Initial Thoughts on the X-Files movie...
Behind the cut for spoilers
I enjoyed it. I was not expecting much (read: anything), so I was pleasantly surprised.
Things I liked:
- Scully finally being angry and bitter and unwilling to follow Mulder. After everything that happened in the series, I appreciated where she was in this movie. I really do. It's unfamiliar in a way and heartbreaking to watch, but yeah... I understood it. And as much as it will piss some fans off - it was the right call.
- Mulder still being Mulder. Yes, he is the same person. More cynical about people, perhaps - but still Mulder.
- Hooray, Skinner!
- "I'm sure he'd call. He wouldn't do anything crazy." *Scully gives The Look*
- Slashy Skinner cradling distressed!Mulder. (why do I immediately think of Xanthe's Sk/M fic there?)
- The names on Mulder's cell phone (Bowman, Gilligan, etc.)
- Chris Carter silently pulling a Stan Lee in the hallway outside Scully's office just before she finds "the connection"
- The X-Files theme playing during the "oh... times have changed" focus on George Bush's portrait
- The very last scene in the boat. OMFG yes!
What I didn't like/not sure of
- While I have never minded the slow pacing of the X-Files and the development of the storylines... this one did have some serious pacing problems. Started out nice and tight, but dragged in the middle and lost itself for a while. To which I say "oh... a Chris Carter script."
- I honestly needed a BIT more of Mulder and Scully pulling the lead on this one. It felt like they were just *there* as characters at times, rather than the leads. Again... I think some of this is pacing. But I think it also is plotting.
- The sub-plot with the terminally ill child... worked in some ways, but seemed a bit too loosely connected for Scully's leap of faith at the end
- Lots of dialogue, not enough action. To a point, very X=Files. But it still needed to swing the other way a bit.
- Those early promotional stills? Where the hell did those come in during the movie?
- The convenient way Mulder walks back into the FBI seemed too contrived to me. No way, after what happened, would all be forgiven that easily. I don't buy the FBI leaving Mulder alone if they've known how to contact Scully this entire time.
So yeah... I enjoyed it. The first movie was far better, IMHO. But it was great to have a little more time with Mulder and Scully on the screen.
I enjoyed it. I was not expecting much (read: anything), so I was pleasantly surprised.
Things I liked:
- Scully finally being angry and bitter and unwilling to follow Mulder. After everything that happened in the series, I appreciated where she was in this movie. I really do. It's unfamiliar in a way and heartbreaking to watch, but yeah... I understood it. And as much as it will piss some fans off - it was the right call.
- Mulder still being Mulder. Yes, he is the same person. More cynical about people, perhaps - but still Mulder.
- Hooray, Skinner!
- "I'm sure he'd call. He wouldn't do anything crazy." *Scully gives The Look*
- Slashy Skinner cradling distressed!Mulder. (why do I immediately think of Xanthe's Sk/M fic there?)
- The names on Mulder's cell phone (Bowman, Gilligan, etc.)
- Chris Carter silently pulling a Stan Lee in the hallway outside Scully's office just before she finds "the connection"
- The X-Files theme playing during the "oh... times have changed" focus on George Bush's portrait
- The very last scene in the boat. OMFG yes!
What I didn't like/not sure of
- While I have never minded the slow pacing of the X-Files and the development of the storylines... this one did have some serious pacing problems. Started out nice and tight, but dragged in the middle and lost itself for a while. To which I say "oh... a Chris Carter script."
- I honestly needed a BIT more of Mulder and Scully pulling the lead on this one. It felt like they were just *there* as characters at times, rather than the leads. Again... I think some of this is pacing. But I think it also is plotting.
- The sub-plot with the terminally ill child... worked in some ways, but seemed a bit too loosely connected for Scully's leap of faith at the end
- Lots of dialogue, not enough action. To a point, very X=Files. But it still needed to swing the other way a bit.
- Those early promotional stills? Where the hell did those come in during the movie?
- The convenient way Mulder walks back into the FBI seemed too contrived to me. No way, after what happened, would all be forgiven that easily. I don't buy the FBI leaving Mulder alone if they've known how to contact Scully this entire time.
So yeah... I enjoyed it. The first movie was far better, IMHO. But it was great to have a little more time with Mulder and Scully on the screen.