The Truth Is Out There...

There are two kinds of viewers for The X-Files movie: those have seen at least a few episodes of the TV series and those who have never watched it. I am a member of the latter group, so that's the perspective from which this review is written. As a result, I cannot assess how the film will appeal to a die-hard follower of the program. But, for the "uneducated" movie-goer, The X-Files offers two hours of solid entertainment. (Of course, one unanswered question is how many non-X Files aficionados will exhibit sufficient interest to venture watching this picture.)


In interviews, writer/producer/series creator Chris Carter stated that his goal with The X- Files was to make a movie that could stand on its own. There's no question that he has succeeded. The script can be followed by someone with literally no previous knowledge of the characters or situations. FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are introduced as any motion protagonists might be, and we're presented with bits and pieces of information about their background through cleverly constructed dialogue. (By "cleverly," I mean that these passages don't cry out, "Character exposition!") Although I'm told that the storyline picks up where the last season of the TV program left off, there's no sense that new viewers are entering in the middle of things. The only obvious concession to the ongoing series is the ending, which includes several hooks that can be used to launch stories in the upcoming season.

As the film opens, the X-Files special unit of the FBI has been disbanded. Mulder and Scully have exchanged their investigations of things paranormal and extraterrestrial for more mundane matters such as terrorism. But, when an Oklahoma City-like bomb explosion destroys a $45 million building in Dallas, Mulder and Scully appear to be the FBI's first choice for fall guys. Their research to clear their names reveals what could be the tip of a massive cover-up of alien activity on Earth. And, as their search stretches from Texas to Washington D.C. to Antarctica, they come face-to-face with the dark secret that endangers the future of the human species.

Plot-wise, The X-Files bears more than a passing resemblance to 1996's alien invasion/conspiracy movie, The Arrival. (In fairness to The X-Files, the TV program preceded The Arrival by several years, and the latter probably owes more to the former than the other way around.) Although things get sloppy near the end, when several story holes are ignored or ineffectively plugged, the script as a whole exhibits an uncommon intelligence for this type of movie. In addition, director Rob Bowman (who has helmed a number of the TV episodes) maintains a fairly high level of tension as the complexities of the mult

At times I almost dream that this movie was X times bet

I am a huge fan, otherwise known as an X-Phile. Because I'm such a big fan, perhaps I was expecting a little too much from the X-Files movie. I just wasn't impressed. (But that didn't stop me from buying it on DVD.)

Why the big let down?

The movie just didn't satisfy its loyal TV viewers. I was looking for so much more. I understand that they revised the script a million times to "dumb it down" for non-fans so that they wouldn't be completely clueless. But they oversimplified a very complex plot and really didn't do much to appease either the fans or the non-fans. Non-fans were still confused by the conspiracy theory, had no idea who Cancerman or the Well-Manicured Man were. And fans were wondering what happened to the bounty hunters and Mulder's long lost sister Samantha. Sure, they explained the Samantha thing a season and a half later in the TV series, but that didn't count for much when we'd been waiting for the movie to come out.

Movie basics: The Actors

I will always love David Duchovny. And Gillian Anderson too, I guess. They interact so well, with just the right amount of chemistry and sexual tension. (But I'm not a Shipper. I didn't want them to kiss. The tension is better than the gratification, in my opinion.) They have such a battle of wits and constant banter that puts my own talent at sarcasm to shame. DD is intriguing as Agent Fox Mulder, the FBI Special Agent on an everlasting quest for knowledge and the Truth with a capital T. GA is wonderful as Dana Scully, his partner and the balance in Mulder's life. Their acting always looks real, never fake. And while sometimes exaggerated, that is usually the intention of the script when that occurs.

The Plot Thickens

I was left wanting for much, much more from this movie. Chris Carter and his team were billing it as the answer to all of our questions, when in fact it didn't answer much of anything. We were just left with more questions. And while that's what we've all come to expect from the X-Files, the movie just didn't do enough for me as far as furthering the plot of the TV series. It was simply a media vehicle to make more money off of the series.

The Special Effects

Since the move from Vancouver to California, the TV series has seen a dramatic increase in the quality of the show's special effects. These were all precipitated by the movie. An intricately crafted spaceship is only one of the magnificent feats in the art of special effects. The alien babies (nasty little suckers!) were interesting, of course. And we mustn't forget the black oil. I just wish that the Hollywoodization of the X-Files didn't involve quite so much blood. At least we did see a good use of shadows and light when our doctor friend got attacked in the research facility.

Overall

If you like the X-Files series, you'll probably like the movie. If you love the series, you probably won't like the movie quite so much. (If you can identify where "At times I almost dream" came from in my title, you qualify as a true X-Phile and probably expected more from the movie like I did.) If you haven't watched the series, you might still like the movie anyways. You just might be a bit confused.

X-Files: Fight The Future

Before even watching the whole 9 series of X-files, my family totally enjoyed this movie from start to finish. Action packed, special effects were fabulous, it even has some good humour and, dare I say it, a touch of romance!
A marvellous cast of big international stars in cameo appearances balanced it beautifully up against the original cast members. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are still two of the most natural actors I have seen.
Great direction and camera work makes the exciting scenes so realistic.
From the ice age to modern age deserts, a thrill a minute and no LANGUAGE to worry about for the kids!

The First X-Files Feature Film

I used to have this movie on VHS, and could never find it locally on DVD, until I started scouring E-Bay for it, and found it. I've been a fan of the TV show since it's inception. I will review this in as un-biased a fashion as possible.

This movie has many of the same things that make the TV show fun and exciting to watch, and then some. It answers many of the questions about how some characters fit in to the X-Files universe. You could have never heard of the TV show, still be able to follow this movie, and enjoy it. That's what's cool about it. Even the casual viewer could be able to follow along with the film. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a 10. It's a great movie that won't leave you wondering, and it keeps you interested throughout it's entirety. I'd HIGHLY recommend this film to any Sci-Fi or adventure movie fan. The performances of the cast, mainly Duchovny and Anderson, does NOT disappoint. They are extremely strong in this movie, and I feel it was filmed at the peak of their chemistry as castmates. (I didn't really get that from the new movie.) The story is exciting to watch and follow. Within the first couple of minutes, something happens which leads into what the main characters are presently up to. Just like the opening of each episode of the TV show. Then it escalates from there into a film that ANY fan of action/adventure films would be sure to appreciate.

All in all, I feel it's still one of the best slices of the X-Files universe that people can enjoy. Hands down. I recommend it to the casual fan, the hardcore fan, or any fan of Sci-Fi, or action/adventure films.

Fight The Conspiracy!

The X-Files: Fight the Future is a enjoyable film for any hardcore fan of the television series, or just a science fiction movie fan in general. It has all the basic sci fi elements: aliens, government conspiracies, the supernatural. Just sit back with a bowl of popcorn, and you will truely enjoy this adventure. So go ahead, and buy this flick. Don't worry, after you finish you will want to relive the journey again!