Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Luc Besson (one my absolute favorite creators) has his new movie coming out in about a month. I never read Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in the comics, but given the preview linked here, and his previous work like Fifth Element and Nikita, I'm stoked.

Luc can't resist featuring females with unusual power and ability, whether it's Nikita or Leeloo.

While it's not a classic superheroine movie, Laureline is pretty cool (and very kick-ass) as Valerian's love interest and partner cop. And I love a good SF romp more than most.

This looks like its going to be the kind of visual feast that you have to watch a dozen times in slow motion just to see all the cool stuff that's going on in the background.

As Luc says, he's wanted to make this movie since he was a kid, but until the technology used on Avatar was available, it was impossible. So get ready for a CGI fest like no other.

io9.gizmodo.com/new-valerian-featurette-...makes-the-1796222624

Shadar

I am looking forward to seeing what comes of this. He mentions Avatar, but what it most reminds me of with it's CGI is Star Wars. (Part of that is how some of the ships sound. And this isn't a knock as Star Wars has top notch sound, so steal ideas from the best.) I can see the dollop of Avatar,and it seems it's own thing. Plus the story is older than Star Wars.

I am interested in the comcis that inspired this, as aside from some Manga, I know little of comics outside the US/UK. It's a good day to find a well regarded graphic novel that has some different culturial origins than what I'm used to.

And it turns out the first collection is free on Comixology! www.comixology.com/Valerian/comics-series/77864

There is also a hardcover on Amazon, that looks intersting (but I'll give Comixology a hit first):

www.amazon.com/Valerian-Complete-Collect...-2&keywords=valerian

(It's not complete, it's really only the first two collections, the first of which is the free one on Comixology. It also has a prequel #'s "0", but was written later, and some interviews with the authors and Luc Besson.)

So whateer else comes of the movie, it's got that going for it. Luc Bresson is great on visuals, and The Fifth Element is just hella fun, so he knows how to put together a space opera. I like that he got the original artist involved. Being too faithful to a story is a fault, but equally bad is not capturing the essense of the original. It wouldn't be popular if there wasn't something in the heart of it that rang true with people.

Valerian is a French comic and, from what I remember, Laureline was pretty much a "takes no crap" kinda girl.

"Laureline combines her superior intelligence, determination and independence with sex-appeal" (quick quote for Laureline from the wiki).

She was routinely keeping Valerian in line, and could handle herself I think this comes across in the trailers and I am really looking forward to seeing this, if for the visuals alone

If you get a chance, I do recommend reading the comics. I don't think all the volumes have been translated to English, but quite a few have. Again, if anything, its worth it for Mézières artwork alone.

Peace.

/K

Neither Valerian nor Lareline look like the "super-cops" they are. Too young, too slender and too pretty for the kickass fighting and exploits.

BUT... this is the 28th century. Humans have likely been bio-engineered to be faster, stronger, tougher and perhaps aging has been greatly slowed.

In any case, the characters look like they should based on the comics.

I'm ready to suspend disbelief and go for the full ride.