Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5754 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-11-24
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 104 minutes

Synopsis
For the devoted viewers of THE X-FILES, there can be few things more exciting than hearing the familiar notes of Mark Snow's theme song at the beginning of THE X-FILES - I WANT TO BELIEVE. This cinematic follow-up to the series picks up years after it ended, but the characters are still the same ones that audiences loved. Fans that followed the show religiously won't be surprised to learn that Mulder (David Duchovny) is currently living in hiding, still researching the paranormal while he grows a shaggy beard. Meanwhile, Scully (Gillian Anderson) is working as a doctor at a Catholic hospital. When an F.B.I. agent goes missing, the bureau calls on the pair to return to their old work. The paranormal element of their case is found in Father Joe (Billy Connolly), a former priest who is having psychic visions and leading the team from the F.B.I. to evidence to help them solve their case. Mulder and Scully return to their roles of believer and sceptic as they join in the search.
Just as in the show, I WANT TO BELIEVE is a genre-bender that combines science fiction, horror, and thriller. In fact, the film seems like a two-part episode of the show--and that's meant as a compliment. Though made six years after the series' finale (and 10 since the first cinematic incarnation), the show's central elements are intact, especially the interaction between Mulder and Scully. For those who weren't fans of the show, I WANT TO BELIEVE offers chills similar to THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and THE BONE COLLECTOR--but minus the gore. The show was always more about the unseen horrors, and the film works well as it follows its predecessor's lead.

Customer Reviews

It grows on you.
I think the biggest problem with this movie has nothing to do with the movie itself. Sky high expectations were the real problem. This movie really does deserve to be judged on it's own merits.

After my first viewing of this movie I was somewhat disappointed. Like many X-Files fans I was expecting a big budget block buster continuation of the alien invasion mythos storyline. Instead we got a little self-contained story that kind of lacks that "big screen" feeling. In fact, in a number of ways, it feels more like an ordinary episode of the X-Files. But on subsequent viewings I began to appreciate it more and more, and eventually began to warm to it and like it a lot. It may not be the movie everyone wanted, but it does have a charm all of it's own. In my opinion it is a worthy addition to the X-Files.

X-Files - I'm a believer!
I watched this film and expected it to be a poor reflection of the earlier TV series and film, based on other reviewers. However, I thought that it was excellent, with great performances all round. Many of the classic X-Files themes are here, but not an alien in sight, which frankly is a blessing.

There is a great sub-plot, contrasting Scully's own determination to save a boy's life with experimental medical treatments vs. the evil "Frankenstein" experiments of the villains.

I would certainly recommend this film to X-Files fans, and even if you're not familiar with the show, there is a good action/adventure/thriller film here to be enjoyed.

I want to get my money back ...
Yes, I did expect aliens. Or at least something with a hint of genuine abnormality or paranormal in it and what I got was Billy Connolly as an ex-paedophile psychic leading Mulder to body parts in the snow and Scully a chance to act as she did her best not to get anywhere near him.

It's been years since I've watched the odd couple chase the weird stuff so I have to confess I was expecting anything other than this. If it had just been a thriller without reference to the X Files or Mulder and Scully it would garner far more praise. Certainly from me because, without the preconceptions and expectations, it's not a bad film at all. The concept is interesting, there's a reasonable level of suspense and fear and so on and it's well shot. Note that I didn't say well acted as neither of them seemed to be exactly into the whole thing, particularly Scully, who has either had too much Botox or was thoroughly bored by the whole thing herself.

BUT. It is billed as an X File and it just isn't. Pyschic activity and the ability to see what isn't there just doesn't have the same "ooooh" factor as maybe it once did. Yes, it's not normal to be able to find body parts lying about in the frozen waste but it's not abnormal enough, on its own, to merit an entire film from a franchise which brought us some seriously weird (and excellent) storylines. I really did want to believe but I'd rather have my money back. Watch this if you can dissociate it from the XFiles thing, as a stand alone film, otherwise I think you may prefer to rent rather than buy.