The Fifth Element (4K+2D Blu-ray SteelBook) (Manta Lab Exclusive No. 78) [Hong Kong]

Jul 1, 2013
596
Berlin, Germany
Release date: February 21, 2025
Purchase links: One Click - Full Slip - Double Lenti A - Double Lenti B (Pre-order on December 13, at 8 PM - Hong Kong time)
Price: $159.97 (Box Set) - $48.99 (Full Slip - Double Lenti A - Double Lenti B)

Notes:
WEA, Exclusive Steelcase designed by Manta Lab features "Full Glossy" Finish and "Debossed Title".
Box Set: 600 Sets, Numbered 1-600. Scratch Resistant Coating, Embossing, Spot Glossy
Full Slip: 1000 copies, Numbered 1-1000. Spot Matte, Spot Glossy, Scratch Resistance Coating, Embossing, Spot Foil
Double Lenti A: 1000 copies, Numbered 1-1000. 2 x 3D Lenticular, Spot Glossy, Spot Matte, Embossing, Spot Glossy, Spot Matte, Embossing.
Double Lenti B: 1000 copies, Numbered 1-1000. 3D Lenticular, Back - 3D+Flip Lenticular, Spot Glossy, Spot Matte, Embossing.
Premiums: Booklet, Postcards, Character Cards, Envelope, Exclusive Numbering Sticker, Exclusive Release Front Sticker, Exclusive Release Lenticular Sticker.

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I think it's between the PET full slip and DL B for me. I think the front of double lenti A most likely won't turn out very good due to the artwork and colours.
My thoughts exactly. DLB looks very similar to the zavvi ETB slip, though, so that makes the FS the easy choice for me.
 
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That front of that steel is pretty bad. How did they manage to take a movie with such overtly vibrant & charismatic performances and decide to find a shot of each looking bored af & completely mundane. It's a real skill to do that with this movie and feels very intentional but I've no idea for the reasoning. The worst is Ruby Rodd doing a serious pose like for a presendential campaign & the diva stood staring at the ground.

Something like this encapsulates their personalities much better for me.

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Only thing I like is the back of the PET because I love that shot of Milla jumping off.
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The Fifth Element Movie GIF


I'll probably stick with everythingblu edition. Hard to top imo.
 
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Something like this encapsulates their personalities much better for me.
There's almost the same expression on Willis' face, and exactly the same photo of Zorg, but I get what you mean, Leeloo could've been more distressed or happy, that president moment is fun, and I'd have loved to see mangalores somewhere, but it's still very nice and different from everything that came before, and that's over 15 notable boxsets, steelbooks and digibooks, which is a lucky feat by itself.
Usually we get same old tired art, just in different places, look at The Dark Knight...
 
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I think it's the choice of colouring which is a little confusing, what is that background on the steel supposed to be? Some kind of linen fabric? Sand? Seems an odd choice given how this film is normally presented but I'm willing to bet it looks better in hand, the more mock ups from Manta Lab I see the more I don't think they're doing justice to the actual releases and I'd like it if they posted more actual photos before release.

I'm also hoping that's a PET slip on the OC, the art doesn't look quite right being so very orange.
 
I'm also hoping that's a PET slip on the OC, the art doesn't look quite right being so very orange.
There won't be. Manta detail and picture it when there's a PET. The recent french release of FE (also Gaumont) is very orange too, so it's no more out of place than that.
 
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There won't be. Manta detail and picture it when there's a PET. The recent french release of FE (also Gaumont) is very orange too, so it's no more out of place than that.
I know, it's just wishful thinking as I don't like what they've done with it. The pictures on the OC would work much better without everything being put into a monotone orange palette.

The Gaumont release doesn't make this mistake even though it also uses a really strong orange colour, the orange on the slip helps the characters pop instead of smothering them, even on the steelbook there's a good contrast between the slightly off white, orange, red and black.
 
I know, it's just wishful thinking as I don't like what they've done with it. The pictures on the OC would work much better without everything being put into a monotone orange palette.

The Gaumont release doesn't make this mistake even though it also uses a really strong orange colour, the orange on the slip helps the characters pop instead of smothering them, even on the steelbook there's a good contrast between the slightly off white, orange, red and black.
It would work better, but it is what it is. I know what you mean about the french release, it works a little better, but tbh, I'm not sold on either. I like the FS and steel here, but thats about it.
 
I've done a complete 180 on this... the more I look at it, the more I go off it. Keep changing my mind about which I dislike the least too, so honestly might just pass altogether.
I'm not a fan of the movie so I wont be buying regardless, if I were though I think the Kimchi/Weet release is the best offering IMO.
Cant be avoided at times due to the poster art that's available but I really dislike "floating head spam" and this title in particular seems to attract that style A LOT!
 
I'm not a fan of the movie so I wont be buying regardless, if I were though I think the Kimchi/Weet release is the best offering IMO.
Cant be avoided at times due to the poster art that's available but I really dislike "floating head spam" and this title in particular seems to attract that style A LOT!
I honestly don't love the movie as much as most seem to. But yeah, hasn't helped that I took my copy of the Kimchi edition out last night... such a stunning release, and this really pales in comparison.

I don't mind floating heads when done right, but they're a bit overused here like you said... some more variety would've been nice. For that reason, I would've been all over the FS, but the front image of Leeloo is a bit random imo... there are much more appealing/iconic poses from that particular scene available.
 
I've done a complete 180 on this... the more I look at it, the more I go off it. Keep changing my mind about which I dislike the least too, so honestly might just pass altogether.
I honestly can’t work out why anyone likes that full slip. I know it’s all subjective and sh!t but thats one of the worst designs I’ve seen manta put out. It’s so bad it’s angered me because their full slips are usually a safe bet but I can’t even look at that artwork and no finish can save it. Plus the PET is pretty boring and pointless lol F**king horrendous design and artwork

Steelbook is growing on me but I just can’t decide what lenti to choose. Usually I’d go for that original poster art on Lenti A but I then realised seeing a high res shot on their beauty shot that’s it’s actually quite a poor poster up close. I don’t own it on anything so maybe I hadn’t noticed this before but it’s like bad 90s photoshop that’s tried to be cleaned up in modern times and there’s something not right. Also worried how the lenti will translate. Something about it tells me the lenti will be poor. I could be wrong though

B is prob the best for clarity on a lenti but again it’s not great and as mentioned before it too reminds me of the EB zavvi release. It’s such a tough choice when you can’t see how the final product translates. They’ve made this particular release very hard to decide on because either choice could be a gem or a complete dumpster fire. And I’m not buying 2 to look at and decide in hand. I was expecting another release from them before Christmas but I need to start being more sensible with what I order from them. Their pre order schedule is seriously taking the p!ss in the last 2 years

FYI this is the 17th pre order this year. That’s f**king crazy. Really shouldn’t be no more than 12 a year with 1 a month. F**king 17 lol! It’s Film Arena all over again and I don’t like the machine they are turning in to
 
I honestly can’t work out why anyone likes that full slip. I know it’s all subjective and sh!t but thats one of the worst designs I’ve seen manta put out. It’s so bad it’s angered me because their full slips are usually a safe bet but I can’t even look at that artwork and no finish can save it. Plus the PET is pretty boring and pointless lol F**king horrendous design and artwork

Steelbook is growing on me but I just can’t decide what lenti to choose. Usually I’d go for that original poster art on Lenti A but I then realised seeing a high res shot on their beauty shot that’s it’s actually quite a poor poster up close. I don’t own it on anything so maybe I hadn’t noticed this before but it’s like bad 90s photoshop that’s tried to be cleaned up in modern times and there’s something not right. Also worried how the lenti will translate. Something about it tells me the lenti will be poor. I could be wrong though

B is prob the best for clarity on a lenti but again it’s not great and as mentioned before it too reminds me of the EB zavvi release. It’s such a tough choice when you can’t see how the final product translates. They’ve made this particular release very hard to decide on because either choice could be a gem or a complete dumpster fire. And I’m not buying 2 to look at and decide in hand. I was expecting another release from them before Christmas but I need to start being more sensible with what I order from them. Their pre order schedule is seriously taking the p!as in the last 2 years

FYI this is the 17th pre order this year. That’s f**king crazy. Really shouldn’t be no more than 12 a year with 1 a month. F**king 17 lol! It’s Film Arena all over again and I don’t like the machine they are turning in to
I don't think the FS is quite that bad. Will look better in hand I reckon. I've really gone off the purple slip... the floating heads look so amateur-ish. Same with the steel, and the more people go on about the colour, the more I start to hate it lol. I'd be swaying more towards lenti A at this point simply because it uses the classic poster, but same... not sure how well the lenti effect will translate.

Usually I'd do exactly that and buy at least 2 so I can decide once in hand, but I'm not completely sold on any, so have pretty much decided to just pass altogether. If it ends up in a sale at some point, then I might consider it. Spent way too much with Manta these last few months anyway as they're seriously overdoing it like you said.
 
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I honestly don't love the movie as much as most seem to. But yeah, hasn't helped that I took my copy of the Kimchi edition out last night... such a stunning release, and this really pales in comparison.

I don't mind floating heads when done right, but they're a bit overused here like you said... some more variety would've been nice. For that reason, I would've been all over the FS, but the front image of Leeloo is a bit random imo... there are much more appealing/iconic poses from that particular scene available.
Agreed mate, we have discussed a few images lately with the floating heads and as you say some suit and are done right. With this movie they just always seem off to me and just plonked there as opposed to being part of the overall image.

I agree with @Flloydo on the sheer amount of releases from Manta, on one hand its great for collectors but on the other its turning into them having the monopoly against other retailers. The rate they are knocking releases out leaves very little room for other premium retailers with new fresh titles to announce which then drives the messy situation we currently have with the same title being carried out over & over again.

Blufans - Best steels
Weet- best slip finishing
Manta -best release consistency
FAC- best overall quality of the whole final product (shame lack of wea and current situation with them being AWOL)
HDZ - MIA :LOL:

My 2 cents :)
 
I think it's the choice of colouring which is a little confusing, what is that background on the steel supposed to be? Some kind of linen fabric? Sand?
I assumed it was meant to be like the wall of hieroglyphics from the opening of the movie, which wouldn't be a bad choice since very little poster art for the film references that scene. But you're right that up close it looks like they used a canvas or parchment texture instead of stone.
 
what does the back of dlb flip to?

steel should be more colorful back of fs for the front of steel would be nice.
if I get OC I would sell dla loll
 
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Love this 90’s run Manta is on! Hopefully they keep it up. Would love to see them do these that haven’t received the premium treatment.

Fargo
Silence of the Lambs
Titanic
Goodfellas
 
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