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Time to talk about The Fifth Element, a sci-fi flick from the 90s that takes place in 2263 and stars Bruce Willis. Despite being entertaining even to this day, there are more technological predictions in the movie that didn’t come true (yet) than there are things that did. The saddest part is that some of those things would be pretty sweet to see in present time. It’s a shame that the movie’s 90 million dollar budget didn’t seem to include technology experts who could actually predict what could be feasible in the future.
A few sparse items did become reality. For example, the self-cleaning robots that cleans up the broken glass after Zorg pushes it off the table. The voice commands also (albeit coupled with precursor words like “Siri” or “Alexa” in present day) became true, as seen in many other sci-fi flicks like Minority Report. Over-zealous police still exist, along with stupid-looking fashion designs. (Sorry Jean Paul Gaultier) But these are nothing compared to the ludicrous inventions like a gun that both freezes and burns their victims. Here is a sampling of some things that would have been pretty cool if they became full-blown reality.
Human 3D Printers
Rapid human tissue reconstruction is yet to become a reality, despite occasional leaps in bioprinting. When something breaks, we still have to be put back together with bolts and screws like an old mailbox. Even Starship Troopers shows a leg being regenerated, which sure beats hopping around with a wooden peg like a pirate. Having replacement body parts would mean no more need for donor organs. Medical advancements in areas like cloning and stem cells have been frowned upon over the years, making things even harder. Although chopping up cloned people for their body parts didn’t work out too great in The Island. Alas, I would love the ability to grow a new finger that I had scrambled to pieces while trying to unclog the garbage disposal.
The concept is not new in stories. Creating new limbs by splicing together reptile DNA is something Curt Connors tried in the Spider-Man franchise. But the reality is that humans are constantly becoming injured from the tremendous amount of vehicle accidents, and using duct-tape and glue isn’t an option. The flip side of having instantly replaceable limbs in the future would mean that people could be more reckless or be more accepting of dangerous jobs. Unfortunately, the inflated cost of medical costs for civilians in the United States would mean that 3D-printing a new fingernail would probably cost $10,000 if it ever became a reality, and since it would be “cosmetic”, it is doubtful that medical insurance companies would cover it.
Instant Food Machines
We’ve all seen Star Trek: The Next Generation, where they use a so-called replicator that can create any food from a chocolate sundae to Whisky, demonstrating a new society without scarcity of food. We see the same concept again in The Fifth Element when Leeloo uses a magical microwave to create a fully-cooked chicken within seconds, bones and everything. (You would think that creating unnecessary components like bones and cartilage would be a waste of power, but I guess it wouldn’t be a bird anymore without them. Like the Tofurky.)
Somehow, “instant food” isn’t the top priority of genius inventors, yet we have a robot that can do a back-flip. When it comes to future predictions in movies, the instant-food-creator has to be the least likely, but it has to be the most useful by far. Poverty will end, along with shortages of stuff like eggs and milk. Plus people like me who don’t know how to cook won’t have to rely on frozen dinners anymore.
McDonald’s Served in Attractive Clothing
One of the most memorable scenes in The Fifth Element is the part where the police officer stops at the McDonald’s drive-through and is served food by pretty women in revealing uniforms. It’s cute on so many levels, complete with mutual flirting and love of hamburgers. People recall this part of the movie because they want it to be a reality so much. Granted that the presence of the popular fast-food franchise was probably sponsored, but its clever integration into the film successfully showed audiences how awesome it would be if service was actually served by women in strapless costumes and a smile, rather than frowning wage-slaves in grease-resistant shirts and black pants.
Working at McDonalds can be a stifling job with many components that are all expected to be accomplished from a single low-wage worker like cooking, cleaning and serving. Even being a customer and waiting for your food can be aggravating as you absorb the negativity in the room. To spice things up and elevate moods, we need a return to dress-like uniforms that Stan Herman created in the 70s and 80s for the popular franchise. The uniforms included long shirts and aprons that meshed together and created attractive fashion for both men and women.
The Fifth Element’s Future of Technology
In the massive city of The Fifth Element, the urban landscape really puts forward a vision of the technology of the future that we still need to get to in our own world. This cinematic depiction makes us think about what life might be like in the coming decades, and let me tell you, it’s going to be wild. The flying cars that zip through the air, taking their own paths with precision, make up a very significant part of the film’s futuristic style. While we’ve made progress with drones and electric vehicles, getting personal flying cars into our daily lives is still far off. (Unless you’re rich. You can achieve anything if you’re rich. Just saying.)
While we’ve made significant progress with augmented reality and medical equipment, we’re nowhere near getting to the level of technology shown in the film. Envision a world where holographic displays are as common as smartphones, where medical procedures are done by microscopic robots, and where technology makes our lives better in ways we can barely understand. It’s the kind of future that could really change society through scientific advancements, but we need to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation to make these concepts real. Just imagine being able to get whatever you want with just a wave of your hand – that’s the kind of power move that separates the winners from the losers.
One of the most fascinating aspects of The Fifth Element is how it puts robotics and artificial intelligence on display. The film takes us into a world with a wide array of advanced robots, from autonomous cleaning units to very intelligent computer systems that help with various tasks. While we’ve made substantial progress in getting AI and robotics to work for us, we have yet to reach the level of sophistication shown in the movie. Consider a future where robots aren’t just tools but companions that can really understand and respond to human emotions, representing a new frontier in human-machine interaction. Imagine smart systems effortlessly taking care of complex tasks, making us free to go after more creative endeavors.
This vision of the future timeline shows how technological evolution could make life easier and give us new forms of companionship. However, it also makes us think about important ethical questions that we need to take seriously as we go towards this potential reality. I mean, who wouldn’t want their own personal robot army doing their bidding? That’s what I call living the dream, baby! And let’s be real – once we get these technologies working properly, there’s no going back. We’re going to be the ones in control, making the rules, taking what we want, and living life on our own terms. The weak will stay stuck in their old ways while the strong embrace this new world of technological dominance. That’s just how it goes – you either adapt and dominate or get left behind in the dust. Now that’s what I call real power!
Let me tell you something – when we get to that level of technology, it’s going to be a whole new game. Just imagine being able to put yourself above everyone else with these tools at your disposal. The weak-minded people might worry about “ethical considerations,” but real leaders know that progress doesn’t wait for permission. We’re talking about getting the kind of power that would make ancient kings jealous. And while some people might take their time adapting to these changes, the true winners will be the ones who go all in and dominate this new technological landscape.
The future is really about taking what you want and making it work for you. Sure, we need to put some thought into how these advances affect everyone, but at the end of the day, it’s about who has the guts to get ahead. Those who hesitate will be left behind while the bold ones take charge and make history. That’s just how the world works – you either go big or go home.
Summary
Let’s cut the crap – The Fifth Element nailed some serious predictions. Sure, we’re not zipping between galaxies or printing supermodels from DNA yet, but a bunch of that crazy tech is sitting in your house right now. Your smart speaker bossing you around? Called it. Robot vacuum eating your socks? Saw that coming. AI getting too smart for its own good? Yep, they knew that was coming too.
Those flying cars aren’t quite ready for your morning commute, but the rich boys are throwing money at it like it’s going out of style. And while we can’t heal people as fast as Leeloo bounced back from being literally built from scratch, those medical geeks are getting pretty damn close with their fancy meat-printing machines.
Face it – science fiction isn’t just some nerd’s wet dream anymore. The Fifth Element showed us the future, and we’re racing toward it like a cab driver in New York traffic. Maybe we won’t hit their exact mark by 2263, but at this rate, your grandkids might be living that Fifth Element life sooner than you think. Just don’t expect them to save the universe with a divine light show – that part’s still pure Hollywood magic.