The X Files: I Want to Believe ««½
PG-13, 104m. 2008
Cast & Credits: David Duchovny (Fox Mulder), Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully), Amanda Peet (ASAC Dakota Whitney), Billy Connolly (Father Joseph Crissman), Xzibit (Agent Mosley Drummy). Screenplay by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz. Directed by Chris Carter.
Like FBI Agent Dana Scully, the skeptical Doubting Thomas who was always ready to dispute any outlandish theories her partner, Fox Mulder, had when it came to investigating the paranormal for eight years on the science fiction/horror cult television show, The X Files (1993-2002), I too, went into seeing the second installment to the 1998 big screen film with a lot of skepticism, and with good reason.
It’s been ten years since we last saw agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) on the case investigating the unexplained in the film version of the television series subtitled, “Fight the Future.” I found that movie unexpectedly entertaining and I am a non-fan of the series. I have only seen one creepy episode involving some killer cockroaches. I knew enough about the show, though, having read articles in Starlog and various entertainment magazines that sometimes did a rundown of every single episode to be able to figure out who was who in the world of The X Files. Watching the first one, I knew, for example, who “The Lone Gunmen” were (a trio of computer hacking conspiracy nerds) and that one of the primary villains of the show was a chain smoker called “Cigarette Smoking Man.”
The film though came out at the height of the series’ popularity, the way the creators of Fox’s The Simpsons chose to release a longer animated version of their show last summer on the big screen to cash in on the long running series' continuing success.
I suspect, at the time, there was a possibility between the first X Files movie and when the series went off the air in 2002 that fans assumed there might be a second film. It’s been six years though since the show ended and other than an occasional rumbling on various movie/science fiction websites about a second film, not much was asked as to if or when we will ever see Mulder and Scully together again on the big screen; until now that is.
Therein lies the problem with The X Files: I Want to Believe. Going into the film, I asked myself, “Other than the fans, are people still interested in The X Files franchise?” Maybe that’s the reason for the film’s tacked on title, “I Want to Believe.”
Unlike the first one, the second installment is for the fans only, hence the title. I have no doubt after seeing this one those same fans will hold discussions about the plot or the direction the show’s creator and director as well as screenwriter Chris Carter chose to go here. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the debates is whether or not they felt this one played out like an extended one hour episode of the television show that’s the equivalent of either a final episode of the season until fall, or THE FINAL one altogether. If I were in such a discussion, I’d say yes. That’s exactly what “I Want to Believe” is.
I had the same question for Carter and co-screenwriter Frank Spotnitz when it came to the story involving a former Catholic pedophile priest (Billy Connolly) with psychic abilities as I did for filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who concocted the alien plot for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), which was not something you expect to see in an Indiana Jones movie.
Was the story involving pedophilia and serial killings the best Carter could come up with after six years since the show’s end? Instead of giving us an intriguing plot that is not quite from this world, we get a storyline brought down to earth, so to speak, in which the accused priest has visions of women being abducted, murdered, and then having their body parts sewed onto the living. It’s a story that would be right at home in a new sequel about Anthony Hopkins’ infamous cannibal serial killer, Hannibal Lecter. Or at the very least, it serves as a weaker episode of The X Files.
I Want to Believe is not, however, without some redeeming moments. I liked the conflict Anderson’s Scully has often throughout the film. Now a brain surgeon, she develops a personal emotional attachment to a young boy suffering from an incurable brain disorder. At one point, Scully questions what kind of God would create a human being who would allow he/she to endure such suffering. Yet, at the same time, she questions whether God forgives the worst sins such as pedophilia.
This leads to one early confrontational scene where after learning the convicted priest often prays for the salvation of his immortal soul, Scully asks him, “You think God hears your prayers?”
“You think he hears yours,” the priest asks.
“I didn’t bugger thirty-seven alter boys,” Scully replies back.
The film also reveals something about both agents I wasn’t expecting to see happen and I’d be interested to see how fans feel about it. Those faithful viewers of the Law & Order franchises, how would they feel if they found out the male and female partners on their favorite series suddenly hooked up and are living together?
Then again, if a male and female crime partner are now romantically linked, do they still call each other by their last names the way Mulder and Scully do?
As I asked earlier in this review, are people still interested in The X Files franchise?
My guess is the fans still are. For people like myself who were non-fans of the show, but liked the first one, I am afraid I have moved on.
Or to put it more in Scully’s own words, “I’m done chasing monsters in the dark.”
©7/31/08
PG-13, 104m. 2008
Cast & Credits: David Duchovny (Fox Mulder), Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully), Amanda Peet (ASAC Dakota Whitney), Billy Connolly (Father Joseph Crissman), Xzibit (Agent Mosley Drummy). Screenplay by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz. Directed by Chris Carter.
It’s been ten years since we last saw agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) on the case investigating the unexplained in the film version of the television series subtitled, “Fight the Future.” I found that movie unexpectedly entertaining and I am a non-fan of the series. I have only seen one creepy episode involving some killer cockroaches. I knew enough about the show, though, having read articles in Starlog and various entertainment magazines that sometimes did a rundown of every single episode to be able to figure out who was who in the world of The X Files. Watching the first one, I knew, for example, who “The Lone Gunmen” were (a trio of computer hacking conspiracy nerds) and that one of the primary villains of the show was a chain smoker called “Cigarette Smoking Man.”
The film though came out at the height of the series’ popularity, the way the creators of Fox’s The Simpsons chose to release a longer animated version of their show last summer on the big screen to cash in on the long running series' continuing success.
I suspect, at the time, there was a possibility between the first X Files movie and when the series went off the air in 2002 that fans assumed there might be a second film. It’s been six years though since the show ended and other than an occasional rumbling on various movie/science fiction websites about a second film, not much was asked as to if or when we will ever see Mulder and Scully together again on the big screen; until now that is.
Therein lies the problem with The X Files: I Want to Believe. Going into the film, I asked myself, “Other than the fans, are people still interested in The X Files franchise?” Maybe that’s the reason for the film’s tacked on title, “I Want to Believe.”
Unlike the first one, the second installment is for the fans only, hence the title. I have no doubt after seeing this one those same fans will hold discussions about the plot or the direction the show’s creator and director as well as screenwriter Chris Carter chose to go here. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the debates is whether or not they felt this one played out like an extended one hour episode of the television show that’s the equivalent of either a final episode of the season until fall, or THE FINAL one altogether. If I were in such a discussion, I’d say yes. That’s exactly what “I Want to Believe” is.
I had the same question for Carter and co-screenwriter Frank Spotnitz when it came to the story involving a former Catholic pedophile priest (Billy Connolly) with psychic abilities as I did for filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who concocted the alien plot for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), which was not something you expect to see in an Indiana Jones movie.
Was the story involving pedophilia and serial killings the best Carter could come up with after six years since the show’s end? Instead of giving us an intriguing plot that is not quite from this world, we get a storyline brought down to earth, so to speak, in which the accused priest has visions of women being abducted, murdered, and then having their body parts sewed onto the living. It’s a story that would be right at home in a new sequel about Anthony Hopkins’ infamous cannibal serial killer, Hannibal Lecter. Or at the very least, it serves as a weaker episode of The X Files.
I Want to Believe is not, however, without some redeeming moments. I liked the conflict Anderson’s Scully has often throughout the film. Now a brain surgeon, she develops a personal emotional attachment to a young boy suffering from an incurable brain disorder. At one point, Scully questions what kind of God would create a human being who would allow he/she to endure such suffering. Yet, at the same time, she questions whether God forgives the worst sins such as pedophilia.
This leads to one early confrontational scene where after learning the convicted priest often prays for the salvation of his immortal soul, Scully asks him, “You think God hears your prayers?”
“You think he hears yours,” the priest asks.
“I didn’t bugger thirty-seven alter boys,” Scully replies back.
The film also reveals something about both agents I wasn’t expecting to see happen and I’d be interested to see how fans feel about it. Those faithful viewers of the Law & Order franchises, how would they feel if they found out the male and female partners on their favorite series suddenly hooked up and are living together?
Then again, if a male and female crime partner are now romantically linked, do they still call each other by their last names the way Mulder and Scully do?
As I asked earlier in this review, are people still interested in The X Files franchise?
My guess is the fans still are. For people like myself who were non-fans of the show, but liked the first one, I am afraid I have moved on.
Or to put it more in Scully’s own words, “I’m done chasing monsters in the dark.”
©7/31/08
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