By Renee’ Collins
Rating: 3 (Out of 5 Reels)
A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe (IMDB).
I am a total science fiction junkie and a fan of most of writer and director Luc Besson’s previous work. Although this film is extremely imaginative, it falls short because of its length and the writing. DeHaan and Delevigne seem like they are going through the motions because even though they are trying to save Alpha, they are self-centered. Also as a total underlying sideline, they have feelings for each other and there is more angst while they explore their situation.
There are stunning successes in this film such as the visual effects of inter-dimensionality. Tourists arrive on a planet but must skew their plane of existence to see a vast market that otherwise is a desert. We see both dimensions as they travel through the area. Another win is the performance by Rihanna as Bubble is interesting and inspiring.
Overall, this film would have been much better had Besson cut at least thirty minutes from the story. Unfortunately, there is too much going on in this film and it takes too long to get there. I remember saying to myself, “get on with it already”.