Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets opens with scenes of the International Space Station and the greetings between different countries astronauts, with David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” over the top. (I confess I did not know the songs name just the lines “Ground Control to Major Tom”) These scenes of humans meeting in space spans 1975 to 2031 and we see the station grow as each country add their own space and facilities. In 2150 we see the arrival of the first alien visitors, now the station has advanced enough have gravity controls.

This film I believe is full of nods to other franchise. One set of aliens reminded me and my brother of the Sontarans, another of the Vorlons. The dealer in Big Market is reminiscent of Jabba the Hut in my opinion. Rutger Hauer is the President of the World State Federation, he meets some of these new species and is the one to announce the release of the ISS from orbit around the earth. Its blasting into space is evokes memories of Space 1999.

The next few scenes I class as art in film. The Pearls of Mül are a beautiful people, who lead a simple and peaceful existence. They collect pearls form the sea and have these small lizard like creatures which are very salient to the story line (they remind me of the soup dragon). A war being waged above them crash lands not the planets surface with dire consequences for the unfortunate inhabitants.

Now 12 minutes in we meet our protagonists Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline played by Dane Dehaan and Cara Delevingne respectively. Our first long scene with them is about love which I found refreshing. They have a fun playful relationship and this continues for the duration.

The Kyrian land are have hats that look like Boba Fett’s helmet and everyone is driven around in yellow american school busses that have been kitted out with jets so they don’t drive they fly. Was weird but cool.

This movie is full of fabulous animation and CGI creating crazy creatures. I think one of my favourite bits would be Valerian  in Big Market, here is a picture because he looks like a Tron character. (Image to come, I have been unable to find it online) Another one is Bubble played by Rhianna on the Alpha station, she just looks so cool and the transitions are seamless.

I loved this movie, I don’t understand why it was panned by critics. It is different and it is innovative and I like the quirky and interesting things. I think it might become a cult classic like Blade Runner, and I definitely going to try and get hold of the original comics. Just have to hope they do an english version not just french.