Valerian
Valerian (6/10)
Valerian and Laureline was one of my favourite comics as a child and Empire of a Thousand planets was my favourite of the lot (the basis for City of a Thousand Planets). So I was of course overjoyed when this film came to the cinema. But I was worried. V&L is pretty cerebral stuff.
The basic story (of the original) is that humans leave Earth on an expedition. They crash on a planet. Make themselves masters of that, technologically inferior, planet by co-opting their religion. The plan is to take revenge on Earth for sending them into space and not bothering to try to rescue them. At this point Earth and Syrte (ruled by the human renegades) are technologically equal. Since Syrte now has the technological knowledge of the Earth renegades, because they share it.
When Valerian and Laureline show up, hundreds of years later, their ship is vastly technologically superior and easily defeat the Syrte space navy. The Earth renegades realise that they had no chance to take revenge and that the Syrtians are better off without them. So they commit suicide.
The message is this, religion makes us happy but stupid. By ejecting religion we will develop technology faster and, in the long run, make ourselves happier.
So how much of the original message was retained in the film? The Earth explorers and renegades, completely lifted. Instead Luc Besson chose to use the Avathar story as a background. This film is basically Avatar 2. Complete with very similar aliens, Mül/Na'vi (living in retarded harmony with nature). Which, unless I'm mistaken, is the opposite message of the comic book? Ie, worship of nature and religion is preferable to technological progress. In the comics it's all about technological progress and enlightenment ideals. The film is romantic rousseauist New Age clap trap.
How much of the original story did he use? Almost nothing. The aliens in the film are nothing like this aliens in the comic book. The comic book aliens, Syrte, are modelled on a corrupt Ottoman Empire or something. They are made to look very human like, but with horse ears. In the film they're called Mül and based on Avathar's Na'vi. The Syrte emperor of the film isn't an idiotic easily impressed playboy but the Sarlac Pit basically. And the emperor of the film (Boulan Bathor) has nothing at all to do with the aliens of the film the film is about (Mül). It's not even a conflation of Syrte. It's just a bizarre blend of story arcs and crowbaring in something from the comics that doesn't fit, and is done badly. That whole section of the film could be lifted right out and it wouldn't impact the story one iota. it also doesn't reveal character. It's pointless. The same part from the comics is crucial for the story. Bad writing.
He also completely inverted the entire idea. In the film the corrupt empire and capital (Alpha) was the human capital. So the whole juxtaposition of the enlightened humans vs the corrupt and backwards Syrtians was completely lost.
Which brings us to a second problem of the V&L film. The comics are chock full of great original science fiction motifs and images, all picked clean, down to the bone, of other films, comics and books. Most notably Star Wars. The original Star Wars films is full of V&L nods and references. Valerian is Han Solo and his spatio-temporal ship is the Millennium Falcon. Leia as a slave in Jaba's barge is lifted right out from Laureline as a slave in Empire of a thousand planets, who is then rescued by Valerian. It's identical, even in Leia's/Laureline's outfit. The religion is the Jedi. The high priests even look like Darth Vader and have similar roles. But everything from Mad Max, to Water World to, Dune, to The Last Star Fighter, Children of Men all have influences from Linda and Laureline. It's a long list.
Ideas from the V&L comics have been used and re-used so many times now they're all, done-to-death, tropes. Which would make it damn near impossible to make a V&L film and make it feel fresh. The only thing that makes V&L comics unique today is that it's horrendously sexist. The constant flirting/arguing that goes on between Valerian and Laureline is part of the magic that makes it work. But it is sexist. Valerian is a boyish man, who constantly needs to man up in the face of danger. Each time Laureline tries to assert herself she needs to be rescued by Valerian. She's essentially a damsel in distress, who's main asset is to be beautiful. Which of course makes it doubly difficult to launch this in super gender sensitive sci-fi of 2017. Using this will make it feel less fresh today. Luc Besson did just this. It doesn't work today. Today we associate this kind of behaviour with teenagers. Ehe... Valerian and Laureline is supposed to be Earth's top agents. It just becomes silly.
There's no real story here. Bad guy is evil, and Valerian and Laureline expose him. Most of he missions/sub-stories are gimmics. Almost the entire film is transport, hunt for the MacGuffin. There's extremely little story in the film, or character development. Bottom line, it is a vacuous popcorn flick completely devoid of anything that the original V&L are. I even challenge the idea that it's inspired by V&L.
It's still fun to watch. It's a great film to watch when hung-over. But don't bother seeing it in the cinema. It's not that good. I saw it in 3d. Pointless. They don't use the 3d at all. I'm sure it's better in 2d.
I love Luc Bessons colourful pallete and great use of colour. It fits nicely in with the Fifth Element. I don't understand why they didn't just call it Fifth Element 2 or something? They only used the comics for flavour. Picked the odd alien here and there and sprinkled it on top. But it doesn't fit. I think the comics just held this film back. He'd been better off just calling this his own thing and removing any of the small references to the comics.
A lot of people complained about the acting of the guy who played Valerian. I had no problems with it. He played a boy. I think it worked great. It's just confusing when he's supposed to be a man. He just wasn't. As soon as I dropped that idea I thought it worked.
Rhianna is in it, and she plays a very fun character. It's a completely pointless role, that adds nothing to the film. But then again, almost nothing does in this film.
Yes, over use of CGI. Still well done. It worked.
