The film thrives on unconventional narrative set-pieces, including:
: Set 590 years before the events of the movie, allowing you to discover the origins of major alien species. Elite Teams Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
No article discussing can ignore the elephant in the room. Critics and audiences widely noted that leads Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne lacked romantic chemistry. The characters in the comics are a married couple, equal partners in wit and combat. On screen, DeHaan’s Valerian comes off as a cocky teenager trying to impress an older sister (Delevingne). The characters in the comics are a married
The film boasts a talented cast, with Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne delivering strong performances as the lead agents. DeHaan brings a charming vulnerability to Valerian, while Delevingne brings a sense of strength and determination to Laureline. The chemistry between the two leads is undeniable, and their romance is a central theme of the film. DeHaan brings a charming vulnerability to Valerian, while
DeHaan’s Valerian is pitched as a roguish lothario, but his performance feels overly youthful and intense, lacking the easy swagger the script demands. Delevingne’s Laureline is arguably the more compelling character—smarter, sharper, and more capable—but the chemistry between the two feels fraternal rather than romantic. Their bickering, meant to evoke classic screwball comedies, often comes across as petulant.
Besson‘s journey to making Valerian was long and arduous. He had originally considered adapting the comics in the 1990s, but the technology of the time was not advanced enough to realize his vision. Instead, he channeled his ideas into a smaller, more manageable project: the 1997 cult classic The Fifth Element , which itself bore many stylistic similarities to the Valerian universe. After two more decades of advancements in CGI and digital filmmaking, Besson finally felt the technology had caught up to his imagination.
Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) is a polarizing feast for the eyes—a $180 million personal gamble