Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E... -
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.
If you are a fan of practical-effects-heavy sci-fi (like The Fifth Element, also by Besson), or if you love the aesthetic of Guardians of the Galaxy but wish it were stranger, then yes.
Searching for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets – E likely means you are a curious viewer looking for escapism. You will find it here. Skip the romantic subplot, mute the occasional groan-worthy line of dialogue, and let your eyes feast on one of the most expensive and beautiful dreams ever committed to celluloid.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5 – A visual masterpiece hampered by its leads, but essential viewing for hardcore sci-fi fans.)
Have you seen Valerian? Do you think it deserves a sequel? Share your thoughts below, or check out our deep dive into the art of Jean-Claude Mézières.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera epic directed by Luc Besson, based on the groundbreaking French comic series Valérian and Laureline. Visually stunning and wildly imaginative, the film is a vibrant explosion of color and creativity that pushes the boundaries of modern CGI. The World of Alpha
The heart of the story is Alpha, the "City of a Thousand Planets." What began as the International Space Station in the 21st century grew over centuries as hundreds of alien species docked their own modules, sharing knowledge, technology, and culture. It is a sprawling, peaceful metropolis where millions of beings from across the universe coexist—ranging from gas-breathing giants to microscopic digital entities.
The plot follows Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne), two special government operatives tasked with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Their mission takes them to the center of Alpha to investigate a "forbidden zone" of radioactive energy that is slowly consuming the city. Along the way, they uncover a dark conspiracy involving the genocide of a peaceful race and a cover-up by high-ranking military officials. A Visual Masterpiece
While the film received mixed reviews for its casting and dialogue, it is universally praised for its world-building. From the "Big Market"—a multi-dimensional bazaar that exists in a different frequency—to the bioluminescent beauty of the planet Mül, every frame is packed with intricate detail. Besson’s vision offers a refreshing alternative to the "lived-in," gritty look of Star Wars, opting instead for a lush, psychedelic aesthetic. Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
Though it didn't ignite a massive franchise in the U.S., Valerian remains a cult favorite for sci-fi enthusiasts. It serves as a testament to European sci-fi's unique voice—prioritizing wonder, strange biology, and high-concept philosophy over traditional Hollywood tropes.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) is a visually ambitious space opera directed by Luc Besson, adapted from the long-running French comic series Valérian and Laureline. Set in the 28th century, it follows special operatives Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline as they investigate a mysterious "dark force" at the heart of Alpha, a massive, ever-expanding space station inhabited by millions of beings from across the universe. Core Story & Characters
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) is a visually ambitious space opera directed by Luc Besson, based on the influential French comic series Valérian and Laureline Plot Overview In the 28th century, special operatives Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline
(Cara Delevingne) maintain order throughout human territories. Their latest mission takes them to
, an ever-expanding intergalactic metropolis where thousands of species converge to share knowledge and culture.
The duo must identify a mysterious dark force at the center of Alpha that threatens the city's peaceful existence and the future of the universe. This journey uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy involving the destruction of the peaceful planet and its inhabitants, the Key Characters & Cast
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets [SPOILERS] : r/movies
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is not a perfect film. It is a flawed masterpiece of production design. If you watch it expecting Star Wars logic, you will be frustrated. But if you watch it as a sensory art piece — a gallery of impossible creatures, vibrant planets, and the boundless optimism of 1970s sci-fi — it is an unforgettable ride. In 2017, visionary French director Luc Besson (known
Verdict: Turn off your critical brain, turn your HDR brightness to maximum, and dive into Alpha. Just don't expect the romance to work.
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Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) is a polarizing feast for the eyes—a $180 million personal gamble
that stands as the most expensive European and independent film ever made. While it struggled to find a massive audience, its sheer ambition has secured its place as a cult sci-fi artifact. The Grand Vision
The film is a lifelong passion project for Besson, who grew up reading the Valérian and Laureline comics by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières. The Setting : Most of the action takes place on , a sprawling space station where thousands of species
from across the universe have converged to share knowledge and culture over centuries. The Mission
: Special operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are tasked with retrieving a "Mül converter"—the last of its kind—and uncovering a dark conspiracy threatening the heart of Alpha. A Visual Triumph : The film features over 2,700 VFX shots
handled by industry titans like Weta Digital and ILM. Its opening sequence, set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity," is widely cited by as one of the best world-building intros in sci-fi history. Why It’s "Interesting" (and Controversial) Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) - IMDb Have you seen Valerian
This paper explores the visual storytelling, world-building, and cultural reception of Luc Besson’s 2017 space opera, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
The Architecture of Imagination: Analyzing Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
IntroductionLuc 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.
Visual Maximalism and World-BuildingThe core achievement of Valerian is the titular "City of a Thousand Planets," known as Alpha. The film’s opening sequence—a montage set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity"—functions as a historical primer on the evolution of Alpha from a human space station to a multi-species megacity. This sequence establishes the film’s central theme: the necessity of multicultural cooperation and the physical manifestation of diplomacy.
Unlike contemporary franchises such as Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which often utilize standardized color palettes and familiar landscapes, Valerian embraces a "Baroque" aesthetic. From the bioluminescent landscapes of the planet Mül to the "Big Market" (a multidimensional bazaar existing across overlapping planes of reality), Besson prioritizes sensory overload. This approach forces the viewer into the position of a true alien, emphasizing the sheer scale and incomprehensibility of the cosmos.
The Protagonist ParadoxA significant point of critical contention involves the casting and characterization of Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne). In the source material, the duo operates with a level of professional parity and romantic tension that defined the "space-agent" archetype. In the film, however, the chemistry is often described as discordant.
Valerian is presented as a cocky, somewhat traditional hero, yet his performance is intentionally subversive; he lacks the physical imposingness of a typical action star. This choice highlights a recurring Besson theme: the "hero" is often less important than the environment they inhabit. Laureline, conversely, serves as the emotional and moral anchor, reflecting the comic’s progressive roots in portraying female characters with high agency and intellectual superiority.
Environmentalism and Colonial CritiqueBeneath the neon surface, the film’s narrative is a sharp critique of colonialism and military industrialism. The plight of the Pearls—an indigenous species whose planet was destroyed as collateral damage in a human war—mirrors real-world histories of displaced populations. The film’s refusal to paint the human military (represented by Clive Owen’s Commander Filitt) as a purely benevolent force complicates the traditional "space police" trope. Instead, Valerian argues that the preservation of a peaceful status quo often hides systemic injustices against "lesser" civilizations.
Cultural Reception and LegacyDespite its technical brilliance, the film struggled with "brand recognition" outside of Europe. For many international audiences, the visual language of Valerian felt derivative of films like The Fifth Element or Avatar, despite the fact that the original Valérian comics served as the primary inspiration for those very works.
ConclusionValerian and the City of a Thousand Planets remains a polarizing masterpiece of visual design. It is a film that values the "wonder" of the unknown over the mechanics of a tight plot. By prioritizing the ecological and sociological complexity of its universe, Besson created a vibrant alternative to the monochrome aesthetics of modern sci-fi, ensuring the film's status as a cult classic for years to come.