SCI FI PI

Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Billy Connolly, Amanda Peet, Xzibit.
Director: Chris Carter
Released Nov 25
Rated M

The release of the much anticipated feature film follow up to Fight the Future brought about a mixed response from critics, and the general consensus being that the film strayed a little too far away from the 'X' in X-Files with a film that was decidedly rational and not brimming with supernaturalness, or even little grey men.

That said, those X-Files fans known as 'shippers' who watch the show primarily for the relationship between Mulder and Scully came away well satisfied, with a rich emotional journey and some final dotting of 'i's and crossing of 't's between Fox and Dana.

Billy Connolly leads us on a merry chase as the psychic child molester who has visions of what's happening to people who are going missing - including FBI agents. When we begin the film, Mulder has spent the years since we last saw him as an outsider, a kook on the wrong side of the Lone Gunmen. Scully's working as a surgeon, trying to help a boy with an incurable tumour.

But when the team get together - it's rocky. There's history, real history, a lot of which we haven't seen, but can infer. Whilst these turbulent moments may be of interest to fans, there does seem to be a lot of angst for those unfamiliar with the entirety of X-Files lore to tackle.

That said, the film plays for the most part like a decent detective drama, with some extremely creepy criminals and a pretty unnerving ending.

Supporting players are for the most part, excellent, with Billy Connolly providing the platform for one hell of a character and Callum Keith Rennie (who many will recognise as the Cylon Leobon Conoy from Battlestar Galactica) does 'bad guy' very well.

Xzibit and Amanda Peet provide the up-and-down FBI agents who, in a way, echo the partnership of Sculls and Mulls, as they team up on the investigation, but they are the supporting act, and that's that (even if Peet looks like she's ready to join the 'Team Mulder' from the get-go!). Xzibit's character is perhaps a little too one dimensional to give any acting ability he may be hiding a chance. His the 'psychics aren't real and Mulder's an idiot' one note performance isn't quite enough.

There is quite a lot of soul searching and an ending that really focuses on Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully, where the blurring between the rational world and the supernatural becomes one that is more about the faith inspired by religion. It's heavy stuff, and nothing new to X-Files fans, but for a light-hearted romp, not so much. If yu like your X-Files cold, snowy and dark, then this will satisfy.

And Die-hards, the end of the credits has a bit of a treat!





EXTRAS (DVD)
Audio commentary by director Chris Carter and producer Frank Spotnitz
3 Deleted Scenes - extra bits, but nothing overwhelming.
Chris Carter: Statements on Green Production - Possibly the most bizarre thing on a DVD this year - Chris Carter talking about how green the production was - actually does become sensible after a while, but still...
Body Parts: Special Makeup Effects - This is particularly unnerving as the piles of dead bodies and body parts are displayed. Horrific, real, and with a quirky and black sense of humour.
Gag reel - horrific movies always have the funniest gag reels.
"Dying To Live" by Xzibit - yeah. Hmm.



EXTRAS (Blu-Ray Disc)
Includes both theatrical version and director's cut of the film
PIP commentary by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
X-Files Complete Timeline
Isolated Score (Theatrical)
Deleted Scene
"Dying To Live" by Xzibit
Trust No One: Can The X-Files remain a secret?
Body Parts: Special Makeup Effects
Gag Reel
Chris Carter: Statements on Green Production
Easter Egg