"In the 28th century, special operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline work together to maintain order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the duo embarks on a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where diverse species gather to share knowledge and culture. When a dark force threatens the peaceful city, Valerian and Laureline must race against time to identify the menace that also jeopardises the future of the universe."
* * *
Valerian and The City Of A Thousand Planets came out early August. The film is based on the French science fiction comics series by Pierre Christian 'Valérian and Laureline'. It tells the story of two human police officers in 28th century space, who undertake a mission to discover what hidden danger lies at the centre of the old International Space Station (Alpha). When it comes to visuals, the film receives top marks; however, unfortunately fails when it comes to the plot, dialogue, characters - basically anything other than the visuals.
But oddly enough, I still enjoyed it.
Nevertheless, there are so many things that went wrong or felt short that I'll just focus on four things: visuals, narrative, dialogue and character development.
VISUALS
The films budget was around $180 million making it both the most expensive European and independent film ever made. And I would say about 98% of the budget went to CGI. The universe and characters created through visuals is simply amazing. Everything screamed 'bright and bold', beyond simple imagination. The world created appeared complex and intriguing. We were taken below the sea, above the sky, into space, to an intergalactic shopping market and to other planets. Unfortunately, most of it is left either barely touched as the protagonists pass by or stay undiscovered – it is nothing more than just a fancy background.
NARRATIVE
Allow me to be the first to ask. . .what in the world was going on?!
The film repeatedly cut from one scene to another, action to action, and I couldn't do anything but let myself be dragged along. At the end of the film, I sat in the cinema
dazed and wondering what had happened. The quite fast pace wouldn't have been a real problem if it wasn't for the fact most scenes were action-packed.
This confusion may be because I haven't read the comics, but it's still not an excuse for the director to not ensure that the plot is clear for all viewers.
Bottom line, plot-wise, the film is confusing.
DIALOGUE
Now, the dialogue made me doubt whether it was written by a hopeless romantic thirteen-year-old or the famous Luc Besson. No matter how good an actor a person is, there's only so much they can do when the dialogue is unforgivably cringeworthy and underdeveloped. For example:
"My heart will belong to you and no-one else."-Valerian
Or
"We need the two of you to be the guardians of our future." -Alpha Leader
Would it be too far-fetched to say it's a bit unrealistic how the leader of an international space station would ask a pair of teenagers who showed up 20 minutes late to become guardians of their future? You know, just a bit? Surely there must be someone else, perhaps with more experience, available, right?
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
There’s no depth or history to the couple, no reason to care for either their mission or their slow-burning romance. I felt like a third wheeler with a couple from class that I was supposed to know, but only once greeted in the corridor. There is absolutely no character development from the start to the end of the film. Neither a brewing relationship between characters and audiences. I entered the film knowing nothing and left knowing less.
The development of a relationship between characters and audience is important as without it, we would have no reason to care or empathies with them. We don't know how they got together, who they really are or the whole story surrounding Maatri and her people. Not to mention, Valerian is constantly proclaiming his love but we don't even know why he likes Laureline.
My point is it would have been nice to gotten to know the characters as the film played out. Not thrown in the middle of an already established relationship and history.
Overall, even though its lacking a LOT, I think the reason I still managed to enjoy it is because the vast potential the film has. It would and could have been an astounding film if developed properly.
Never the less, if you're looking for a film to pass the time or appear aesthetically pleasing, then Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets is the film for you.
Σχόλια