The X-Files: I Want to Believe
| release date | July 25 2008 |
| studio | 20th Century Fox |
| director | Chris Carter |
| writer | Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz |
| starring | David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Xzibit, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Callum Keith Rennie, Adam Godley |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
13 Comments
If ya a fan you will love it, if not you will hate it! simple as that! iam a fan so i think its classic.
First, this is not a horror film, it’s not a science fiction film, it’s not even really of teh suspense or thriller genre. If anything it’s a mystery, but one that is more about the main characters than the mystery. This is a drama about the main characters of The X-Files, Mulder and Scully, and how they respond to the types of mysteries and issues they used to face where they are now. It’s classic X-Files, not blatently stating things that can be communicated on screen, having violent death occur of screen, and leaving it up to intelligent viewers to understand what is being said through their style. They don’t spell things out as a commercial film or show does in order to make sure the audeince gets it, and they cater to the audience of fans by giving them a few moments of emotion between familiar characters they wished they had expressed on screen in the past.
What can I say about this film without detailing the story and pointing out what should be obvious to people who actually followed and understood what the series was about? Not much, it’s classic X-Files and it will refresh you on who Mulder and Scully are and show you what they have become together. Like the award winning episodes of the series the plot is secondary to the characters and how they deal with situations.
The only negatives I can think of are two scenes which are shot a little too close and tightly cropped, and a special effects shot that looks pretty bad and may detract from what is meant to be communicated by that moment in the story.
I liked it and found it refreshing to be reminded of what the show was about and how it’s creators treated the audience. They don’t spell things out obviously like commercial films and let the subtext speak for itself. I really like that about The X-Files. I really like having characters whose dialogue doesn’t have to communicate everything because the audeience is smart enough to get it.
It’s a small film that isn’t over dramatized and doesn’t try to be more than it is. For that reason it speaks more to the fans than those who may go to a theater for a summer movie looking for something big that overloads their senses. If you expect more than a small modest film then you will probably be disappointed. I didn’t, and I wasn’t.
This is a great Double/triple episode, but it’s not movie worthy.
Just as we suspect the character development of the main cast is pathetic, and the sexual chemistry between the two leads looks as tried as they do.
I feel the franchise would have benefited from another director ( a movie director) taking the helm.
Billy Connelly’s small role made this film worth watching.
Being a long time fan of the X-Files (I remember the pilot airing on that reasonably warm Friday September night) I was more than just excited about this film. I’ve been waiting for something new X-Files for over 6 years! Now I don’t know if this played a part in me liking the film so much because deep down I WANTED to like it; but honestly — it’s classic X-Files. I loved just seeing Mulder and Scully on the screen again, and to be honest, both looked damn good for being away for so long!
The positives: classic story, excellent acting (except for one), awesome underlying messages. And yes this was more a drama than anything else, but I liked it that way! They gave me what I wanted! I was afraid that they wouldn’t explain anything of what Mulder and Scully had been doing, but they dove right into it (especially with their relationship). And I love the little surprise character at the end (those who have seen the film know what I’m talking about).
The negatives: Xzibit is awful. In fact, he’s fucking awful. Dry, crappy acting. Brought down the movie a ton. And the runtime was a little lengthy for the story line.
Overall: Fan boy movie for sure, the average moviegoer will hate the film. If you are a long time fan of the X-Files you owe it to yourself to see this one!
ok BD did bash this movie too hard. It wasn’t great but it was decent. There should have been more sexual tension and the ending did suck but at least this movie was intresting and kept you locked into the story the whole time. the only let down is the ending and for some reason i kept feeling like the movie was going to have a commercial break.
WTF is with Mr. Disgusting’s review of his movie? Was he serious? This is the same guy who gives shitfest movies like Cube Zero 7 stars and Monsters House 9? Is this guy a horror movie fan or does he fancy whimsical tales about 3 animated homos trying to solve a scooby doo mystery.
X Files is not going to win any oscars, but 1 fucking skull? Are you shitting me, Mr Disgusting or is your taste in movies really coincide with your name: disgusting.
Are you kidding me? The movie was absolutely horrible. I personally think Mr. D may have gone a little easy on it.
There was not one instance of tension or suspense. There was hardly any ‘paranormal activity’ at all; Certainly not enough to bring old Mulder back from exile. Neither Xzibit or Amanda Peet were even mildly convincing or useful FBI agents. The script was terrible. I can’t even count how many times someone said ‘I am trying to believe’ or ‘I wanted to believe’ or ‘I do believe’ etc. etc.
I found it hilarious how Mulder and Scully still called each other ‘Mulder’ and ‘Scully’ (respectively) given their new sexy dynamic.
The list goes on.
You would think that Carter would have had a damn good idea for bringing these classic characters back from the TV grave…but no, it seems as if the movie was written as it was shot. They should have just gotten Glen Morgan and James Wong to write it.
To say it is about on par with a mediocre episode is not so. It is right down there with the worst AND twice as long. The aspiration was to make it a one off story and more horror oriented which, for me, brought to mind great episodes like ‘shapes’ or ‘the host’ or ‘humbug’ or ‘quagmire’ or ‘Die Hand Die Verletzt’ or the ‘Tooms’ episodes or that sweet one with the invisible people in the woods or ‘home’ (the scariest episode of the x-files ever). you get the drift. For a series that pushed the envelope of fear on prime time TV and disrupted my childhood sleep patterns for so many years this movie was a huge disappointment. It has no reason to exist and is the nail in the coffin for our favorite FBI agents (Dale Cooper excluded) and anyone who says otherwise is just “Trying to Believe” Ha!
i wanted aliens…not crazy russian frankenstein doctors! i had such hopes for this movie and they were ruined.
I think people are missing the point. The movie is supposed to be about Mulder and Scully. It’s supposed to be about the desperate search for assurance – something to believe. Let’s face it, if we’d had aliens in here it’d be the same old boring gray humanoids we’ve seen in a thousand different places. And while we’re at it, let’s face another fact – if the movie were here to tie up the loose ends and unanswered questions of the series, we’d be disappointed. Part of the series’ appeal is the ambiguity. The X-Files themselves are unsolved oddities! Why wrap it all up in a nice little, ultimately disappointing package?
Instead we get a nice little look into two always-engaging characters, and the choices they have to make to define themselves as actual people, rather than fixtures of the FBI. If you don’t watch the X-Files for the characters, then what do you watch it for? I love the series, but anyone who thinks the cases and effects aren’t cheesy in retrospect are clouded by nostalgia. The show stands strongest on the shoulders of its characters and the dynamic between them.
The cinematography is gorgeous and perfectly captures a sweeping, unforgiving landscape, the X-File itself is an intimate slow burn with an impressively twisted payoff, and the music is excellent.
Mr. Disgusting complains about having no answer at the end, with the epilogue. That’s the whole point. Do we believe in the pedophile priest, or don’t we? Do we want to? Does Scully believe in him? Herself? Something greater? If so, what is it? These questions are really what make the movie. It doesn’t spell it out for you or hold your hand.
Also, the bit at the end, in the middle of the credits, is a great little send-off for the series. It’s good to see Mulder and Scully finally get away from everything that held such a crushing command on them for so long.
this movie sucked!!!
I really really liked it it was suspenful and scary. Mr Disgustings review was really a fucking shit am so gonna buy it when its released to DVD(loved to see Mulder and Scully back)
I thought it was a great movie, more concerning the relationship between Mulder and Scully and how they’ve changed since the X Files closed. The freaky experiments along with Billy Connelly’s great performance gave it the X-Files vibe while the kidnapping storyline was suspenseful. Mr Disgusting, you ought to be ashamed! 2/10 is wholly undeserved.
This movie was bad so bad i got my money back it is a let down andshould not have been made
Man what a perfect movie i thought it was going to suck it was intense,scary,king of gory and it kept the love between Mulder and Scully.
Havent seen it yet. How bad is it to have an X File movie that for once tells a story that explores the relationship of the two main characters.
Heres what happened the day before i saw the x files movie
first i got really sick in the morning
second my fuckin friends werent decided to go or not
third my mom was really mad with me
and forth when i was watching it my fuckin friends didnt let me watch it they were only screaming and booging me and they said that the film sucked well as i said they are both fuckin idiots and did i liked the movie?
of course it was the best movie ive seen in years it was suspensful and fun to watch sure it was really boring to see scully talk and talk about her stupid hospital work but even with that it was good.
Ill tell you the truth i didnt even know the show extisted and well i saw the trailer of the movie and the little scary song so i decided to give it a try at the theaters and what a got was a really misterious and suspenful movie that will have you in the edge of your sit and sure theres alot of talking and everything but as i said its mistery movie its not all action its builing a story and at least makes sence not like horrible april fools day remake.
this movie will be known as a failure financially and mostly critically, i honestly dont know what was so bad about this film, i watched it thinking it was going to be terrible as most people said, but it kept my interest, it had a story that i didnt know where it was heading, and i love the fact that it felt more like an episode than a film, sometimes over-doing things for movies gets a bit cheesy and stupid, but here we are introduced to a very interesting x files like episode that contains itself very well within a film,
SPOILER BELOW::::
I just hope one day we can finally see a damn x files movie about aliens!
I’m a big fan of the series, at least seasons 1-6. Seasons 7-9 were pretty horrible, and not because of Doggett and Reyes, they were good characters. The problem was with Chris Carter losing touch with what made the series so great – the cheesy sci-fi element and the characters of Mulder and Sculley. So we get this movie after all these years, and nothing has changed, he’s still out of touch with his baby and it shows. Very little tension, or suspense, atrocious dialogue, very little humour and a plot that makes the very worst episodes of the series look good. After this debacle, I think it’s safe to say, the X-Files are closed for good. Shame.
I am a huge fan of the series. As I’m sure everyone would agree, the first 6 seasons were amazing, and the final three were garbage that took the whole “conspiracy storyline” to a ridiculous level that none of us cared to follow. This film took a step in the right direction moving away from that with a stand alone story. However, I don’t know that they chose the right story. The organ harvesting storyline was boring, and after 8 years of silence, I think we wanted a little bit more. I feel a “monster” type storyline would have been better. Something more along the likes of the “flukeworm” episode. I do like how they dismissed Mulder’s fugitive status quick and neatly, because that series finale was a disaster. I am glad they acknowledged their missing son, which was another poor direction the series took. However, they could have offered some resolution in that area.
I’m not going to lie. This movie was a letdown. But I believe in the future of this franchise…or let’s just say, I want to believe…
nice movie after 6 years
The Xfiles was my favorite show for years. This movie doesnt give the show justice but it was ok. If you were not a fan you will probably dig it, but if you were a fan you will feel a little robbed. Over all it brought back good memories but the story didnt.
Such a magnanimous letdown. This is the story we get after a 6 year hiatus? Executed like a forgettable episode, ‘I Want to Believe’ is straight-up boring. I so wanted this film to come out and knock everyone flat. Chris Carter really failed the actors and all of the fans.
Surprisingly interesting. As I’ve never seen the show, or the first film i wasn’t expecting to get anything, but it was immediately obvious that Scully and Mulde had a relationship, and it was strained for the time being. As the film wen’t on it was very interesting and watchable. I must admit i wanted to see it initially in the cinemas, but didn’t find the time, which is a shame, as the film deserves more credit than it was given. From the clique opening scene to the predictable ending the film didn’t fail to loose my attention. One charactexr, after her demise i was unsure if she was alive as they never spoke of her again, but what film doesn’t have plot holes?.
The plot was watchable and filled with M rated action, and gore. It sustained credibility for my attention and was also very confusing at times with the nerdy figures of how they figured out things, which was explained later on. A certain scene in the film when a cop was pushed off a ledge, i was unsure whether she was alive or not, as they never mentioned her name again, but i presume she had died. Some plot holes but very solid plot overall.
The acting was very well, with rapper X-Zibit making an appearence as a fellow officer, who didnf’t believe. David Duchovny was somewhat weird to see in this as i only know him from controversial “Californication” as a sex addicted freak, but he was very solid and grounded acting in this. Gillian Anderson was very well adapted to her role, and was an obvious favourite in the film. Her acting skills are very very expressed in her role as Scully.
Overall the 2nd installment in the X-Files films is very entertaining to watch and is one of the better films of the year. My rating is 3.5/5
ok people this movie got a very undeserved bad rap,what were you expecting?It felt like a long older episode of the xfiles which to me adds up. no it wasnt some explosion inducing thrill ride,but it did have a storyline and it let us in on what these charecters are up to now. good movie would love to see another!
WTF was this? This would have been a pretty good movie if it hadn’t been an X-files movie. It seemed like a decent episode of Criminal Minds or some crap like that. But as long as it took this movie to come out I thought it would have been ten times better.
I really love the x-files but this movie was really boring. The first movie they made was actually really good but this one..ya not that good. I guess all good things come to an end.
Just a really slightly above mediocre episode of the show. Pretty unoffensive and forgettable. But it’s still Scully and Mulder so yay!
An pretty good sequel that could of been much better than it was. It left you wanting more, the kind of movie that knows more than you do, that makes you feel left out of the big picture, but that kind of makes it suspenseful and on the edge of your seat. The two leads again do a good job of bringing their characters back to the big screen which has been long delayed. I think it wasn’t as good or thrilling as the first movie and is kind of lackluster sequel wise because they really didn’t improve on anything or bring anything new to the table and it could of had more action in it to speed the movie up. Overall a pretty disappointing sequel that kept me interested but left me wanting more. Rent it if you are fans of the series but don’t expect much.
As a really really huge X-files film I was so displeased to hear that this movie would not be about the alien conspiracy and because of that 5 out of 10
slow, sometimes sadistic, i enjoyed it.
If they make another X-Files, I dont care if its about aliens or not, but something along the lines of a monster or something unexplainable. An example would be the lizard guy from Doggets episode. Scully…please cut your hair short again. Looked way better and younger. NO MORE CRYING WITH DRAMA!
I loved the tv show and because of that I might be a bit biased in my review of this movie. It was definitley not as good as I had hoped, but I don’t think it is as bad as the BD reviewer thought. The biggest fault was that it got away from their ongoing alien storyline. Hopefully the upcoming movie gets back to the basics.
i am the number 1 fan of the tv show and the first movie!!! This one was ok should have benn better and should have done it right after the show..like right after
Okay this film sucked. It found it was quite unlike the original X-files series and what they were searching for shouldn’t even be an X file dammit! It was terribly boring and Mulder and Scully were quite odd together….their connection just felt wrong, quite unlike the series!!
What the Fuck ? The Fucking crap Movie I ever Seen
have never been into the X-files. maybe if it would have been on hbo or something, but i just can’t stand to watch something that could be epic but isn’t because it’s put on regular tv. gave this a try and it was just really stupid. don’t watch.
I loved the TV show and the 1st movie… and this one felt lacking compared to what came before it.
They should have just continued the plot from the 1st movie and continued to concentrate on the aliens taking over… bu noooo of course not.
Watch it if you’re an X-Files fan, pass if you aren’t.