EUOL -- I don't mean to use the word 'escapism' perjoratively. I use the term simply to describe a movie that is enjoyed (perhaps greatly enjoyed) but not something that is necessarily life-changing. Personally, I think the books that I write are escapism: something that is fun and entertaining-- something that might touch on moral values or deeper issues, but ultimately is just an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
There's nothing wrong with escapism. (And I'm certainly not implying that Fifth Element is escapism simply because it's science fiction.) But, in my opinion, a story (book or movie) can't really be "great" unless it has an emotional impact, derived from personal attachment to the story/characters.
Granted, that's my opinion.
If you're going to watch a movie and judge it based primarily on plot, then what in the devil are you doing watching a movie? Go read a book. I watch movies for the OTHER things they can provide. Yes, plot is important, but it's only one element out of a dozen or so.
That's true -- you can't judge a movie solely on plot. But, a weak plot is a weak plot, no matter what else is good. In business we always hear the phrase that a chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and it applies here too. The Fifth Element is not some art house flick, made for the sole purpose of having beautiful cinematography and visual granduer. Sure, they obviously focused on those things, and did a good job, but that's not how it was sold to the public, and that's not (I'm sure) how it was sold to the studio. If they wanted a plotless art piece, then they should have made one. Instead, they made a very artistic movie, with a ho-hum plot.
Fell suggested:
while a movie should consider story and visuals equally, some movies are appreciable for one over the other
Like I said: The Fifth Element was not some experimental piece of art. If the creators meant it that way, they failed to tell anybody about it. It was sold and advertised as a sci-fi action movie. People did not go into the theater expecting an art show.
As you yourself once told me, EUOL, sci-fi is (generally) plot-based. Yes, maybe this one was not plot-based. But that's not what people were expecting, and that's not how it was sold.
(And honestly, with the exception of one scene, I don't remember it being all that visually fantastic. I'll have to go back and watch it.)
