Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E... ((install)) May 2026

Director:

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera directed by Luc Besson. It is a visual marvel based on the 1967 French comic series Valérian and Laureline . Quick Facts Luc Besson (famous for The Fifth Element ).

However, the narrative structure, while serviceable, is merely a skeleton to hang these visual marvels. The plot follows Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne), special operatives who uncover a hidden genocide against the peaceful Pearls of Mul, a humanoid species whose habitat was destroyed by human negligence. This eco-political message—a critique of militarism and colonial hubris—is timely and mature. Yet, the urgency of this plot is constantly undermined by the film’s tonal inconsistency. Besson treats the story with the earnest, swashbuckling pace of a 1980s adventure serial, complete with quippy one-liners and a jarring, unnecessary detour to a tropical beach resort for a shape-shifting subplot. The film never decides whether it wants to be a grave indictment of imperial violence or a light-hearted romp, leaving the audience emotionally adrift. Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...

3. The "Empire" Connection

To watch Valerian is to witness a filmmaker who loves the medium of science fiction with a childlike intensity. It is a reminder that cinema should be about showing us things we have never seen before. For all its narrative shortcomings, Valerian shows us a thousand things we have never seen, and for that, it deserves to be remembered not as a flop, but as a beautiful, expensive, and utterly unique mistake. Director: Valerian and the City of a Thousand

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets – E

For those searching for (whether looking for an "explanation," "extended cut," or "epic review"), this article will serve as your definitive deep dive into the film’s ambitious world-building, its stunning set pieces, and why it remains a cult classic in waiting. Yet, the urgency of this plot is constantly