Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets

Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets came out on July 21, 2017 based on the comic series titled Valerian & Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres. In the 28th century the International Space Station has been converted to a place where all creatures from all over the galaxy can live in peace. One day, space debri crash lands on the planet, Mul, destroying everything and killing some of the alien humanoid residents including Princess Linho Minhaa. Thirty years later Major Valerian and his partner Sergeant Laureline are tasked with securing a critter known as the converter who was believed to once have lived on Mul and so begins a journey to uncover the mystery behind the once closed case. I remember seeing this in the cinema the day it premiered. Films that take place in outer space are my favorite because they create a universe much bigger than our own. After all, we're told to reach for the stars. An obvious challenge was putting years worth of comic adventures in a two hour film and while certain details were discarded others were improved.

Dane Dehaan surprised me in a great way portraying the heroic but at times arrogant titular Valerian. On the surface Valerian is the typical hero. He's brave, tough, determined, charming, and handsome. However, internally he is struggling. Valerian is not the best at following the rules and might sometimes go rouge if he believes there is another way. He also cannot contemplate his emotions very well, coming off as a flirt as opposed to a romantic. Still, he has a good heart and will always protect the ones he loves the most. Dehaan stated he was at first skeptical with receiving the role as he felt he needed to get in shape to pull it off. Dehaan put in moths of excercise and in addition he mentally prepared himself by reading the comics. I believe he was a good choice because he pulled off the gritty humor he did not have to appear superhuman to pull off the role. He was definitely intimidating enough.

I have grown into a fan of Cara Delevingne because she is such a serious and method actress. She was excellent as the no nonsense, intelligent, and problem solving Laureline. In the comics the character is described as a red head and using sex appeal as a weapon. I was more than happy that the film made her better. First, Delevingne is a blonde and second, even though she was casually called a ten, it is not her beauty that keeps her job but her wit and skill. Throughout the film Laureline was treated with respect and listed highly recommended for assignments for her hard work. Although there were disagreements, she proves more than capable of handling herself. However, like all humans she has her sensitive moments. She is a team player but does not accept help much unless it is from Valerian who she trusts the most. One aspect that was cut from the film was that she was actually a time traveler from 11th century France but she remained in the 28th century because she found a home and better life. This back story helped create who she became and would have added more leverage.

Any fans of Rihanna are in for a treat as she has the most intriguing and unique performance as the alien Bubble. The shape shifting and loyal companion, she is a friend you never expected to meet but someone you hold onto. Bubble will always have a positive attitude in any situation and will quite literally have your back if you need it. Do not ever judge someone from where they come from. Get to know them and do not be afraid to open up. You might discover you have more in common than you thought.

Clive Owen portrayed Commander Arun Filitt. As head of the United Human government he is stern and abrasive. He lets everyone know he's the boss. Sometimes his words are as simple as 'that's an order.'

The visual effects are the best. As the title says there are a thousand planets but we only get a glimpse of a few. People take rocket ships as if they were buses and multidimensional helmets allowed for holographic work. All different species live together in harmony. Luc Besson, who was a fan of the comics, always wanted to adapt it to the screen because he wanted to create a film where everyone was going on an adventure. This film is rated PG-13 for suggestive dialog and violence. If you're looking for a space adventure with humor, heart, and a bit of romance I recommend Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.