Skip to main content

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)


Director: Luc Besson
Producers: Virginie Besson-Silla
Screenplay: Luc Besson

Starring:
Dane DeHaan as Valerian
Cara Delevingne as Laureline
Clive Owen as Commander Arün Filitt
Rihanna as Bubble
Ethan Hawke as Jolly the Pimp
Herbie Hancock as Defence Minister
Kris Wu as Sergeant Neza

Music: Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography: Thierry Arbogast
Editing: Julien Rey
Release Date: July 21, 2017 (USA)
Running Time: 137 minutes
Language: English
 Freddy's Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

Overloaded and Underwhelming

And we’re back in the shit! I’m starting to get in a hurry to finish Luc Besson’s movies. "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is boring, boring, boring, because there are too many aliens, too many gadgets, too many costumes, too much imagination! I reached a point of exhaustion one hour into the movie. The universe is kind of stupid. For example, how can such a primitive tribal culture be part of the great city of a thousand boring things? Why would there be a diplomatic problem with them? So stupid.


Lackluster Leads and Annoying Performances

Now to the main issue: the actors. What an uncharismatic couple we have here! Especially the guy who sounds like a younger, weaker, uglier, and skinnier Keanu Reeves. The kid doesn’t have any charisma and is just damn annoying. This seems like a fad today with male action heroes—I’m thinking Tom Holland, that guy from Dune. They just look like total skinny ****. Sorry for being harsh, but I bet his mamma would rebuke everything I’ve just said. And then you get Rihanna, who I detest as well. I can only think about umbrellas when I hear her name. The only good actor with something interesting to say is Ethan Hawke, but unfortunately, he's a minor character. The movie hasn’t ended and I’m already writing my review on my phone because I just don’t care about what’s going to happen. It’s just too predictable.


Visuals Can't Save the Snooze Fest

The graphics are good to look at, but as a gamer, nothing in this movie can impress me when I’ve already been immersed in beautifully alien worlds. I just paused to come back to the Major’s explanation for his attack on Mui... The economy and sanctions! Total shit story. Get a writer Luc!!! The music is just average orchestral music, boring as the pictures. The pace is not as bad as in Arthur and Adèle Blanc-"Que Saco", but still feels off. Here I am writing this review and the movie on my TV isn’t over yet... What a long boring mess. Now they’re just shooting at each other... Again. Probably if you are 10 and never seen a sci-fi action/adventure movie, this will be a good watch. But why do that when you can just watch Firefly series and end with the beautiful movie Serenity!


🎥 Cinematography (3/10):

Visually stunning, but overloaded with too much detail.

📖 Story (1/10):

Unoriginal and predictable, with a nonsensical universe and plot.

🎬 Direction (2/10):

Exhausting and over the top.

👥 Characters (1/10):

Uncharismatic leads, with only minor characters providing any interest.

💥 Visual Effects (5/10):

Impressive graphics, but nothing groundbreaking for gamers or seasoned sci-fi fans.

🎭 Acting (2/10):

Weak performances, especially from the leads, with only Ethan Hawke standing out.

💬 Dialogue (1/10):

Mediocre and uninspiring, and I can't believe Laureline says the word "Bingo!"

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (2/10):

Overly detailed and exhausting, failing to create an immersive experience.

🎵 Music (3/10):

Average orchestral score, and "Major Tom" again!

😄 Entertainment Value (1/10):

Might entertain a young audience, but overall, it's a long, boring experience.

Our blog is currently being updated regularly!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Frank Oz: From Worst to Best

I've finished my Frank Oz filmography a while back and hadn't had the time to post here the rank and some thoughts about his work. Let's try to refresh my memory and give you some of my opinions... man. Frank Oz is a true legend. At 81, he's not just a brilliant filmmaker but also a puppeteer and writer whose characters, from the Muppets to Sesame Street, have touched countless lives. His directing career is full of outstanding, entertaining movies; out of 14 films, there's really only one rotten apple in the bunch. I'm not sure if he's planning to make any more movies, but I'd love to see him try his hand at a serious drama, just to see him flex a different creative muscle. I wouldn't like to be that famous, I value my privacy. Mind you, Miss Piggy enjoys every moment of it. If it were not for me, she would spend all her time in the limelight. Frank OZ This is his entire fi...

Friendship (2024)

Plot Summary: Suburban dad Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) becomes obsessed with new neighbor Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). A quirky bromance spirals into a cringe-filled, emotional unraveling as Craig struggles with boundaries and rejection. Director & Writer: Andrew DeYoung Producer(s): Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Johnny Holland, Nick Weidenfeld Music: Keegan DeWitt Cinematography: Andy Rydzewski Editing: Sophie Corra Starring: Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael Kate Mara as Tami Waterman Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey and others   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Wild Ride into Unhinged Genius Alright, instant noodles, shrimp flavor, done. Now for the actual love letter to Friendship, that magnificent, fucked-up black comedy that quite literally brought Tim R...

Straw (2025)

Plot Summary: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a desperate single mother of a seriously ill daughter, spirals through eviction, job loss, and tragedy in one catastrophic day. In a last-ditch attempt to get medicine, she starts a bank standoff — but a shocking twist reveals her daughter actually died hours earlier, and Janiyah has been dissociating from reality. Eventually, with support from a bank manager and detective, she surrenders peacefully amid growing public sympathy. Director & Writer: Tyler Perry Producer(s): Tyler Perry Cinematography: Justyn Moro Music: Dara Taylor Editing: Nick Coker Cast: Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherri Shepherd as Nicole (bank manager) Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond Sinbad as Benny Glynn Turman as Richard (Janiyah’s boss) Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson Ashley Versher as Tessa  ...

The Shrouds (2024)

Plot Summary: Tech entrepreneur Karsh (Vincent Cassel) creates a system—GraveTech—that lets mourners watch their loved ones decompose in real time. After some shrouds are mysteriously hacked and vandalized, he digs into a disturbing cyber conspiracy involving grief, surveillance, and obsession. Director & Writer: David Cronenberg Producer(s): Saïd Ben Saïd, Martin Katz, Anthony Vaccarello Music: Howard Shore Cinematography: Douglas Koch Editing: Christopher Donaldson Starring: Vincent Cassel as Karsh Diane Kruger as Becca / Terry / Hunny Guy Pearce as Maury Sandrine Holt as Soo‑Min ***SPOILER ALERT*** The Return of Cronenberg… and Preset C F: Guess who's back? After a 10-year hiatus on this blog, Preset C is joining us to review the latest Cronenberg movie, The Shrouds. And you know what else is coming back with him? So...

Mountainhead (2025)

Plot Summary: Four ultra‑rich tech moguls retreat to a secluded mountain estate as a global AI‑triggered crisis unravels. Their poker weekend turns into a sickening display of arrogance, panic, and slapstick betrayal as they scramble to save face, fortune, and friends. Director & Writer: Jesse Armstrong Music: Nicholas Britell Cinematography: Marcel Zyskind Editor: Mark Davies, Bill Henry Starring: Steve Carell as Randall Garrett Jason Schwartzman as Hugo "Souper" Van Yalk Cory Michael Smith as Venis "Ven" Parish Ramy Youssef as Jeff Abredazi   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions: Tech Titans and Tedium Okay, another fresh pick! This time, an HBO movie with Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman, and two other guys I honestly couldn’t name. After peeking at the trailer, I thought Mountainhead might be fun and interesting. The...

Echo Valley (2025)

Plot Summary: Grieving widow Kate Garrett (J. Moore) struggles to keep her Pennsylvania horse farm afloat after losing her wife. When her estranged, drug-addicted daughter Claire (S. Sweeney) returns bloodied and in distress, a gripping thriller unfolds as Kate fights to protect her child, confronting escalating danger, moral dilemmas, and the lengths a mother will go to save her kids. Director: Michael Pearce Screenplay: Brad Ingelsby Producers: Brad Ingelsby, Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Kevin J. Walsh Music: Jed Kurzel Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun Starring: Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett Fiona Shaw as Jessie Oliver Edmund Donovan as Ryan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Cheese, Wine and Echo Valley Alright, so picture this. It’s a ...