A 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.
The true protagonist of the film is arguably , the titular City of a Thousand Planets. The movie’s iconic opening sequence—set to David Bowie’s "Space Oddity"—chronicles how Alpha evolved from the International Space Station in 1975 into a massive, free-floating metropolis housing thousands of different alien species.
A multi-dimensional bazaar located on another vibrational plane, requiring special helmets and gloves to interact with across dimensions.
A standout sequence, and the one most often discussed by visual effects artists, is the film’s "Big Market" scene. In it, Valerian dons a pair of special goggles that allows him to see an entire interdimensional bazaar laid over a seemingly barren desert world. The sequence demonstrates the team’s ability to seamlessly blend live-action performances with complex, layered digital environments. "ILM led the visual effects effort on the scene," with the challenge being to have characters in two different "worlds" interact with each other simultaneously.
One of the most heavily debated aspects of the film is its central casting: Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
Alpha is the titular "City of a Thousand Planets." It started centuries prior as the International Space Station (ISS) in Earth's orbit. Over generations, thousands of different alien species connected their own vessels and habitats to the structure, creating an ever-expanding, floating metropolis where millions of creatures from all corners of the cosmos share their knowledge, cultures, and technologies.
Valerian adalah salah satu film paling ambisius secara teknis yang pernah dibuat, yang sebagian besar dapat dikaitkan dengan volume efek visualnya yang luar biasa. Film ini memiliki 2.355 bidikan (shots) efek visual (VFX), jumlah yang menakjubkan, bahkan 600 bidikan lebih banyak dari Rogue One: A Star Wars Story . Sebagai gambaran, film Besson sebelumnya, The Fifth Element , memiliki 250 bidikan VFX, menjadikan Valerian sebagai lompatan raksasa dalam skala teknis.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a 2017 space opera film directed by Luc Besson, based on the French comic series Valérian and Laureline . It is renowned for its visual spectacle and holds the record for the most expensive European and independent film ever made.
The city is the true protagonist. Divided into distinct biospheres (from a medieval kingdom to a water world to a techno-futuristic hub), Alpha feels alive. Besson fills every frame with thousands of visible details, alien languages on neon signs, and creatures designed by the late Mézières himself. A significant point of critical contention involves the
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets did not spark a cinematic universe, but its influence remains undeniable. It stands as a defiant alternative to the monochromatic, heavily formulaic blockbusters that dominate modern cinema. Besson poured decades of passion into every frame, resulting in a film that prioritizes sensory wonder, eccentric style, and high-concept sci-fi philosophy over safe narrative beats.
However, a mysterious dark force is lurking at the center of Alpha, threatening to destroy the utopian city and the future of the universe. Valerian and Laureline must race against time to uncover this threat and save the city of a thousand planets. Visual Spectacle and World-Building
: The more intuitive and no-nonsense half of the team. In the comics, she is a medieval peasant whom Valerian brought to the future; in the film, she is his highly capable partner who often has to bail him out of trouble. The Primary Setting: Alpha
When Luc Besson released Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in 2017, it wasn't just another summer blockbuster; it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. Based on the influential French comic series Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières—the same source material that inspired Star Wars —the film is a breathtaking, messy, and utterly unique piece of cinema. The Visual Spectacle of Alpha The true protagonist of the film is arguably
[Build-up] (Em - B7 - C - G)
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.
Thematically, Besson’s film gestures toward anti-colonial critique. The City of a Thousand Planets—Alpha—is literally constructed from the remnants of conquered worlds, a cosmopolitan utopia built on histories of extraction and displacement. The discovery that a seemingly innocuous trade in rare organisms masks a systemic pattern of captivity and commodification reframes the story as one about recognition and restitution. Valerian and Laureline’s personal arc—moving from complacent agents of a bureaucratic empire to sympathetic rescuers—mirrors an ethical awakening that the film asks its audience to share.
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.