Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E... Jun 2026
Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) represents one of the most ambitious undertakings in independent cinema history. Adapted from the influential French comic series Valérian et Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, the film attempts to translate a sprawling, decades-old universe into a singular cinematic experience. While the film faced significant hurdles in North American markets, its contribution to the science fiction genre lies in its uncompromising visual maximalism and its departure from the tonal "grittiness" that dominated 21st-century blockbuster sci-fi.
To create a more immersive experience, a range of sound design elements were incorporated, including:
[Build-up] (Em - B7 - C - G)
The main plot kicks off when Valerian has a vision of a lost paradise planet, Mul, destroyed by a mysterious weapon. He discovers that a surviving race of peaceful humanoids, the Pearls, are hiding in the lower depths of Alpha, being hunted by a ruthless Commander (Clive Owen) who is covering up a past atrocity. Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
For audiences seeking an escape from conventional storytelling, Valerian offers a pure, unfiltered shot of imagination. It is a vibrant reminder that cinema can still build worlds that are beautiful, bizarre, and utterly unforgettable. To tailor this analysis further,I can expand on:
As they dive deeper into the mystery, they uncover a dark military conspiracy. The plot revolves around the , a peaceful, holistic, and technologically harmonious species whose utopian home planet, Mül, was completely destroyed as collateral damage during an interstellar space battle decades prior. The film shifts from a standard procedural space cop mission into a poignant commentary on colonialism, corporate greed, military cover-ups, and the ultimate power of empathy and environmental stewardship. Groundbreaking Visual Effects
The central failure, however, lies in the casting and characterization of its heroes. Valerian is written as a cocky, womanizing rogue, but DeHaan’s performance lacks the roguish charm of a young Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis. Instead, his delivery comes across as petulant and uncharismatic, making his relentless pursuit of Laureline feel less like romantic tension and more like workplace harassment. Conversely, Delevingne’s Laureline is competent, sharp, and consistently right, but she is forced to play a reactive role, perpetually annoyed by a partner the script insists is heroic. The pair share no romantic chemistry; their bickering feels sibling-like rather than passionate. This disconnect is fatal, as the film’s emotional core—Valerian’s attempt to prove his love by earning her respect—rests entirely on an unconvincing dynamic. In a genre where audiences connect through characters, Valerian offers two beautiful, expensive mannequins. Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets opened in July 2017, directly against Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk . It earned only $225 million worldwide against a $180 million budget (plus marketing), making it a significant box office bomb. American audiences rejected it, but it performed well in China ($60 million) and France (Besson’s home country).
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets remains a testament to the power of a singular vision. Luc Besson wanted to show us a universe where a thousand species live together under one roof, and he succeeded. That it stumbles on the human element is almost ironic—in a city of a thousand planets, the hardest thing to write is a good conversation between two people. But for those willing to look past the cracks, Alpha is waiting. And it is glorious.
The sequence depicting the destruction of Mül is a devastatingly beautiful masterwork of CGI. Besson treats the tragedy with an ethereal, dreamlike quality. When human military conflict inadvertently decimates their world, the surviving Pearls are forced into a decades-long arc of survival and adaptation inside a discarded spaceship. Their plight infuses the film with a sharp anti-colonialist message, contrasting the bureaucratic, militaristic hubris of the human federation against the holistic harmony of the Pearls. Performance, Contrast, and Pop Culture Icons To create a more immersive experience, a range
Sci-fi enthusiasts frequently discuss the film's structural ties to Luc Besson's past work. On discussion platforms like Hacker News , users often note that The Fifth Element and Valerian share a distinct thematic and aesthetic universe, even highlighting clever easter eggs like a shop named "Korbens" hidden in Alpha's background. Why Valerian Demands a Second Look
In 2017, visionary French director Luc Besson (known for The Fifth Element and Lucy ) delivered what might be the most expensive independent film ever made: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets . Based on the seminal French comic series Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, the film is less a conventional blockbuster and more a $200 million love letter to the sci-fi medium itself.
Imagine a soundtrack that transports you to a galaxy far, far away... A blend of electronic and synthwave elements, with a dash of science fiction and adventure. "Galactic Odyssey" is a piece that will take you on a journey through the City of a Thousand Planets, with its pulsing synths, driving beats, and soaring melodies.
