THE X FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Rating: PG-13
Buy The X-Files: I Want to Believe online now!
Features:
Includes Both the Theatrical Version and Extended Cut of the Film
Audio Commentary by
Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Chris Carter: Statements on Green Production Featurette
Body Parts: Special Makeup Effects Featurette
"Dying 2 Live" by Xzibit
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
Still Galleries
Running Time: 104 minutes
I want to believe that after 6 years, the X-Files will return to the big screen and make me long for its return to TV. I want to believe that
Chris Carter will tell an interesting story with two of my favorite characters of all time working together to solve the case. I want to believe that
Gillian Anderson is still the woman of my dreams and I still get fluttery when her face is on the screen. In the
The X-Files: I Want to Believe, I at least get the last one to be true and nothing more.
The film follows the story of the FBI trying to solve a case of an abducted FBI agent. The FBI is given a tip by a priest, Fr. Joseph Crissman (played by Billy Connolly), who claims to be a psychic but has a history of pedophilia and molesting boys. The lead agent on the case in Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) who decides to try and track down Fox Mulder (
David Duchovny back in the role that launched him to stardom) to see if there is any truth to Fr. Joe’s claims of psychic ability before they waste too much time. Agent Mosley Drummy (Xzibit) finds Dr. Dana Scully (the always enchanting
Gillian Anderson) and asks her to help them find Mulder. Scully tracks down Mulder and he agrees to help out under the one condition that Scully goes along with him. This lasts about 20 minutes before Scully is questioned by Fr. Joe and sent packing back to the hospital she is working out to deal with her patient who is dying from Sandhoff disease.
The end result we learn is that the abduction was for nothing more to carry out a body transplant. We get to see the success of this procedure in the form of a two-headed dog that guards where the abductors are carrying out these experiments. So after 6 years of waiting for the return of the X-Files, this is the best we can get and throughout it, Mulder and Scully aren’t even working together like we are used to. This is such a shame after such a hyped event, but in the interest of time, I will give you the short synopsis. Scully gets Mulder on the case, Scully goes to save boy, Dakota Whitney is killed in a chase with the bad guy, Mulder disproves Fr. Joe is psychic, Mulder gets captured, Skinner (Mitch Pileggi returns) and Scully save Mulder and all is right in the X-Files world.
For fans of the show, the movie offers some scenes they would enjoy. We finally get to see Mulder and Scully in bed together. Yet after all of these years of waiting for this moments, we see them do what they always did and just talk to each other (even if they quickly mention their son William who Scully gave birth to during the show). The return of Walter Skinner back to bail out Mulder and save his life is always a welcome scene as Skinner is the only character from the old show that gets to make an appearance in this film. The end scene between Mulder and Scully where they finally kiss is a great reward, but not at the expense of sitting through this snooze of a film.
The DVD has a bunch of extras including an extended cut of the film which doesn’t make it any better. There is a gag reel that offers some laughs and a Behind the Scenes featurette on the special effects and the making of the body parts that is interesting. A video from Xzibit that shows still photos from the movie as it plays pops up and the commentary is insightful about the production, but
Carter says during it that it was recorded a month before the film came out. I would have loved to have heard what he had to say after seeing the critical and commercial disappointment the film was. Well, at least Scully still looks great. Skip this film and pick any episode from the first 7 seasons and you will have a better time.
