By T. A. Moreland, HW Films & Plays Editor
They’re back. David Duchovny as Fox Mulder, Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully. Reprising their characters from the long running (1993-2002) TV series, The X Files. In that series, Mulder and Scully starred as FBI agents who investigated strange and often paranormal cases. This is the second, the first was in 1998, of the full length X-file films. In this edition, Mulder and Scully who are no longer with the agency, are called back to help locate a young agent who disappears under peculiar circumstances.
The producers and writers of The X Files: I Want to Believe had to satisfy the loyal fans of the series known as X-Philes while telling a story that would also appeal to filmgoers unfamiliar with the TV program. They accomplish those goals. Even if you don’t know the difference between the X files and an x-ray, this drama will captivate you. It’s a fascinating, interwoven tale of mystery, intrigue, and surprise. The X-Philes get a long overdue fix of what made this TV series so compelling: Scully’s and Mulder’s complex relationship, the dark quality of the stories and even the eerie theme music. The film set in West Virginia but shot on location in Vancouver, British Columbia features beautiful snowy scenes.
As good as The X Files: I Want to Believe is, it still relies on common film devices such as starting with a false conflict. A false conflict is one in which the viewer already knows how it will be resolved. The film opens with Scully trying to convince Mulder who is estranged from the FBI, to return to help find the missing agent. He’s reluctant and still angry over false charges the bureau lodged against him. But there is really no doubt that he’s going to help because if he doesn’t there’s no story to tell.
And some of the middle portions of the movie drag like toilet paper stuck to a shoe. But over all the X Files is A-list film. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see these characters on the big screen again in a couple of years.
The X Files: I Want to Believe is rated PG-13 and is 104 minutes in length. Receives our highest rating: See It.
