Good and evil battle for the future of 23rd century Earth in this visually striking big-budget science fiction epic. In the year 1914, a group of scientists in Egypt are able to summon up a spaceship from another world through the power of four magical stones which represent the ancient elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. However, the alien visitors, before spiriting the head scientist away, warn them that the stones are no longer safe on Earth. A few hundred years later, a huge ball of molten lava and flame is hurtling toward Earth, and scientist/holy man Victor Cornelius (Ian Holm) declares that in order to prevent it from destroying the Earth, the same four elemental stones must be combined with a fifth element, the positive force of life, as embodied by a visitor from another world named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich). However, if the force of evil presents itself to the stones instead, the Earth will be destroyed, and a sinister alien race called the Mangalores are intent upon using their representative, Zorg (Gary Oldman), to trigger the disaster. Despite her remarkable powers, Leeloo needs help with her mission, and she chooses her accomplice, military leader-turned-cab driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), when she literally falls through the roof of his taxi. Writer and director Luc Besson wrote the original story for The Fifth Element when he was only 16 years old, though he was 38 before he was able to bring it to the screen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide