The X-Files: I Want to Believe
The X-Files: I Want to Believe was my most anticipated movie of the summer. I’m an unabashed fan of The X-Files and an even more bigger fan of the Scully character, so you know I was waiting for it: I wanted to believe.
If this was an episode of the series, and not a summer flick, it would’ve felt right at home in the seventh season of the show. The first three seasons were brilliant. The fourth and fifth seasons occurred at the show’s height of popularity with the fifth season anticipating the first theatrical film. After the first movie, the underrated Fight the Future, the show began its slide to mediocrity. The sixth season was a let down. The seventh season had the cast wanting out. The eighth and ninth seasons were the show in decline both as a pop culture leader and a good story. In the age of George W Bush, the fucktard president, the government spying on you isn’t a bug it’s a feature, so being paranoid is actually recognizing the truth.
So, I Want to Believe is a seventh season episode on the big screen. We have the dynamics of Scully and Mulder already outed as a couple (the noromo in me hates it). Their relationship colored by their love for each other. We have the story with hints at religion and faith which signifies a very Scully-centric film. She always has to explore the meaning of her faith in both the natural world of science and the supernatural world of paranormal activities, and she comes back to believing in herself as Mulder does, too. We have the point of view of the series shifting to Scully. In season seven, David Duchovny wanted out and slowly drifted away from Fox Mulder, and the series began to focus on Gillian Anderson and Scully.
This film was all Scully’s. She’s the first of the couple to be shown. And she was doing what we all knew she would be doing after the show ended: a doctor saving lives. When you watch it and feel the emotion of the ending to both the show and the characters, you end up knowing now that The X-Files was as much about Scully as it was about Mulder. She was, in the Pilot, the person that introduces you to the show. She is the heart of the relationship of Mulder and Scully swinging from non-believer/sceptic to a believer in Mulder. She’s just plain awesome. And to find that a summer flick devoting time to the female lead is jarring especially one so intellectual.
And that’s what was wrong with the film. It was not a summer movie. Like The Dark Knight its story is suited for darker evenings than the sunny skies of July. The exploration of faith and relationships, the lack of action, and wordiness of the film add up to a December prestige film rather than a summer blockbuster. And I was ready for a summer blockbuster. I wanted aliens, time travelers or ESP’ers. What I got was religion again, which as the series waned bored me. I needed them to chase something and that something to be more mysterious and harder to explain than a real serial killer.
But I got Scully. And I got Mulder. Both of them on the big screen made me happy. This was their swan song. Pairing this film with the first, you’ll find the wide range of stories inherent in the show. Only thing was it was a summer film not an episode on the television.
2 of 5 stars.
7 Replies to “The X-Files: I Want to Believe”
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one of the questions still is… what was Amanda Peet doing in the film? LOL! =p
She seemed to be set up as a foil for Scully. That first intimate moment between Mulder and Peet when they meet put the jealousy back in Scully. Afterwards, as the film, played out she was there just to take up space.
The big question was what was Xhibit doing in the FBI?
to be the angry guy. to be the pessimistic, cynic who is angry at paranormal investigators.
do you think if they threw in the ghost hunters, it will be a little fun?
I actually enjoyed it for the most part. But it DEFINITELY could have some tension. I mean if there are no aliens, then give us tension.
This was like a Valentines episode or something. I’d give it a 3 stars rating but prob only recommend as a rental.
I liked it as a little drama kinda film and for the reason Browser pointed out. It was nice seeing Scully and Mulder still Scully and Mulder.
i did make my ranting about X-Files and posted it somewhere here… http://margeemateo.multiply.com/reviews/item/99
I like what you said about Scully introducing us in the Pilot of the TV show, never thought of that before. I’m a rabid XF fan and agree with what you said. I wasn’t too thrilled about the religious aspect and really did want a darker more exciting story, but you and me and many, many other fans I’ve talked and chatted with are happy for Mulder and Scully together again, and that is what this movie was. It was for the fans, I believe.
Sorry you missed the rowboat wave. I sat there because I didn’t have anywhere else to go right away and I liked the credits and the music over the credits. It was a nice and surprising treat, and they waved at the audience, so again, I believe this was for the fans and I appreciate David and Gillian for it. (love your avatar) I’m a Scully fan too, but I’m also a TOTAL shipper.
@Gunngirl: it begins and ends with Scully. She’s what the whole series was all about. I think Chris Carter totally adored her as most of the interesting plotlines were about her. I too adore Scully. She just plain rocks.
It must’ve been a nice surprise to see the final final scene while pondering the movie.