Valerian's visual style should have had more exciting action to compliment it, but sadly that was not the case.
Under use of creatures: With all the world building and alien design, you would think they would utilize it more. Unfortunately, much of the creatures and behemoths are shown off only in passing and have little relevance to the story. Ironically, most of the extras are just humans dressed in interesting outfits, while the rest of the CGi creatures remain isolated from our heroes. The lack of integration made for an underutilized cast, and the loss of creativity was difficult to see. Hopefully this will be rectified in future installments.
Editing: Perhaps the biggest dislike for me was some of the poor editing in this movie. Valerian has two sequences that were weak integrations into the plot, feeling irrelevant in the grand scheme. One of these scenes adds nearly 30 minutes to the movie, and if deleted would do little damage other than dropping one celebrity exotic dance. Why this was the start of the rescue I don't know, but it weakened the film by kinking up the pace of the film.
The Verdict:
It's true that Valerian has stunning looks, animation, and world building, but outside of that there isn't much to say wow too. I haven't read the comic book, but this movie did not feel as if it brought the story to life, nor the action the novel most likely held. Without these components, or better editing for that matter, the 137-minute run time is a bit of a snooze fest in regards to sci-fi operas. Still, the visual effects are certainly theater worthy, but I still heed caution in seeing this one on the silver screen.
My scores:
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi: 6.0 Movie Overall: 5.0
- coledenisen
- Jul 23, 2017
- Permalink
What if the Star Wars prequels had been handed over to a better director? What if The Force Awakens and Rogue One had aimed at being original and fun science fantasy films rather than just playing on people's nostalgia?
This is what I found myself seeing as I was watching Valerian. A film that made Space Opera's fun and exciting again.
I was surprised by the two leads. The trailers made it feel like we'd be seeing a rehash of the two main leads from Ender's Game but I was surprised at how fun and spunky (and flawed) the two characters were to watch. The romance was not there and it did not need to be there because this film is not a romance nor centered around a romance.
This film is Luc Besson taking what people loved about the Fifth Element and stretching it to the entire movie.
And yes, it is true, it is visually the prettiest movie since Avatar. The kids I took with me to see this film had their eyes on the screen the whole time, no bathroom break, no water break, just a visually mesmerizing film that never tired its audience.
My recommendation is to go see it on the bring screen to experience the marvel of it. It's a shame it is not available in IMAX.
This is what I found myself seeing as I was watching Valerian. A film that made Space Opera's fun and exciting again.
I was surprised by the two leads. The trailers made it feel like we'd be seeing a rehash of the two main leads from Ender's Game but I was surprised at how fun and spunky (and flawed) the two characters were to watch. The romance was not there and it did not need to be there because this film is not a romance nor centered around a romance.
This film is Luc Besson taking what people loved about the Fifth Element and stretching it to the entire movie.
And yes, it is true, it is visually the prettiest movie since Avatar. The kids I took with me to see this film had their eyes on the screen the whole time, no bathroom break, no water break, just a visually mesmerizing film that never tired its audience.
My recommendation is to go see it on the bring screen to experience the marvel of it. It's a shame it is not available in IMAX.
- yesterdayman2002
- Jul 19, 2017
- Permalink
The main problem I had with this movie that I saw in 3-D was the fact I could care less about the 2 main characters. The male lead looked like a space age 16 year old Harry Potter without the magic and I really disliked the female lead....just didn't care if they lived or died. The special effects were good but couldn't carry the 2+ hour film. Oh well you lose some and you win some but overall I feel like it was more of a loss than a win...............I'd put it right there with "Passengers".....
- sbuchholz5741
- Jul 22, 2017
- Permalink
The thing about this movie is if they just got the right cast for it, it could of been an excellent movie.
They certainly spent plenty of cash on the special effects and the directing wasn't bad, but in the end Dane DeHaan was just awful and very unconvincing as the hansom dashing hero!
He was neither hansom or dashing. A very wooden performance that brought the movie crashing down in every scene.
They certainly spent plenty of cash on the special effects and the directing wasn't bad, but in the end Dane DeHaan was just awful and very unconvincing as the hansom dashing hero!
He was neither hansom or dashing. A very wooden performance that brought the movie crashing down in every scene.
I watched this when it came out and wasn't particularly impressed with the film. Now, many years later I rewatched it and can say, the creative ideas behind the film have blown me away.
A market in another dimension, Rihanna's character, are just some examples of how creative the film is. It's incredible. It has definitely made me reconsider my unimpressed stance in this film and can genuinely say my score for this film has improved since I watched it the first time.
While it is no fifth element, and it does ween a bit towards the end, it definitely deserves my 7/10. I recommend a second watch to any people who didn't appreciate this first time round.
A market in another dimension, Rihanna's character, are just some examples of how creative the film is. It's incredible. It has definitely made me reconsider my unimpressed stance in this film and can genuinely say my score for this film has improved since I watched it the first time.
While it is no fifth element, and it does ween a bit towards the end, it definitely deserves my 7/10. I recommend a second watch to any people who didn't appreciate this first time round.
- garicboris
- Dec 25, 2023
- Permalink