Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
2017
Action / Adventure / Family / Fantasy / Sci-Fi

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
2017
Action / Adventure / Family / Fantasy / Sci-Fi
Plot summary
In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throughout the human territories. On assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two undertake a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where species from across the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence, and cultures. At the center of Alpha is a mysterious dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
3D.BLU 720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 2160p.BLU.x265Movie Reviews
Entertaining Movie, Bad Casting
Ruined by the wrong choice for leading man
So many positives for the film - good, complex story, excellent world building and great effects, and even a nod to the Fifth Element for Besson fans.
And one negative - Dane DeHaan is not an action adventure leading man. What was Besson thinking? Sadly this is too big a negative to ignore and it completely ruins a film that could have been great.
I don't know DeHaan personally, he may be a great guy who is kind to puppies. But he simply does not have the on screen leading man charisma needed for a film like this. Instead of the cool, attractive, manly man with a hint of menace who can be relied on to battle the baddies and save the girl (like he is in the comics) DeHaan comes across like a slightly creepy looking entitled teenager who has decided that he's going to spend Daddy's money on being a space hero. You will hate him.
Unlike other reviewers, I actually think that Cara Delevingne is very good in this - her acting has vastly improved since Suicide Squad. That shame is that had she been opposite a better leading man it would have been far easier to spot