Got two more X-FILES film reviews, both contain a few spoilers, so you may not want to read. Try as I must I can't help myself, besides I have to read these dang reports so I know what to tell ya guys and dolls. The first review says the film is a bit of a disappointment and definately comes from an X-Files fan. The second review loved the film. So for those keeping score it's about a flip of a coin, love hate sorta thing. Que sera sera... Go Away now if you don't want spoilers...
I had the opportunity tonight to join an industry friend at a screening of "The X-Files" movie. I am a very big fan of the show and have been looking forward to the big-screen adaptation of the series with great anticpation. So what does this huge fan of the series think of the movie? Well....it hurts me to say this, but I was disappointed in Mulder and Scully's first big-screen adventure for a number of reasons. Here are a few observations I have about the film, both pro and con: (spoilers included, so beware).
It's fun yet strange to see these characters interacting on the big screen. Duchovny and Anderson have more chemistry here than they've had in recent show episodes, but the dialogue sometimes feels stilted and unnatural in the big screen setting.
Speaking of dialogue, I think the screenplay is the real culprit here. There's nothing particularly witty, thought-provoking, or interesting about the dialogue in this movie. For being a movie supposedly full of mind-bending answers and revelations, it all falls pretty flat in the way it's written. There's no real character development here and the dialogue exists only to service the action. The screenplay also cuts several corners in terms of logic and explanations. Not a fan of the show? Good luck trying to maintain interest in this vaguely-defined storyline. Even die-hard fans will be hard- pressed to explain exactly what the whole conspiracy plot is about.
Anyone expecting big answers to big questions here will be disappointed if you don't know them already. Really, there's nothing here that you probably haven't already heard or read on the internet. I know that in another review on your site, the contributer thought that important scenes may have been purposely cut from the print he saw to avoid the spoiling of important surprises and revelations. Well, I saw a supposedly complete cut, and nothing here blew me out of the water. If you're looking for an answer about Mulder's sister, fuhgettaboutit. What do the clones, the bounty hunter, the smallpox vaccinations and everything else have to do with the plot? Who knows: none of these issues are addressed. In fact, all of the events here feel vaguely- defined and some remain unexplained. It just leads to more questions and, I'm afraid, more frustration for a viewer wanting to be given something solid and satisfying after paying $8.75.
Do Mulder and Scully kiss? No. A bee sting gets in the way (most people know that by now) and it feels like a cheat to the viewer. The whole movie feels like a cheat, because again a carrot is being dangled in front of us the entire time and we never get to have the whole thing.
The action sequences (the bombing in Dallas; the helicopter chase in the cornfields; the rescue of Scully at the end of the film, and a few others) are very well done and exciting. They have an energy that the rest of the film lacks. Rob Bowman's direction is fine, but not superb.
The guest stars have little to do, though Martin Landau does a great job with what little he's given. The Lone Gunmen have a funny but extremely short cameo in a hospital scene after one of our heroes is nearly shot in the head. Skinner has a handful of scenes but nothing real exciting to do beyond acting as a strict authority figure. Well-Manicured Man is given more to do in this movie than Cigarette Smoking Man, which is fine with me as I like John Neville in the role a lot. Too bad we won't be seeing anymore of him after this movie....
The aliens in the film are never seen in full view. They're nasty sons of bitches, though and provide some exciting action sequences. Still, we never get a clear view of the alien life forms that are set to colonize Earth.
Anyone who's picked up the soundtrack by now knows that Mark Snow's soundtrack is a huge disappointment. Full of action movie music cliches, it lacks any of the uniqueness and moody texture he brings to the show each week. I was looking forward to this element of the film and it just doesn't deliver.
The effects are pretty good (the black oil taking over bodies, alien creatures, and such), but the finale has some obvious SFX shots that just barely cut it.
The whole movie feels like it takes place in some sort of vacuum. It takes place in the "X-Files" reality with the stock of "X-Files" characters and situations, but it doesn't feel real enough to be our own reality, so therefore it's not that scary or believable.
Ultimately, I'm most disappointed here because Chris Carter and company had the opportunity to wrap up a storyline which has been going on far too long with too many plot threads, and to spin the show in another direction for season six. Instead, this feels like another 2-part mythology episode that leaves you unsatisfied and teases you with the fact that there are many more truths to be found out there. Frankly, I'm getting bored with the story already and it's getting more silly all the time. And if anyone feels the burning of the "X-Files" in the season cliffhanger will truly impact next season, just know that by the time the movie ends, everything is exactly back to where it was before. There's been no growth, no change, no new direction...we're just back to the same old bait and tease on the part of the filmmakers.
All in all, a letdown, but I'll probably see it again to let myself judge it a second time. Let's hope the next "X-Files" movie has a much more satisfying and frightening self-contained plot (if they even get to make a sequel).
Thanks, Harry!
"Chuck"
Then here's a person that works at a theater providing sticky refreshments to get stuck in your buffount hairdos. A self admitted psycho (the person usually agrees with Hallenbeck) raves on about X-Files...
Hi Harry. Long time reader, first time writer. I am a cotton candy seller of a movie theatre in the land of make believe. Today there was a screening of "X - Files" for the executives of our company. Being on good terms with said executives, no doubt due to my psychotronic cotton candy I hand feed them, I was able to get an invite. I know the movie opens in a little over a week, but I thought I would still write in. I really liked it a lot. I would definately see it again. I know you don't know me, so to give you an idea of my tastes, I usually agree with hallenbeck's reviews. And because of my job, I see all the movies for free, and I rarely see anything more than once.(saw L.A. Confidential 4 times.) I skip a lot of stuff that looks like crap even if it is free. Free crap is still crap, so who needs it?
I thought the script was good, and along the same lines as the show. There were some suspenseful moments, and there were some kinda funny one liners.
Basically, it was a longer episode, but one that I enjoyed very much. I have only been watching the show for the last year or so, so maybe the opinion of a die hard fan or someone who has been with the show from the beginning would differ. Two of the people I saw it with had never seen an episode at all, but knew the basic premis, and had no trouble following it.
They also really liked it. We all thought the special effects were pretty good, but they are guys (I'm a chick) and they are more picky about special effects than I am, but said they thought they were believable. I don't want to spoil it by saying anything specific, but some things were answered, there were some surprises, and the rumor about seeing Mulder's ass is false. This is a spoiler, the rumor about the kiss interrupted by a bee is true. Now I am really ready for the new season to begin. On a personal note, I really enjoy your site. I love just being able to get news without gossip. If you are ever in Memphis (but I have no idea why you would be, not much cool happens here,) you can always get a free movie from me. You are performing a valuable service. Thank you. also please keep up the coverage of possible comics, turned movies. You have better sources on that than anyone I know. If I see anything else early enough, I'll let you know. I usually see all the ovies before they open, but usually only a day or two, and that usually isn't early enough to let you know. If you use this,
call me Velma.
