Saw Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets yesterday. It was OK, and I'm sad to say it, because I like much of director Luc Besson's previous works better, and for the $210 million (US dollar equivalent) it took to make, this should have been much more interesting. Unfortunately, it did not do well at the box office its first weekend. I was really hoping for a much more entertaining film.
Visually, it's terrific. Lots of interesting aliens and backgrounds are what make the film. That was nice. I also appreciated the very beginning of the film starting in 1975 and proceeding to four hundred years later. I won't spoil exactly what happens. On the other hand, I felt like Besson was racing through the plot. I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on.
The two main leads (whom I had never heard of) were very weak as well. I think if there had been stronger actors playing the characters, the overall effect of the movie would have been much more positive.
Rihanna had a nice appearance as a shape shifter. She put on a performance within the film that was quite entertaining. I can't end this post without giving a heads up to Herbie Hancock(!) playing a Defence (sic) Minister. Haven't seen that guy in a long while. He did all right. Hey, Rutger Hauer was in it, too!
Overall, the money spent shows well in the visuals, but the main talent was lacking. I have to say I was entertained, and I expect to take another gander at Valerian down the road just to experience the visuals again. And who knows? Perhaps I'll warm to the protagonists upon seeing them again.
This film could turn out like his previous work The Fifth Element wherein it was poorly received initially, but gained in popularity as the years went by. We'll see.
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