Review of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) by D C — 20 Jul 2017

This concepts and the visual aesthetic really needed to be at the forefront, especially since Luc Besson was able to give us something similar with "The Fifth Element" beforehand. But for what is meant to be an epic sci-fi adventure based on a comic book, it fails to deliver on what is most important.

The story and conflict is forced into the spotlight, throwing any and all interesting ideas brought into this movie out the window. In its way are the characters armed with hammy dialogue. And the acting from DeHaan and Owen are barely even passable that even Rihanna pulls a much better performance despite her few minutes of screen time.

It's a mess when it shouldn't be, a cliched plot where there could have been a great one, and a film you want to root for but can't find the heart to do so. It's a shame, because so much more could have been done if Besson had a better purpose for once again reaching for the stars.