 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Fifth Element
- Review Date: November 28, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1997
Common Sense Media says
Futuristic comic book spectacle fun, but riddled with guns.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Fifth Element moves from one action sequence to another in quick succession In all cases, the comic book violence is loud, magnified, and very much in your face. There are explosions, gunfights, creepy mutant aliens, mustache-twirling villains, bodies dropping on all sides, futuristic car chases, and battles to the death. Assorted lethal villains carry powerful, multi-purpose weapons and use them indiscriminately, spraying gunfire in crowded places and blowing up entire planets and spaceships. The female hero is seen numerous times in a partially nude state, including once wearing only carefully-placed tape. In general, the sexuality is played for laughs: one scene implies that a couple is engaged in oral sex, but it's shot from the shoulders up; in other sequences women wear very revealing outfits. A bit of language ("s--t" and "ass"), smoking, and drinking.
What's the story?
It's several centuries in the future and the forces of evil search for the elusive "fifth element," which when united with water, wind, Earth, and fire, will enable them to destroy all living things. Only the unwavering efforts of a sardonic cab driver (Bruce Willis), an enlightened priest (Ian Holm), and a valiant female super-being from an uncorruptible distant world (Milla Jovovich) can save civilization. In their quest, the three must elude capture by the authorities on their own pleasure-seeking, celebrity-obsessed home planet, as well as battle nefarious villains of all species, shapes and sizes, including the bloodthirsty Zorg (Gary Oldman, who has created an criminal even more outrageous than his usual).
Is it any good?
Simplicity is not one of the virtues of this fantastical effort by French director Luc Besson to come up with a most American comic book adventure. His goal, along with the writers and production artists, is to provide a nonstop actioner with magic in its design, larger-than-life heroes and villains, and great comic set pieces that playfully make fun of this century's excesses.
The story isn't easy to follow, but it doesn't really matter because the audience is never in one place long enough to stop and ponder it. Characters check in and out regularly, getting increasingly more bizarre. These include Chris Tucker as a hyperbolic radio icon in drag (who makes absolutely no sense in relation to the rest of the plot) and the "Diva Plavalaguna," a mutant alien opera singer who bleeds blue and carries a very big plot hole along with her very big voice. Still Besson has succeeded in creating a fast-paced, clever, even romantic adventure with battles that should satisfy even the most ardent comic book fans.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the nature of the violence in this film. Is cartoon violence easier to accept than real violence? Are the larger-than-life characters, including space aliens, as scary as real villains? At what age do you think kids know the difference between real and make believe violence?
How was commercial activity and marketing portrayed in this movie? Do you think it's a realistic vision of the future? Is that something that bothers you or does it seem normal? What is the effect of being constantly marketed to?
The filmmakers presented their picture of life on earth in the future. What kind of world would you create if you were making a movie or writing a book? What would you want to save from today's civilization? What would you want to eliminate?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
December 18, 2009
AGE
Great movie
awesome movie. might be too scary, violent and exotic for kids under 13.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 26, 2009
AGE
11, too young; 12, fine
The violence wasnt too bad, but there is quite a few innuendoes. When Milla is first created she is naked. You only see the back of her, not including her butt. But then, a few scenes later she is changing and she takes of her shirt if front of two men who quickly turn around. Her boobs are out of focus but it is still kind of inappropriate. I think the biggest thing though, is the big radio star is shown making out with a girl that is very skimpily dressed. They then only show the top half of her with the radio host kneeling and "playing" with her "private area" which is not shown and she is squealing and squeaking. He pops up and she says "Are you sure you've never felt this way before?" and he stops to think about it and then says yes and goes back down. They later show her screaming with pleasure.
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Adult
December 20, 2009
AGE
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Adult
May 9, 2009
AGE
Quite violent and sexual. Only for mature teens.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
One of the best movies
A lot of intense action and violence but idea and final outcome - sacrifice - is worth watching movie.
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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Great!
I love this movie, and it's great fun to watch. There's minor sexual content, mostly a girl changing while two people stand in front of her (this happens a few time, and is played for jokes). A fair amount of language, but I don't even think they drop the f-bomb at all. It's really not all that violent either.
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Parent
December 4, 2009
AGE
The Fifth Element
One of Bruce Willis's greatest movies. I love the storyline to this movie and never got bored of it. Chris Tucker is hilarious and Milla Jovovich is smoking. Grade A movie.
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Parent of 3, 6, and 8 year old
January 5, 2009
AGE
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Parent
August 15, 2011
AGE
Good grounded, older child film
Watch out for the religious themes. Overall a fun movie if the child is confident in fantasy vs. reality.
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Luc Besson |
| Cast: | Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 126 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 9, 1997 |
| DVD release date: | December 10, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sci-fi violence, some sexuality and brief nudity |
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