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Photos, Video: <em>The Fifth Element</em> On A Boat With Burlesque
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 28, 2013
Modified Aug 29, 2013
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Katie Sokoler / Gothamist
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By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 28, 2013
Modified Aug 29, 2013
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Last night Luc Besson's mindbending 1997 sci-fi extravaganza The Fifth Element drew a sold-out crowd to the World Yacht, which was transformed for the occasion into the floating "Fhloston Paradise." The multi-level boat set sail for a three hour cruise, rechristened as the luxury space liner where the film's climactic battle goes down.
BBQ Films, which is getting really good at this blend of movie-going revelry, did its best to immerse participants in the daffy intergalactic milieu. Costumed aliens patrolled the ship and there were several racy performances by burlesque dancers, including a climactic striptease by a woman dressed as a bandaged Milla Jovovich. Here's that:
Many attendees came elaborately costumed as characters from The Fifth Element, and there was an impressive attention to detail in their recreation of Jean Paul Gaultier’s wild costumes. As the film screened on the lower levels, multiple bars poured potent cocktails with illuminated, multi-colored ice cubes, and on the open-air top deck a DJ maintained a space-age vibe. In short, a sci-fi nerd's wet dream. (Appropriately, almost nobody danced.)
BBQ Films has another big movie-themed immersion experience in the work for the fall; stay tuned here for details.
Tagged
sci-fi
the fifth element
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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