 "I think it's the darkness which always finds us, Scully." -- Mulder |
| Review Date: July 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Bobby Underwood, Manly NSW, Australia |
Much like the first theatrical outing for Mulder and Scully, this will disappoint some for what it is not, and others for what it actually is. It is very much the type of stand-alone story which used to be squeezed between the conspiracy and mythology episodes. The problem presented by the avenue chosen by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz is that after so many years have passed, fans aching for what The X-Files did best will be confronted by a dreary and snowy low-key and intimate story which while excellent on its own, is not what fans had anticipated.
That being said, I do believe, however, after the initial shock, and perhaps after a second viewing, fans will embrace it for Carter's courage to once again fly in the face of the powers that be and tell an often creepy stand-alone story showing how the darkness always found Mulder and Scully, and how it was having each other to lean on which helped each keep their faith. It is almost as if this is a segue to something more on the horizon. For even within the confines of a story which does not deal in the slightest manner with any of the X-Files mythology fans have hungered for, there are portents.
Beginning with both Mulder and Scully leading very different lives than those we came to know, Carter uses the darkness to bring them back together. It is a kidnapped F.B.I. Agent and a Bureau ready to forgive Mulder for his many indiscretions if only he will help work with the psychic who may or may not be genuine which starts things rolling. Scully's need to help a young boy with an incurable disease and the relationship of our favorite F.B.I. couple, even though neither works for the Bureau anymore, gets as much screen time as the premise, which is like a creepy episode rather than a feature film.
Duchovny and Anderson are still fabulous together, perhaps even more so in a somber and low-key outing such as this. The intimacy and history of the couple is what the film is about, and how faith can be restored even amidst the darkness which always found them, and sometimes kept them apart. This really plays better as a small screen episode of the show, but because we have missed Mulder and Scully for so long, it gets an A.
There are references to Mulder's sister, the alien abduction which haunted and drove him in his quest for the truth. It is a story line we thought wrapped up. Now that is unclear. Carter did say in an interview about the film that no one ever really dies for good on the show. And though the film itself has dealt in absolutely no way at all with X-Files mythology, what should show up as a background to the closing credits? Black oil, that's what. And it ain't Texas tea. It is worth seeing if only for a very touching and tender moment between Mulder and Scully near the end. It is the kind of intimate conversation which made the show better than anything else we got to watch during its long run.
The story itself might have been better as an episode of the show, and those who venture into theatres expecting something grandiose after all this time will certainly come away wondering if it was worth the wait. Fans of the show, however, were fans because of the relationship between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. So if you go in knowing that this is that sort of episode, in which the case is only an excuse to bring them back to who they were, then you'll enjoy it much more. It has much more in common with "Beyond the Sea" or "Irresistible" than say, "Nesei" and "731."
See it on the big screen to show support, so we can have more, but know you'll probably enjoy it more on your set once it comes to dvd. |
I will always believe!!
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| Review Date: September 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: T. G. Baudouin, Mexico City, MEXICO |
Mulder and Scully are back...and that's incredibly awesome!!!
I think it was a shame this movie didn't get the attention it deserved when it was released. I believe that the studio's poor promotion and the unfortunate date of release --THE DARK NIGHT's SUMMER-, among other external conditions didn't help it attract more viewers. But now that this fantastic 3-disc edition is here, there is no earthly excuse to not watch Mulder's and Scully's triumphal return.
Give this movie a chance if:
1)You were a fan back in the 90's --oH THOSE HAPPY DAYS!--.
2)You are sick of flat characters who never actually grow up, grow old and /or mature.
3)You are in the mood for an intelligent little movie and you have had your share of CGI and exaggerated action sequences -that, let's face it, turn out to be a whole lot of nonsense most of the times-.
4)You want to be captivated by 2 of the most representative characters in TV history.
Give it a try, re-watch some of the tv series'episodes, get in the mood and enjoy!! Remember the Truth is out there...and we want to find it in a third movie. I waited 6 years for this one, I hope I won't be waiting that much for an XF3!!!
Note: If you watched the movie in the theatre and thought the storyline had some slight plotholes, check out the DVD edition of the film. This is REALLY the film Carter wanted to give us. Few extra scenes give a subtle but meaningful enhancement. |
Worth Believing In.
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| Review Date: December 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: J. White, MA United States |
If you were a fan of the series The X-Files, you will surely know that often the scariest things are what you are never shown, and ultimately, sometimes what you can never see because they are within you. This movie speaks to these fears, and at the heart of it all this time around stands Doctor Dana Scully.
X-Files fans everywhere would cheer at the thought, but that being said, if you have never seen the show, this movie still has a lot to offer if you enjoy a movie that gives you action, darkness and romance, without dumbing anything down. This movie does what a lot of other recent entertainment has neglected to do. It lets you think.
Scully, who has always tried to cling to her Catholic faith, has her trust in God challenged and the rock of the foundation of her relationship with her former FBI partner, Fox Mulder, shaken to its core.
Shot in vast, frozen landscapes, with a villian more psychopath and less alien, less paranormal than some might expect, the film plays like a good, old-fashioned, scary movie. There are plenty of 'gross' moments, but, as it has always been in the X-Files, most of it is not thrust in your face, but planted, like a seed of an idea to form in your thoughts as you sit, wide eyed and waiting, to see what happens next.
Chris Carter, creator or the X-Files, gives us here a logical look at where the couple would be at the present time, six years since we last saw them on the small screen. His attempt is well thought out and he remains steadfastly true to the characters and the X-Files universe he created. Mulder and Scully are as beautifully tragic and humanly imperfect as ever. They do not gloss over or deny their past--which would have been a great disservice to loyal fans--and David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson prove they are still capable of bringing their now famous, other-worldly connection to the table. We are treated to the smoldering looks and hints of sexuality that kept the series going all those years, but again Carter trusts us enough to know that this seed, too, grows best in the warm, dark soil of his audiences' minds and hearts.
To catch even just another glimpse of these characters is almost enough to satisfy the show's steadfast fans. Almost, because this dedicated group is known to be largely intelligent and highly opinionated. For this movie to be a success, it needed to stand alone as a story, but pay honest homage to the place and people from which it came. They had to nail it.
They did just that.
I left the movie satisfied, but wanting more. My mind was ticking. It felt like many Sunday nights, once upon a time when I'd hang on until the final "I Made This" that marked the end of the show's credits. (Speaking of which, if you see this movie, you'll probably want to stay until the end of the credits.)
We might never be so lucky as to get a show that nails it week after week quite as well as The X-Files did, but I dare to hope there will be more movies like this to come. |
Excellent! Excellent!
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| Review Date: December 30, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Rizzo, SpookyDuchovny |
This movie was GREAT! I used to watch the show every now and then when it ran on TV, and I saw the first X-Files:Fight the Future as well, but this sequel is excellent. Both Actors have aged gorgeously, and are excellent at their craft. Gillian Anderson is brilliant and was robbed of a Golden Globe nomination. The film gives a little more insight into the character's personal lives which was never seen on the show, but still left you wanting more!
The DVD is great, awesome special features which include a gag reel, an extended version of the film and a documentary on the film just to mention a few. The only thing I would have wanted more of would be of the two leads behind the scenes. I would love to have heard David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson do commentary for the film since they have played the characters for so long. Buy this DVD! |
Complex and Wonderful Film
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| Review Date: August 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Patricia L. Steffy, Los Angeles, CA |
It's a rare film that allows for suspense and genuine character development. The parallels between Scully's story and the main plot left me with some fairly profound notions (absolutely integral as a foil against the villains' actions-- How far do you go to save a life? How much pain to you bring to do it?), and the question of redemption sparked quite a fervent debate among the group of us at our first viewing--prompting a second one the next day.
I loved seeing the illustration of the similarities between Scully's quest and Mulder's. In every missing woman, Mulder fights to win, to right a situation he couldn't with Samantha. Scully will not give up on this young boy--in no small way fighting to assuage the guilt she continues to feel over their son, William. The beauty of this script is that it plays the complexities of emotion and motivation of A and B plots against one another.
As it was for many people, I thought the film also provided a wonderful exploration of a complex relationship that fascinated people for much of the 9 year run. They are adults in a partnership with a history that shouldn't be, and wasn't, ignored. Thank goodness they allowed these characters to develop.
I would highly recommend this film, and remember to stay through the credits!
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