Story
Set in the 28th century, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets follows Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne) and her boyfriend Major Valerian (Dane DeHann) on a mission to retrieve a ‘Mül converter’. The converter is a small animal capable of reproducing pearls containing tremendous power. During this mission, Valerian receives a telepathic message, in which he sees the destruction of the planet Mül as the result of a war between humans and another race. Mül is inhabited by benelovent humanoids.
After completing their mission, Valerian and Laureline return to their home base, Alpha, and are immediately sent on another mission to investigate a radioactive anomaly at the centre of Alpha. They’ve been told that an unknown enemy might have planted the radioactivity, which now threatens to destroy Alpha’s 30 million inhabitants. When he and Laureline get to the centre of Alpha, Valerian meets the humanoids from his dream, discovers their true purpose, and realises that his government might not be telling the full story.
Themes
War; morality; questioning authority; gender relationships; reconciliation
Violence
There is frequent violence in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The violence is mostly in the form of gun and knife fights and includes attacks by alien animal-like species. For example:
Sexual references
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets has some sexual references. For example:
- When we first see Laureline, she is wearing a black bikini and flirting with Valerian.
- Laureline is shown in some sexually provocative positions, which include lying underneath Valerian and sitting on top of him.
- Rihanna’s shape-shifting character is shown dancing provocatively while wearing very revealing outfits, including outfits that show her underpants. Her performance includes pole-dancing.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
Nothing of concern
Nudity and sexual activity
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets shows some partial nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- There is some kissing.
- Some characters are very scantily dressed. For example, despite heading into a mission, Laureline wears a tight, shape-revealing top that looks like a bikini. Humanoid aliens also appear with very little clothing.
Product placement
Nothing of concern
Coarse language
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets has some mild coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a science fiction action movie inspired by a popular French comic and graphic novel series.
The main messages from this movie are about taking responsibility for your actions and doing what’s morally right. For example, Valerian and Laureline don’t always follow orders but they have moral reasons for this – their disobedience isn’t just about rebellion. They accept responsibility for the actions of their race and try to fix the damage that has been done.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is not suitable for children under 12 years and not recommended for children under 15 years. This is because of the movie’s frightening scenes and characters, as well as its violence and sexual references.
If you have older children who see this movie, you could talk about the way the movie handles gender roles. For example:
- Valerian has a ‘hit list’ of the women that he has previously been with. Laureline doesn’t want to become just one more name on this list, so she refuses Valerian’s marriage proposals.
- Laureline is portrayed as tough, in control and aware that men’s advances might not always be genuine. She also has to constantly challenge her position as Valerian’s sidekick and assert her capability.
- The shapeshifting Bubbles has a sad story of sexual abuse and exploitation.