Some things have to be believed to be seen. — Ralph Hodgson, The Skylark and Other Poems
A lesson I learned soon after my daughter was born is that trips to my local cinema would be few and far between for many years. Thus, I had to wait until the DVD release of The X-Files: I Want To Believe before I was able to experience Chris Carter's masterpiece of imagination once again.
I had been a stalwart fan through the show's nine-year run — even during Mulder's absence, the dethroning of AD Walter Skinner, and the temporary reign of Doggett and Reyes. I somehow managed to survive the idea of Scully giving up William — her miracle son with Mulder. And I enjoyed the first alien-fest of a movie, Fight the Future. Why? Because, like Mulder, Scully, and apparently The Carter himself, I want to believe.
As DVDs go, this one fits in to the now-expected norm, complete with behind the scenes commentary, music video by Xzibit, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. I'm a sucker for a good gag reel, often times watching that before the movie itself. However, the movie is lacking in what I would call the X-Files 'norm.'
It's unclear to me how long after the series end this timeline is supposed to have picked up. Mulder and Scully are no longer a part of the FBI, however it does appear as though they are living together, sharing a tenuous, but loving relationship, which in and of itself felt odd. These two had been partners of the extreme kind. They challenged each other, defended each other, saved each other. They used to be electric to watch in action.
Now, however, it seems as though time and circumstance have filed away their edge and left in its place a sad realization that no one ever truly gets what they want and all must choose to be satisfied with some level of unhappiness. As good as it was to see these two once more, I was left with a lingering regret when the movie was over. Now, I'll remember them as they are, and not as they were.
Article comments
1 - Kelly Hicks
I totally agree with you. I wanted to believe, but never really did. But it was fun seeing Mulder getting excited about a mystery, though.
It took me quite a while to realize what was going on with the sick bald ugly guy (bad guy's boyfriend) on the table with red fingernails. Ick. And am I the only one who wondered how they could perform body/head transplants in a dog barn? Infection, anyone?
I did find Scully's conflicted feelings about the psychic priest interesting, adding a nice bit of complexity to the story. Skinner responding to Scully's plea for help was the redeeming factor for me too :)
Thanks so much for this review, I really enjoyed it,
Kelly
2 - Terry
That's so funny I had just sat down from watching this movie to your review. You summation was pretty dead on. Seriously edited down to a typical 1 hour show aka 45 minutes, it still wouldn't have cocked much of an eyebrow. Some embers simply can't be fanned back into a flame, especially when it didn't feel like the actors or the script were really much hotter than the environment the movie was shot in. As a friend once said, sometimes the memory of something you loved is better than trying to live it again.