The Fifth Element

The only positive for this film was the special effects, which were well done.

The basic storyline to this futuristic sci-fi action flick is that once every 5,000 years, pure evil is able to come to our dimension and the only thing that can stop it is a hero that is pure life, the fifth element after earth, fire, air, and water. Interestingly, while not mentioning that the pure life is “God”, the protectors of the keys to the pure life are some bulky looking aliens (Mondoshawan) who have chosen religious humans to help (a priest named Cornelius, played by Ian Holm). The year is 2259, and it is time for the evil to return!

As the Mondoshawan (you know, the good aliens) are returning to help in the struggle against the evil, the Mangalores (large, dog-looking mercenaries) destroy the Mondoshawan’s spacecraft. From the wreckage, the Fifth Element is regenerated. The Fifth Element takes the form of a red-haired beauty named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich). Leeloo meets up with Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), an ex-military man presently employed as a New York city cab driver in an unexpected way. Of course, Korben helps Leeloo out by getting her to Father Cornelius. There starts the race against the enemy to find the keys—keys which must be acquired in order to release the power of true life and stop the evil.

This poorly written and poorly directed film may hold an exciting tension (for some), but it really doesn’t deserve an audience, especially Christians. I was shocked that the MPA chose to give it a “PG-13” rating and felt that it deserved an “R” due to repeated upper torso nudity (Leeloo), two strongly implied sexual encounters, abundant foul language, and graphic violence. Further, most women are very scantily clad.

A final aspect which I found disturbing is a futuristic disc jockey character named Ruby Rhod whose speech, effeminate dress and hairstyle all keep you wondering what his gender is, until he starts “attacking” (sexually) a stewardess.

Editor’s comment

Followers of Christ should alert about this film’s promotion of ANCIENT ALIENS or ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS theory, because this is an issue that is truly deceiving a very great number of people, partly because it is presented as scientific and archaeological (both false claims). At its base, it is a lie being used by godless people to “scientifically” explain away Biblical miracles and events—and God Himself.

This tactic started with atheist author H.P. Lovecraft. Years later, this pseudo-scientific idea was famously promoted by Erich von Däniken (Chariots of the Gods) and others. The Director of this film was inspired by von Däniken, and says so. This idea has particularly been used by some whose worldviews are New Age or Evolutionism/Atheism (or both).

The claim is that extraterrestrials with advanced technology came to Earth in ancient times and were mistaken for gods, angels and supernatural activity—and that out of these encounters with naive and unsophisticated humans (who misunderstood what they witnessed), humans began to worship these aliens—and the world’s religions (including Christianity) are the end result.

I have researched these claims in considerable depth, including attending von Däniken lectures. I am in agreement with many other researchers, the so-called evidence for this fantasy is filled with foolish errors and serious outright lies and deceptions.

Nonetheless, many sci-fi books, movies and TV shows have eagerly used and promoted what is essentially a dangerous Atheist-inspired worldview.

What difference does it make? When accepted, this pseudo-science leads people directly away from Biblical truth about Earth’s Creation, mankind’s place in God’s plan, Earth’s history of wicked rebellion against the Creator, and the record of His judgments. Inherent in this worldview is rejection of belief in God and the Bible. People are less likely to perceive their spiritually bankrupt state before God and are more unlikely to want—or listen to—the Gospel.

Entertainment dramas that use the ancient extraterrestrial encounters fantasy and thus promote it some extent…

• “Stargate”
• “Prometheus”
• “Knowing”
• “Thor”
• “The X-Files: Fight the Future” etc.
• “Alien vs. Predator”
• Transformers: The Last Knight and most of the “Transformers” series
• “Outlander” (2008)
• “The Fifth Element” (1997)
• “Mission To Mars”
• “Star Trek” various episodes, including “Star Trek: The Next Generation—The Chase,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation—Who Watches the Watchers” —Gene Roddenberry, creator of “Star Trek” was an opponent of all beliefs in God
• “2001: A Space Odyssey”—the monolith
• “Earth: Final Conflict”
• “Space: 1999”
• “Quatermass and the Pit”
• 65 (2023)

If nothing else, the mere CONSTANT REPETITION of this view of history in entertainment media is causing it to become embedded in the minds of billions of people, making it somehow seem to them less ludicrous than it really is. Discerning Christians know that we and God have an Enemy who is the father of lies who seeks to deceive the whole world.