Pajiba

sigh, how...predictable.

It's been making me a little sad to see all the "Eh..." reviews of this movie. I used to love the show so much growing up that I was definitely hoping this film would be a brief return to the good years.

Also, perfect title. "Small Potatoes" and "Bad Blood" were two of my favorite episodes.

Carter had how long to put together this movie? Epic Fail! As an X-file fan I left that movie wanting to kill puppies.

Don't believe the reviews.

I am a long time X Files fan, and an avid pajiba reader (I'm too lazy to engage in comments, but I do read and generally agree with every review posted here).

I Want To Believe is just about perfect. It's a love letter to the fans who were there from Season 1, plain and simple. The plot is a tight MOTW stand alone, and Mulder and Scully are better than ever. It explores the core themes of the show (faith vs. science) and it's quite Scully-centric. This film is about Mulder and Scully, first and foremost. I am NOT a Shipper, but I was very happy with how their relationship was handled. It was realistic, it was true to who they are and who they became (and I stopped watching when David left the show and the whole stupid William plotline came about).

Billy Connolly is great. He breathes life into a stock character. The scene where Scully confronts him in his apartment was a standout.

I hope people ignore the negative reviews and make this film a box office success. I want to see another one in 2012. I was left wanting more, and went home to watch the Pilot at 2 AM.

P.S.: It totally made up for the outrageously insulting abomination that was Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls. Thank god at least one of my favorite fictional worlds wasn't raped for the love of money this summer...

I have to disagree with the review as well, which is rare for me. The movie was small, but for me the tight focus on the characters and the core conflicts and the comparison of who Scully is today and who she was during the run of the show was wonderfully done.

Mulder and Scully will always at the core be beliver and skeptic, but in this case Gillian Anderson really sold me on her struggle to reconcile her faith with her more clinical scientific side.

The poorly resolved alien arcs on the show wore me down and like so many, I quit watching about the time Mulder split and this little movie reminded me why I loved the show in the first place.

Will it go down as one of my favorite movies ever? No. But I certainly didn't regret dragging my ass to the theater at midnight to watch it.

I had wanted this to be really good, but figured it wasn't since they released it so close to Batman. sigh. But we'll probably go on our Sunday afternoon date just for some nostalgia. (plus momma luvs her some Mulder.)

I never liked the alien conspiracy stuff. But this is one I'd planned on avoiding so it didn't ruin the love I have for the series. Glad to see some positive comments, but I'm still on the fence.

I want to believe this isn't a sucky review.

Is this the summer of pleasing the hardcore fanbases? Prince Caspian, Indy 4, Sex & the City, Hellboy 2, Mamma Mia all seemed aimed at the people who made their originals or original versions such successes. Now here comes the X-Files to remind us of a time when Sunday nights belonged to Homer Simpson and Fox Mulder.

I hope this isn't the start of a trend where movies get conscripted into being the exclusive domain of the most rabid of the fanbases. I mean so far only Iron Man, Wall-E and the Dark Knight have reached across the various divides. 3 movies out of a whole summer's worth?

Don't forget Space Chimps, BFFredo. That movie brought this country together like nothing else has in years. People were walking out of that movie holding hands and singing Kumbaya, Seriously.

As far as The X-Files: will someone who has only seen a couple episodes enjoy this movie?

Judging from psychofilly's comment, I'll probably like this movie. I've seen every episode of The X-Files and I got so damn tired of the crazy alien/government conspiracies (though any episode with Smoking Man rocked), I wanted to massively hurt some people (i.e., the writers). What I loved, truly loved about the show was the relationship between Mulder and Scully and how their characters developed. The level of introspection made me giddy, and the small, tight, one-plot episodes epitomized what attracted me in the first place. I don't care why the movie was made, but of course that doesn't excuse lazy filmmaking. Guess I'll have to see for myself.

I think the biggest problem with the film is the fact that it's an X-Files movie. If this screenplay existed as its own entity, not directly connected to the TV series in any tangible way, I think people would like it more.

I found it to be a refreshing sci-fi/suspense feature with a very realistically played romance at the core. Too bad people expect more of the same without wanting more of the same at all. It's impossible to please everyone with this kind of project.

Eleven people at the 7:30pm showing Friday in an auditorium that seated 320. OUCH. Maybe they can double-bill it with MEET DAVE next weekend before it comes out on dvd the weekend after that.

I'm not surprised. Excepting the shot of Connolly's eyes bleeding, he preview left me cold.

To my mind, this film has about as much of an essential connection to any previous incarnation of X-Files as exists between modern-day Michael Jackson and the man who wrote Thriller.

It's just sad, incredibly sad. And to stick around after the credits and see it 'really end' like a goddamned Corona ad? Fuck it. Chris Carter and I are through.

And I really, really did want to believe.

Im sad to such such a piddling review. Personally, I enjoyed the movie much more than I thought I would. I'm an X-Files fan and saw all the episodes--even suffering though those 2 final dreadful seasons that seemed to be on the air for reasons of contract than anything else.

But this was a solid movie. It was smaller in scope and more focused on Mulder and Scully's character. The story itself was sufficiently creepy. I was going to go regardless of reviews, of course, but after the movie ended, I left with a smile on my face having thoroughly enjoyed it.

To the questions above, yes, I would find the movie very accessible if you'd only seen a few (or even no) episodes.

Aw. That makes me slightly sad. I remember back when I was tiny it was on Friday nights, then moved to Sunday. I think then it started at nine. I actually wrote a letter to the network asking them to move it back to Friday nights, because my bedtime was at nine and I had school the next morning and couldn't watch it. I have no idea what my mom did with it.

Thinking back, I realize that I think that was the point of my rabid nerdiness manifesting itself.

Yes, "Small Potatoes" was a great episode. Can we do a full-length movie of "Home," following those wacky Peacock brothers on their killing/breeding spree thru Pennsylvania?

Jeebus, that episode made me check every window and door lock in my house 3 times, and then realize, if they want in, they are comin' in anyway.

Or, how about a follow-up to "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose?" I miss Queequeg.....

It would have made a good television episode and it was nice to see old friends again. Initially, I had the feeling that Duchovney and Anderson had a little trouble getting back into Mulder and Scully, but the shippers (relationship) people have got to love it. There's even a nice (but brief) hurt/comfort scene with Skinner and Mulder. I agree the pedophile psychic might have been a little more threatening (and how would a regular cancer patient have access to all those creepy Russian doctors?), but it was a comfortable movie and, like I said, a wonderful way to spend the evening with old friends. The audience I saw it with were definitely fans (they applauded when the spooky music played, laughed at George Bush, and gasped when they saw who was in bed with Scully). They also went wild when Skinner appeared near the end. A movie is always better when the audience is into it. Not a blockbuster, but definitely a pleasure.

Hmm. Well, I went to the red carpet premiere in LA, and judging from the reaction of the other hardcore fans who made it into the movie alongside me, IWTB is a success. We all laughed and squealed and cheered and applauded all the way through the film. It may not be as good as Fight the Future, but the right people are pleased with this movie and will see it multiple times. Honestly, I just wish the movie had been longer.

Dammitjanet you don't have to worry, if you're not the Peacock brother's mother, they won't come after you!

I have always been a big fan of the show, and Ive even had a great time watching some of the old reruns on SciFi, but I was unbeliveably disappointed in this. Apart from the nostalgia factor and the fact that I'd still do despicable things to David Duchovny, I kept having the same issue with this that I did with Indy4 - "THIS is the script that brought them back together??" An odd plot that never really comes together, weak characterization of everyone except for Mulder and Scully, who we already know, but didnt seem like themselves, even as they'd be a decade later. And the dialogue was often outright laughable. I can't hate it of course because of my fondness for the show, but I think people without that foundation will be less than thrilled.

I'm actually really glad they used a stand-alone episode as a model for this movie, rather than the large alien/black oil/Samantha Fox/Cig. Smoking Man/Krycek arcs. I've always found the stand-alone episodes to be my favorite.

Favorite X-Files episode- now that should TOTALLY be an afternoon comment diversion. I was always a fan of "Jose Chung.." and "Ice"

Hands down favorite episodes-- "Bad Blood" with Luke Wilson and "Humbug".

I even tried to delay the birth of my daughter because "Humbug" was on. If she'd been a boy, her name probably would have been Fox.

So this movie kicking off an X-Files film franchise over the next few years - snowball's chance in the woods or a bear shitting in hell?

After being a X-Files fan for so long, there is no way I can't see this now. Though I'm in the minority here, I was a little disappointed hearing that there is no alien conspiracy stuff in the movie, which I suspect was nixed in order to make the movie more appealing to a wider audience.



Also - this certainly was not the strongest review in Pajiba history, was it? I'm always disappointed in Mr. Williams' reviews. They're always so short and don't live up to the quality of the other reviews on this site. Ah well.

Oh man I can't wait to not see this movie.

I love you Pookie.

I am a big fan of The X-Files and was disappointed and glad when I saw this movie. First I was disappointed, because it did not have the horror/scary aspect that many of the episodes did. I love the Alien part of the original shows. They should have had some little scene with smoking dude. Even though he is dead. I was happy though, because I got to taste the X-files one more time. It left me wanting more

This movie felt like I'd been having sex, continously, for a little over sixteen years (with the past six years feeling mostly empty and pointless - oh yeah, and I'm starting to chafe) and then the sex just ends. No orgasm. No snuggling. Not even a God damned "I love you." Nothing.

I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in such a group setting in all my life. The writing was poor, full of holes, and I was left with more questions that I didn't even care to have answered. I never felt the familiar tension, didn't even laugh that much. Where was the snarky, witty banter? Where was the suspense? Where was the X-File? Where in God's name was my orgasm?!

(And yes, I am a lurker who finally grew a metaphorical pair and posted, so I'm pretty aware that none of you are going to take anything I say seriously. But still. Shitty movie)

I think Kristen just won "Comment of the Week."

Maybe it's like porn... kinda how there's a "Slutty Cheerleaders V" that really has no link to Slutty Cheerleaders I-IV, they are all standalone films that don't require pesky backstory plotlines from previous iterations of the Slutty Cheerleader genre. I mean, if I haven't seen Slutty Cheerleaders II or III, will I not be able to fully grasp Slutty Cheerleaders IV?
Yeah. X-files is just boring porn.

Thank you psychofilly! YOU totally nailed it.
Thank you pookie for the pun you also totally nailed it. This is the first time I can say a Pajiba reviewer just didn't get it. Sad day in pajiba land. Mr.Williams I can no longer believe in your abilities as a reviewer .... "Ross and Rachel"... I believe you've made a huge mistake. On the other hand I'd read more from Psychofilly.

Okay- I am an avid Batman fan, to start. Yet, I was there when X-files first started. I watched 6 seasons. Then the movie. Then season 7. And half of 8, before lapsing into a boring coma. I had to wikipedia the rest of what I missed, and still not care. I saw this movie opening night and...(*drum roll*) 8/10. Why, you say? Because even though I LOVE Chris Nolan's last 2 Batman movies, no movie has ever pissed me off like 1997's Batman & Robin. To me, despite any flaws I did truly saw in X-Files IWTB, it is GOLD compared to that other piece of crap.

I agree with MG. I have been a HUGE X-Files fan from Season 1, and although it was nice to see Mulder & Scully, it never quite gelled. It had potential, but I just kept waiting for *something* to happen. And a lot of the belief struggle stuff that Scully went through seemed so unbelievable, and the dialogue was just laughable in places, as were some of the plot points/developments. It honestly took away from the movie because it was so not truthful in many ways to the characters, especially Scully.
I don't regret seeing it, and I think it should be seen for some of the wonderful moments that recaptured the magic. But, ultimately, it was like eating Chinese food. Satisfying at first, but left me empty and wanting so much more an hour later!!!

I was absolutely an X-Files fan. Loved the first movie. This, this was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Let's see...poorly directed, poorly edited. No chemistry whatsoever between Mulder and Scully - that seems impossible, but never in my life have I cared LESS what happens to a couple. When they're first shown in bed, what should have been a "gasp" moment was an "ewww..." moment. Hated it. Hated it. I am so disappointed.
Really, what the fuck? The spooky X-Files music along with the W picture??? Really? And who was the Russian guy, exactly, and why were so many people willing to go to such lengths to keep him alive (or "alive")? What am I missing?
I'm not bitter or anything.

It's funny to see so many people who loved Small Potatoes. That's always been in my top 5 episodes of the show.

I'm thrilled that there's a new movie, but at the same time- it should have been left to memory. Going back only cheapens the whole thing. No one thinks about Rocky anymore without thinking of the dozens of sequels that followed. If it had been left alone, it might have been a much more poignant thing to remember, if you like that sort of thing.

This movie finally gives everyone what they want, Mulder and Scully are together. However its like 10 years after anyone gave a shit.

This movie is booooooring. I'd say don't waste your money but I think I was one of the few idiots in all of North America who did

For five bucks this morning I saw a good 'n' creepy feature length episode on a big screen in a very comfortable chair (good work, AMC). I am completely satisfied.

Haters to the left.

Been down since day one when this show replaced "sightings" on Fox.....

First of all it WAS refreshing to see Mulder And Scully reunited again BUT thats the only thing positive have to say really....

The GREAT X-files............. The bees, the black oil, the super soldiers, the faceless people who you look at and burn, the vast government conspiracy,etc...........AND ALL that has been reduced to ONE man's psychic visions of a dead FBI agent and a group of russians who like to play Dr.Frankenstein......It's not even paranormal really save that one psychic who works for Dianne Worwick in his spare time...j/k

and WHY did we need a theatrical movie of this? Now with that said this would have been a fine episode of the show before they brought on Agent Dogget (Robert Patrick) ya know when they would go off the linear path of the cancer man type shows and do one on werewolves for example.....

And to use the words on Mulder's office poster "I Want To Believe" when this film had ZERO to do with Aliens ..

HOW DARE YOU be so sacreligious Chris Carter!!!!!

2 out of 5 stars

Late, late, late. Sorry. Philippine release schedules=my enemy.

I found this movie very disappointing, and containing HUGE plot holes. (Really, truly epic ones.) Nevertheless, even after jusr writing some pretty strong criticisms of it, I find that I look back and... well, it's weird and it's totally the thing that I hate when sequel/remake makers do and I'm morally opposed, but... I think they did a bad job but I love that they tried. I love the characters and the universe. Even the non-mythology universe, which was a big part of the show. The , what do you call it, the monster-of-the-week episodes had great appeal too, although the mythology understandably got the glory.

This movie just came out in the Philippines, and I saw it today. I've been inadvertently getting geared up for it for a while because one TV channel here has been showing X-Files episodes in sequence and they're up to Season Four. Last night I saw Small potatoes twice, once at 9pm and once at 1 am. I can't deny that I sort of stopped catching the show around season... Seven? Eight? The 6th Genesis, anyway. But not for any particular reason, just scheduling, and for years, I was as hardcore a fan as they come. And I'd heard this one was a non-mythology movie, so I was ready for anything. Or so I thought.

So: the movie.

First off, it was great to see them together again. And in a way, beautiful to see them older. They're not the polished suits they once carried themselves as. They're more weatherbeaten. Duchovny has aged less, but Anderson's aging suits her. Duchovny is still himself, and he may just actually never look old... but Anderson has matured in the time since the show, and somehow that weight expresses itself in her performance. You can see the knocks they've taken, and much of the movie really has them both just wanting to be left alone. But we love seeing them together again.

Unfortunately, I think that Carter and Spotnitz were also so carried by the joy of just having them together again that they wrote a script unworthy of the reunion. It's like you can see what they had in mind, but the plot devices are ludicrously easy to criticize. In one instance... well, why limit myself to one?:

1. The initial victim is an FBI agent. Why the hell wasn't she armed? Just out of the pool or not, she was at home, and they gotta have some sense of home security. A trowel was the best she could do?

2. The victims all apparently wore Medic Alert bracelets and/or had a rare blood type. This was how the bad guys tracked them, and thus how the good guys tracked the bad guys. Two of them swam at the same pool. Ooookay... so TWO young women with this rare blood type and specific medical framework live that close to each other? In WEST VIRGINIA? I mean, have you SEEN West Virginia? Not to be rude, but, they don't have all that many people there.

3. Not to balk at one of the basic assumptions of the show that you sorta have to do to get into the fun, but... why does Mulder put SO MUCH faith in the priest? I mean, this isn't HIS obsession, just something they asked him in on. I understand that the guy led them to the dump sites, but they did say that everybody was considering that that just meant he was in on it. So why not at least tinge your whole-hearted belief with some thought that maybe, you know, he's a killer too?

4. Speaking of that --

"The FBI has been after me, this is a trick to lure me out in the open."

"They say if you help them they won't be after you any more."

"Oh. Okay."

5. Circling back to the priest, I found the level of dialogue to be just a little too, um, sounds philosophical but isn't, even for this show universe. Look, I'm a fan. I accept that the talk doesn't always answer your questions. But I felt that after each Big Discussion -- with either lead or with the priest -- I just waned to stop and say, wait, what? What was your position again?

6. That mailbox lead, I just found too dang obvious. I dunno.

Don't get me wrong, I do love this series and these people. I don't mean to grouse and say it's all hokey. There were great moments:

1.That X-files music with the Bush photo was a great freaking joke, worthy of a series that had shown it could laugh at itself.

2.Seeing them in bed together and kissing so comfortably was just pure.

3. Skinner. Really, I don't give a damn how hokey the way they brought him in. He's the man, and I knew that they loved having him there as much as I loved seeing him.

4. Those pencils in the ceiling. Not merely a joke, it said it all to us.

But I think that this movie could have been made a LOT better, and that the series deserves better. I knew I was gonna watch it no matter what. But I don't think that means they don't have an obligation to make this a film worthy of their heritage.

In fairness, parts of it were better than expected: That whole medical aspect was unsettling, and the end story, what they were trying to do, the organ transplant that turned out to be a full-body substitution? That was as creepy, as horrifying, and as dark as anything they ever did on the TV series. The shots of the girl being held in captivity were beyond terrifying. The implication and impersonal nature of it were worse than some of the slasher flicks you see. On that level alone, it was a great success. And the film is visually stunning. It feels like you get lost in the snow. It's great. The shot in the pool, seen from the one man's submerged point of view, was fantastic. And so much worse when you eventually realize that sexual molestation is not at all what they have in store for her.

I think it's got some great ideas and great moments. I just wish they had built a better script and movie around them.