DVD Review: X-Files Revelations - The Essential Guide to the X-Files Movie - Page 2

The collection includes brand new introductions to each of the eight episodes by Carter and Spotnitz, a theatrical trailer of the forthcoming movie, and a panel discussion held at WonderCon, featuring Carter, Spotnitz, and series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The box is packaged with coupons for purchasing the larger season-based DVD collections and a coupon for up to $8.50 off the price of a ticket to the highly anticipated movie (redeemable at the box office).

The two-DVD set includes the series pilot episode and “Beyond the Sea,” from the first season, “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” and “The Host” from season two, “Memento Mori” from season four, “Post-Modern Prometheus” and “Bad Blood” from the fifth season, and “Milagro” from the sixth.

I have not heard a great deal about the movie, other than the fact that it’s supposed to be more akin to a “stand-alone” X-Files adventure than a “mythology” story (episodes dealing with the overarching series narrative arc of Fox Mulder’s missing sister and the alien conspiracy — called the “mytharc” within the fandom). So it would make sense that what is essentially being promoted as a “companion” to the film would veer away from the mytharc, and present a more varied tapestry of paranormal cases and crimes. Of the eight included episodes, only the series pilot and “Memento Mori” could be considered mytharc episodes.

As to whether these episodes are indeed essential to understanding and enjoying the movie, I’m not sure (since I have not yet seen the movie). What I am certain of is that these episodes do nicely represent X-Files at its best (if not necessarily the eight best episodes of the series' run). Interestingly, no episodes are included from the series’ final three seasons. Perhaps, like many fans, Spotnitz and Carter agree that X-Files began to lose its way by then within the increasingly convoluted conspiracy, and as the series star Duchovny distanced himself from the role and the show.

Article Author: Barbara Barnett

Follow Barbara on Twitter. Barbara Barnett grew up on politics and pop culture. Her professional life has been eclectic, because her left brain doesn't know what her right brain really wants. Her real passions are writing, music, reading--and House.

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