The X-Files: I Want to Believe

[Alexander]

I am, I confess, completely bewildered by the negative reactions I've seen on the web about this film. My wife and I went to see it tonight (we were both fans of the show during its heyday, although I lost interest and stopped watching during the last couple of seasons. I honestly can't remember if I even bothered to watch the series finale). I went in hoping for something better than 1998's (was it REALLY ten years ago?) "Fight the Future" and - well - that's exactly what I got. The film (without giving anything away) is essentially a 90 minute long episode of the series. But it's a good episode that delivers suspense, some creepy scenes involving mysterious goings on in a makeshift hospital, and lots of wonderful Mulder and Scully moments. Many of the negative reviews focus on the lack of aliens and government conspiracies (I knew that this was going to be the case months ago, even though Chris Carter has kept the details of the plot under wraps. Is this why I wasn't disappointed?). These critics seem to forget that "Mythology" episodes were only occasional and that most of the show was made up of just these kind of "freak of the week" episodes. This is a "freak of the week" show. If you enjoyed episodes like "Beyond the Sea" (which was actually very similar to this film in terms of plot) then you'll enjoy this film. If you have no idea what episode "Beyond the Sea" was, you might be better served going to see something else (there's a direct reference to "Beyond the Sea" in the film. I caught it. I wonder how many other people did?).

I liked it a lot. Any thoughts?

Edited July 26, 2008 by Alexander

[ejp626]

I liked it a lot. Any thoughts?

Not nearly enough of a fan to go, but since the fan base pretty much only wants to see a movie related to the Conspiracy, why does Chris Carter insist on delivering a stand-alone episode? (I know he was up front about it, but that doesn't make it less baffling.) Is this really going to increase the audience for this movie? While I somewhat disagree with you re: Batman that movies really should be directed at the fan base, I think it is more appropriate in this case where it really is only the fan base that is going to go.

[Willard]

I agree it was worth watching while it was "freak of the week show ". X-files got so much popularity cause of lack of any conception sometimes even surrealistic plot.(making parallel with Twin Peaks ) First mistake was made when Scully concieved with alien help....

Edited July 26, 2008 by Willard

[Dan Gould]

I shocked my wife when I said that I might want to see this (the movies she wants to see, she usually sees with her sister). I got a little sick and tired of the conspiracy episodes also and always preferred the self-contained ones, so when I heard that was the case with this movie, I thought it might be worth it. I recently caught the haunted Christmas episode with what's-his-face, the guy who played Lou Grant. That's a minor classic - creepy and effective but funny too.

[jazzbo]

I saw this today. A nice mellow funny movie for the fans who don't have to have conspiracy and aliens.

[BruceH]

The "freak of the weak" episodes I always thought of as "Kolchak (The Night Stalker)" episodes, as that was what they seemed a direct descendent of.

Full disclosure: I Don't Really Want To Believe.

Edited July 27, 2008 by BruceH

[poetrylover3]

Worth seeing for the characterization and the general air of creepiness without a lot of gore. Chris carter always knew what to imply rather than to simply display. Overall, it's a superior episode of the franchise's horror side.

[Shawn]

I really enjoyed this movie, mostly for the nice characterization touches and the relationship between the leads. Very well written and acted film. I can understand some people might be disappointed because it wasn't more of an "event movie", but for fans of the low key aspects of the original show it's a real treat. Plus since it's been so long since the last film I think they did a nice job of creating a story that anybody could go and watch, even those not familiar with the original show or first film. The whole "conspiracy" storyline on the series ran itself into the ground anyway, I was tired of it.

Sometimes in the middle of all the bombastic summer films it's nice to sneak in an intelligent little creepy film for contrast.