Although not a major hit when released theatrically this DVD has been a major success when released on DVD. It has one of the most stunning transfers ever seen on DVD. As stated on the rear of the DVD snap case "Visually Stunning", "Jaw Dropping" & "Mind Blowing" I am now sure they must have been referring to the quality of the DVD film transfer. As many have come to expect from Columbia Tristar this is yet another in a long line of beautifully rendered DVD movies, it is the story of Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) who teams up with the beautiful Fifth Element (Milla Jovovich) to battle the forces of evil and save the world. Also starring Gary Oldman (Bram Stokers Dracula) as the evil 'Zorg' it centres on the race to find 'The Stones' which hold the key between the balance of light and darkness. This pits Dallas & The Fifth Element against 'Zorg' in a rush against time in order to save the universe.

This film directed by Luc Besson is an outrageous sci-fi adventure set 300 hundred years in the future, when I first saw it at the local cimena I walked out thinking it was only an average flick. But I found myself over the next few weeks telling friends about it and the more I thought about it the more I liked it, strange how that might seem. Maybe it's one of those that grow on you. It is one of those movies however that you seem to understand it more the second time you watch it as it does roll along at break neck speed.

As most sci fi movies who seem to portray the future in such a dismal, negative way with pollution and violence having taken over the world turning it into a dark, dreary place this offering is so much more the opposite. It is an explosion of colours with beautiful stage sets and bright costumes. It seems Besson went out of his way to get away from this stereotype future movie and he succeeded. The film is presented in both the theatrical letterboxed (2.35:1) and Pan & Scan version on opposite sides of the DVD. The image is demo quality and apparently was the most displayed demo disc at the recent CES show in Las Vegas. The image is so sharp and incredibly detailed that it is a wonder to watch, again the colours so deep and well reproduced that it makes it worth watching this movie over and over again.

Again the movie is presented with a Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby surround soundtrack. The bass is booming from the opening intro and the action is never too far away with flying police cars in high speed pursuits to full on gun battle scenes on a floating cruise ship. The digital track is very impressive which really envelopes you into the movie which the surround track because of it's obvious limitations really has trouble doing. That said however if you only have a Prologic system don't worry too much because the downmix is very good.

Anyway If I have'nt convinced you to run out and get this movie than I give up, don't just take my word for it go out and grab this disc I promise you won't be disappointed. Highly Recommended.

Features: Letterbox, Pan & Scan, 16x9, AC-3 Languages: English, Spanish
Subtitles: English,Spanish Region Code: 1