tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post492003885593013764..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Film Friday: The X-Files (1998)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16716212490973221402012-12-15T12:40:43.659-05:002012-12-15T12:40:43.659-05:00tryanmax, I think the film does kind of mark the e...tryanmax, I think the film does kind of mark the end of the series in a way. Around this time, they moved production back to LA and Duchovny started being a jerk about his schedule. And soon you ended up with lots of episodes where one or the other of them wasn't around and everything became about the conspiracies.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-32947806795474187232012-12-15T12:38:53.666-05:002012-12-15T12:38:53.666-05:00Doc, I liked it a good deal at the time and it'...Doc, I liked it a good deal at the time and it's really stood up to the test of time.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36305446978300553342012-12-15T10:36:49.255-05:002012-12-15T10:36:49.255-05:00I'm an early episode fan of X-files. It premie...I'm an early episode fan of <i>X-files</i>. It premiered when I was 13; monster of the week is a shoo in for teenage boys. But in an era before Hulu, I just couldn't maintain an appointment with it all through high-school. <br /><br />Ironically, this film is what killed the series for me. It came out the summer after I graduated high school and, even though I had missed quite a bit by then, it brought back enough for me to have sort of a hybrid fan/non-fan experience. It also put a nice cap on things up to that point. So as I was entering college, it was sort of an invitation to leave the show behind. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-829358468532199512012-12-14T23:11:54.167-05:002012-12-14T23:11:54.167-05:00I didn't like this when I first saw it because...I didn't like this when I first saw it because it felt too much like another episode to me, but in hindsight, it's really grown on me.Doc Whoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283308866886912377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-85410727602420072862012-12-14T22:47:24.109-05:002012-12-14T22:47:24.109-05:00Thanks Jed! I'm glad you liked the review. I...Thanks Jed! I'm glad you liked the review. I prefer to pick films that provide some insight beyond simply liking or not liking the films. And I think this one provides a very good example of how to create a much better, more widely-accessible film by letting the audience do your work for you. There are some really good lessons here.<br /><br />As for the series, <i>The X-Files</i> series is one of those things that has to be up your alley to enjoy. It's moody. It's sarcastic. It's dark and mysterious. It's not really like anything else on television. It's worth it, but only if it's the kind of thing you think you will enjoy.<br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-75282638195471525372012-12-14T22:42:41.958-05:002012-12-14T22:42:41.958-05:00Shawn, That was the problem. I really enjoyed the ...Shawn, That was the problem. I really enjoyed the myth for a while, but after a while it became obvious that they we're just throwing things out there without a real solution.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-23939260111152958462012-12-14T21:02:20.532-05:002012-12-14T21:02:20.532-05:00A fascinating review. There are, of course, too ma...A fascinating review. There are, of course, too many t.v. shows and films that deserve to be seen that any one person (even a professional critic) can't see them all. So sadly, the X-Files, both film and series, have never been seen by myself despite many people sing it's praises over the years.<br /><br />That said, I really like what you have laid out in your review as to the methods utilized to make this film work both for those that were completely unfamiliar with the series. I couldn't, for example, help but think of Star Trek the movie, and those overly long majestic pans of the Enterprise in space dock. But letting the audience do the work--well maybe there is hope for me yet. Maybe we do it in reverse; e.g. wtch the film and become inspired to go back and see the series.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-72499272914063716322012-12-14T20:32:45.994-05:002012-12-14T20:32:45.994-05:00Regarding the series- Initially I preferred the my...Regarding the series- Initially I preferred the myth-arc episodes to the monster of the week, but as you point out Andrew, as time went by, the writers didn't know where they were going with the myth-arc and it became very convoluted.<br /><br /><i>Millennium</i>: the first season was very dark and grim serial killer stuff. I preferred the second season that was mostly written and overseen by former X-Files alums Glen Morgan and James Wong. It was a season long arc that built up to the end of the world. Of course that presented a problem when the series was picked up for another season, but I still feel that season two was very well plotted.shawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6488021399597491962012-12-14T16:10:45.622-05:002012-12-14T16:10:45.622-05:00PikeBishop, I think the problem was that they just...PikeBishop, I think the problem was that they just kept tossing things into the conspiracy with no plan at all. It almost seemed random. And after a while, it became obvious that there was no way to tie most of it together.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-21995129038456248432012-12-14T16:09:36.769-05:002012-12-14T16:09:36.769-05:00Anthony, Thanks for the info. Like I said, I had ...Anthony, Thanks for the info. Like I said, I had heard it was kind of disowned -- like a dream. At least that makes more sense.<br /><br />I'm not sure why the show never caught on with me, it just didn't. It should have. I like the writers, I liked the quality and the style, and I like Henriksen. It just didn't work for me.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-1476586924037023362012-12-14T16:04:59.526-05:002012-12-14T16:04:59.526-05:00Anthony (Re: the winging it with the conspiracy e...Anthony (Re: the winging it with the conspiracy episodes) Go read a great article on Cracked.com on how the entire Myhology plot was invented almost on the fly when Gillian Anderson got pregnant and had to miss a certain number of episodes.<br /><br />For better or worse, how might history have been different without that. X-files may have just remained a Kolchack/Monster of the Week type show.PikeBishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761380937971970762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-2620373812216500072012-12-14T15:31:37.090-05:002012-12-14T15:31:37.090-05:00Andrew,
SPOILER ALERT
There was supposed to a gl...Andrew,<br /><br />SPOILER ALERT<br /><br />There was supposed to a global plague which would wipe out all but the lucky few who had taken the antidote. Frank has been given the antidote, but not his family, though he manages to obtain one extra dose of the medicine (which went to his only daughter).<br /><br />As the world dies of the plague, Frank and his family flee to a cabin in the woods to wait out the plague. During that time Frank's wife realizes she is sick. She walks into the woods to spare her family the pain of watching her die painfully. According to a final vision of Frank's the world is effectively destroyed.<br /><br />In season 3 they announced that the reports of the disease's lethality were greatly exaggerated, the disease was just a local thing and Frank's wife was one of the tiny handful of people to die from it. Which of course completely went against the end of season 2 (which played out like a very grim series finale rather than the prelude to a season 3).Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-87852888242402133292012-12-14T14:34:23.285-05:002012-12-14T14:34:23.285-05:00Ah. I remember people describe at as "they b...Ah. I remember people describe at as "they basically pretended the second season was a dream."<br /><br />I never watched that far so I have no personal knowledge of this, but that's what I heard from several people.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-75275889124023124382012-12-14T14:32:39.481-05:002012-12-14T14:32:39.481-05:00Andrew,
Yes, most of the second season was mythol...Andrew,<br /><br />Yes, most of the second season was mythology nonsense. At the end of the second season there was a world changing event, but at the beginning of season three they explained, there actually wasn't a world changing event, people were just confused.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27090944081865905952012-12-14T14:08:52.300-05:002012-12-14T14:08:52.300-05:00rlaWTX, You're welcome! :) I think both Mulde...rlaWTX, You're welcome! :) I think both Mulder and Scully would be pretty neat to meet in real life, but you never know. I guess it depends on whether or not they were in funny mood or angry-conspiracy mood?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86196668296678605732012-12-14T14:07:25.189-05:002012-12-14T14:07:25.189-05:00Anthony, Ok, I know who you are talking about. I ...Anthony, Ok, I know who you are talking about. I don't remember when he first appeared, but you are right, he was around for a bit in the series.<br /><br />I never watched <i>Millenium</i> after the first season, but I heard the second season really turned people off. I'd even heard, though I don't know if this is true or not, that the basically ignored the second season when they started the third?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-35267200279960873302012-12-14T14:05:11.043-05:002012-12-14T14:05:11.043-05:00Mycroft, I haven't seen it, but I honestly hav...Mycroft, I haven't seen it, but I honestly have low expectations. I expect the movie will be pretty, but vacant.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84045635745078162002012-12-14T14:04:17.448-05:002012-12-14T14:04:17.448-05:00Backthrow, I haven't seen that one, but it sou...Backthrow, I haven't seen that one, but it sounds interesting. You should definitely watch the first couple seasons at least. They are really excellent. <i>Firefly</i> is well worth watching too.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80412334845645398192012-12-14T13:33:39.602-05:002012-12-14T13:33:39.602-05:00I watched the series for a while because my ex-hus...I watched the series for a while because my ex-husband liked it. I wasn't ever a fan, but I knew enough to get along (the mythology was more interesting that the weirdness; the Mulder & Scully characters are neither people who I would like to know in real life - they both annoyed me). Eventually, he lost interest (thankfully). <br />I think I saw the movie, but I am honestly not sure. Glad you enjoyed it, Andrew!rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-13966159169226791042012-12-14T13:17:38.840-05:002012-12-14T13:17:38.840-05:00Andrew,
At one point in the X-files, there was a ...Andrew,<br /><br />At one point in the X-files, there was a really huge Austrian looking weightlifter who ran around sticking a stiletto into the backs of people's necks.<br /><br />As for Millenium, I thought it came up with some really interesting killers early on (there was a serial bomber who kind of explained to me why the Feds suspected Richard Jewell). I also remember this one episode which had a profoundly damaged kid who would go to funerals and fake like he knew the deceased, hugging the family and sharing their grief and suchlike, not because he was trying to harm them, but because he was very lonely and didn't know how to make friends (in case you're wondering, there was a killer in the mix). Its not based on anything I heard of in real life, but it certainly sounded plausible.<br /><br />In the often mythology choked season 2, there was one really incredible episode where a bunch of demons sat around a table and talked about their different strategies for corrupting people. One explained that he didn't do anything, he just let people damn themselves, watching as they sinned (watching adult films and suchlike) without joy, then took their own joyless lives, realizing the wonder of life only at the moment before it left them.<br /><br />Millinium wasn't for everyone and there was a lot of dross mixed into the grain but I mostly enjoyed it during its short life.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61073224388683035472012-12-14T12:55:15.050-05:002012-12-14T12:55:15.050-05:00Off topic, but I took the family to see the midnig...Off topic, but I took the family to see the midnight premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey last night.<br />I posted a (long for me) review of it on my site, if anyone's interested. Tried to keep it spoiler-free.<br />Summary, I was a bit disappointed, but would gave it 4 out of 5. Might wait a while and see it again. My expectations may have just been a bit high.Mycrofthttp://www.mycrofth4.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-56773733059081702912012-12-14T12:40:31.724-05:002012-12-14T12:40:31.724-05:00Good review, Andrew.
I watched an episode or two ...Good review, Andrew.<br /><br />I watched an episode or two of the series when it first aired, and maybe a couple more in reruns, but never really got into it... but I've been interested in properly revisiting the series (and the first movie) on Netflix one of these days. I still need to see FIREFLY, too; I'm behind the curve...<br /><br />I missed out on the 'Great Film Debate: Favorite Sci-Fi Film' topic on Sunday, and I couldn't narrow it down to even a short list, but one that I like a lot that is super-obscure, and dovetails nicely with this X-FILES discussion, is a little British sci-fi gem called UNEARTHLY STRANGER (1963), starring John Neville (later 'Well-Manicured Man' in THE X-FILES). The plot of film could easily be an episode of the show, and was made by the producers and much of the crew of the 'Emma Peel' era AVENGERS episodes a couple of years later (which I'm sure was an influence on THE X-FILES, along with KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER). <br /><br />UNEARTHLY STRANGER is very well shot and paced, getting the job done in just 75 minutes, and amazingly, considering the subject matter, contains essentially *no* special effects!<br /><br />It's probably a long shot, but I wonder if Neville's role in UNEARTHLY STRANGER had anything to do with his being cast in THE X-FILES decades later. Anyway, it's another flick that isn't on legit DVD anywhere (and likely won't be anytime soon), but someone uploaded it recently on YouTube, if anybody here wants to give it a look--<br /><br />Link: http://youtu.be/L_Gg9NIAAykBackthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-56363386565707887422012-12-14T12:40:27.630-05:002012-12-14T12:40:27.630-05:00P.S. I was never able to get into Millennium. I t...P.S. I was never able to get into <i>Millennium</i>. I tried, but it just didn't work for me.<br /><br />I'm not sure who you mean "the big guy."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-42109215712508687852012-12-14T12:38:49.636-05:002012-12-14T12:38:49.636-05:00Anthony, I agree in large part.
The stand-alone e...Anthony, I agree in large part.<br /><br />The stand-alone episodes were great, which is why the early episodes were so much better than the later episodes where they tried to tie everything together and where every monster became part of the conspiracy.<br /><br />In terms of the conspiracy itself, I enjoyed that for a while. At first, there were some tantalizing hints at what could be going on. But after a while, it became exactly what you say -- just questions and suggestions with no plan to ever tie it together. And at some point, the conspiracy became so confused and so contradictory that it no longer made any sense. That was too bad.<br /><br />I do think the film did an excellent job of explaining the conspiracy and tying most of it together. I also enjoyed the film just as a film. I thought it had an excellent amount of tension and plot. It wasn't heart-pounding, but it was never going to be that because this was never that kind of show. Was this a top 10 film? Hardly. But it was quite enjoyable and it has legs.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-81264496682147949062012-12-14T12:37:50.395-05:002012-12-14T12:37:50.395-05:00Looking up the movie's wikipedia entry, it loo...Looking up the movie's wikipedia entry, it looks like the big guy might be something that popped up later (on the tv series).<br /><br />Its been a long time since I saw the movie and its possible I'm conflating stuff that happened in the tv episodes with stuff that happened in the movie.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.com