View Poll Results: The X-Files: I Want To Believe...what do you believe?
14
10.22%
34
24.82%
46
33.58%
24
17.52%
12
8.76%
7
5.11%
Voters: 137. You may not vote on this poll
The X-Files: I Want To Believe (Carter, 2008) — The Reviews Thread
#51
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Well here are my thoughts:
I actually rather enjoyed it. Its not as good as the first film. And its probably not the movie it should have been but for the movie it is it isn't terrible and strangely likable for the most part.
OK the negatives:
*The Villains sucked.
*I still dont know WTF most of the plot was trying to say or what the hell most of it was about but ok whatever I'll go with it.
*Ending was very weak.
Pstives:
*The look of the film
*The stuff with Mulder + Scully (very interesting relationship they continue to have. The best writing in the film is the stuff with just these two characters talking/reflecting.
*Good use of Music. I wish there was more.
I think this movie is gonna be a bomb though so I think it will suck if this is the note these characters go out on. There were a total of 6 people at the 1:30 pm (first showing) showing of this today in my town. Its not a very audience pleasing move either and goes into some strange and unexpected territory in terms of politics and social issues.
But overalll I enjoyed it. I'd give it a grade of B or a 7.25 out of 10 score.
I actually rather enjoyed it. Its not as good as the first film. And its probably not the movie it should have been but for the movie it is it isn't terrible and strangely likable for the most part.
OK the negatives:
*The Villains sucked.
*I still dont know WTF most of the plot was trying to say or what the hell most of it was about but ok whatever I'll go with it.
*Ending was very weak.
Pstives:
*The look of the film
*The stuff with Mulder + Scully (very interesting relationship they continue to have. The best writing in the film is the stuff with just these two characters talking/reflecting.
*Good use of Music. I wish there was more.
I think this movie is gonna be a bomb though so I think it will suck if this is the note these characters go out on. There were a total of 6 people at the 1:30 pm (first showing) showing of this today in my town. Its not a very audience pleasing move either and goes into some strange and unexpected territory in terms of politics and social issues.
But overalll I enjoyed it. I'd give it a grade of B or a 7.25 out of 10 score.
#52
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I thought it was a very good film and the characters were great. Gillian looked fabulous and the Duch? What can I say? He was his old self. Like he never left
"Sorry about the car Scully"
"Sorry about the car Scully"
#53
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Wow...what a letdown. I like the scenes with Mulder and Scully but there are so many quiet, dense 'talking' scenes that GO NOWHERE and HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PLOT that I just couldn't take it...not to mention the horrendous Dr. Scully subplot.
I thought the first film was fine and I remember there was some bitching that it wasn't epic enough to justify as a movie...those people are going to wish we had gotten something like the first movie...for being an X-FILES, there was not very much supernatural/paranormal stuff going on...like at all... basically a Criminal Minds ep with Mulder and Scully jammed into it... I was really looking forward to this and am thoroughly disappointed. There are tons of episodes that are more 'epic' and 'movielike' than this was... and honestly, compared to an episode of 'Supernatural' (the new X-Files IMO) this was pretty shitty.
I thought the first film was fine and I remember there was some bitching that it wasn't epic enough to justify as a movie...those people are going to wish we had gotten something like the first movie...for being an X-FILES, there was not very much supernatural/paranormal stuff going on...like at all... basically a Criminal Minds ep with Mulder and Scully jammed into it... I was really looking forward to this and am thoroughly disappointed. There are tons of episodes that are more 'epic' and 'movielike' than this was... and honestly, compared to an episode of 'Supernatural' (the new X-Files IMO) this was pretty shitty.
#55
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by mdc3000
No public poll - I wanted to see who rated this thing 5 stars!
#56
DVD Talk Legend
Just got back...
This isn't the worst movie I've seen this year, but it's certainly the most disappointing. As others have already said, some of the one-on-one moments between Scully and Mulder are nice, but the main storyline is a bore...and to add insult to injury it just "barely" qualifies as an "X-File".
It's been how many years since we've seen these guys in action, and THIS is the best Chris Carter & Company could come up with? This would have been a below-average episode of the show (and it does feel like an hour-episode stretched out to movie-length), at best.
The BIGGEST thing missing from the new movie is any sense of fun between the characters. Even in the darkest episodes, we'd have Mulder quipping a few jokes. There's maybe three to five laughs in this whole movie, and a few of them are "borrowed" from old episodes.
The first X-Files movie was somewhat convuluted, but it was never boring. This film has huge sections where things just seem to drag and drag.
2 out of 5 stars from me.
Oh, I did appricate a couple of "nods" that fans may or may not have picked up on:
BTW, the little clip that plays during the end credits was a nice addition - the movie could have used more moments like that.
This isn't the worst movie I've seen this year, but it's certainly the most disappointing. As others have already said, some of the one-on-one moments between Scully and Mulder are nice, but the main storyline is a bore...and to add insult to injury it just "barely" qualifies as an "X-File".
It's been how many years since we've seen these guys in action, and THIS is the best Chris Carter & Company could come up with? This would have been a below-average episode of the show (and it does feel like an hour-episode stretched out to movie-length), at best.
The BIGGEST thing missing from the new movie is any sense of fun between the characters. Even in the darkest episodes, we'd have Mulder quipping a few jokes. There's maybe three to five laughs in this whole movie, and a few of them are "borrowed" from old episodes.
The first X-Files movie was somewhat convuluted, but it was never boring. This film has huge sections where things just seem to drag and drag.
2 out of 5 stars from me.
Oh, I did appricate a couple of "nods" that fans may or may not have picked up on:
Spoiler:
BTW, the little clip that plays during the end credits was a nice addition - the movie could have used more moments like that.
Last edited by Shannon Nutt; 07-25-08 at 07:08 PM.
#57
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Also after seeing the film I have no idea why they felt the need for all of the secrecy involving this project.
And I dont really much of an idea of what to make of the "scene" in the end credits. Anyone have any ideas as to what this "scene" is even there for.
And I dont really much of an idea of what to make of the "scene" in the end credits. Anyone have any ideas as to what this "scene" is even there for.
#58
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by chris_sc77
And I dont really much of an idea of what to make of the "scene" in the end credits. Anyone have any ideas as to what this "scene" is even there for.
Spoiler:
#59
DVD Talk Legend
Well sounds like a skip after all for me. I was already let down that it wasnt going to be mythology. So i'll catch it on home release later, and go see TDK again. Not like my $7 would help get a 3rd made.
#60
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I'm a huge X-Files fan so I requested the day off today to see this. I get to the theater and they tell me they are having issues and won't be having a 1:45 show. I could of gone back or I could of gone elsewhere.....instead I just came home to play video games. The trailers never got me excited but I hoped that come release day I would be dying to get in and see the movie. I might go on Monday after pretty much everyone who wanted to see it already has.
#61
DVD Talk Legend
My expectations for this are not particularly high, so the unsurprising mixed critical response won't affect my desire to see it, even in the theater, where I am rarely found. Seeing Mulder and Scully together once more will be like running into an old friend - a bit awkward, but still a pleasant, nostalgic experience.
#62
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Originally Posted by Gunde
*Gasp* Someone with a different opinion than yours. RUN...HIDE
Oh yeah, there was also 'Manners' something or other as a location, a reference to Kim Manners in league with the David Nutter ref.
#63
DVD Talk Reviewer
I saw a 1 PM showing. The theater was about a third full, but they had it showing on one of the smaller screens with fewer seats. I'd estimate about 25 people, and many were elderly. This movie should skew somewhat older - don't know what that'll mean for box office gross.
I liked the movie, but agree that it could have been better. It's not bad as a matinee feature.
I liked the movie, but agree that it could have been better. It's not bad as a matinee feature.
#64
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Decent small scale movie. It's not all the big conspiracies and convoluted plots. If you've never seen the show, you can still enjoy the movie. At the start, Mulder has pretty much gone into isolation, hiding from the FBI, and Scully is a practicing doctor again. An FBI agent is kidnapped and a psychic is the only lead. The FBI needs Mulder's help to work with the psychic (kind of flimsy but just go with it) and he reluctantly agrees but then gets pulled back into the thrill of it all. Scully not so much. It's great to see the characters again and see how their lives have progressed. It's more like a long, stand alone episode that is very much keeping with the tone and themes of the series like religion, faith in your convictions and/or never giving up no matter how much no one else believes. Not great and for a big movie after a long time away kind of tame/lame but I liked it.
#65
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Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Non spoiler thoughts: It was probably the most fun I've had in a theater this summer. I enjoyed it more than dark knight, not to say it was a better film, but I had a better time in the theater watching this. Its a very deep film that requires the audience to pay attention and actually think. I think it will easily recoup its meager budget, especially worldwide and on disc. I look forward to the hopefully larger budget 2012 film, but even if its on a smaller scale, the show has proven what they can do with good characters and a meager budget. Thank heavens for a movie that doesn't constantly distract me with rubber shiny cgi bullshit.
Last edited by blucadet3; 07-25-08 at 09:56 PM.
#67
DVD Talk Hero
This followup to the X-Files suffered from a very clunky script in its attempt to truly shoehorn into the film the "I want to believe" motif, which was carried through its run on TV for 9 years. While it's a small treat to see Mulder and Scully together, the case at hand wasn't strong enough, and I didn't think these main 2 characters felt "right" in how they were written for this film. So, not even a solid effort by Chris Carter and company, and I'd only recommend it to die-hard fans of the show, otherwise, it's not going to elicit much enthusiasm from the general public.
I give it 2.5 stars, or a grade of C+.
I give it 2.5 stars, or a grade of C+.
#68
DVD Talk God
Originally Posted by NitroJMS
I caught it last night and thought it was ok. Definitely not as strong or exciting as the first one.
I didn't stay after the credits though, what happens then?
I didn't stay after the credits though, what happens then?
Last edited by DJariya; 07-26-08 at 12:44 AM.
#69
DVD Talk God
As an X-Files fan, I enjoyed it even though it felt more like an extended episode of the series. I thought Gillian Anderson looked great with the longer hair.
Duchovny and Anderson continue to have great onscreen chemistry. I thought some of the best scenes in the movie were their interactions.
I thought the script was a little clunky as Patman mentioned. I wasn't crazy about the plot involving:
Seriously, the show has been off the air for 6 years and this is the best script that Spotnitz and Carter could come up with?
It was really cool seeing
even he was not listed in the credits.
I think the movie was also hurt by it's obviously smaller budget ($30M) and being shot mostly during the Canadian winter.
I think fans of the movie will enjoy seeing Mulder and Scully again. But, I can't see this making huge $$$$ and overthrowing Dark Knight.
I think this will make $70-80M tops and still be considered a hit for FOX.
Since I love the characters and the X-Files name so much I will give this a B-
Duchovny and Anderson continue to have great onscreen chemistry. I thought some of the best scenes in the movie were their interactions.
I thought the script was a little clunky as Patman mentioned. I wasn't crazy about the plot involving:
Spoiler:
Seriously, the show has been off the air for 6 years and this is the best script that Spotnitz and Carter could come up with?
It was really cool seeing
Spoiler:
I think the movie was also hurt by it's obviously smaller budget ($30M) and being shot mostly during the Canadian winter.
I think fans of the movie will enjoy seeing Mulder and Scully again. But, I can't see this making huge $$$$ and overthrowing Dark Knight.
I think this will make $70-80M tops and still be considered a hit for FOX.
Since I love the characters and the X-Files name so much I will give this a B-
#70
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I really enjoyed this movie. It's more like if you took the characters of Mulder and Scully and dealt with more of the drama in their lives as opposed to having a full out alien/conspiracy storyline. It felt smaller scale, almost like it could have been a tv movie (but not in a bad way).
Sadly, I don't think it'll do well. (EDIT: Apparently I'm right. It made $5 million on Friday night. With it's small budget it won't be a bomb, but they had to have been wanting a bigger opening)
Also -- did anyone notice something from the previews that was NOT in the movie? In the tv spots, there is a glowing blue guy who flies across the room backwards from the camera. That is nowhere in the film, and I don't even know where it could have fit into the movie.
Sadly, I don't think it'll do well. (EDIT: Apparently I'm right. It made $5 million on Friday night. With it's small budget it won't be a bomb, but they had to have been wanting a bigger opening)
Also -- did anyone notice something from the previews that was NOT in the movie? In the tv spots, there is a glowing blue guy who flies across the room backwards from the camera. That is nowhere in the film, and I don't even know where it could have fit into the movie.
Last edited by Seantn; 07-26-08 at 01:17 AM.
#71
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Seantn
Also -- did anyone notice something from the previews that was NOT in the movie? In the tv spots, there is a glowing blue guy who flies across the room backwards from the camera. That is nowhere in the film, and I don't even know where it could have fit into the movie.
Still not as bad as Highlander End Game's ad campaign that showed damn near a completely different movie.
#72
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by RichC2
I don't remember that at all in any ads. You sure it wasn't referencing the old show in the "The X-files are back!" sense? That was always a key scene... that or you saw the trailer for Watchmen
Still not as bad as Highlander End Game's ad campaign that showed damn near a completely different movie.
Still not as bad as Highlander End Game's ad campaign that showed damn near a completely different movie.
EDIT -- Oh jeez, I just found it on youtube. It's in this first preview at the 20 second mark, and I can tell exactly what they did. To try to make it look more supernatural, the marketing people altered the scene in which
Spoiler:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RCySwIRqtT0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RCySwIRqtT0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
#73
DVD Talk Legend
Looking at those trailers now, you can also see someone inserted stock footage shots of mountains and "ominous" clouds and lightning that I'm pretty sure aren't in the movie at all. Pretty sad really.
Well it looks like this movie will be lucky to make $15 million this weekend (probably more like $12). So it's going to struggle to make back it's $35 million cost in the theaters. It will probably wind up breaking even - maybe making a little profit once it hits DVD and Blu-ray - but I know the "magic number" on this one was about $80 million domestic (what the first movie made)...so there's virtually NO chance of seeing the X-Files again...at least not on the big screen.
Can't really blame anyone but Carter himself on this one...it's just not a very good film. It's a sad way to see these characters go, after all that's come before.
Well it looks like this movie will be lucky to make $15 million this weekend (probably more like $12). So it's going to struggle to make back it's $35 million cost in the theaters. It will probably wind up breaking even - maybe making a little profit once it hits DVD and Blu-ray - but I know the "magic number" on this one was about $80 million domestic (what the first movie made)...so there's virtually NO chance of seeing the X-Files again...at least not on the big screen.
Can't really blame anyone but Carter himself on this one...it's just not a very good film. It's a sad way to see these characters go, after all that's come before.
Last edited by Shannon Nutt; 07-26-08 at 11:08 AM.
#74
The movie is not everything I could have asked for, but it was close enough and I still really enjoyed it myself. I would much, much, much, much rather see the characters go out this way than that god awful still pisses me off to this day series finale. The experience was also helped by a really good audience that was totally into it, so I was completely geeked got to admit it.
I wish it would've done better so we could've gotten another one mind you, but timing and other issues stopped that cold. I am still going to be damn glad I got this one.
I wish it would've done better so we could've gotten another one mind you, but timing and other issues stopped that cold. I am still going to be damn glad I got this one.
Last edited by onebyone; 07-26-08 at 10:52 AM.
#75
DVD Talk Legend
Kind of amazed at the poor treatment this seems to have gotten from Fox, especially in the marketing dept. Who's bright idea was it to open a wk after TDK? I wonder if this would've done better as a Christmas release...
Will probably just wait and pick it up on blu-ray (if they even deem it worthy of a blu-ray that is)
Will probably just wait and pick it up on blu-ray (if they even deem it worthy of a blu-ray that is)