The X-Files: I Want to Believe is the second movie to be created following the hit tv show The X-Files, made famous back in the 90's. The movie was released this year, and is directed by Chris Carter, who also directed and produced the original series. The movie stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, and also sees Billy Connolly, Amanda Peet and rap & tv-star Exzibit appear.
When an FBI agent goes missing, the only leads the FBI have come from a disgraced priest, Father Joseph Grissman (Billy Connolly), trying to redeem himself from his sinful past, who claims to have psychic visions of the occurrence. Baffled, and with no other leads to go on, the FBI turn to ex-agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Mulder, who is wanted by the FBI on other charges, agrees to help when all charges against him are dropped.
Mulder, who wants to believe in the psychic ability of the priest, and Scully, who detests the priest for his past, and refuses to believe in his abilities,renew their partnership, whilst Scully must also face some difficult decisions in her new role at a hospital. When a further woman goes missing in similar circumstances, and with the priest claiming to have further visions, Mulder and Scully, with the help of FBI agents Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) and Moseley Drummy (Exzibit), face a race against time to find the missing women, as their chances of being found alive grow slimmer by the day.
It seems like a long time ago now that The X-Files graced our screen, and the old Fox Mulder that used to be great in the series, simply doesn't apper in this film. David Duchovny looks very weathered and tired in this film (partly down to his beard, but also probably partly down to his real-life addiction). Gillian Anderson, however, is the same old Scully that I remember, very straight faced and scientific. Billy Connolly plays the psychic priest, with a sinful past, and does it well, although it is somewhat strange seeing him on a blockbuster film, as opposed to being on stage. Amanda Peet does well as one of the FBI agents, but I just find it hard to take Xzibit seriously as an actor, not just because of his name, but also because of the way he is on his show 'Pimp My Ride'. For different reasons, I just thought that the majority of the cast didn't perform in this movie.
As an X-Files fan back in the day, I was a little disappointed in this film. It was actually quite a good film, but I somehow expected so much more. The biggest problem for me I think was the fact that there wasn't much 'X-Files' about the film at all, it just seemed more like a good, crime thriller of a film instead. Apart from the odd reference, there was no supernatural, or unexplained events throughout the whole film, which has always been the whole point of The X-Files. But as I have already mentioned, despite this, I did enjoy the film for it's action and suspense, which there is plenty of. However, the movie does suffer badly due to the ending, which I feel is extremely weak, and just seemed to be wrapped up in no time just to finish the film. There are a few new revelations about Mulder and Scully themselves, and about their past, to the the X-Filers entertained, and Walter Skinner even has a bit-part in the film.
Overall I feel that this film may be enjoyed more by non-X-Files fans, as opposed to fans, simply because they are likely to have less expectation of the film. The film is good, but has many weaknesses, and I am still struggling to understand why an X-Files movie would be made in this way .. maybe the truth is out there!
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: More accessible for the non-xfile fan, waste 2 hours easily, good sountrack,good to see the duo ag Disadvantages: very incoherent plot, plot maks no sense,
Advantages: Enjoyable thriller (without the X-Files element), Duchovny and Anderson's acting Disadvantages: Wasn't really a traditional X-Files style production
Advantages: Brings back much loved characters like skinner, scene views were good in the outback Disadvantages: poor acting, contradictory storyline, unbelievable relationships
![The X Files - I Want To Believe [Director's Cut]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/106076971.jpg "The X Files - I Want To Believe [Director's Cut]")
![X-files - I Want To Believedvd [2008] | Peet](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/106100092.jpg "X-files - I Want To Believedvd [2008] | Peet")
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