Turn off your critical brain, turn your HDR brightness to maximum, and dive into Alpha. Just don't expect the romance to work.
Alpha—the "City of a Thousand Planets"—is the central hub of the film. Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets - E...
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. Turn off your critical brain, turn your HDR
While the chemistry between the leads was a point of contention for critics, their dynamic captures the "bickering professional" energy of the original comics. Valerian is the arrogant, rule-following ace pilot, while Laureline is the grounded, highly capable heart of the operation. Their mission to retrieve a "converter"—the last of its kind from a destroyed civilization—unravels a massive intergalactic conspiracy. Why It Became a Cult Classic Yet, the urgency of this plot is constantly
If you’re after further angles, I can write a scene-by-scene breakdown, analyze visual motifs, or compare Valerian’s worldbuilding to classics like Blade Runner, Fifth Element, and The Fifth Element’s spiritual heirs. Which would you prefer?