The X-Files: I Want To Believe (2008) Synopsis:
"The X-Files: I Want to Believe" is a stand-alone story in the tradition of some of the show's most acclaimed and beloved episodes, and takes the complicated relationship between Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) in unexpected directions. Mulder continues his unshakable quest for the truth, and Scully, the passionate, ferociously intelligent physician, remains inextricably tied to Mulder's pursuits.
The X-Files: I Want To Believe (2008) Movie Review:
It has been six years since the hit sci-fi television series The X-Files left the air and ten years since its first theatrical film engaged moviegoers. After its lengthy separation from its fans, now arrives The X-Files: I Want To Believe. The return of The X-Files is welcomed, but this film is a hardly moderated sci-fi thriller that is not even as good as most of the smart episodes we saw in the past on television.
The film if helmed and co-written by the creator of The X-Files, Chris Carter and brings back the popular FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) looking for the truth in the realms of paranormal activity among other things. The X Files: I Want To Believe is themed around its title of what one wants to believe. The film opens terrifically with a snow-covered ice cape being walked upon by numerous FBI agents in search of a missing FBI agent. In front of them is a long-haired elderly priest named Joe Crissman (Billy Connolly), who is said to be psychic and leading them to the film’s first clue. Crissman’s creditability and sanity are questionable, in which he is a convicted pedophile. Heading up the investigation are the dedicated agent Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) and the annoyed Mosley Drummy (Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner). Whitney decides that their team more insight, so they go on a search for Mulder, who is in hiding from the FBI, bearded and shacked up in Scully’s house spending his day clipping out newspaper articles of unexplained events. Scully has also left the FBI and is a surgeon that tries to save sick children through stem cell research and procedures. The FBI agrees to clean Mulder’s record if he helps them. Much to Scully’s dismays, he joins the group and actually believes that there is much more to this missing FBI agent case.
The film then turns into a slow paced thriller from Carter relies on old school methods rather than CGI, the snowy West Virginia atmosphere is perfect for a film of this nature. There are hints at secrets from the series, as well as a conclusion to Mulder and Scully’s mindboggling personal relationship. The third act of the film divulges into some weird stuff, which is a given for Carter, but most of concepts that we are using to seeing or experiencing from the series are gone. For this to be a film version of The X-Files is disappointing against the standards that the series set. The X-Files: I Want To Believe is hardly moderate at best, and the characters of Mulder and Scully seem more tired that on-par in their anticipated return. As mentioned before, Carter has delivered far better plots and writing on hour episodes of the series, than with this attempt. The first theatrical film of The X-Files was not that great either, but at least it was somewhat interesting and more than anything engaging for viewers. Carter does make sure that if you have never seen one episode of The X-Files that you can follow this film, which plays into the production’s hands of selling more tickets.
Duchovny simply eases back into his famous Mulder mode, but Gillian Anderson at times seems lost as Scully. The actress did admit during production of the film that she was having some issues with getting back into character. Amanda Peet and rapper Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner do what is called of them as supporting FBI agent characters. There is a surprise cameo in final ten minutes of the film, but the best performance without a doubt by Billy Connolly as the mysterious psychic priest Father Joe.
The X-Files: I Want To Believe is just a very bland film that does not come close to keeping one at the edge of their seat. The themes and elements constructed in the film by Carter as of X-Files substance, but just poorly executed. Die-hard fans of the series may enjoy this one, but it will leave everybody else’s memory shortly after viewing it.
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The X-Files: I Want To Believe (2008) review written by: Bailey Henderson
11th October, 2008 
