# Fifth Element Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 6, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601 "2003-03-06T23:17:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/21 "2003-04-13T21:59:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I have another question; when Zorg (Gary Oldman) is on the phone with the evil thing, some sort of sticky brown fluid runs down his face. > > What is it? I don’t understand. > > (I’ve only seen the film on video, so I’m not sure if the pan-and-scan has trimmed off the source of the brown fluid or if I’m just being really thick about something that should be obvious.) \*\* I’m pretty sure that’s blood… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/22 "2003-04-13T22:02:17Z")
it does look like blood when it first drips and runs, but when he spreads it around, it is very clearly brown in colour (at least it is on my copy.) ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/23 "2003-04-13T22:27:00Z")
I too am pretty sure it was blood. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/24 "2003-04-13T22:33:59Z")
I remember when I was in elementary school, we saw Nanook Of The North in class. The topless native woman was quite the topic of conversation during the ensuing recess. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/25 "2003-04-13T22:59:46Z")
The brown stuff is hair dye. He’s nervous, and sweating his dye out of his hair. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/26 "2003-04-14T02:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I have another question; when Zorg (Gary Oldman) is on the phone with the evil thing, some sort of sticky brown fluid runs down his face. > > What is it? I don’t understand.\*\* I agree that it’s blood. The commander of the attack cruiser at the beginning has the same thing happen to him after his attacks on the sphere prove useless (watch the scenes where the commmander is intercut with the President). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/27 "2003-04-14T05:33:41Z")
What I don’t get is that if this sort of thing happens every 5000 years, what did mankind do 2 visits ago, before the Pyramids were built? For that matter, why would the ultrapowerful alien entity give a hoot about Earth? I nevertheless enjoyed the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/28 "2003-04-14T05:36:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darwin’s Finch \* > \*\*I agree that it’s blood. The commander of the attack cruiser at the beginning has the same thing happen to him after his attacks on the sphere prove useless (watch the scenes where the commmander is intercut with the President). \*\* I dunno… unless they were running low on money or something. That’s the worst looking fake blood I’ve ever seen. When he smears it it looks just like molasses or something similiarly brown and sticky. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/29 "2003-04-14T06:44:59Z")
Naw, that wasn’t blood: it was clearly dark brown, not red. I think it was pure liquid evil. Just talking with that thing fills you with so much evil it starts leaking out your pores. Also, **Bryan** , the thing didn’t care about Earth, it cared about the weapon stored there that could destroy it: the “fifth element.” If they’d put it on Mars, it’d have attacked Mars instead. I assume it was on a different planet, the previous few times it attacked. Does anyone else think that Ian Holm is consciously impersonating Obi Wan Kenobi when he’s sneaking on board the pleasure cruiser? My friends all think I’m crazy… ---
**Author:** ![Rigel\_Haloran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rigel\_Haloran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigel_Haloran)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/30 "2003-04-14T06:54:34Z")
My personel fav part was the Diva’s concert intercut with Leliu’s fight. ---
**Author:** ![Firx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Firx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firx)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/31 "2003-04-14T06:56:37Z")
I concur with the liquid evil theory. But Obi Wan? Nah. Well, maybe. I don’t think it’s conscious, it’s just a side effect of his robe and beard. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/32 "2003-04-14T13:02:25Z")
_Sigh_ I love this movie. Its not a good critic movie, but its a great cult movie. ---
**Author:** ![MrMyth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@MrMyth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMyth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/33 "2003-04-14T13:25:45Z")
I love this movie. My GF can’t understand the attraction. Hell, I even like Ruby Rod…_bzzzzt!_ Fav lines include - “How soon 'till it reaches Earth?” “One hour, fiftey-eight minutes.” “I’ll call you back in two hours.” And - “You miserable bastard - I never should’ve pushed you out.” “Mom!” ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/34 "2003-04-14T14:20:04Z")
I have another question : who is playing the voice of Bruce Willis’ mother in the movie ? Is it Sandra Bernhardt ? I checked on IMDb and I couldn’t see a listing. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/35 "2003-04-15T05:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > Also, **Bryan** , the thing didn’t care about Earth, it cared about the weapon stored there that could destroy it: the “fifth element.” If they’d put it on Mars, it’d have attacked Mars instead. I assume it was on a different planet, the previous few times it attacked. But wait a sec, Milla Jovovich _was_ the “Fifth Element” and she wasn’t even on Earth when the events were put in motion. She didn’t even actually exist, since she was a clone created from a leftover body part salvaged from a destroyed ship that was _heading_ to Earth. It’s not clear to me who sent Milla’s clone parent on the mission in the first place, but if the fifth element could be attacked _anywhere_, why is Earth even involved? And the previous attack must have occured on Earth because they made a big deal about the 5000 year-old pyramid and such. I liked the movie as a goofy comedic sci-fi fantasy (kinda like episodes of _ReBoot_), but the premise doesn’t make a lick of sense. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/36 "2003-04-15T06:16:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*But wait a sec, Milla Jovovich _was_ the “Fifth Element” and she wasn’t even on Earth when the events were put in motion. She didn’t even actually exist, since she was a clone created from a leftover body part salvaged from a destroyed ship that was _heading_ to Earth. It’s not clear to me who sent Milla’s clone parent on the mission in the first place, but if the fifth element could be attacked _anywhere_, why is Earth even involved? And the previous attack must have occured on Earth because they made a big deal about the 5000 year-old pyramid and such. > > I liked the movie as a goofy comedic sci-fi fantasy (kinda like episodes of _ReBoot_), but the premise doesn’t make a lick of sense. \*\* I think that any one of the alien creatures (the big guys with droopy shoulders) could have served as the Fifth Element. Leilu was just the only one who happened to “survive” their ship being blown up by the dog-faced baddies. And the first time they showed up, they were 300 years ahead of schedule. They took the stones away, b/c “they were not safe” on Earth. (I would presume there was some sort of information leak.) Also, the Fifth Element was not the only component of the weapon, there were 4 others (obviously). As far as the evil entity’s information base knew, the stones were still on Earth. Coupled with the fact that the 5th element is more like “ammunition” if you will, whereas the Pyramid is more of the “shotgun”. The delivery system. So, the evil meteor came to Earth, 1st to acquire the stones for itself, and then to stand in the middle, as the Anti-Fifth Element. Thus wreaking havoc and chaos across the universe. At least, that’s how I understood it. ---
**Author:** ![Firx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Firx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firx)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/37 "2003-04-15T06:38:15Z")
No, I think it’s clear that Leeloo is _not_ one of the metal aliens (mondoshawans) that are destroyed by the dog-men (mangalores). She’s in the case that they remove from Earth at the beginning of the film. Recall that they take not just the stones, but also a statue-like object that rested on the central dais: the case containing leeloo. It’s just luck that some of her cells survived and that she could thus be rebuilt; but hey, if that didn’t happen there’d be no film. Anyway, I suppose that was the purpose of her protective case. The evil planet didn’t care about the fifth element, or rather leeloo. It was only concerned about getting the stones so that it could wreak havoc, just as **d\_redguy** says. Remember when the priest brings out his book of pictures to show the president? That’s what he was trying to explain. Also, the stated reason for taking the weapon from its earthly abode was, IIRC, “War is coming. Stones no longer safe on earth.” Given taht the beginning sequence takes place in (again, IIRC) 1914, I would suppose that the mondoshawans were anticipating WWI. Maybe when they built the weapon Earth was free of civilization, and then they returned for maintanance or whatever and found the pesky Egyptians mucking about with it. After that they kept a closer eye on the humans. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/38 "2003-04-15T07:56:59Z")
i thought they were reffering to the coming war with those chapechanging aliens. Does anyone have the DVD with commentary? That might explain a few things ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/39 "2003-04-15T07:58:27Z")
chapechanging is a cool skill, but not as cool as shapechanging! ---
**Author:** ![Firx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Firx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firx)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601/40 "2003-04-15T08:09:18Z")
Yeah, but the shapechangers didn’t invade Earth, so why wouldn’t the weapon be safe there? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-element-question/159601.md?page=3)