Movies
The X-Files: I Want To Believe
Published Wednesday, Jul 30 2008, 11:27 BST | By Ben Rawson-Jones | 25 comments
Screenwriters: Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Billy Connolly
Running time: 104 mins
Certificate: 15
'Trust no one', urged the once-mighty show in its heyday. Well, any unsuspecting folks contemplating seeing this movie could do worse than trust those who say that The X-Files: I Want To Believe is a steaming pile of ectoplasmic gunk. That's putting it mildly.
The plot is shockingly turgid and poorly paced, revolving around the visions of a paedophile priest (Connolly) and various efforts to rescue kidnapped FBI agents from a Dr. Frankenstein-style experiment. Very little else actually happens, apart from a mind-numbing subplot featuring Scully's attempts to save a child's life via stem cell research.
Too much dramatic thrust relies on the reunion of Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson), when they would operate far better within the framework of an absorbing narrative instead of effectively being the story themselves. Both actors slip back into their roles easily enough, which cannot be said for co-writer and director Chris Carter - the man who used to crank out brilliant episodes of his show for fun in the '90s.
Bizarrely, several scenes end abruptly before they reach their dramatic conclusion and the script then wildly leaps off at a tangent, forcing the viewer to do some pointless dot-joining. Or at least those who haven't nodded off during one of Mulder and Scully's laconic drawn-out musings on faith.
The decision to make this episode a standalone entity rather than a continuation of the television show's alien-government conspiracy arc is noble enough, but only serves to ensure that the fanbase has very little to cheer alongside the snoozing casual fans. Not even a familiar face popping up during the climax can rouse the interest.
The whole affair is a real shame, as there was - and still is - plenty of scope to revive the franchise and continue the adventures of Mulder and Scully. Sadly, the discovery of a severed arm in the snow is the most exciting moment during the first hour.
The story desperately needed to be on a grander scale and contain some sense of danger or jeopardy for the world, or some eerie little green men at the very least. With a bit of scissor-wielding in the editing suite, this dismal movie could have made a mundane 45 minute episode of the show. That pretty much sums it up.
We all wanted to believe that the return of The X-Files could allow us to relive the mid-90s glory days, where we shuddered at shapeshifting aliens, hissed at the Cigarette Smoking Man and taped a big 'X' onto our windows thinking it was cool. Alas, this faith was misplaced.
> What do you think of the film? Share your views
More: Movies
Your Views
25 Comments
Your Responses
This review still annoys me. Yeah so the film wasnt amazing and would have made a better episode of the series ... but it did not deserve just 1 star! I mean come on ... lets have a bit of perspective, it was a competent story ... you should only give 1 star to really lousy movies and this aint it. This review is why a year on I still dont take Ben's opinion too seriously.
BEST FILM EVER.WHOEVER WROTE THIS REVIEW IS AN EEJIT AND NEEDS HIS HEAD SEEING TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A low-key, low-budget, wintry film released at the wrong time of the year against the wrong kind of movie. With a $30 million budget, we could never expect this film to be some huge epic. For what it is, the film is neat little thriller, reminiscent of The X-Files' sister show Millennium. The Vancouver locations are beautifully bleak and a throwback to the TV show's heyday prior to its season six move to LA. Bill Roe's cinematography is beautiful and the slower pace reflects the steady closeness that now exists between Mulder and Scully, a couple who have been through so much together. These characters have aged believably and, much as I am different from the man I was six years ago, so too have our heroes moved on. A moody, slow think-piece of a film, it's bound to split fan opinion down the middle. Personally, I love it and I think it should fare better on DVD.
CHEATED!, thats how I felt when I had finished watching this film. There are NO aliens or UFOs etc in this film. In fact the story goes NO WHERE near aliens etc. This is just a money maker for Duchovny and Anderson who are clearly in need of some cash! I would class this as a 1hr X files special that should be shown on Sky 1 or something - NOT worthy of a cinematical release. As a film, its not got any decent effects, or good cinematography. So a cheaply produced, cheaply made film, that makes you think you might finally get the answer. Not worth a ticket and definately not worth the DVD.. only watch it if you can be bothered to go to the DVD rental store or wait for it on Sky Movies!
I loved the film and disagree with this review. One star?! I think it has become fashionable to give movies with big names and expectations low scores but one star?! Mulder and Scully are back. The film was more like a long episode from the show and the storyline could have been neater as it dragged in places but apart from that it was a really enjoyable movie. Creepy at times with some Mulder/Scully relationship stuff thrown for good measure. As a fan of the show I was extremely satisfied with the movie.
I think the movie was made for the fans, for sure. Not that it is a bad thing, but I know friends that lose some interesting partes, as some of the lines that had been taken from epsodes, because they do not watch all the nine seasons.
I have seen it and thought it excellant, your comments ahow you did not have the intelligence to understand it
I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
Boring, why they even bothered making this movie if this was the best they could come up with is a mystery to me, a complete waste of time.
very very disapointing
I urge anyone who hasn't seen the movie yet not to be swayed by the above review. The movie is worth so much more then 1 star. The plot isn't fantastic but serves a purpose to explore the now maturing relationship of Mulder & Scully. I Want To Believe is the ultimate payoff for any X-Files fan.
I totally agree with Alastair, just because this movie isn't clogged up with CGI does not make it a bad movie...I thought it was excellent..more X-files movies please!!!!!!!!!!
I applaud the efforts to buck the trend and come up with an intelligent story exploring the grey areas of good vs. evil. There was no menacing bad guy in the X-Files IWTB, but a villain created by the evils of society. He is a product of his upbringing. The film also has a secondary storyline that is seemingly unrelated to the main plot, involving Scully’s ongoing inner battle between science and faith which, as it turns out, is an integral part of the main plot. The X-Files movie is not a cgi-ridden blockbuster. In fact, it’s about as far away as you can get from the first movie, Fight the Future. Instead, however, the special effects have been substituted by a well-written, fluid and natural script, with comic moments, but not enough to delve into self-satire. If you go into the film expecting black oil, colonisation and super soldiers, laden with special effects and X-Files characters brought back for the sake of being brought back, you might be initially disappointed. This is no Sex in the City reunion. Instead, there’s a clever, dark, human plot with the most iconic couple in television history back and at their absolute best.
I think people who went to see the movie with certain expectations may have been disappointed. But I just wanted to enjoy Mulder & Scully together again and I loved it.
As a huge X files fan, I wasn't disappointed by this film. It played out like an old episode of the series; and where is the harm in that? Sure, it lacks the major action and special effects 'spectacles' of major summer movies; but that doesn't make it a bad film. It was exactly what X-files should be- intriguing, interesting, creepy, exciting and occasionally funny. with an ending that leaves you to draw your own conclusions. X files is back- so enjoy!
A GREAT FILM. I loved this movie for the performances and for the development of the Scully-Mulder relationship. The series was also true to the classic levity and humor embedded in times of treachery. To those of you who felt it did not deliver in terms of plot, I would remind you that the series set the bar really high in all aspects of entertainment; drama, comedy, horror, etc. and your expectations were set accordingly high. I will agree that the case was not as menacing, the stakes were not as high, and the whole staging of events did not reach the sort of epic proportions that perhaps we would have hoped for, but still I think that a movie which succeeds as well as this one did in telling a worthwhile story is a movie worth seeing. When all is said and done with this film, I loved it and I'd go back again to see it with anyone who loved the series or who has an open mind and wants to see an unconventional romance told through plot-twists and creepy unfolding events.
i never really watched the series but went to see the film anyway. Thought it was quite good as a normal film but not as an xfiles film. would have expected much more suspense, eeriness and just general alien-type weirdness! can see why fans of the show might be disappointed
Very disappointing. I was a huge fan of the series and own every minute of it on DVD, and I have THE poster hanging to my right. I think Chris Carter has just killed the X-Files franchise; no way will Fox bankroll another movie after this one. Any X-Files fan fiction web site would have provided a more compelling story & script. I agree completely that the story would make a decent episode of the series (there were worse ones) but has no point being a feature film. Gillian and David were very good, but they weren't really working together on the same case throughout the movie, which was always the joy of the series.
I'm an x-files fan and I really liked the movie. It wasn't what I expected and that's a good thing. Actually, a GREAT thing! Of course I waited for Xzibit to turn alien and that didn't happen, but I'm O.K. with that. It was good to see Skinner. Probably should've been more involved in the film. I don't think i would've enjoyed it as much if it was yet another plot of alien conspiracy and cover up. (I can just pick a season on dvd and watch it for that matter) Just our two favorite characters in another dark tale. And that's enough for me...
Movie Reviews
'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' reviewTom Hanks features in a long and winding journey through New York after 9/11
At the Movies
David Lynch: 10 reasons to worship himIt's time to celebrate director David Lynch as the BFI screens a season of his films.
Movies Interviews
Max von Sydow 'Extremely Loud' interviewActing legend Max von Sydow on Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Exorcist and Flash Gordon.
Box Office Charts
'The Woman in Black' wins UK box officeThe Woman in Black beats The Muppets and Star Wars at the the UK box office.
To be honest I have a bit of a problem with The X Files. I was a massive fan. At least for the first three seasons. Then the constant "are there aliens?" mythology storyline just kept being played to death. Plus by about the fourth season the writers had run out of ideas for the monster of the week episodes. I agree with the article posted up on here a while back about the look back at The X Files. Sums up my feelings about. A shame ad I used to love the show. Then getting Robert Patrick and co, well it just wasn't X Files.As for the new movie, if it had been a standalone episode you could have forgiven it. Sadly it was very lacklustre. Carter has to come up with something special to try and revive it.