Valerian.and.the.city.of.a.thousand.planets.201...

In the 28th century, the universe has found a fragile peace within

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a beautiful disaster—a film that soars on the wings of its imagination but crashes on the rocks of its own lead actors. If you go in expecting tight plotting or Oscar-worthy acting, you will be disappointed. But if you go in as a lover of science fiction design —if you want to see what happens when an artist is given $180 million to paint his wildest dreams—then this movie is essential. Valerian.and.The.City.of.A.Thousand.Planets.201...

For all its visual genius, Valerian struggles with basic storytelling. The film is 137 minutes long, and the middle third drags significantly. The opening heist on the beach planet is engaging, but the extended sequence in the Big Market overstays its welcome, and the detour to Bubble’s shape-shifting cabaret—while visually inventive—feels like a side-quest. In the 28th century, the universe has found

Moreover, the film is a time capsule of an era when studios still bet big on original (or obscure) IP with distinct directorial visions. After the failure of Valerian , studios retreated further into safe franchises. Besson himself went bankrupt; his company, EuropaCorp, nearly collapsed. For all its visual genius, Valerian struggles with

(2017), ranging from a quick recommendation to a detailed review style: