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Bookmark this pageThe X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
Director: Chris Carter
Movie review
From Time Out London
Rob Bowman’s original spin-off movie, made at the height of the TV series’ popularity in 1998, expanded its small-screen format into a spectacular stand-alone feature. This belated follow-up, helmed by series creator Chris Carter, feels like a self-contained TV episode. At its heart is the emotional relationship between ex-FBI paranormal investigators Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), a troubled agnostic who wants to believe, and Dr Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), a rational sceptic. This humanises the script’s big ideas about faith versus science, but also scales down the events. While fans may welcome this back-to-basics approach, casual viewers expecting another spectacular tale of spaceships and aliens could be disappointed.When a female FBI agent is abducted, Mulder believes the ‘visions’ of psychic priest Father Joe (Billy Connolly) hold the key to the mystery; Scully thinks the ex-paedophile is trying to expiate his past sins. With Father Joe’s help, sundry body parts are found, some containing traces of animal tranquiliser. Organ theft, it seems, may be the motive. This chimes oddly with Scully’s own medical dilemma: she is contemplating painful, experimental stem cell therapy for a young boy with an incurable degenerative disease. On the one hand, a vivisectionist nightmare, on the other, an ethically ambiguous dream of power over death.
In its prime, ‘The X-Files’ tapped in to a zeitgeisty fascination with paranormal phenomena and conspiracy theories. But six years after the show sputtered to a close, Carter, Duchovny and Anderson are going through the motions. Lazy plotting, so-so performances and squandered ideas lead to only one diagnosis: there is no compelling reason to keep this moribund formula on a life-support machine.
Author: Nigel Floyd
Time Out London Issue 1980, July 31 - August 6, 2008
User reviews of this film
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- DEBBIE said...
- Posted on Aug 20 2008 22:02 BRILLENT FILM, CLASSIC X FILES COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE!!!!!
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- Chloe said...
- Posted on Aug 18 2008 12:28 Ignore the critics, if you've ever got any enjoyment out of X-Files give it a go. I am the proud owner of all 9 series' & thought this answered many questions about the extremely complex relationship between Mulder & Scully. Complex to a point that made my head hurt!! I don't think this film is a great way to introduce the X-Files to new fans, as without the background they would probably think it was much ado about nothing, but for old fans it's much needed clarification. Please please please...X-Files 3???
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- Steph said...
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Posted on Aug 15 2008 13:26
i really liked this film. will definately be buying the dvd when it comes out.
p.s. never realised how hot duchovny was! - Report as inappropriate
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- dom said...
- Posted on Aug 15 2008 11:28 Classic X-Files, dark, moody, subtly humerous, inteligent, and provocative. Screw the critics they are just a small bunch of people, the vast majority of thhose that have seen this film really liked it, incliding me.
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- Andy said...
- Posted on Aug 15 2008 10:20 I have watched all 9 seasons of the X-Files 3 times and i must say that this was worse than any episode i have ever seen. The previous X-files movie was exciting, edgy with a bit of character. This instalment despite my embarresment made me fall asleep. Any true X-files fans should save there money this film was afwul......
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- Moz said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 13:54 All in all a good film, if a little needless. It's basically a feature length 'killer of the week' episode and wisely stays away from aliens altogether. I think they managed to avoid writing a nostalgic film despite a few nods to past X Files episodes. I'm hoping they'll wrap the X Files us soon though as it's already been stretched a little too far. Great performances all round, good viewing.
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- Mr Des said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 09:44 As expected and not disappointed the usual magic chemistry between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson remains intact, this time with a different slant to their roles to uncover the truth with not a hint of alien abductions or conspirecy theories in sight they set about to put a gang of Russian "Frankenstein" monster makers out of business. Gripping and gruesome it is compwlling watching if you loved the show. Ignore the non believers who have slated this movie with negative reviews, they are talking out of their backsides. Oh yeah, Billy Connolly is great in it as well!
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- Cathy said...
- Posted on Aug 10 2008 20:50 I am a fan of the long running X-Files franchise, but not necessarily for the Chris Carter conspiracy-driven, alien-abduction and monster of the week format, but far more for the Scully/Mulder relationship dynamic. These characters Mr. Carter has created have always been played to imperfect perfection by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Together their on screen dynamic would mezmorize me even if they had been playing cops, lawyers or emergency room doctors. There is a wonderful chemistry between them that has built up over many years of strain, hardship, loss, love, hope, faith, and danger. In "I Want to Believe", the Scully/Mulder dynamic was perfect. We see them years later, still together, living their lives. Yes, they are older, but so are we. We have lived and loved and grown, too. It was comforting and refreshing to see our heroes in a new light. I found the movie scenes between the two of them wonderfully intimate, a new perspective that must be shared. Hopefully again soon.
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- sam said...
- Posted on Aug 08 2008 10:04 i changed my mind this is the best movie ever i will tell you know!! go and see it! i loved it!!
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- john said...
- Posted on Aug 07 2008 18:22 If you like The X-Files, or darkly thought provoking films SEE IT, if you're expecting 2D plot lines and bad guys dressed as clowns, don't bother, but it'll be your loss.
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- Lynn said...
- Posted on Aug 07 2008 15:38 Not only should you go, but you should take 100 friends. Awesome flick. Can't wait to see more Mulder and Scully!
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- sam said...
- Posted on Aug 07 2008 14:19 to be honest this film was rubbish there was no point to it at all DONT GO SEE!!
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- Kate said...
- Posted on Aug 07 2008 01:11 shigsy2003, how could you possibly introduce the characters AND the mythology to audiences at the same time? We needed this film as a bridge. It re-establishes the characters for the old audience and introduces them to the new fans. It develops them and puts them in place to address the issues set up for 2012. You can't just jump to that point. New audiences wouldn't get it, and half the old audience wouldn't remember the mythology anyway. I loved this film. No other film I've seen this summer (or this year, actually) has lead to the kind of debates as this film has in my circle of friends. It gets under your skin and makes you really think. I loved it! And I'm happy to have it as a bridge between the series and the next film.
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- shigsy2003 said...
- Posted on Aug 06 2008 18:06 Hmm a thinking film huh? Well for someone who is a "Smart film" fan it sure went over my head. From what I could see it was a simple, Frankenstein serial killer film. In no way original or thought provoking whatsoever. To those who keep bashing fans who wanted Aliens you have to remember something: the ended six years ago in a very VERY bad way. More questions were asked than answered however we did get one of the biggest questions answered: the date if the Alien Invasion. Sorry to all those who are happy with a boring, re-hashed story and aren't looking forward to a possible amazing Alien spectacle to make the War of Worlds look like an Ent Moot. You may think I just want explosions and action...Wrong, I merely want the questions the be answered. 2/6
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- Luke said...
- Posted on Aug 05 2008 11:34 It's great, classic X-Files through and through, just what I've been waiting 6 years for. Can't wait till X-3...
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Cast & crew
Director: Chris Carter
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Xzibit, Callum Keith Rennie full cast
Genre(s): Science Fiction
Rated: 15
Duration: 104 mins
UK Release: Aug 1 2008
US Release: Jul 25 2008
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