Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Space cops bicker and flirt while uncovering a galactic cover-up involving pearl-fishing aliens and a planet-destroying space battle, all because Besson wanted to out-Fifth-Element himself.

🍿 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The City of Alpha and the Mül Converter

In the 28th century, the International Space Station has evolved into Alpha, a vast city where millions of creatures from thousands of planets coexist. Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline, human special operatives, work to maintain peace. Valerian has a vivid dream of a peaceful planet, Mül, being destroyed by a massive spaceship crash.

Mission at the Big Market

Valerian and Laureline are tasked with retrieving a Mül converter, a unique creature capable of replicating anything it consumes, from a black market dealer. During the mission, they encounter humanoids also seeking the converter and disrupt their meeting, securing the creature and a valuable pearl payment. Valerian’s attempts to woo Laureline with the pearl are initially rebuffed due to his reputation.

The Kidnapping and the Infected Zone

Upon returning to Alpha, Commander Filitt informs them that the center of the station is infected and dangerous. During an inter-station summit, the humanoids attack and kidnap Filitt. Valerian and Laureline pursue them into the infected zone, where they become separated. Laureline is captured by a primitive tribe, while Valerian seeks help from a shape-shifting dancer, Bubble, to rescue her.

Truth of Mül and Filitt’s Betrayal

Valerian rescues Laureline, but Bubble is mortally wounded. Continuing into the infected zone, they discover it is not radioactive but a shielded hall. They find the humanoids and Filitt, learning the humanoids are survivors from Mül. Filitt had ordered the destruction of Mül to end a war, covering up the genocide to prevent Alpha’s expulsion of humans and financial repercussions.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan): A skilled but somewhat immature special operative who seeks Sergeant Laureline’s hand in marriage.
• Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne): Valerian’s partner, a no-nonsense and capable officer who is wary of his romantic advances.
• Commander Arun Filitt (Clive Owen): The commanding officer of Valerian and Laureline, who harbors a dark secret about the destruction of a planet.
• Bubble (Rihanna): A shape-shifting entertainer who assists Valerian in rescuing Laureline and provides crucial support.
• Defence Minister (Herbie Hancock): The high-ranking official who assigns Valerian and Laureline their missions on Alpha.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Bubble: “Time is the only luxury.” – Bubble says this to Valerian after helping him, reflecting on the preciousness of time and life.
• Valerian: “I never give up.” – Valerian says this to Laureline, showing his determination and persistence in completing their mission.
• Laureline: “Major, sometimes you really are an idiot.” – Laureline says this in response to Valerian’s clumsy attempts at flirting and proposing.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $177.2M
• Domestic Gross: $41.1M
• Worldwide Gross: $225.9M

💥 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this movie expecting a visual explosion, and boy, did it deliver! Alpha is seriously one of the coolest sci-fi cities I’ve ever seen. The action was fun, but honestly, I was more captivated by the world Besson created. While the leads didn’t totally click for me, Rihanna’s cameo was a highlight! I left the theater feeling like I’d just taken a wild trip to another galaxy. Definitely worth it for the visuals alone, but don’t expect a deep, complex plot.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of visually stunning sci-fi movies”
  • “Viewers who appreciate imaginative world-building”
  • “Those who enjoy space operas with diverse alien species”
  • “Fans of Luc Besson’s other films like The Fifth Element”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Sci-fi action violence”
  • “Some suggestive content”
  • “Brief partial nudity”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “Visually ambitious but narratively thin, ‘Valerian’ drowns in its own spectacle. Besson’s world-building is impressive, but the underdeveloped characters and predictable plot leave the audience yearning for more substance.
• Variety: “A dazzling visual feast with a simplistic story. While the world-building is imaginative and the action sequences are thrilling, the film suffers from wooden performances by the leads and a lack of emotional depth.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Visually stunning but dramatically inert, ‘Valerian’ is a case of style over substance. The film’s inventive creatures and vibrant landscapes are overshadowed by a weak script and a lack of chemistry between the leads.

Audience Reactions

The alien designs and world-building were incredibly imaginative and visually stunning.: Most viewers raved about the film’s visuals, calling it one of the most visually impressive movies they’d ever seen.

Rihanna’s performance as Bubble was a surprising and entertaining highlight.: Many audience members were pleasantly surprised by Rihanna’s acting and enjoyed her shapeshifting character.

Overall Consensus: Visually breathtaking but narratively underwhelming, ‘Valerian’ offers a stunning sci-fi experience marred by a weak plot and uneven performances.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the French comic book series ‘Valérian and Laureline’, which began in 1967 and has been a major influence on science fiction films.”
• “Luc Besson had wanted to adapt ‘Valérian’ since he was a child, but waited until the visual effects technology was advanced enough to bring his vision to life.”
• “To create the numerous alien species, Luc Besson wrote a 600-page book detailing each species’ history, culture, and biology, which actors had to study.”

🖥️ How to Watch Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets?

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Availability may vary depending on your region. Check your preferred streaming service for current offerings.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, you might like these similar films:

• The Fifth Element (1997): Also directed by Luc Besson, it features a similarly vibrant and imaginative science fiction world with unique visuals and action.
• Avatar (2009): Shares the theme of a hidden paradise and environmental destruction, along with visually stunning world-building.
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Offers a similar blend of science fiction, action, and humor with a team of quirky characters.
• Jupiter Ascending (2015): A visually stunning, yet narratively flawed, space opera with complex world-building and themes.

🛒 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Related Products

• Valerian and Laureline: The Illustrated Collection, Vol. 1: Delve into the original source material with this graphic novel collection. See the comic that inspired the movie and explore the world of Valerian and Laureline in its original form. Experience the story as Luc Besson first envisioned it.
• Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets [4K Ultra HD]: Experience the movie’s stunning visuals in the highest quality available. Includes bonus features like behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew.
• Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: Bubble Funko Pop: Add the adorable shape-shifting alien, Bubble, to your Funko Pop collection. Capture the essence of this dynamic character and bring a piece of the movie’s quirky charm to your shelf.
• Valerian Movie Poster: Decorate your space with a vibrant poster featuring key artwork from the movie. A great way to showcase your love for this visually stunning sci-fi adventure.

🎧 Soundtrack

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “A Million on My Soul” – performed by Alexiane
• “Space Oddity” – performed by David Bowie
• “I Feel Everything” – performed by Cara Delevingne

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

A Postmortem of Valerian – Why Did It Flop?

Dive into the fascinating world of cinema as we explore why the highly-anticipated ‘Valerian’ failed to meet expectations. Join us for an insightful discussion that uncovers the hidden factors behind its box office disappointment.

Everything GREAT About Chronicle!

Discover the hidden gems of ‘Valerian’ that many may have missed! This video sheds light on the film’s exceptional qualities, making you wonder why you didn’t give it a chance sooner.

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