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The X-Files: I Want to Believe Movie Review
The X-Files: I Want to Believe Review
"The X-Files: I Want to Believe" Overview
Rating: PG-13
2008
Cast and Crew
Director : Chris CarterProducer : Chris Carter,Frank Spotnitz,Brent O'Connor
Screenwiter : Chris Carter,Frank Spotnitz
Starring : David Duchovny,Gillian Anderson,Amanda Peet,Billy Connolly,Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner
Apparently the lamentable last season or two of The X-Files and the 1998 mega-episode film F
ight the Future wasn't insult enough to the show's legacy as a groundbreaking, mythopoetic
phenomenon. No, yet another film had to be made, some six years after the series ground
to a halt, in order to further degrade one's memory of the once-respected pop-culture
totem. That film is The X-Files: I Want to Believe, and far from making believers out of
the audience, it does everything possible to turn them into staunch realists, not
to mention people who might then wonder, What was the big deal about that show, anyway?
That hollow, echoey feeling of Is this all there is? is in fact just about all that
remains after this inexcusably dull and completely unnecessary retread of a film
has faded from the screen. The purpose behind the Fight the Future film was simple to divine:
The series was near the height of its popularity and the alien invasion storyline
could better be explored with the increased running time and expanded special effects
budget of a major studio film. Whatever that film's failings, it made sense, just as David
Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me did in that it wrapped up some loose storylines and gave
hungry fans a rewarding big-screen dessert. But the storyline behind I Want to Believe i
s so deadly pedestrian that it's not only shocking that David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson,
and creator Chris Carter would have bothered trekking back up to British Columbia
to film it, but that 20th Century Fox would make so much noise about keeping all the
plot details a closely kept secret.
In I Want to Believe, Anderson's Dana Scully is long gone from the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
unhappily plying her trade as a doctor at a Catholic-run hospital whose bean-counting
administration sorely tests the last tattered shreds of her once-staunch faith. Still
the rational foil for Duchovny's Fox Mulder -- the sardonically wide-eyed conspiracist
whose deadpan mutterings launched a million fangirl crushes -- Scully is recruited
by their old employers at the FBI to track Mulder down. An agent has gone missing
and a spooky old moth-eaten priest claiming to be a psychic (Billy Connolly) is the
only potential link to find her. Since apparently the FBI has never dealt with wannabe
visionaries afflicted with a delusional in their extrasensory abilities, Mulder must
be brought back into the fold to shine his flashlight into the unknown.
In a sad effort to introduce yet another of the series' distracting love-triangle
complications -- whereby Mulder is chased by some dark-eyed sylph while Scully looks
on in disapproval -- the FBI's manhunt is headed up by an ice-hued Amanda Peet, employed
simply to make eyes at Mulder like a schoolgirl, awed at his X-Files past. Pimp
My Ride rapper Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner somehow plays Peet's partner as infinitely more
believable, a hierarchical stiff in a suit, sick of following a psychic through the
snow and quite ready to be done with these alien-hunting has-beens, just as viewers
are likely to be after about 20 minutes.
The mystery that Carter and co-writer Frank Spotnitz came up with to prod the listless
plot along can't of course be explained here, so as not to ruin the un-surprise,
but what can be said is that it's not only barely enough to hang an entire film on,
it would barely sustain a mediocre, hour-long episode of the series. Of more interest
to Carter and Spotnitz appears to be exploring the somewhat matured relationship
between Scully and Mulder and examining the nature of faith, whether it's Scully's
belief in God and her medical oath or Mulder's devotion to figuring out why things
go bump in the night. The script dutifully trots out one leaden confrontation after
another as the two characters stagger through their spiritual dilemmas in only the
most blundering and obvious manner, saying things like, "This stubbornness of yours, it's
why I fell in love with you." Meanwhile, the "mystery" of the missing agent and the
psychic priest limps along, well after it becomes clear that the only mystery worth
answering here is: Why did they bother?
Let's pimp this UFO with some phat rims!
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Review by Chris Barsanti 
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screen name:
brovi 
( 38)
posted on 29/07/2008 11:28
brovi says: P.S., my lovelies; regarding the difference between the two above mentioned
actors ...which one of these stats do you believe strongly suggest a more individual
freedom>concerning the artists>personally ...and which stats belong to whom? ...old
corp. Hollywood mafia contract stats vs. one who by chance did not sign said bent-nose
contract: 31 movies vs. 70 movies? To all our needed true artists>beware, fools will
do business with anyone for $
...and last but not least:
Vivre libre ou mourir! ...because we care, because we believe. best, brovi
screen name:
brovi ( 38)
posted on 29/07/2008 09:58
brovi says: X-Files 2 >I Want To Believe>don’t blame Anderson.
Naturally, all the reviews concerning this puff>puss>inept movie scream “SCAM WARNING.”
Bravo on contactmusic.com blunt movie review: Yet, you heard it first –prior to it’s
crappy release- from “brovi”, “unFame” and many others years ago>since Duchvony’s (SP
… oops …who cares, what kind of name is that anyway) pushing it ...The word “why”
is contactmusic.com most dominate perspective in their gutsy movie review concerning
“I Want To Believe.” Of course, the answer to most all of the “whys” in said review can
be found in our early reviews (via our insider knowledge) of the Nazi Fox>X-Files
group, since about 2005/06>when we decided to begin publishing after years of research.
The name of the game for this group= $$$>money>a quick, down and dirty payoff for the
Bush>current Iron-curtain Government voice “old corp. Hollywood>Fox.” The U.S. current>in
power Government>has abandoned old Hollywood in their “every man for themselves”
stampede to get out of town quick. This U.S. Nazi Iron-curtain Flagship>Fox and X-Files
group needs immediate pocket-change as they are being squashed by the new>more democratic
regime taking over the present “U.S. skull & cross bones group and fellows” in So-Cal.
Responding to some of the “whys” introduced by contactmusic’s review: why bother with such
a lame movie? = a quick multimillion dollar payday>won’t go far>it will turn to gravel
in their mouth. Why all the snow? = it’s a real, real chea$ movie set>no overhead.
Why make such a stupid plot= it was never about anything but misrepresenting the truth
(ironic isn’t it?) in order to get the people’s hard earned mone$>and Anderson was
a hostage>not a willing participant since 2002/03 (check your records.) Why make
such noise about a guarded plot and movie? = $$$ to get out of town>nest-egg>travel
money. Of course old corp. Hollywood>Fox X-Files>and Duchovny (who is the major player
in this rip-off with the other two mother and child bullies>and their Nazi bosses)
are toast in this industry>and perhaps otherwise –as well- depending upon Rudolph’s mercy
level. They don’t care about the review, their reputation, or their rip-off against
the public, or their careers in this industry because they have no future in this
industry considering the silent Hollywood takeover>which began at the announcement
of X-Files 2. “I Want To Believe” was just a quick million-dollar payday at the public’s
expense, and also>feather in the cap concerning vengeance against Anderson>making
her do this movie against her will>her career choices>her reputation choices> because
she spit in their faces in 2002/03. Anderson has been fighting>resisting>saying no
to this pack of mafia Hollywood contract bullies -pushing two decades- but few listened
between the lines>as she has a legal gage and a threat over her that could cost her
and her children the ultimate price. Please believe ...do you want to believe? …the
truth is out there …research>read. What is the difference between two of the most
talented female actors of this generation …Megan Follows and Gillian Anderson? Anderson
is spiritually the strongest>warrior>and signed an unfortunate contract (though should
shun laziness at all cost for her survival) of the two …hence, Anderson could/can/does
sacrifice her personal and career life -to date- and survive it and can rebound, while exposing
Nazi Hollywood>as only Anderson can/does showing -to all- that this less than fair
group exist>corp. businessmen raping the arts>society and destroying artists for
profi$. Goodbye old Hollywood. We won’t miss it>at all! Will we? …naaa. Moreover,
we in the industry, who are with the new arts powers, in So-Cal know that old Hollywood
still lurks in the dark alleys with the gutter-bunks>waiting for some overly confident
artist just to line up in their sights>who may think that old corp. Hollywood’s Representatives
have completely vanished. Fear not my lovelies, we know who they are and where to
find them should they strike or strike again. In closing, even us>the lowly public
understand that when it
comes to millions and even billions of dollars, it’s a serious, most serious game
-to some- and Rudolph>new regime holds all the aces. Signed>Rudolph’s Rep.> Los Angeles,
California’s (most art insider) …we are …and, we do believe>the truth …do you? It’s
out there! best, brovi
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