The first recording today is an edited recording of Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element (so there’s no ad breaks).
I have a soft spot for this film. It’s got ludicrous colossal spaceships.
Crazy looking aliens.
Luke Perry is in it for no discernible reason.
You can tell this was made in the UK from the appearances from great British character actors like John Neville off of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Ian Holm plays a priest who understands the significance of the Fifth Element of the title.
What movie isn’t improved by having Brion James in it?
Bruce Willis stars as Corbin Dallas, a former soldier who’s now a taxi driver. This film came out the same year as The Jackal so I’m assuming he scheduled them so he’d only have to dye his hair blond once.
Milla Jovovich plays Leeloo, the eponymous Fifth Element, a perfect woman grown from a single cell as the only thing that can stop all life in the universe being extinguished. You can’t deny this movie has stakes.
I love the design and effects of this.
Gary Oldman plays the baddie, Zorg, with an even more over the top performance than he gave in Besson’s Leon if that’s possible.
But even he is eclipsed by the performance that Chris Tucker gives as Ruby Rhod. And all these are augmented by the insane costume design by Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Lee Evans turns up.
There’s an extended action sequence in the Royal Opera House.
An alien Diva sings alien opera.
It even ends with a joke right out of a Roger Moore James Bond film, as the President arrives to congratulate Leeloo and Corbin, but they’re bonking in their pod.
Media Centre Description: Sci-fi adventure set in the 23rd century in which a jaded New York cab driver finds himself in the middle of a battle between good and evil when a beautiful young woman falls into his life from another dimension. Assisted by an evil corporation leader, who seeks to profit from the chaos that will follow war, the enemy invaders aim to destroy the earth, with the mysterious woman offering the only hope for the world’s safety.
Recorded from Channel 4 on Saturday 15th March 2008 21:00
The only other recording today starts with a trail for The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
Then, an episode of Love Soup – Dream Twister. This is a sitcom by David Renwick, starring Tamsin Greig as Alice.
Her colleagues are Sheridan Smith as Cleo
And Monserrat Lombard off of Ashes to Ashes as Milly. She also has boyfriend trouble. “I only find out he’s been electronically tagged. By order of the courts. And banned from going within a 20 mile radius of Cheltenham Ladies College.” “Why?” “I did not care to ask thank you very much.”
Cleo too. “Suddenly he stops. And says am I broad-minded? I said well that depends on how broad-minded we’re talking about. At which he goes out of the room. And comes back in with this trunk. And you want to know what was in it?” “Go on.” “Nothing. So then he gives me the key. And says what would really turn him on. Is if I would lock him inside. And go home.” “So how did he get out?” “I have no sodding idea. He’s presumably still in there. And loving every minute of it.”
Sanjeev Bhaskar plays Mitch, an old friend of Alice who’s now a lecturer, and who’s being stalked by a student, so Alice has to pretend to be affectionate in the hope she’ll stop hassling him.
Mitch sets her up on a blind date, arranged by a couple he’s friends with, but she reacts badly to the food and throws up. This turns out to be lucky because she then discovers that the man she thought she was there for was actually the husband of the woman.
Alice has a dream about Mitch. In it he’s a ventriloquist.
But when she goes backstage, it’s the dummy who’s alive, and Mitch is an actual dummy.
Mitch finds love – he discovers his former stalker is also a Page 3 model so he decides what the hell.
Alice tries lonely hearts. She’s stood up. But later she gets a call from the man’s colleague who tells her he died this afternoon.
Media Centre Description: Comedy series chronicling eternally-single Alice’s quest for the perfect partner. Alice’s annual catch-up lunch with old school friend Mitch begins harmlessly enough, until the appearance of his besotted media studies pupil Cassie Davies sours proceedings. Meanwhile, Milly and Cleo dabble in speed dating.
Recorded from BBC ONE on Saturday 15th March 2008 21:28
BBC Genome: BBC ONE Saturday 15th March 2008 21:30
After this, trails for Gavin and Stacey and for Match of the Day.
Then the recording stops with the start of the Ten O’Clock News. The lead story is the discovery of the kidnapped Shannon Matthews alive. I googled this story as I couldn’t remember the details, and my god, what a horrible story. Most of which wasn’t known at this point.