Lucas borrowed fromThe Fifth Element!

I was SO praying that Tucker would get shot. A lot. And die. Slowly.

so I wasn't the only one...

 

The Fifth Element is one of the crappest movies ever made. Bad script, lousy characters, @#!* ending. Most of the film is just plain boring and idiotic. The aliens look like plastic action figures; the vehicles look like matchbox cars; the weapons look like water pistols.

All of your complaints about The 5th Element could easily be used on AOTC.

 

Except for the fact that none of it would be accurate where AOTC is concerned.

Fifth Element started off great, but when they got to the casino, it fell completely apart. And Chris Tucker's character ranks up there in the most annoying characters of all time list.

 

I like both Attack of the Clones and The Fifth Element (I obviously like Attack of the Clones more...a lot more ).

However, this whole he stole that discussion is pointless. There is not a single film in modern times that hasn't borrowed something from another movie/book/play/television show/ect...

And honestly, does anyone here think The Fifth Element didn't "rip" off some other movie(s) in some way? Be honest...

 

Did you think that The Fifth Element stole stuff from ESB and George Lucas and Company (with AotC) are paying homage to the fact that The Fifth Element did steal ideas.

 

So GL also ripped off every single Western (as did Robocop) when Jango does that twirl with the blaster before he puts it in the holster after he finishes off Coleman Trebor in the Battle of Geonosis?

 

And Jango's name comes from the movie Django- a Western.

 

"Chris Tucker was extremely annoying."

I thought so the first time I saw the film. Now I like him.

How do the detractors see this movie? I treat it as a comedy - kinda-spoofish like Futurama or something.

"All of your complaints about The 5th Element could easily be used on AOTC."

Yep!

 

"And honestly, does anyone here think The Fifth Element didn't "rip" off some other movie(s) in some way? Be honest..."

You stole my rhetorical question!

"And Jango's name comes from the movie Django- a Western."

I thought it was from the song "Mr. Bo Jango"

 

Did anyone else think that the conclusion of Fifth Element had a visual parody of Obi Wan? Check out the monk in the robe carrying the light stick. I seem to recall some other SW-ish details coalescing at the end, but its been years since I saw it. Anyone?

 

My problem with Fifth Element, just like Brazil, was that the first time through I took it seriously. Taken as completely serious movies, neither one of them is particularly good. But when you consider TFE as a sort of mad spoof and Brazil as a darkly comedic satire of bureaucracy, they both become very good movies.

That said, I definitely thought that in that particular part of the speeder chase, AotC was very specifically referencing TFE. "Ripping off" is not a term I would use, though.

-Paul

 

Actually Luc Beson (hope I spelt it right) was heavily influenced by Star Wars. He was a big fan and started writting the TFE story when he was a teenager.
Noone's ripping noone off, and Beson did lil Star Wars spoofs ALL over the movie. Not only the Obi-Wan monk, but that officer he called 'Princess Leia's Fat/Ugly Sister' in the script (she gets frozen in Dalas' apartment). I mean, just look at her hair!
Oh and Tucker was freaking funny! At bit annoying at times, but at least not as bad as Jar Jar *shudder*

 

'The Fifth Element' was advertised as "'Star Wars' for the '90s!" and the visual references ARE there.

There are definite winks to Lucas in the film. Maybe Lucas was winking back.

On the other hand, Coruscant reminds me more of 'Metropolis', while flying cars are almost a science-fiction cliche. If you give Lucas a scene with cars, what should you expect he's going to do with them? Of course he's going to have a 'car chase'.

I'd be more surprised if he didn't.

 

[sigh]

Everytime I see threads like this I feel sorry for the author. I'm going to try to write this without sounding condescending and I apologize if anyone else has explained this because I didn't read the whole thread.

Okay here we go...

Star Wars is an homage to the films of the 30's, 40's and some of the 50's. Taking Episode 2 for an example, most of the throw backs and "rip offs" in that movie are from raomance movies of the golden era of cinema.
Each film generally takes on genre and each character is a stereotype of a character from those films.

The Fifth Element is an homage to sci-fi books and movies. Several of the characters and scenes in that movie, as well as sets and plot points are from other stories.

So yes they criss cross and nod at each other in several place; probably both intentionally and unintentionally.

I seriously recommend all Star Wars fans do some research on what films Lucas is paying tribute to and watch them. I saw somebody bring up Metropolis. Good one. Watch some Akira Kurosawa films and check out the old serials. Also read the Wizard of Oz books.
Once you have started to get into those films and books you realize what GL's vision really is. He's not recreating those old movies, and he not just paying homage. He's making modern movies in style and spirit of the old classics, while at the same time writing his own epic fairy tale and mythology.

When you know where the movies come from, you'll be able smile and be condescending when somebody says something silly like, "The PT is just crappy and Lucas has lost it." Or, "Lucas has no more ideas left and is ripping off other movies."

 

NotPadme

"You know that they are disposabe men's shavers only if you go to see detailed pictures of the props...."

[image=http://www.theforce.net/episode1/newspics/hidden_razor.jpg]

AM asked us if we remembered this snapshot of Qui-Gon's communicator from the Official Site? That's a Gilette 'Sensor Excel For Women' razor in there, jazzed up with a few glue-on parts. No wonder the prequel only cost $114 million, they were cutting corners. - TF.n guide to hidden images

 

Ok yes I do realize that Star Wars is an homage to the movies of old. I have read that over and over, about how he formed half the movie from aerial footage from WWII, as well as other stuff, before actually filming "the" movie. Hutt_Slut, point(s) taken, along with everyone else. However, I'd have to disagree with some and say that TFE was a good movie. I dunno why I like it I just do. But honestly people, how can you slow down your descent without pushing against something solid below you? There were many many air speeders zooming past fast enough that it would make it difficult( in my mind ) to be able to slow down fast enough without going SPLAT!

 

Yes...how do a Jedi push a droid back without him/her or anything touching it?

Answer that and you've answered how anakin controlled his decent.

 

Interestingly, Luc Besson's FIFTH ELEMENT was criticized for ripping off the French comic book THE INCAL, by Moebius and Alejandro Jodorowsky. I never read it so I can't confirm.

Anyone who holds AOTC in such low esteem as to say TFE is a far superior film astounds me. Why would they post on this forum?

I certainly would never post on a FIFTH ELEMENT forum.

 

I guess that's just you, then.

 

Heh! I love that guy ! ^^^^

SHB JR
Who agrees with the honourable gentleman above. SW ain't church and we ain't gonna get struck by lighting.

 

Who agrees with the honourable gentleman above.

There's nothing honourable in slagging off other people's work.

 

Yeah, no one who loves every single aspect of the SW Saga is capable of being a critic of anyone's work, right? RIGHT?!?

Whatever....

 

I like cheese

 

Well I have to say that when I say AOTC in the theaters the first thing I thought of was that the Corucsant chase scene looked too much like The Fifth Element..

 

....because you hadn's seen "Heavy Metal" in the 80's

Anyway. We can spend weeks debating about this.
Hutt_Slutt, your post was wonderful. Are you a Sc-Fi 30's and 40's movie freak? Because I am, and some lines in your post make me think so