It’s Willis Vs. Evil In ‘Fifth Element’

Fri., Oct. 24, 1997

Staff Reports

Videos

The videos that will be released next Tuesday range from the “Fifth Element” to “Snowboard Academy.” Following are reviews of a couple of the new releases written by movie critic Dan Webster:

The Fifth Element *** 1/2

Luc Besson directed this story, set 250 years in the future, that uses bits and pieces of sci-fi films of the past (“Blade Runner,” “12 Monkeys”) to set up the same old struggle: good vs. evil. In this case, evil is a mass of living fire that is heading for Earth, and good is the unlikely combination of a beautiful alien (Milla Jovovich) and a down-on-his-luck cab driver (Bruce Willis). Besson, taking advantage of the French feel for sci-fi, uses the work of fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier to capture a futuristic look. And it works, especially with the dazzling computer-created special effects. There’s a familiar feel here even if Besson is working in more of a comic-book mode. And the plot is a bit overly complex. But, in the end, it’s a visual roller-coaster ride — and that is what summer-season cinema is all about. Rated PG-13

Addicted To Love ***

Movie star/producer-turned director Griffin Dunne treads the line between comedy and outright farce in this story of love, betrayal, revenge and ultimate redemption. After being dumped by his lifelong love (Kelly Preston), a nerdish kind of astronomer (Matthew Broderick) joins forces with a tough-girl artist (Meg Ryan) to get a bit of payback on his ex-girl and her ex-fiance — who is the guy she betrayed him with. The humor is a bit exaggerated, but it works because of the skills of Broderick, Ryan (who starts slow but gets better) and especially Tcheky Karyo, the French star who shows a surprising facility for light comedy. Rated R

, DataTimes MEMO: Videofile writer Dan Webster is on leave until December.

Videofile writer Dan Webster is on leave until December.

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