Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

[Dead By Shaun]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

Well, it's been a long time. I've been looking forward to this since I first heard about it. Now I'm sitting in the middle of a Dolby Theater @ AMC Prime with my leather recliner all the way back. I've got my refrigerated Junior Mints and a Cherry Vanilla Coke Freestyle. I'm ready. Bring it on!

I'm jealous! I'm very anxious to see this myself. Tomorrow's a possibility, but Saturday is much more likely for me. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it after the show. Enjoy!

[Bizdady]

Going tonight with my daughter Despite reviewers we cant wait. Always nice when your kid tugs you along to scifi flix

[TommySyk]

I think hating on this site's reviewer for giving Despicable Me 3 an 8/10, or Logan and Dunkirk a 7/10, calling his reviews "untrustworthy", is very wrong. There's no such thing as a "untrustworthy review". People have opinions. Sure, someone else's opinion might be the same as yours and your personal tastes might allign, but at the end of the day, you've got to go watch the film yourself and formulate your own opinion about it. I wish I liked Despicable Me 3, but I didn't, and I'm glad someone else could take something positive out of it.

If you're interested in Valerian, then go see the film. If you're not, well, then don't go.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

Well, it's been a long time. I've been looking forward to this since I first heard about it. Now I'm sitting in the middle of a Dolby Theater @ AMC Prime with my leather recliner all the way back. I've got my refrigerated Junior Mints and a Cherry Vanilla Coke Freestyle. I'm ready. Bring it on!

It's not in 3D though is it? I just saw it and visually Besson does not disappoint and the 3D enhanced it tremendously - wish I had heard it in Atmos though - the 7.1 sound mix was very good but one would assume the Atmos mix was even more grand

[1blufan]

Originally Posted by TommySyk

I think hating on this site's reviewer for giving Despicable Me 3 an 8/10, or Logan and Dunkirk a 7/10, calling his reviews "untrustworthy", is very wrong. There's no such thing as a "untrustworthy review". People have opinions. Sure, someone else's opinion might be the same as yours and your personal tastes might allign, but at the end of the day, you've got to go watch the film yourself and formulate your own opinion about it. I wish I liked Despicable Me 3, but I didn't, and I'm glad someone else could take something positive out of it.

If you're interested in Valerian, then go see the film. If you're not, well, then don't go.

That was my point. Go see a movie if you want to see the movie. Going by a reviewers score means nothing if you're interested in the movie.I was pointing out how scores don't mean crap. The post I was responding to was someone who brought up the reviewers score and how they were worried about the film. I put nothing into any reviewers score because I see what I want to see no matter what.

[ninjaalvin22188]

i love despicable me but my lord the 3rd was awful... minions have lost their novelty, jokes fell flat and the movie just felt tired and uninspired

i respect peoples opinions and reviews and will always ultimately decide for myself but man... 8/10 was a joke for that movie

i am excited for Valerian and wished it was released next week instead of competing with Dunkirk

[callahan09]

Originally Posted by TommySyk

I think hating on this site's reviewer for giving Despicable Me 3 an 8/10, or Logan and Dunkirk a 7/10, calling his reviews "untrustworthy", is very wrong. There's no such thing as a "untrustworthy review". People have opinions. Sure, someone else's opinion might be the same as yours and your personal tastes might allign, but at the end of the day, you've got to go watch the film yourself and formulate your own opinion about it. I wish I liked Despicable Me 3, but I didn't, and I'm glad someone else could take something positive out of it.

If you're interested in Valerian, then go see the film. If you're not, well, then don't go.

I agree. I haven't seen Dunkirk yet, and based on the review from this site AND the many from elsewhere, I am confident I will love the movie, so I will go see it. The reviewer here gave a good review (the quality of the review, not the score of the movie) in the sense that I feel like I know what I'm in store for and whether or not it's my kind of movie. That's what a review is for. Personally, I could do without scores in reviews, they just make it something that a review really isn't, but critics and their use of scores will never go away I'm sure, so I just ignore the scores.

[Ant1010]

Visually this movie is fantastic! Plot kept me intrigued and I had a good time with this one.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Ant1010

Visually this movie is fantastic! Plot kept me intrigued and I had a good time with this one.

Honestly I was a bit baffled by the plot initially but then it began to gel - I thought the trailer before Despicable Me 3 with the humour amped up was cringe inducing

[Ant1010]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Honestly I was a bit baffled by the plot initially but then it began to gel - I thought the trailer before Despicable Me 3 with the humour amped up was cringe inducing

Yeah the opening scene had me confused as well, but once the story picks up it all made sense

[Rodney-2187]

This movie is proof I do not understand my fellow human beings. Who could hate this movie?

The majority of negative reviews I've read claim the movie is visually impressive but there isn't much else there. This had me thinking that the plot was either non existent or just plain bad. It is neither. There is a main story that is very interesting and they get sidetracked a few times which leads to more adventure.

I've read that it was a confusing jumbled mess. Maybe they just weren't paying attention or were distracted by all the sights and sounds. I had no problem following exactly what was going on and was thoroughly entertained at all times. Never a dull moment.
There is nothing wrong with the story in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. This isn't an intricate mystery novel, but there is a story and it is straightforward and excellent.

I don't think I need to say the visuals are incredible. Every single frame of this movie is a special effect, and that is not hyperbole. If you want to see a constant flow of things you've never seen before in extraordinary detail for 2 hours, go see Valerian.

I had no problem with any of the actors. I'm not expecting awards nominations or anything, but they did what they were supposed to do. Could I see the parts being played a little differently? Yes, but then we would be getting into the territory of being like other movies. I'd rather see these performances than a set of Star Lord and Gamora clones. I expect their performances to grow on me with the numerous rewatches I definitely have planned.

There was simply too much to see to even begin to describe it all. It will require several viewings just to begin to absorb all that Luc Besson has put into this movie. There is easily an entire franchise worth of things going on in just this one movie.

People claim they want something original and different. Well, here it is. Don't complain about Transformers 19 but then skip this.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

This movie is proof I do not understand my fellow human beings. Who could hate this movie?

The majority of negative reviews I've read claim the movie is visually impressive but there isn't much else there. This had me thinking that the plot was either non existent or just plain bad. It is neither. There is a main story that is very interesting and they get sidetracked a few times which leads to more adventure.

I've read that it was a confusing jumbled mess. Maybe they just weren't paying attention or were distracted by all the sights and sounds. I had no problem following exactly what was going on and was thoroughly entertained at all times. Never a dull moment.
There is nothing wrong with the story in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. This isn't an intricate mystery novel, but there is a story and it is straightforward and excellent.

I don't think I need to say the visuals are incredible. Every single frame of this movie is a special effect, and that is not hyperbole. If you want to see a constant flow of things you've never seen before in extraordinary detail for 2 hours, go see Valerian.

I had no problem with any of the actors. I'm not expecting awards nominations or anything, but they did what they were supposed to do. Could I see the parts being played a little differently? Yes, but then we would be getting into the territory of being like other movies. I'd rather see these performances than a set of Star Lord and Gamora clones. I expect their performances to grow on me with the numerous rewatches I definitely have planned.

There was simply too much to see to even begin to describe it all. It will require several viewings just to begin to absorb all that Luc Besson has put into this movie. There is easily an entire franchise worth of things going on in just this one movie.

People claim they want something original and different. Well, here it is. Don't complain about Transformers 19 but then skip this.

Did you see it in 3D? I want to see it in 3D but since showtimes are scarce on both formats, the only convenient showtime for 3D is at a theater that I have had problems with in the past.
I'm glad to hear the movie's good and I may have to suck it up and go to said theater and since I'm still on the high from seeing Dunkirk, I welcome another awesome movie experience.

[Rodney-2187]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

It's not in 3D though is it? I just saw it and visually Besson does not disappoint and the 3D enhanced it tremendously - wish I had heard it in Atmos though - the 7.1 sound mix was very good but one would assume the Atmos mix was even more grand

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

Did you see it in 3D? I want to see it in 3D but since showtimes are scarce on both formats, the only convenient showtime for 3D is at a theater that I have had problems with in the past.
I'm glad to hear the movie's good and I may have to suck it up and go to said theater and since I'm still on the high from seeing Dunkirk, I welcome another awesome movie experience.

That Dolby Theater is my go-to screen in my area. The sound is amazing and the image is the best I've seen. I plan on seeking out a 3D showing of it next.

[Tony208]

I caught some references to other Besson movies.

[Show spoiler]The big market mobster gives the Taken speech.

One of the big market shops is Korbens.

I'm sure I missed a lot since there's so much shit going on in every frame.

[Rodney-2187]

I loved the movie, as I said above. I can't imagine most who see it not also loving it. I will say I've been to many Thursday night openings in that exact theater and there were definitely less people than usual in attendance. Not a good sign. Hopefully positive word of mouth can bring more people. Stupid critics.

[Creed]

As I mentioned before, ads play a LOT on TV with huge billboards and posters in Times Square. STX really wants America to see this (me too).

If it could make more than The Last Knight domestically, I will be a happy teen.

[Hardback247]

Hopefully this will do better business in Europe. That happened with The Fifth Element.

[Creed]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

Hopefully this will do better business in Europe. That happened with The Fifth Element.

I think it will do well internationally period.

[RodChester]

Saw this bit at Box Office Mojo

Rounding out the top five we have STX's release of EuropaCorp's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, debuting in 3,553 theaters. Directed by Luc Besson, the original sci-fi feature is based on the 1967 French graphic novel series "Valerian and Laureline" by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières and is the most expensive French production ever, coming in at 197.47€* ($209m USD). The net budget for Valerian, however, is closer to $150 million of which an impressive 90% has been covered with foreign pre-sales, equity financing and tax subsidies. When it comes to STX's domestic distribution duties, they are receiving a distribution fee while EuropaCorp financed the entire film as well as prints and advertising.

Having 90% of the budget covered before release pretty much guarantees that Valerian will be profitable. Now I guess we will just have to wait and see how profitable and if it can be enough to warrant a sequel.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4307&p=.htm

[acroyear2]

I was so anxious to see Valerian I had to go to the first available showing after work today. If you are hyped for this movie than please go see it! I'm glad I did.

I will say about the visuals is... Wow! I think the universe presented here gives any other modern sci-fi franchise a run for its money. The tech, the environments, the ships, the aliens, the creatures... all were superbly thought through in their designs. My favorite was the three short elephant-nosed creatures (I forgot their names), which were completely charming. There are a few scenes they appear in, but I wanted more with them!

Storyline was fine with me despite a bit of sidetracking around the middle section.

One thing I am in agreement with critics is the performance of the lead actors. DeHaan's sleepy looks combined with his wooden delivery is not a good combo. Delevingne fairs somewhat better, but she too had a difficult time selling me on some of the emotions she was attempting to convey. (and btw, I thought her eyebrows looked cool).

...and WTF? Herbie Hancock? What an odd casting choice! I can only imagine Besson wanted the jazz legend in his film because he is a huge fan his music. Everytime Herbie's mug appeared on the computer screen I started to play "Rockit" in my head. I love Herbie's music too, but let's just say his screen time was just enough.

I couldn't stay to see if there were any bonus scenes or stingers after the credits. Perhaps someone can fill us in on that.

So I'd say Valerian is a good film in some respects and an excellent film in others