The X Files

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

We all have shows that we like on TV, James & Daniel you both love Sponge Bob, and other shows. Well this is a story about a show Daddy likes. In 1993 a new show was broadcast on Fox on Sunday nights: the X-Files. I didn't watch it at first. Scoffing that it was just a revamp of the old Night Stalker shows from my childhood. I started watching it after the first couple of seasons, but was not an avid dedicated watcher. It wasn't until the movie came out in 1998 that I really started focusing on it. And Kim got hooked as well after watching the movie. So we became avid followers. We did not know then that we had started watching at what was just about the height of the show. That it was destined to fall, and fall it did. Ending with an absolutely painful to watch final season (although I stuck it out until the bitter bitter end).

So when I read that they were making a new movie I had very mixed feelings. I was excited to see something that I loved come back. But on the other hand because the show ended on such a down note I was afraid it would be on the same horrible level as that last show. But I have decided that I will go and brave the chances of it not being as good as I want it to be. I am sure other people in the media and blogosphere will do a very very thorough recap and analysis of the series and the upcoming movie. The reason I am writing this is to capture what I feel about the upcoming movie, write a mini review, and what I feel about the whole thing afterwards.

The thing about the X-Files when it came out is while the basic premise (maverick detective type uncovering cover ups and investigating the paranormal) was not new (see Night Stalker ), the treatment really was. And the key to it was the seemingly very plausible feeling that inside the government there was a massive conspiracy and cover up. And that combined with the wonderful chemistry of the primary 2 characters Mulder & Scully to make an excellent show. The show was at it's best when one of 2 things happened: a paranormal event occurred that they eventually just had to accept somehow. Or when Mulder got this close to blowing the whole conspiracy open only to have the cover up folks swoop in and yank it away, leaving Mulder to have to explain to Scully that something was there, something did happen, really...

Ouch, this stings what a brutal review! Well I won't let it distract me from seeing it.

So today R.D. and I are talking a long lunch/leaving work early so we can go catch the movie, on opening day. I am pretty excited, even though the reviews have not been great. I don't care, I just want to see Mulder & Scully again, and up to date. And if this movie does not do well, and turns out to be the swan song for the series then it certainly cannot be a worse swan song than that horrid final episode if the television show.

The Actual Movie:

Well I liked it. It was an enjoyable little movie. Yeah the plot wasn't overly complex. And many of the characters were pretty basic and wooden. Which was a real waste of Exzibit's talents. But it felt good to see Mulder & Scully again. And the chemistry was definitely still there. I don't think this movie will win over any new converts to the show. I think only true fans will be excited by it. The most exciting moment was when another old character popped up. So I don't think this is a precursor to more movies or a reintroduction of the TV show. But it definitely helped wash out the bad taste that was there from the last season of the actual show. So if you are or were a fan of the show, I think you will enjoy this movie. But if you didn't care for the show or never saw it, I don't think you will be overly impressed.