GRADEBOOK: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: The Gradebook is the ratings of newly released films by the contributors and fans of We Live Film, and We Live Entertainment. If you are interested in participating, join the We Live Film Fan Chat Page on Facebook and look for the weekly posts of new releases.
Daniel Rester: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (6.7/10)
Luc Besson’s sci-fi passion project “Valerian” features colorfully stunning images and a few inventive set pieces. There is also a small but juicy performance by Ethan Hawke that is enjoyable. Unfortunately the storytelling is uneven, leads Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne feel miscast and lack chemistry, and the humor is hit and miss. The result is an imaginative film that’s easy to like in spots but hard to love as a whole.
Mark Krawczyk: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (8.5/10)
This film gave me exactly what I was hoping for, an immersive sci-fi world. Luc Besson opens this film strong in setting up the world and the use of a David Bowie song didn’t hurt. The visuals in this film are spectacular and are a must see on the big screen. The performances of the the two main characters were decent, the dialog unfortunately was a bit off for them and you definitely do not see much growth with them. I am not familiar enough with the source material to say if this how they were in the comics. I loved the appearance of Ethan Hawke’s character and Rhianna deserved to have more screen time as her character was really interesting.
I loved the aliens called the Pearl. Beautiful design and unique story with them. This is a visual spectacle film that was made to enjoy the imagery more so than the story. This will put some people off to it but for me I loved it for that. Still a fun time at the theater.
Nick Casaletto: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (9/10)
Valerian is a must-see for sci-fi fans who don’t mind the main course being brightly colored cheese with a side of “Bubbles.” I mean this in the best way possible, I genuinely loved it. It’s a rare but sad time when you can actually have fun while appreciating The creativity of the works presented and all of the little details that don’t go unnoticed. I feel like I could watch it over and over and find something new to appreciate every time. Know what your getting into, and don’t just admire the visuals, but the artistic creativity and imagination to bring such a space opera to life.
Scott Menzel: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (8.5/10)
At the end of the day, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is one of the most visually stunning films ever made. It is a visual game-changer and one of the most memorable films of the summer. Luc Besson continues to prove that he is a visionary filmmaker and isn’t afraid to make films that challenge audiences. He continues to create beautiful worlds that will serve as an inspiration to future filmmakers. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is the first film in nearly eight years that must be seen in theaters. Do yourself a favor and find the best theater, order the biggest popcorn, and just enjoy Luc Besson’s latest visual masterpiece.
Ashley Menzel: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (9/10)
Luc Besson has solidified his status as a fantastic sci-fi maestro with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. While it is not perfect, his eye for creating what can only be described as pure magic, and transporting his audience to another world, makes him a true visionary. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planetswill transport you to a world far away and more beautiful than we’ve ever seen.
Average We Live Film Gradebook Score for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: 8.3/10
*Keep checking back as more We Live Film fans see and review this film, we will be updating.
